The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I board.

[abstraction]

I don't expect to get the perfect seat on discount economy, even if I am platinum. I do want to be able to discuss it. I ask two questions - is the plane completely full? If not, is it possible to find a seat with a spare seat beside me. I'm away nearly every second week, flying across time zones and through the night, and it can make a real difference to my productivity and long-term health to get some space.

On Saturday in manila, with NO-ONE IN THE QUEUE behind me, I asked if the plane was completely full. I was assured it was. I checked this three times - 'so there is not a single spare seat on the plane?' Both staff assured me this was the case.

But there were at least twelve spare seats in economy and one in business. I seriously doubt that 13 people didn't show (perhaps someone who knows might correct me there). As far as I can see I was fobbed off so that they didn't have to do anything messy. They knew once I was on the plane I would be out of their sight. This often happens, usually at check-in overseas, but occasionally in Australia as well.

I felt seriously let down. The air crew were very apologetic (I think Qantas air crew are great - biggest asset Qantas has) and told me they reported this incident.

But this is poor form. You can tell me that you can't change my seat at this late stage or whatever - I accept that - but don't use fiction with passengers to make your life simpler. Next time I'm tempted to write down names.

 

[yohy?!]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

I don't expect to get the perfect seat on discount economy, even if I am platinum. I do want to be able to discuss it. I ask two questions - is the plane completely full? If not, is it possible to find a seat with a spare seat beside me. I'm away nearly every second week, flying across time zones and through the night, and it can make a real difference to my productivity and long-term health to get some space.

On Saturday in manila, with NO-ONE IN THE QUEUE behind me, I asked if the plane was completely full. I was assured it was. I checked this three times - 'so there is not a single spare seat on the plane?' Both staff assured me this was the case.

But there were at least twelve spare seats in economy and one in business. I seriously doubt that 13 people didn't show (perhaps someone who knows might correct me there). As far as I can see I was fobbed off so that they didn't have to do anything messy. They knew once I was on the plane I would be out of their sight. This often happens, usually at check-in overseas, but occasionally in Australia as well.

I felt seriously let down. The air crew were very apologetic (I think Qantas air crew are great - biggest asset Qantas has) and told me they reported this incident.

But this is poor form. You can tell me that you can't change my seat at this late stage or whatever - I accept that - but don't use fiction with passengers to make your life simpler. Next time I'm tempted to write down names.

I've had ground crew try this on me before when I wanted to move from one flight to another in J.

They insisted the flight was full in J and it was too late to switch - I then presented my phone to them showing Expert Flyer with 9 available seats in my fare class

They got me on the flight after a little grumbling and embarassment.

 

[eastwest101]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

I would complain to the relevant airline, maybe confirm that they did in fact have 13 no-shows on that flight? Sounds unlikely but not impossible. Be specific about times and dates. If it was Qantas then it may be followed up, if it was Jetstar then I highly doubt it would be followed up....

If you had asked for a seat next to a vacant seat early on in check-in then the ground crew obviously have more opportunities to move you, if its later in the check-in window then of course they would have to move other PAX (whom may have already checked-in) and having to have them be paged and re-allocated seats airside.

I don't think your request was unreasonable, and you understand that it may not always be possible, but it certainly sounds like the ground crew made no effort at all to assist you.

 

[TheInsider]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

But what is the issue?

You want a free seat next to you or something?

12 spare seats on an A332 is a quite a full flight.

 

[abstraction]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

But what is the issue?

You want a free seat next to you or something?

12 spare seats on an A332 is a quite a full flight.

The issue is dishonesty, not the seat.

 

[TheInsider]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

The issue is dishonesty, not the seat.

Okay, but why do you need to know how many spare seats there are?

Quite often staff are listed on flights but don't take that flight, so this is counted as passengers. There could be no-shows, missed connections, seats that are not working and therefore taken out of the availability.

 

[moa999]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

Could easily have been misconnects off a single aircraft.
How long before takeoff did you ask?

 

[CaviAck]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

This isn't just an international flight problem either. I'm constantly fobbed off at CNS on domestic flights as well with the normal lines of something like "sorry the flight is full, NEXT!". I accept that flying as a NB on the cheapest fare I won't get any decent seats, but never did I expect to be patronised for it. The guy behind the counter told me that because I'm on the cheapest ticket that I can't possibly expect a better seat further up front. However I did once get a lovely lady who put me in an exit row when I asked for a better seat, had a lovely conversation with her while waiting for the computer to respond.

However the staff at SYD are wonderful, everytime I've asked for a seat further up on the aisle they've either given me the move of if there really isn't a seat on the aisle further up they would offer any seat further up that's available. Even the Jetstar ground staff in Sydney amaze me with their service. Never had a problem with their staff before, they're very friendly and helpful. Their staff at CNS is hit and miss though.

The service is very inconsistent on the ground but once in the air it is wonderful. Once I forgot that my flight from ADL to SYD had a meal and was slightly surprised when the FA asked what my meal selection was, explained that I was surprised and he ended up giving me a second drink without asking.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

I had something similar on Sunday. I was on a cheap ticket connecting from PVG to MEL. I asked the check in agent at the J transfer desk if it was possible to get to an earlier flight. She could move me but not to the next flight. I asked if it was full or if restrictions on my ticket prevented me from being moved to the next flight. She confirmed that the flight was full. In the bus over to domestic I checked Expertflyer and it showed Y9. I spent an hour in the J lounge at Sydney, not exactly a hardship but I would have preferred the extra hour at home.

I did wonder if Expertflyer is correct. By the time I reached the domestic terminal the flight was in the last stages of boarding, so had no chance to get to the J lounge service desk and back. Occupational hazard of flying on a discounted economy ticket I guess.

 

[NM]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

But what is the issue?

You want a free seat next to you or something?

12 spare seats on an A332 is a quite a full flight.

And quite possible those remaining seats are all middle seats and possible already assigned as "Platinum Shadow" assignments, so no way to rearrange things for another passenger to have a spare seat beside them

Still does not excuse dishonesty, but may have been seen as an easier answer than trying explain reality, with the end result being the same for the passenger asking the questions.

 

[fall502]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

I don't mind being told that a request cannot be fulfilled, as long as it is the truth.

 

[williamsf1]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

The config of that flight is 36J 199Y . MNL flights are well known for a reasonable no show factor . Unless you are last to check in just before flight close, the staff at that time would see the flight full.

many reasons for no shows...

As a QFP why did you not select your preferred seat in advance? register for a upgrade ?

 

[mannej]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

And quite possible those remaining seats are all middle seats and possible already assigned as "Platinum Shadow" assignments, so no way to rearrange things for another passenger to have a spare seat beside them

Still does not excuse dishonesty, but may have been seen as an easier answer than trying explain reality, with the end result being the same for the passenger asking the questions.

With only one side of the story, I don't think the dishonesty can be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

 

[haydensydney]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

I agree that being lied to is never nice. But how do you know that those 13 seats weren't already assigned as 'shadows' for other plats? How do you know for sure that the crew were being deliberately dismissive? I guess you don't and won't really know for sure, so you may not have cause for complaint here.

Further, I don't recall seeing a published plat benefit for having a shadow. If there was, perhaps you could be angry. But because it's one of those 'over and above' benefits, you don't really have a leg to stand on.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

I've also been lied to many times by staff that don't appear to care about the airline/their job.

I suggested to QF a while back that some minor changes (and inexpensive) to how seating is assigned would mean happier top-tier flyers in Y. On soo many occasions a bronze/silver member has ended up with a better seat than myself even though I booked/selected seats/checked in before them. It's all too common and as the OP demonstrates, when you fly a lot there are tiny things that irk you and they actually mean a great deal to the overall image you have of an airline. Simple fix, too!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

Further, I don't recall seeing a published plat benefit for having a shadow. If there was, perhaps you could be angry. But because it's one of those 'over and above' benefits, you don't really have a leg to stand on.

Staff can override a shadow because it's a soft seat assignment and not an actual blacked out seat.

What the OP probably means is, as a Platinum member if there is an empty seat next to a bronze member down the back, yet Mr Platinum can't get the empty seat - what does that say about the value of status?

 

[TheInsider]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

Staff can override a shadow because it's a soft seat assignment and not an actual blacked out seat.

Actually not many staff can do what you have said. The seat is displayed as an 'R' on the agents screen, majority of agents cannot overide this.

 

[haydensydney]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

What the OP probably means is, as a Platinum member if there is an empty seat next to a bronze member down the back, yet Mr Platinum can't get the empty seat - what does that say about the value of status?

Its got nothing to do with status. This complaint is about an expectation of an unpublished benefit and an assumption as to why it wasn't provided - the airline hasn't failed to deliver a service so they technically haven't done anything wrong.

If space is a priority, book J or an empty seat in Y, rather than rely on the expectation and assumption that a shadow will be given.

 

[TheInsider]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

empty seat next to a bronze member down the back, yet Mr Platinum can't get the empty seat - what does that say about the value of status?

Also, what happens if it is a full flight, all seating has been assigned, but for what ever reason there were noshows or missed connections from people who have already selected their seat next to another non-status member? Bit hard to police and change seats around if that is the case.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: The classic fobbing off from ground staff - i'll be out of their hair once I boar

They insisted the flight was full in J and it was too late to switch - I then presented my phone to them showing Expert Flyer with 9 available seats in my fare class

I don't view Expert Flyer as a definitve guide to how many free seats are on a plane!