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

[cmon0005]

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

Also being Manila probably means no QF checkin staff, most likely outsourced to a aviation services group (Their baggage is handled by MIASCOR Ground Handling so might be them), maybe they only have basic access to check pax in and thats it?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

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

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 This complaint is about an expectation of an unpublished benefit and an assumption as to why it wasn't provided - the airline hasn't failed to deliver a service so they technically haven't done anything wrong.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.

It's got everything to do with status! A bronze member would hardly think they could have a spare seat next to them.

Also, given that shadows do exist and it's been widely known for over a decade in QFF, it's reasonable to assume that a WP would have a shadow over a non-status member.
It's not a class problem - it's a value thing. I'm annoyed when someone sits next to me in J when there's a half empty cabin.

And even if I'm totally wrong and it's to do with something else... at the end of the day by not securing shadows next to high status members, it means that lower status/no status flyers are having a better flight experience than the platinums. Hence the thread

 

[haydensydney]

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

And even if I'm totally wrong and it's to do with something else... at the end of the day by not securing shadows next to high status members, it means that lower status/no status flyers are having a better flight experience than the platinums. Hence the thread

Lets agree to disagree then. Be careful of assumptions e.g.

"lower status/no status flyers are having a better flight experience than the platinums"

...how do you know they aren't platinum travellers themselves?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

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

Lets agree to disagree then. Be careful of assumptions e.g.

"lower status/no status flyers are having a better flight experience than the platinums"

...how do you know they aren't platinum travellers?

Prove they are platinums...

Countless times I've had a silver/bronze next to me when there are plenty of seats available further down the back. Same goes for business class too.

 

[serfty]

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

I find Expert Flyer quite accurate in respect to seat maps and what seats have actually been physically allocated. Not so much in relation to blocked / "shadows".

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[abstraction]

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 ?

Ok, if more than a dozen is a typical no-show factor then I accept I may be incorrect. I did select my seat - no complaints about that - but I can't sleep without more space so I often check for that spare seat if it's available. I fully accept when this isn't possible. My issue wasn't seat selection - it's whether or not the ground crew were being truthful.

 

[medhead]

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

However, it is a good guide of what fare classes are available for "sale" which is the point from the post that you quoted. I have also been told only 2 upgrades available, this changed when I showed them U4 on expert flyer.

It's got everything to do with status! A bronze member would hardly think they could have a spare seat next to them.

Also, given that shadows do exist and it's been widely known for over a decade in QFF, it's reasonable to assume that a WP would have a shadow over a non-status member.
It's not a class problem - it's a value thing. I'm annoyed when someone sits next to me in J when there's a half empty cabin.

And even if I'm totally wrong and it's to do with something else... at the end of the day by not securing shadows next to high status members, it means that lower status/no status flyers are having a better flight experience than the platinums. Hence the thread

Sounds a lot like my feelings in a recent A389 flight. I was in the third row of the Y cabin allocated a B seat that was occupied by someone else on the booking. I was the only person to get a CSM greeting in the first 3 rows. (Beside the guy in the A seat next to my B seat who answered to my name) The CSM did not greet anyone in the seats immediately behind me. Someone was getting J wine and a glass about 7 rows back from me, based on observation. Basically maybe 2 or 3 platinums, oh and one young girl in a window seats whose mother was bringing back food from F.

Now every B and J seat in the first 6 or 7 rows was empty, 3 people allocated to the side groups of 3 seats in all those rows except mine. As you say it's annoying to see this when there is plenty of space available to provide a shadow (this is not a statement of expectation of always getting a shadow)


Sent from the Throne

 

[JohnK]

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

I have also been lied to by airline staff many times.

The classic one was missing a connecting CX flight in HKG due to late CX arrival and then being told no business class seats until last flight the next night. Went back airside to CX First Lounge and told the same story until a few minutes later they were shown ExpertFlyer seat map for the first flight of the morning and then miraculously business class were available to them as well.

These people are getting paid to do a job. Simple. Do that job and stop trying to make life difficult for the people who are keeping you in that job....

 

[Mal Ware]

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

Surprised to see there was only one seat left in J, QF20 is not traditionally a business heavy flight, but economy often fills up.

 

[whughes3]

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

Surprised to see there was only one seat left in J, QF20 is not traditionally a business heavy flight, but economy often fills up.

Not in my experience...it is frequently pretty full in J.

 

[Mal Ware]

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

Not in my experience...it is frequently pretty full in J.

Maybe we catch different flights lol.

I have flown there 6 times this year and it has never been full.

 

[whughes3]

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

Maybe we catch different flights lol.

I have flown there 6 times this year and it has never been full.

I have done it 5 times so far this year and > 100 times over the years, most usually on Saturday; the only times J has had significant empty seats recently have been during the week when they occasionally use the 36J/199Y 332's.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

'lying' is not uncommon. Friends last night were flying TG - A380 - 3 class aircraft sold as 2 class. Inquired whether they could get a seat in the first cabin. Were told 'sorry, first class is upstairs, you're sitting on the lower deck'. They were holding BPs for business class which is only on the upper deck.

sometimes staff just can't be bothered, other times they don't want to offend. Either way - it can be annoying if you are especially tired or stressed.

 

[JohnK]

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

....sometimes staff just can't be bothered....

They are in the wrong job....

 

[The Rok]

Yea, they should be working for Telstra instead.

 

[Paddy55]

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.

I've lost my Platinum shadow a number of times, so I doubt that is it

 

[Paddy55]

Yea, they should be working for Telstra instead.

Oy!

I'm a Telstra customer!

Telstra's got it's own 'enhanced' idea of service

 

[haggiscat]

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

Try the supercilious old hag at the Biz lounge in Syd who has now advised me three times that there are no J seats for an ODU and a trip to the QANTAS Club has quickly confirmed the upgrade. Some of them are real dogs.

 

[The Rok]

Try the supercilious old hag at the Biz lounge in Syd who has now advised me three times that there are no J seats for an ODU and a trip to the QANTAS Club has quickly confirmed the upgrade. Some of them are real dogs.

But not all...

 

[abstraction]

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

But not all...

Totally agree. I often get great service at check-in. I guess that makes the contrast of the 'can't be bothered' more frustrating. You're never sure what you're going to get.

You usually know who is platinum nearby because you can see who the flight crew welcome.