The seat has no IFE

[Hvr]

And I don't care, but let's tell the story.

When checking in at the Airport Express station this afternoon I was asked to change my route home, I booked HKG-BNE-MEL, It will give me exactly enough SCs (with the HKG 50% extra SCs) to retain WP for another year.

I refused to change the routing at the station and got the appropriate BPs and came to the airport. The first lounge I saw was the QF lounge so I came in for a shower and some soup.

Nancy from Qantas came and asked me if I would change my routing home via SYD because the IFE on a J seat on the HKG-BNE flight wasn't working.

I asked if she could guarantee ORC. I explained it to her and showed the SC counter on the Qantas web site and explained that routing through SYD would leave me 10 SCs short of requalifying for WP. She said she couldn't guarantee it.

I said I was happy to not have IFE because I would be sleeping all the way home. She said that it wasn't my seat but another that she may move me to the other seat with my permission. I asked her what seat and checked the seat map to make sure the console was on the 'inside' of the seat as I prefer.

It was.

I think I have overwhelmed her with my knowledge of the program and seats at this stage and she will see me when the plane arrives to discuss what will happen.

If I had been assured of ORC this matter would've been resolved in seconds. Surely if she made a quick call to head office it could be done and all this other work avoided.

Any way I'll keep you all informed.

 

[moa999]

Presumably an oversell somewhere and they were looking for people to move.

But I guess staff have no ability to guarantee SC.

That said with all the weather issues in SYD today and forecast for tomorrow, I'm surprised they are pushing anyone in the direction of SYD

 

[Hvr]

I'd forgotten about the SYD problems and while I may arrive on time getting down to MEL may be an issue. Noting I have to be at work at 1800 hours Friday not worth the risk.

 

[Hvr]

Have just had a First Host visit me here (I missed her name) and have been advised that all seats are fine so need to change seats. She did thank me for being prepared to swap.

So nearly time to get some sleep.

 

[JohnK]

No IFE and it wasn't your seat and they were asking if you don't mind moving. But it wasn't an issue.

You would have received originsl routing credit. Lounge agent cannot guarantee.

 

[Hvr]

I know I would've but when they're asking me for a favour they should be able to do it.

Anyway, I board and settle down for the flight. Nothing happens, I see the CSM receive a call and watch his face fall. Then there is an announcement from the Captain that due to weather issues over the Philippines there are limited flight tracks available and we're going to be delayed at least another 60 minutes.

The good thing? Because our flight has sought take off clearance before lots of others our 60 minute delay is a lot less than theirs which could be a120 minutes.

After 60 minutes we took off and headed for BNE.

More to come soon.

 

[serfty]

I would suggest oversold - and they managed to move enough PAX.

Looking at yesterday's 4 Qantas HKG-SYD/BNE/MEL flights they depart with a total of two seats available for sale (QF98/QF118 each shopwing J1).

That is out of 150 seats in total.

 

[Hvr]

Anyway we're going to be late into but nothing to do except enjoy the flight.

Once the seat belt sign is off I'm laying the bed flat and sleeping. I woke just in time to get changed and prepare for landing. The pyjamas had a green coloured kangaroo on the front which I hadn't seen before.

The CSM gave me the new flight I'd been booked on because it was likely I'd miss my booked flight.

My 9:00 am flight was a bit tight landing at 7:30 am but I was going to give it a red hot go.

Off the plane and quick march looking for a SmartGate machine. Got my ticket and as I walked up the lines spotted a free machine and was through in seconds.

Customs had some huge lines so I asked where to go with my Express pass and was directed frontwards where my pass was collected and I was inserted at the head of the line and quickly dispatched through the barrier and on to the great outdoors.

Amazingly a transfer bus was due within minutes and I was third in line. (No cutting in line like last time through BNE.)

Upon arrival at QF-D terminal I took advantage of the priority entrance to the J lounge at 8.00 am, I went to service counter asking if there was still a seat on the 9:00am flight. I presented my original (row 2) BP and was given a new BP with a Row 3 seat.

Next up the flight from BNE-MEL.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've had the "IFE isn't working" story to be moved seats before. Lo and behold upon boarding, there's a lovey dovey couple sitting together, where my original seat would be, happily watching their movies..

 

[Himeno]

Does QF say that often? The only times I've been asked to change seats on QF after check in they said why. Family seating together.
If they are going to spin some story to try to get someone to change seats, don't use something that can easily be found out not to be true as soon as they board.

Only time I've had an IFE issue mentioned was on a JL NRT-ICN and it was mentioned at the check in counter. No IFE on flight as domestic 767 being used. Planned international config aircraft had been taken out of service.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Does QF say that often? The only times I've been asked to change seats on QF after check in they said why. Family seating together.
If they are going to spin some story to try to get someone to change seats, don't use something that can easily be found out not to be true as soon as they board.

Only time I've had an IFE issue mentioned was on a JL NRT-ICN and it was mentioned at the check in counter. No IFE on flight as domestic 767 being used. Planned international config aircraft had been taken out of service.

Well in my case. The couple that ended up in the seat I had selected, seemed to be getting along very well with the crew. I suspect either friends, or perhaps colleagues off-duty, or my tin-foil hat theory - newly wed couple who were comp'ed during checkin and seated together.

 

[Hvr]

The flight from BNE-MEL.

So I made the 9:00 am flight but ended up in row 3. We all know that row 3 is the red haired step child of J and so it was again.

I boarded quickly with priority boarding actually being implemented for at least the first few passengers. Took my seat and started to relax and think about getting home.

The FA on the door seemed to know a few of the boarding passengers and wanted to chat. Not a good sign. The FA serving pre-departure drinks in J was efficient and just wanted to get the job done in a professional manner. When asked by the boarding FA if she knew any of the pax she knew, replied no I'm not MEL crew.

We take off and meal service begins. With two staff serving the food is dispatched fairly quickly. The J FA (aka boarding FA) also asked me if I wanted a drink offering juice, water, alcohol or soft drink. I ordered the usual, Coke Zero. She asked me if I wanted ice, yes please. Literally five seconds later I was asked what I wanted to drink. Same response and again asked if I wanted ice.

So eating my meal and the other pax have their drinks including alcohol. The tea/coffee service begins and the FA sees her friend in row two and starts talking. And talking and talking. For at least ten minutes, he finished his coffee and was served seconds.

Finally, the FA realised she had been talking too long and finished row two and started on refreshing row one's drinks.

She eventually gets to me in row 3 and asks me if I wanted a coffee. I replied that I was still waiting for my Coke Zero. A look of horror on her face and she ran back to get it. Apologies and my drink is finally served. I actually had two drinks served quickly along with several packets of nuts and almonds.

As we near the end of the flight she goes to each row and makes a grand gesture thanking each person for flying Qantas. The look on my face must've told her to tone it down.

Frankly, all I want is quiet efficient service so I can relax and enjoy the flight. The crew are there to work not socialise and when it affects other customers it is frustrating and annoying.

As noted previously I was in row two but with the delays was glad to get a seat and row three it was. Well I got home safely and that is the ultimate goal.

Next up, a tale of two taxis.

 

[Hvr]

All flights posted as well as the HKG 50% extra SCs, to give me a total of 1,200 SCs for the membership year.

I have a loyalty bonus due for a decision in the first week of the next membership year so will start with 50 SCs and one trip booked in June.

The game continues.

 

[Hvr]

And now the taxi stories.

My MH flight KUL-HKG was due to arrive at 2340 hours, time enough to clear immigration and get the last train into town, due to depart at 0048 hours. But to no avail, we arrived in HKG after midnight and I ran.

Got to immigration and the queues were long. Really long and seemingly not moving very fast. Still nothing to do but wait and hope. Eventually through and ran for the train. I got there just as the barriers were down and the last train departed for the city. So off to the taxi rank.

There are three lines, Lantau Island, New Territories and Hong Kong/Kowloon. I entered the last line and was very quickly at the head of the line and was asked my address by the dispatcher. I had the address of the hotel on my tablet in English and Chinese, he entered it into his machine and printed out a ticket with the taxi details including drivers name and number, the address I was travelling to, the tolls and fare range.

Got to my address safely and was driven by a competent driver and the fare was at the lower end of the range. The driver pointed out the doorway to the apartment hotel and happily accepted the HKD$270 I gave him for the HKD$265 fare. I declined the change to his great delight. The tolls were included on the meter and total fare as well as listed on the slip.

That's how it should be done.

When I arrived in MEL I needed to get home quickly and didn't have time for the train despite having gotten to the airport by train and bus. So off to the taxi rank. The dispatcher directed me to a bay and eventually a taxi arrived after several empty taxis passed the rank.

First warning this wasn't going to be a good trip.

He couldn't park anywhere near the edge of the bay, still I got in and gave an address close to mine where I wanted to be dropped off. The driver was quite unsure of where to go despite entering it into the GPS. Still when has a Melbourne taxi driver ever known where to go?

So basic directions and we move in the correct direction. I tell him the turn offs and eventually we are on a freeway and there is a huge traffic jam in front of us. Other concerns about the driver, inckuded his ver poor driving skills such as; inability to stay in his lane, no pre-planning to turn off, very nervous etc nor did he look anything like the photo on the dash.

Anyway he turns off as directed and asks which way to go. While at the traffic lights I ask him if his GPS is working. No, it broke a long time ago was the response. Frankly, I don't think he knew how to work it.

Anyway I direct him to the desired address and tell him where to stop. Only missed it by about 50m even though he was driving slowly. Close enough.

He then tells me there are tolls and extras to be paid. I tell him to put them on the meter. He starts fiddling with it and I get my small bags out of the boot. Back to the cabin and he's still trying. Then he says the meter is too old to put on the extras and I just have to pay them. I ask what are the extras? He says there is a $3 City Link toll and an airport parking fee of $3.80.

I ask for proof of the parking fee. He says there isn't any and that I have to trust him. I then ask about the toll and ask where it was incurred on our route. He's now lost because I know there aren't any on the route we travelled (I do it all the time and don't have an E-tag). He makes up a story and mentions roads we passed but don't have tolls.

I tell him I will pay the exact fare on the meter and nothing else. He starts complaining and whining that I have to pay the parking fee. I tell him he's already been caught lying once trying to get money he wasn't entitled to. Without proof of him paying the parking fee he's not getting a cent of it.

I stand on the footpath with the actual fare listening to him carrying on. He threatened to call the police, I told him I'd happily wait for them and that I would tell them about his attempt to claim a toll fee when not incurred.

After five minutes of total calmness on my behalf he realised I was up for anything he threatened and that the best he could hope for was the fare on the meter. He accepted it and then sat there watching me for another few minutes wanting to see where I went. I pulled out my phone and pretended to start photographing him until he drove away.

No wonder Uber and other services are gaining ground when a basic taxi ride is frankly dangerous. A woman may well have been totally intimidated into paying, especially if she hadn't gotten her bags out. Visitors to Melbourne would've probably been ripped off for even more than he tried to steal from me.

 

[serfty]

Sad story.

I remember 10 years ago some FTers were taken from MEL via the Western Ring road to the (then) Hilton on the park - and charged tolls.

Taxi fares | Taxi Services Commission

 

[downgraded]

All so familiar. QF is good when it's good but the J host behaviour can be all too common. I hate the overt fawning, but friends of staff, starry eyed with a minor celeb or needy pax, too often tips the balance to poor customer experience.

As for MEL taxis, I even choose to stay sober and drive myself than run the gauntlet of the commercial driver industry.

OT but at the end of a recent long haul Y experience on QF ( which was excellent), my farewell visit from the CSM included a comment that now she was off to listen to all the complaints from the J pax as she worked her way through that cabin. Hvr's experience is another example of why this happens.

 

[andyhui01]

Re Int-Dom connections. in VA, I arrived on a DPS-SYD flight with a connection to MEL. Plane arrived late, I was at the transfer desk about 45mins before my schedule flight departed with BP in hand and no check in. I asked the agent if I could try to make that flight and go back to the lounge if I missed it, she said no. If I missed that flight, it would be a no show and my ticket will be cancelled, she made up some story about traffic being bad (even though the bus doesn't go on public roads). I was pretty annoyed by this and nice to see QF have more flexibility.

As for the Melb taxi. The driver is right about the airport surcharge. I think he wanted to pocket the tolls/surcharge and not have to pay half to the owner at the end of the shift.

I have been approached by CX about the IFE not working story at check in. I declined to change seats (Y) as I had a bulkhead C seat on a A330 and said I hate the screens on bulkheads anyway and was just going to listen to some music and get some rest. She asked if I was sure multiple times and I insisted. At the gate, got an upgrade to J. I never went back to see if the IFE was really not working but I suspect they gave the seat to someone else or a couple before they offered me.

I hate it when staff make stories up (I don't know if they even know the truth) but from a company comms policy, if they front and be honest. I will work with them to find a solution and be as flexible as I can. If the story is inconsistent and I believe they are making stories up, I will be difficult.

 

[docjames]

Interesting the IFE issue.

I was (points) upgraded to F MEL-DXB (and then in J on EK to AMS) last year.

QF called at 2015hrs to see if I could make it to EK checkin by 2100 (i was at home ~ 45m from airport with chauffeur drive coming @ 2030). Reason given was "broken IFE" in my allocated F seat.

I was concerned that if i agreed then didnt make checkin, i'd lose seat on QF9 so insisted seat be held on QF9 (and go without IFE). Was assured seat would be available and they'd be trying to fix IFE when QF10 arrived, but "best" was to transfer me to EK anyway.

It seemed pretty genuine as the reason given they had changed my flight although i suppose it could have been to free the F seat for someone else to be on QF9 (and EK kept checkin open for me - called as I was arriving at the departures road loop at MEL). Kept the F upgrade too. I assume J on the QF9 was full (given i'd got the upgrade as SG).