Did a few SYD-CBR, SYD-MEL, SYD-OOL return trips on QF in 2021. Certainly feels good to be back on the air.
Check-in & baggage drop - nothing new for me. I have always used the kiosk thingy to do my check-in. Although on my recent flight to CBR, I did use the premium check in after almost a year and it was good
Food at the lounge - I have stopped expecting great food at the lounge post CoVID. There are still some dishes that I like and would go for a second helping - but I'm sort of restricting myself food-wise.
Liquor at the lounge - The selection seems sufficient to my taste. I usually nurse a glass of beer or wine before the flight. So it hardly matters what I nurse, as long as I have got something in my hand when I watch Netflix.
Food at the flight - again, not much expectations. I enjoyed what was served in my flights. I'm a vego, so there's not much options anyways. At least pre-CoVID one could pre-order meals. But that's not happening any more. Had a pasta once, which was good. Always a nice selection of sourdough bread, butted & red wine on board.
On a side note - digging the new coffee cups that QF gives on board. The red ones - they are sturdy and looks awesome too. I have got a pic somewhere in my phone, will try & post it here
Welcoming by last name when boarding as status member - happens to me all the time, pre & post CoVID. Always addressed by my last name. struggling to pronounce my Indian last name
My +1 was also welcomed, the FA rightly pronounced her last name. To be fair, her last name is much, much easier than mine
The
only Cabin Manager that did pronounce my name right was Brad, he was the CSM on QF127 & 128 pre-CoVID. He was managing the the 127/128 very often and I used to see him in almost all my trips to HKG. Everytime he sees me waiting on the aerobridge, he'd wave to me, nice bloke
Like everyone pointed out, there is no social distancing observed when boarding or alighting the aircraft. I have had pax, masks still in the pouch or in their hand and sneezing as they walk past my seat. I'm like, seriously, you could've at least worn the mask before taking a sneeze on me
Pax sitting in rows 4 & 5 are more ready to alight even before the J pax have had a chance to grab their bags
Unsure if this is a fair statement or if this ONLY my experience - but it's something I noticed, people are now LESS patient than they were pre-CoVID. There was this gentleman in row 6, QF, Y - who had this *look* on his face that he was not happy for some reason ... was eager to pick a fight, if only anyone initiated it ... was almost ready to burst off ... may be he was not, but that's the vibe I got off of him ... I was in 3C, politely waiting for the pax in rows 2 & 1 to alight. There was an elderly lady in 3A, who, seemed to me as though she needed a hand to take her carry on from the overhead. I offered to help and I could see the relief on her face - she thanked me for offering to help and I was replying her not to mention & took her bag. All of this correspondence lasted less than 5 seconds. But the gentleman from row 6, for some reason, couldn't wait and he almost pushed me & shouted - are you going to go or not ?!?!
I was taken aback ... I politely said, I'm sorry, moved a bit forward and got into row 2 to let the row 6 gentleman alight. The FA saw this and asked the pax behind the row 6 pax to wait until the elderly lady & I got off the plane. The row 6 gentleman, was very worked up for some reason and he was last seen moving erratically near the gate and at baggage carousel. I'm sure he would've caught the attention of quite a few pax in the airport
I have no idea why he reacted the way he did or I'm not sure what I did that would've triggered such a reaction. The elderly lady & the FA were both apologising and I said it's ok.
All in all - I'm quite happy with the flights I have taken post-CoVID with QF. I have a few flights coming up - but I don't think I will be travelling - not until the SYD & MEL lockdowns/CoVID cases go down/situation changes.
The one thing I have learned is to lower one's expectations when it comes to anything and you'll be spared any worry