What's it like for Industry staff to travel on standby on airlines

[ozbeachbabe]

I am soon to be added as a category A traveller in the QF program. Does anyone have any recent experience regarding lounge access? I am currently SG and would prefer lounge access while travelling. Thanks in advance.

You could always access a Priority Pass Lounge as access to those lounges is not tied to QF either via ff status or class of travel so eg if flying ex BNE on staff travel you could use the Plaza Premium Lounge.

A common mistake some staff make is thinking there's plenty of J seats when they haven't factored in pax with points upgrade requests or bid now upgrade requests. Even on the day commercial pax who have opted in to upgrade at the airport (if upgrade hasn't already cleared in advance) are in with a chance when the flight closes and have a higher priority than anybody on staff leisure travel.

 

[williamsf1]

I am soon to be added as a category A traveller in the QF program. Does anyone have any recent experience regarding lounge access? I am currently SG and would prefer lounge access while travelling. Thanks in advance.

As a X staff member, and especially on International travel , most of the times you were not cleared to fly untill the flight was closed so you were around the check in desk ... once cleared it was a run to the gate ... no lounge time possible even if you were allowed to access!

Staff travel CAN be great ... but it only takes one small issue and it turns to S&%T very fast...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Staff travel say 30 years ago was a different ball game as commercial fares were way more expensive compared to the average salary so people didn't just go to the USA or Bali or even NZ on a whim like they can today. If you were young and not earning much then being in either the travel or airline industry meant than you were lucky to have the opportunity travel travel overseas.

Apart from the local departure taxes you paid in cash at airports the total price of the ticket was the total fare compared to these days when the total of the taxes (airport improvement fees, security tax, fuel surcharges etc) often exceed the base fare. In real terms airfares have decreased but even with all the taxes on top you'll still be paying less than now than in the 80's.

 

[bam71]

As a X staff member, and especially on International travel , most of the times you were not cleared to fly untill the flight was closed so you were around the check in desk ... once cleared it was a run to the gate ... no lounge time possible even if you were allowed to access!

Yes - we always thought of ourselves ( and the others there) as the Seagulls waiting for Chips