Would you complain to QF about this?

[MatF]

Wow, I'm amazed that someone would say that. I'm even more amazed that someone from ADL would say that

Definitely feedback.

I often have this when travelling alone, being that I'm also 21. "So, Mr Dubs, do you do a lot of travel?" and I've also had "You seem young, how did you get your way up here/ what do you do for a living at such a young age" or something to that effect. I've never been offended by it, I find the ways they try to keep it tactful, kind of entertaining.

I have had "how do you afford this?" on one occasion, but seeing as she told me earlier in conversation that she had not long changed over from Jetstar, I decided I couldn't be upset about her asking. Instead, I just replied "Mum pays for it" with my signature spoilt brat smile!

Surely "I'm someone's toyboy" is the best response?

 

[Solid]

You seem to have a case of selective recollection as well.

Probably worthwhile that you go back and read my OP, the question posed had nothing to do with entitlements or baggage.

 

[smit0847]

Surely "I'm someone's toyboy" is the best response?

You could simply ask 'how much do you earn a year?'

 

[Hvr]

Absolutely complain, just tell Qantas what happened re the comment by the staff member and leave it there. That way they can ensure that the staff member will learn how to approach customers and ask rather than assuming that a person isn't entitled to a particular benefit.

 

[Solid]

If it was a Business ticket, they should be automatically priority tagged with the black box printed on the tag. There doesnt need to be the pink flag.

thanks FTM, I didn't know that.

 

[spentan]

Being a 24 year old self-funded BIS WP that has flown solely in J or F for the last 18 months, (never wanna go back), I almost always travel in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals.

I have almost never been "categorised" as a non-business class traveller, only once, that was with a DJ CSR, (as a DJ WP), and it was actually quite interesting as she was really rude and started to ignore me until I told her "I am a Platinum Member of both Qantas and Virgin, and I have never been talked to this way in my life."

She almost broke down, there must've been about 10-15 apologies, I was just like "I don't care for your apologies, there is no way I'd fly Virgin again with that attitude". I personally wouldn't fly them if I could help it, because I realised thats how they treat their pleb customers.

I usually walk around with my Platinum Card ready to flash. It was funny when I was flying LAX-SYD in J, and I had 3 friends travelling in Y with me, and I walked up to the F Check in counter, the lady was like wtf, 4 people in shorts flying in F? I flashed my WP card, and they were happy to check us all in together, along with tagging everyone with First class tags.

I will continue to fly Qantas as long as I am able to, love their service, and have never been mistaken for a pleb.

Disclaimer: I am 6ft9in and 180kg, this may have something to do with the above

 

[Flying mermaid]

We had a similar experience (not as bad!) when travelling business from canberra to Darwin. We are self funded, pleasure travellers only and on this occasion were casually dressed as in dress and sandals and Mr FM had a short sleeve shirt, although with a collar and casual long pants and shoes. So not tacky but definitely casual. I hate using the self check luggage bit, as it always spits the dummy for me. I walked up to the business check in and the dragon guarding the entrance stopped me and asked if I was international and I said no and she said you can't use this. I stared at her in disbelief and said not even for business we are business to Darwin and she said all the way? I sort of looked at her in amazement - what does that mean I wondered- it made no sense! Anyway I said yes and she grudgingly let us through. My kids have also been challenged when travelling on their own in business/first. these days I only pay for Y for them but they have all had trips on their own in J/F as special treats and they are constantly challenged .we usually were when travelling as a family,so stereotypes are alive and well!

However to end on a positive note we flew back from Melbourne yesterday and we were wandering along the many rows of machines vainly trying to find a place where we could check in. (Mr FM has said that next time we travel domestically he is going to take on and beat the machines as it is silly not to). Anyway a very nice Qantas ground staff lady stopped and asked if we had a problem and when I explained she said there was a check in desk at the other end near Jetstar. She then said but it is ok for you to check in here (at the international check in desks) As we turned to do so I heard her whisper to the lady with her They are platinum. (I was clutching my platinum card). . I was left with a warm and fuzzy feeling for Qantas.

 

[ajw373]

Why would I have a receipt? After she told them again that she was flying business and showed them the eticket printout for a second time the extra baggage fee was waived as it should be.

She was also slightly annoyed that the bags weren't priority tagged as they went through self checkin but I told her with QF that doesn't necessarily mean they will come out as priority even when tagged.

You will find that the self serve machines and indeed the human ones now print the words priority with a OneWorld logo on the tag rather than being seperatly tagged. Since dropping to gold I have not had one bag tagged seperatly but the printed tag is as I described, so seems first still get a tag but not the rest.

 

[ozmille]

I have had similar experience but with CX and not QF.

I was walking leisurely to the First Check in section in Row B in HKIA and a lady walked up and said: "Economy Check in is in Row D or E", and she actually walked me to economy check in. Anyway, I didn't want to kick a fuss because I was at the airport early and went with her. Luckily the queue wasn't that long and I waited for around 10 minute.

On presentation of my passport, the check in staff immediately asked why I did not check in using the F facility with my status and I was travelling in J also. I explained and the girl was immediately called to the counter and asked to apologise. I didn't kick a big fuss about it and told them it was a non-issue. However, it created a bit of a hassle for the check in staff because he didn't have First Class tag and had to run over to grab me some. He was also very apologetic.

I always travel in t-shirt (I love my Comme Des Garscon) and jeans, so perhaps that created the perception. But I would never really kick a big fuss out of this. What's the benefit in complaining?

Had something similar at check in with BA in BRU (OT but I detest those outsourced grumpy check in people in BRU), SWMBO and I walk up to the check in counter with a small mountain of luggage (both of us travelling J so allowed 3 pieces each and each a cabin bag and laptop bag) and the check in lady says very loudly so that everybody checking in around us could hear "that will not be allowed when travelling in economy, you will have to pay", I looked at her and just handed my passport and said "that should be fine thanks".

Often it is easier to just ignore them and have an extra stiff drink in the lounge, it's not nice but I am not letting people ruin my trip.

I also like wearing casual clothes just to annoy stressed out suit types like you.. As the Moët & smiles flowed freely toward me for the rest of the flight. :mrgreen:

Those looks often come when you are in 1A on a BA intra-European flight after you flew in from Oz in jeans and t-shirt and they are on their way to some meetings

I am already looking forward to those looks in a couple of weeks, have 1A to BRU and back to LHR already booked in :mrgreen:

 

[jetlagger]

Those looks often come when you are in 1A on a BA intra-European flight after you flew in from Oz in jeans and t-shirt and they are on their way to some meetings

I am already looking forward to those looks in a couple of weeks, have 1A to BRU and back to LHR already booked in :mrgreen:

Certainly glad I'm not lassoed into wearing one of those antiquated styles of dress to any boring boardroom.. I prefer it smart casual, though my labels are more discreet :mrgreen:

 

[DrA]

I've never had an issue with QF in this regard. But apparently I raise a few eyebrows on AA and CX.

I normally fly wearing jeans and a polo shirt for comfort as I do a lot of long haul, but I'm young'ish (late 20's) and female. I've been spoken to at HKIA a couple of times by the gate agents about lining up in the business class line because I couldn't possibly be travelling business. And on AA, I've copped it at check in and at the gate. Once by a fellow passenger who said "you need to line up with everyone else over there". When I showed him my boarding pass clearly showing I was flying first and my FF status, he asked if my sugar daddy had paid for it...

Not pleasant, but incidents are few and far between, and I've heard worse before.

 

[tuapekastar]

Two incidents stick in my mind - both with QF. I believe I have recounted them here before but will again as they are relevant to this topic. On both occasions my dress was 'neat casual' ('good' jeans, shoes and collared shirt)

1. When I was a CX Diamond (OWE) I went to the MEL F checkin lounge to check in for a QF flight to HKG in Y. I handed passport and CX Diamond card over, and the lady started the check in process. Part way through she stopped and looked intently at me and said "You do realise this is the F check in?" I allowed that I did. She then asked "And you do realise you are travelling in Y?" I could nowt but agree with her as this was incontrovertibly true as well. I wanted to ask if she thought I was somehow brain damaged but was concerned she might answer "yes". I motioned towards the CX diamond card and she looked at it (again) then completed the check in process in complete (and mildly sullen) silence. I should have fed this back to QF but did not.

2. When a paid QP member I was lined up in the 'premium' check in area at AKL for an early morning check in on QF in Y. When I was next in line the middle one of three active agents became free and looked up and specifically said "business class only, calling up anyone flying in business class". I was unsure and hesitated (thought there may have been an unpublished pecking order within the premium check in area, though I had used it before without issue) and three 'suits' went by me and got served. When she finished serving them I think she made a similar call re business class but I strode up to the counter anyway and said "doesn't QP membership cut it anymore?" She proceeded to (pleasantly) check me in. I suspect in this case there must have been a bunch of Y flyers in there prior to me who shouldn't have been, but I guess I'll never know for sure.

I've never really been a 'complainer' but have changed my tune recently and decided if you do not tell 'em about a problem they'll never know. Even small ones add up if they occur enough.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Once by a fellow passenger who said "you need to line up with everyone else over there". When I showed him my boarding pass clearly showing I was flying first and my FF status, he asked if my sugar daddy had paid for it...

Not pleasant, but incidents are few and far between, and I've heard worse before.

Wow if that happened to my daughter (either of them) the person concerned would have really got a pretty nasty comment back! Very unpleasant!

 

[tuapekastar]

Wow if that happened to my daughter (either of them) the person concerned would have really got a pretty nasty comment back! Very unpleasant!

Yes it is a pretty arrogant and rude thing to say. A swift kick to the orchestras would be in order!

 

[EmilyHoward]

Pls post pic of wife and perhaps we can do a poll?

EH

PS: only joking .... just in case anyone thought I was serious

 

[medhead]

he asked if my sugar daddy had paid for it...

It's times like those you need a Packer come back like "I'll toss ya for it"*

Anyway, pretty disgusting. Maybe you could have replied that your toy boy doesn't like you keeping a sugar daddy as well.



*For those who don't know, the story goes that Big Kerry Packer was gambling in a casino somewhere (perhaps Vegas) and there was a Texan carrying on about how much he was worth (DYKWIA style). Packer got tired of this and asked the guy how much he was worth. On hearing the reply he apparently said "I'll toss ya for it".

 

[DrA]

In hindsight, I wish I had just ignored him and not reacted.

If actual airline employees question me about being in the right area, I don't actually mind. If it's posed as a question. It's when they automatically make the assumption that I'm not flying business/first or that I don't have the FF status to be where I am that bugs me. I'm not sure if it's the way I'm dressed or my age that triggers it.

 

[Deleted member]

Even before I had any real status, as a QP Life Member I always used the AKL book in lounge. And have never been refused.
I have had some issues with lounge access before attaining some status and not knowing any better I just went with the flow


It is I, Leclerc !

 

[medhead]

For dodgy questions I like to take a leaf out of Little Britain's book and I often reply "Yeah, I know" and just stand there of course.

 

[maroonone]

How about next time you are challenged at the "real" check in you respond with "I'm just trying to keep you in jobs".