WP treatment in Y

[BAM1748]

You really think non status people get the chance to select such seats or even have the knowledge to do so?

Elderly friends of ours, at check in asked to be located near the WC as she had a disturbed stomach. The check in people duly obliged. They boarded and sat down. Then an FA approached them and said that due to health concerns they'd have to leave the plane. They then had to stay overnight until a Dr said they were ok for travel.

Can you tell what airline this was on please?

Matt

 

[heycam]

Yes, I've done this when they've asked if they could bring me a drink from up the front - I've said no, thanks, but if there's any chance I could get an espresso when you're doing the coffee service, that would be amazing. They've always been happy to oblige.

I didn't get a personal greeting on QF94 last night so I didn't get a chance to ask the CSM/CSS for the espresso. And I'm certainly not going to grab them later in the flight and say "excuse me but since I'm WP could you please ..." – might be a bit much! In fact I wonder if I was noted as WP on the manifest at all, as greetings and express passes were given to some of the other passengers in the mini-Y cabin. Maybe checking in in Seattle with Alaska causes this not to be recorded properly? (Sometime I wonder whether status pax sitting in the bulkhead row at the front of the cabin get more attention than those distributed about the rest of the cabin.)

I did ask for an express pass later on and was happily given one, though fat lot of good it did; didn't realise MEL doesn't have an express pass lane for the customs check after picking up baggage. The queue was snaking around the baggage carousels like nothing I've seen before. Took a good 40 mins in the queue for me.

An an aside: the entertainment system wasn't working at all for the whole flight. (Didn't worry me as I planned to sleep most of the night anyway.) When it came time to do the safety demonstration, a special audio-only version was played over the cabin speakers. Obviously wasn't just the audio of the usual video. No background music or anything. Sounded very straightforward and direct.

 

[DTM1]

MEL does have an express lane after baggage collection.

 

[heycam]

MEL does have an express lane after baggage collection.

Ah. Maybe it wasn't in operation today? I asked someone official looking who said that there wasn't one, and I couldn't find any obvious signage.

 

[cmon0005]

Ah. Maybe it wasn't in operation today? I asked someone official looking who said that there wasn't one, and I couldn't find any obvious signage.

Has anyone else found that the MEL outgoing express lane is a farce or was I just unlucky?

I used it with a CX express pass in November, turned left at the door expecting a priority security line, but in the end it just joined in to the normal queue towards the xray machine, there were no staff directing people from the 'Express lane' so I had to just 'insert' myself into the queue and explain to the people in the normal queue after receiving 'evil eyes' that I wasn't queue jumping but had an express pass, hardly a premium experience and a bit embarrassing.

 

[flyingfan]

MEL does have an express lane after baggage collection.

Ah. Maybe it wasn't in operation today? I asked someone official looking who said that there wasn't one, and I couldn't find any obvious signage.

I can assure you there is no Express Path exit once you have collected your bags.

During peak times there are three exit lanes for passengers (two on the left side if you're facing forwards after walking down from passport control, one on the right) and one in the middle for crew. These four lanes merge into three lanes where you will be shunted out the door or to the appropriate channel. None of these lanes are for Express Path. There used to be an express exit sitting roughly centrally, with the Express Path symbol on the sign, but in their wisdom it was removed (some months ago I think).

 

[TonyHancock]

I can assure you there is no Express Path exit once you have collected your bags.

During peak times there are three exit lanes for passengers (two on the left side if you're facing forwards after walking down from passport control, one on the right) and one in the middle for crew. These four lanes merge into three lanes where you will be shunted out the door or to the appropriate channel. None of these lanes are for Express Path. There used to be an express exit sitting roughly centrally, with the Express Path symbol on the sign, but in their wisdom it was removed (some months ago I think).

I haven't seen one for months either.

 

[Kangol]

Has anyone else found that the MEL outgoing express lane is a farce or was I just unlucky?

I used it with a CX express pass in November, turned left at the door expecting a priority security line, but in the end it just joined in to the normal queue towards the xray machine, there were no staff directing people from the 'Express lane' so I had to just 'insert' myself into the queue and explain to the people in the normal queue after receiving 'evil eyes' that I wasn't queue jumping but had an express pass, hardly a premium experience and a bit embarrassing.

I think you were unlucky. Yes it does direct you back to the normal queue but every time I use it, that lane is a lot shorter than the normal one.

 

[drewbles]

MEL does have an express lane after baggage collection.

As of when? It was removed some time ago in the name of 'renovation', but it wasn't there late last year...

 

[pagingjoan]

MEL does have an express lane after baggage collection.

Would love to learn that this is true but have not seen an Express Lane in Melbourne after baggage collection, for many a moon.
However, as a small consolation, the SmartGate receipt card does seem the key to Express treatment once you hit a triage point.
Have always had direct exit after showing the card.

 

[medhead]

I'm still baffled what that has to do with WP's flying whY? there is a whole plane full of numpties who think they can use any toilet, including other pax in your class of travel, what if one of them has taken the fin review in with them?
.

Because the platinums in Y are the worst offenders IME. The rest of the numpties in Y seem capable of getting the hint when confronted with a closed curtain. As for what they should do, first always close the curtain, second do as VA do and direct people walking the ought the curtain to the rear.

 

[thommo50]

Don't really care how I am treated being a platinum in economy, besides every man and his dog is a platinum these days.

All I'm interested in is the Express check in Express immigration and if I'm not travelling business having first choice of seating at the front of economy so I can get off the plane first. My main objective these days is to be at the airport the least amount of time as possible. Don't care about the lounges. The only lounge I don't mind spending a little bit of time in, (no more than an hour) is the first class lounge Sydney Melbourne and Singapore (Singapore not known as first but feels like it)

I consider a perfect departure passing through immigration waiting 30min or less then going straight to the gate for boarding. I have it down to a fine art these days. And thanks to being platinum when landing in Sydney from overseas I'm generally home within 30 min from the time we touch down lol ( I never have checked in bags) Well and truly over the airport experience and lounge experience

In regards to passengers using toilets, I wouldn't dream of using business class toilets if I'm sitting in economy.

There was a time I took it personally that I wasn't greeted most times, now it doesn't bother me. I find the majority of Qantas staff on flights easy going and down to earth, you get the odd one that is a pain. Generally I'm treated quite well, it comes down to my attitude mostly.

If I'm flying internationally or a long domestic journey its very rare that I don't get involved in a conversation with the crew at the galley, I don't know if they know I'm a platinum or not , not that it should make any difference I never let on that I am . Whatever extra I get in economy I consider a privilege rather than a right. Its my choice to fly Qantas if I get rewarded for it all the better. I don't play the loyalty card, those days of loyalty are long gone in this day and age. I fly mostly because of the benefits I get, mentioned above, and the fact I know I'm being piloted by very professional and extremely well trained flight crew.

 

[TonyHancock]

All I'm interested in is the express check in express immigration and if I'm not travelling business first choice of seating at the front of economy so I can get off the plane first.

I'd rather hope QF would take care of those above Platinum in the seating stakes.

 

[roncritch]

Don't really care how I am treated being a platinum in economy, besides every man and his dog is a platinum these days.

I had my first flight as a platinum today....another dog joins the group!! lolol
For the first time in ages I had no acknowledgement from staff at all, I think I will go back to gold.
If you have read my tales on this particular post, both myself and Mrs rc have had wonderful experiences over the past 12 months without being a platinum at all. Goes to show that you get good crew then you get great crew!!
Acknowledgement doesn't bother me, but getting row 4 does Got it today after some consternation and yes, used the upfront toilet on the 738! (The 1 business class client did not seem to mind...I did wait for him to go first!) lol

 

[dairyfloss]

Just adding to the earlier 'bathroom of your cabin' discussion; sitting in row 23 of today's QF81 SYD-SIN, I noticed a very active campaign by the FAs to turn around anyone attempting to cross the curtain for a visit to the J bathrooms - reading AFF perhaps?

 

[legroom]

Just adding to the earlier 'bathroom of your cabin' discussion; sitting in row 23 of today's QF81 SYD-SIN, I noticed a very active campaign by the FAs to turn around anyone attempting to cross the curtain for a visit to the J bathrooms - reading AFF perhaps?

Or Red Roo must have been doing that.

BTW, mods: could this comment be moved to the LAV thread ? Thanks

 

[jdp]

On QF730 on Thursday, sitting in row 4 (first Y row on a 737), the FA's made a point of telling everyone in rows 4 and 5 to feel free to use the J toilet despite the curtain being shut. This wasn't prompted. Nice gesture. She was holding a manifest at the time so might have known that all of row 4 and 5 were WP (it certainly seemed that way).

 

[dfcatch]

On QF730 on Thursday, sitting in row 4 (first Y row on a 737), the FA's made a point of telling everyone in rows 4 and 5 to feel free to use the J toilet despite the curtain being shut. This wasn't prompted. Nice gesture. She was holding a manifest at the time so might have known that all of row 4 and 5 were WP (it certainly seemed that way).

I've been invited by the FA to do that before (seated 4D), but I declined. I think it's the wrong thing.

But acknowledgement is appreciated.

 

[Shan Man]

Had my first flight as a WP yesterday, and outside not using the toilet (99% of my flights are whY Syd-Mel Return, Im a big boy and can hold it for an hour) Didnt recieve a welcome from the Cabin manage but wasnt that bothered. It's a short flight and the ipads werent working so the americans were loud and upset so he was busy.

The most interesting part of the day was trying to enter the Business Lounge at Syd. The lounge "angel" didnt believe I was me and had to sight not only my QFF card, but my drivers license as well to make sure, as she so nicley put it "I hope you arent using your dad's account". The downside to being a young FF perhaps?

 

[defurax]

Had my first flight as a WP yesterday, and outside not using the toilet (99% of my flights are whY Syd-Mel Return, Im a big boy and can hold it for an hour) Didnt recieve a welcome from the Cabin manage but wasnt that bothered. It's a short flight and the ipads werent working so the americans were loud and upset so he was busy.

The most interesting part of the day was trying to enter the Business Lounge at Syd. The lounge "angel" didnt believe I was me and had to sight not only my QFF card, but my drivers license as well to make sure, as she so nicley put it "I hope you arent using your dad's account". The downside to being a young FF perhaps?

IME the only WP recognition I get on SYD-MEL flights is a "warmer" welcome at the door when they see Platinum written on the BP.

Well, I guess the dragon was taking her job a bit too seriously...be ready for DNA testing and retina scan at your next visit! Though, she might get to recognise you in the future if you became WP flying only SYD-MEL in Y :shock: