Done with NZ J class
Jan 27, 2019, 9:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 22
Done with NZ J class
after years of turning the other cheek about the stupid seating in NZ J class, experienced a soft product failure last month AKL-MEL. First the Koru Club rushed me to boarding, then I had to sit with no preflight service while coach passengers boarded the 789 through the forward door and ambled through the J cabin making comments such as, “You’d have to be stupid to pay for business class for a 3.5 hour flight.” And “I hate these seats, who’d pay to sit in them?” Then total loss of standards with the dinner service. I was told only one main course and one dessert choice left. I was full fare J. I expressed consternation and reminded the FA that many people in the cabin were upgrades, and that I didn’t appreciate not having a choice — the remaining main course was pork which is forbidden to me. FA: “I know where you’re coming from.” And that was that. No apology, no effort to compensate in any way fro the service failure. I’m done with NZ.
Jan 28, 2019, 5:23 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 644
If it makes you feel better, even if you did have your choice, chances are it would have been a pretty average meal anyway. (Sometimes they are terrible and rarely, they can be good).
The average "prawnless" entree would have been a good clue.
If you don't eat pork you should have asked about the choices in economy.
I find NZ does proactively approach Elite/Plat members more often than QF for meal selection priority. Then again, I recall always having my choice on QF even before I made Plat. Maybe I was lucky, or my selection are what no one else wants.
QF Credit: Plat/OWE have access to QF First flagship lounge ex SYD or MEL. They have excellent a la carte meals. You will struggle with inflight dining after.
The average "prawnless" entree would have been a good clue.
If you don't eat pork you should have asked about the choices in economy.
I find NZ does proactively approach Elite/Plat members more often than QF for meal selection priority. Then again, I recall always having my choice on QF even before I made Plat. Maybe I was lucky, or my selection are what no one else wants.
QF Credit: Plat/OWE have access to QF First flagship lounge ex SYD or MEL. They have excellent a la carte meals. You will struggle with inflight dining after.
Jan 28, 2019, 1:01 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Well I mean, from the FAs perspective while it is very unprofessional to say that... To most people, the idea of paying BP prices for such a short flight IS crazy. Us BP folk live in a strange bubble on incredible privilege. So I don't fault people for finding it odd at all.
I agree with others when comparing your options. I literally have no J option with Air NZ since I fly from Christchurch across the tasman, but I've flown with QF and Virgin. I have had good experiences with both but I don't think you are going to find they are any better with their soft product.
I agree with others when comparing your options. I literally have no J option with Air NZ since I fly from Christchurch across the tasman, but I've flown with QF and Virgin. I have had good experiences with both but I don't think you are going to find they are any better with their soft product.
Jan 28, 2019, 5:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Programs: Krisflyer, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Air NZ Airpoints, Koru, NZ*S and former *G
Posts: 317
The NZ hard product is well outdated now, but the crew experience is usually much better than that. I would be disappointed also, and with fair reason.
Jan 29, 2019, 5:42 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Platinum (LTS), VA Platinum
Posts: 1,672
Everyone may differ on opinion but with regards to meals I think a paid J passenger should have their meal option over an upgrade. They can take everyones orders then sort out in the galley paid pax, and status pax then return to those that miss out on 1st choice to ask 2nd choices.
Jan 29, 2019, 5:48 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,127
after years of turning the other cheek about the stupid seating in NZ J class, experienced a soft product failure last month AKL-MEL. First the Koru Club rushed me to boarding, then I had to sit with no preflight service while coach passengers boarded the 789 through the forward door and ambled through the J cabin making comments such as, “You’d have to be stupid to pay for business class for a 3.5 hour flight.” And “I hate these seats, who’d pay to sit in them?” Then total loss of standards with the dinner service. I was told only one main course and one dessert choice left. I was full fare J. I expressed consternation and reminded the FA that many people in the cabin were upgrades, and that I didn’t appreciate not having a choice — the remaining main course was pork which is forbidden to me. FA: “I know where you’re coming from.” And that was that. No apology, no effort to compensate in any way fro the service failure. I’m done with NZ.
Deep breath, shake off the entitlement and victimhood.
How were you rushed to boarding? Did they herd you out the door, or just make a call earlier than you wished? You know when the flight leaves, you know when to show up at the gate. If you are early, you get to people watch, be grateful that you get to fly in comfort, make a new acquaintance, zone out.
In all my years of flying in comfortable seats that they great unwashed walk by, never have I heard people say "I would never pay for that" or "I hate those seats, who'd pay to sit there" Really? All I have ever heard is how people want to sit there, must be nice, lucky you etc. And yes I am grateful that I can sit there.
The crew do not know that you are on a full fare J ticket. The people on upgrades are typically their frequent and loyal customers who will be offered meal choice first. I appreciate that. If a particular meal was so important to me I would order it. They have quite the selection to meet pretty much any dietary requirement. If this was your first flight ever, you could possible be excused for skipping over the special meal request part of the booking. Your post alludes to the fact this was not your flight.
Sometimes one has to take accountability and make choices of how you react.
Jan 29, 2019, 6:46 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,159
coach passengers boarded the 789 through the forward door and ambled through the J cabin making comments such as, “You’d have to be stupid to pay for business class for a 3.5 hour flight.” And “I hate these seats, who’d pay to sit in them?”
the remaining main course was pork which is forbidden to me. FA: “I know where you’re coming from.”
the remaining main course was pork which is forbidden to me. FA: “I know where you’re coming from.”
Well I mean, from the FAs perspective while it is very unprofessional to say that... To most people, the idea of paying BP prices for such a short flight IS crazy. Us BP folk live in a strange bubble on incredible privilege. So I don't fault people for finding it odd at all.
Jan 29, 2019, 10:28 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
Something (by which I mean everything) about OP's story doesn't add up. But apparently they can add NZ to another list of airlines they're done with after UA. Next up, "Done with QF!"
Jan 30, 2019, 2:20 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 644
Yep, I will be the first to start that thread when
- When One World / QF does away with First/Platinum lounges.
- QF introduces a roulette style SP earn
- prawns are off the menu.
- remove lifetime Gold.
- they spend millions on a safety video to annoy their pax.
- When One World / QF does away with First/Platinum lounges.
- QF introduces a roulette style SP earn
- prawns are off the menu.
- remove lifetime Gold.
- they spend millions on a safety video to annoy their pax.
Jan 30, 2019, 3:39 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Oh haha, it wasn't even the FA that said that. I misread it.
I must say that if pax are walking through and saying that, I would totally understand why they would think that and wouldn't be offended at all. It never occurred to me that a "benefit" of BP is that you don't have people walking past you during boarding.
I must say that if pax are walking through and saying that, I would totally understand why they would think that and wouldn't be offended at all. It never occurred to me that a "benefit" of BP is that you don't have people walking past you during boarding.
Jan 30, 2019, 4:21 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,633
Oh haha, it wasn't even the FA that said that. I misread it.
I must say that if pax are walking through and saying that, I would totally understand why they would think that and wouldn't be offended at all. It never occurred to me that a "benefit" of BP is that you don't have people walking past you during boarding.
I must say that if pax are walking through and saying that, I would totally understand why they would think that and wouldn't be offended at all. It never occurred to me that a "benefit" of BP is that you don't have people walking past you during boarding.
