Uncouth behaviour in cabins
 

[rant]

Very recently came off a KA flight where another QF elite was checking in with me at the same time with this wife/girlfriend. He and his companion then boarded the aircraft and sat at the front of Y, just in front of the bulkhead partition.

Seemed he felt it completely reasonable to put his bear feet and legs up on the Y bulkhead for the duration of the flight back into HKG, to the extent that some Asian pax further down the aircraft were even taking photos of his antics. Seems an increasingly common display these days, especially by Australian nationals. Did people not get taught common basic manners, especially in public?

I was actually tempted to mention something to the pax on question, but as we were on opposite sides of the aircraft, I did somehow (begrudgingly) manage to keep my mouth shut. Makes me feel quite embarrassed to even hold an Australian passport.

I realise the country now has a woman who sounds like a bogan for a PM (with the opposition leader hardly any better), but do we need to run around and act like the great unwashed around the world? Hardly a fitting display for a wealthy and fairly decently educated country. If Australians want to be taken seriously in the world, basic manners would go a long way to help achieve this aim. Behaviour like this does not help our cause.

[/rant]

This issue isn't particular to Australians. It is often discussed in AA, BA forums and others. I do agree with you that it is rather offensive, whether the pax is wearing shoes, socks or not.

It's just as offensive as those who refuse to turn their electronic devices off, when instructed.

Actually I don't agree. I see this more from Australian pax (and to a lesser extent Kiwis) than I do from people of other nationalities. The British do have a slight habit, but again it is far less than I have seen from Australian passengers. To the credit of Americans, I have never really witnessed it on aircraft from the yanks, and I happen to travel to that part of the world fairly frequently.

I do however agree with you that it is also offensive whether the pax in question is wearing shoes, socks, etc. It's really the same principle as putting feet on chairs or sofas, especially in a public place. The fact of the matter is that it should simply not be done.

Its just plane rude. Likewise was the person on yesterday's CX YVR-HKG who was hawking and clearing his snotty sinuses and throat so the whole of the UD could hear - every 15 min or so. Just disgusting. No, its not restricted to rude Ozzies ( or poms or yanks ). Seems every country has them.

Yep.

Of course it's not particular to Aussies - the OP needs to start reading some of the US airline fora in FT, it's full of complaints about pax with their feet on the bulkheads and far worse.

I find cultural cringe to be more offensive than any of the behaviour OP has been railing against. Problem with the PM's accent? Tough.

Just saying...

Definitely not an Aussi Phenomena: Happens with Germans as well. Some just have no behavior on the plane.

yeah- that means the leader of the Greens is not a bogan.

I'm not a fan of him either.

Perhaps I will leave this little tidbit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49zF8m7ys24

[rant]

I find that a significant amount of Australians, when traveling around Asia in particular, act like they are God's gift to the world. Their behaviour makes me embarrassed to be holding an Australian passport and is part of the reason why I will NEVER travel to places such as Bali. Recently on a trip to Australia, I was quite disappointed when my hotel had quite a few cashed-up bogans.

I also find Australians tend to dress quite poorly when traveling, to the extent that when I am at Singapore (and to a lesser extent Hong Kong) airport I can spot out the Australian travelers and the gates for flights to Australia without looking at the departure board. When will we learn as a nation it is not appropriate to travel in thongs and a Bintang Beer singlet?

The behaviour of several Australians whilst overseas, combined with the chaotic state of our government** (yes, it IS having an impact on our reputation abroad) makes me embarrassed. Interestingly, when I travel, people often express surprise that I am from Sydney :rolleyes:

Of course, bad travellers is not just confined to Australians....the amount of times I've sat next to a Chinese person spitting into a bag for an entire flight....yuck.

[/rant]

**by government, I include Labor, Liberal, Greens and all of the jokers otherwise known as Independents.

Where have you been Flying?
 

I have flown all over the world and observed poor behavior from all cultures, and nationalities. Also I have seen this from all ages and genders.
It is not something new, but tends to suggest something more about the greater community and where society is going, rather than just a few odd passengers on planes.

Last flight I was on the person next to me did not shut off their phone and kept msging right until we were about to take off and only turned off the phone when I said something to him.
Next time, step up, grow a pair and say something, rather than ranting here...

Just my two cents :)

Qantas Frequent Flyer or OMNI-PR Material?
 

Can anyone suggest a reason that this thread shouldn't be moved out of the Qantas Frequent Flyer forum and into OMNI-PR?

^^^

At least it was into a bag ...

You're all a soft bunch really aren't you? Clearly no one here grew up in a country town in outback Australia. Just to derail the OP on my flight last Friday it was an Indian chap who did the exact same thing. If it is such an issue the crew should say something?

Personally I think wearing running shoes aka trainers with jeans and a tucked in shirt should be a punishable offence but you don't see me whinging about that after flying a US carrier or flying Qantas J class to/ from the US.

I look forward to flying BA F seat 1K in a few weeks in my trackies and t'shirt. I think I will even go to the bathroom in just my socks a few times. On arrival in Belgium I look forward to making everyone speak English, eating frittes and drinking local beers while standing on the side of the road and watching some bike racing! I will do so with a smile knowing how much it will annoy some here.