Missed flight + Saved by Ansett!
May 24, 2001 | 12:07 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
Missed flight + Saved by Ansett!
Quick day trip to see a friend for lunch and a movie - $96 one way fares.
I should have known from the horrid time I had just booking this ticket that
it would be a day with a difference. Bought the ticket on an impulse (one
of the key selling ideas behind VQ's advertising) atround 35 hours before
departure via Ansett's web site. Tix issued as an e ticket(A service mark
of United) and fax receipt waiting at work the next day (faxed).
Booked myself on AN64 MEL-BNE(1005->1205), AN151 BNE-SYD(1810->1930) and
AN55 SYD-MEL(2030->2150).
Arrived at MEL around 0910 and decided to try Ansett's e-check in system
to see what it was like. Screens are touch activated and pretty user
friendly. Would not accept my UA1K card, but would accept AN elite FF
cards (AN silver and saphire members only get pieces of paper for membership
cards these days!) and credit cards. I popped in the CC that booked my
ticket and voila I was set. Interestingly it gave me only 2 of my 3 legs
(ie: MEL-BNE, BNE-SYD). Perhaps the system didn't understand day trips, or
could only handle 2 segments at a time. I'm not sure. Big friendly buttons
indicate what you can change - seats are automatically selected for you, but
you can change these by using a button and a seat map comes up allowing you
to do so. On MEL-BNE, for example, I had been assigned 4E, but I wanted to
see if a window was available(there was not). It did select the nicest seat
for me though automatically (Due to status or not, I do not know). Demerit
in that the system would *not* allow you to go back to the seat assignment
window after you'd been there once (why?). There was also an option to put
in, or change, your FF number, but I didn't have need to do that so hit
OK and 20 seconds later was presented with 2 BP's. I should also note that
about 30 seconds after I started using the machine an agent came around to
see if I needed any help, which was very good of AN I thought - they checked
everyone using the machines just in case anyone needed help.
I went to the GW Club and asked the agent what the deal was with only being
given 2 of the 3 bp's. She took them and told me something about "Well we
need to know if you are there" (so why not just give me MEL-BNE only? If
my next flight was >4 hours after I arrived at my destination(it was) then
the system should *not* assume a connection and not issue the pass I should
think). She took away my issued BNE-SYD pass and ripped it up and told me
to use e-check in when I get back to BNE (as it turns out, this was a
*good* thing).
A moderate saturday morning crowd in the GW Club but finding a chair was no
real hassle. Got some coffee to wake up and enjoyed watching the ramp. Was
going to take a banana with me for on board, but they were all a bit green
(yuck).
19MAY01 AN0064Y MEL BNE 320(VH-HYJ) 1005 1205 0:01E/0:03L
4E A1->39 27=>?? BACK 1004 OFF 1016 ON 1205 GATE 1208 FT=1:49
Grade: B+
1 and then 2 agents manning the podium for this flight. They boarded a
wheelchair pax first and asked for any small kids etc before boarding
proper. As usual the F/A's handled the process at the EGR with pax encouraged
to pop their own boarding passes through the gate reader (unlike the
US). The F/A's smiled nicely to everyone, and I got a "Thank you, Mr. MEL" when I put mine throught (no idea if they did that for UA*G or I just got lucky).
Row 4 on this 320 was first row of Y, but still in the J "zone" with convertable seats. One great plus of this is that the seats have J pitch and more comfortable seats(just) and so sitting here is like sitting in Y+ on United. I had the aisle so could see right into the cockpit from here(they did not close the door until during the taxi).
Y load would have been about 85% full, with 5/12 in J. 4F was clear, so even Bob wouldn't have minded this trip - plenty of space for newspapers and stuff.
We held on the ramp for about 5 minutes after the safety demo - likely for traffic - almost abreast to the UA 744 just in from AKL then taxi'd out to runway 27 past the rest of the international terminal (SQ 744, 2xQF 744 including "Formula 1" livery). Takeoff was very quick and smooth and soon we were into the wide blue yonder.
Tuned into the audio to find the comedy channel(about the best thing on AN domestic, apart from the live radio feed) was the same programme as for April but still it was good listening. "Refreshment" passed that somehow seemed a mix between breakfast and desert - 1 pack of yoghurt, 1 "hazlenut and apple treat"(a sort of pie thing, that was very nice) and a mars bar. Still, the tea was hot. F/A's did the service pretty quickly. It looked like J got some kind of chilled delli plate and salad, but I can't be totally sure.
F/A's on this flight were really good - at one point one of them, of her own accord offered to give a mother a break and took her baby off her for about 10 minutes to walk around and whatnot. As there was *another* mother and new baby sitting in row 3, there was a mini party with babies and F/A's and mothers going on. The babies did not cry once during all this and all looked very happy - no wonder with mothers, F/A's and other pax all playing with them and lavishing attention on them. All of this was the best inflight entertainment. I thought it was nice that the crew helped out in this way, and the F/A seemed to love playing with the baby (perhaps a case of "I love to borrow this one for a while, but you can have her back when she needs changing!").
I went forward to the lav around 1:20 into the flight and was next in line behind our Captain. A young gentleman whoose name was Mark. They thought there was someone in the lav, so had a chance to talk to Mark while waiting. I asked about the latest rumours re the fleet, and he suggested A321's(!) and more 767-300's to replace the 200's. I then asked if he would prefer A330's for domestic
widebody so they could use CCQ and he could transition between the two and he said personally he'd love it, but he then commented that aparently LH had disbanded using CCQ for their pilots as they were aparently having trouble going from shot hops to long hauls. I said it maybe wouldn't be so much of an issue in Australia with the longest segment likely being SYD-PER and he agreed. Trevor(purser) then chimed in and said "when Singapore buys us, we'll get 777's" and Mark agreed saying that he liked those planes, and he conceeded that "we'd kick QF's butt with 777's on the trunk routes"(not if noone pays to sit in them, buddy!) but he actually said that he didn't
think the 777 was that great - citing sitting up front on an EK -300 to SIN recently though he did agree the 777-200 aparently flew very well. He was very nice. By this time though he needed to do his duty, so a mini conference ensured to work out the most tactful way to get whoever ewas in the lav out of it. We all agreed the guy with the stripes should do it, but it was no issue - there was actually noone in there all that time!!!
After I had my turn I got out to find the F/O waiting too, but let him do his thing and I went back to my seat. Trevor was talking to a pax in row 3 at this stage and making it clear his feelings about the failing NZ empire - suggesting there was a current labour issue with NZ removing or changing the overtime pay rates(or something like that) and he was simply waiting till the
end of the year so he could get out with some kind of payout. Quite up front with this pax, who was an AN elite(plat) I think from his bag tags, he said "Look, I don't give a sh*t about this place anymore. It's not worth working here and the conditions are terrible, and Air NZ have made it hell" - he then went on to say he was actually trained musically and hoped to return to
producing classical music performance on CD's(one wonders how he got into the AN purser game then!). Fascinating stuff.
Bright sunny day in BNE for our arrival and quick taxi to the gate where I met my friend and we raced off to a movie and lunch to catch up. We ended up at southbank in the city around 5pm and decided it was time to head to the airport. Unfortunately my friend is not a resident of Brisbane and so they weren't quite sure just how to get to the airport, but we both knew it was north of the city. So off we went. Well, somehow we missed whatever obvious turnoff we were supposed to make, and around 5:20 I suggested we stop at a service station and ask. Sure enough we were "close" but had to
backtrack a bit. We got out the street directory and attempted to navigate the streets in failing light. Well by 5:40 it was clear we would not make it to the airport in time before boarding closed. So I decided to call AN res to see if I could be put on a later flight. Well next to no help there. They were polite enough, but basically told me that I was voiding the terms of my fare(no change) and they could not change it for me. I told them "look, I'm on my way to the airport but I know I will be
late, I don't want to change it to another day, I just want the next flight so you guys don't cancel my whole reservation for being a no show when I am trying to show" "Sorry sir, we cannot override a N class booking.
Good luck at the airport!" (well thanks guys). They did however say they put a note in the PNR to say I had contacted them and was "enroute" - not thinking that was at all going to help(unless someone at the airport
decided to make an issue of things). My poor friend by this stage is sweating(and swearing) profusely by now and feeling awful that we are basically lost and I will miss my flight. We find our way to the airport freeway by about 6:05pm so the AN151 to SYD is well out of the question... and believe this or not somehow we shot PAST the **** airport and had to turn back! Just a comedy of errors like one of those old movies was this whole transit to the airport. Res had told me there was a 6:45pm Direct flight to MEL departing, and I knew there was a 7:10 to SYD as well, but I had been told there was no later flight to MEL from there(which I didn't believe at the time, but didn't push it as I felt we could make the 6:45). Well rocked up at the airport just after 6:30FINALLY. I ran for my life into the terminal and up to the AN checkin and explained who I was, that I missed the 6:10 to SYD and I want to get to MEL - can you help me?
This agent was superb. She really was. She didn't berate me for being late. Didn't give me any flack about "cheaper than cheap non changeable fare" and the like. She just said "Well sir, the Melbourne flight just
closed. Hold on a moment" and she called the gate and asked if they would accept me as I had no bags and would be at the gate in 90 seconds. No, they had closed it and were about to depart. Sorry. At least she tried. Well I said to her are there anymore flights to MEL tonight? No. Okay how about the 7:10 to SYD? Yes, we can get you on that... and she plays around and she looks at me and she says "I'm sorry sir, but the best I can do is get you into Melbourne at 11:45pm" and had this look as if to say "I know I am
disappointing you so much by this news but there is nothing I can do" but I just said "yes please" and smiled happily and relaxed a bit. phew. She kept apologising and I said to the agent "thank YOU so much. I get home tonight and it was our own fault for being so late. You have done a great
service here. Thank you" - my pleasure sir is the response. She overrode the N class fare and suddenly I was rebooked in Y without even a comment. Now, this is class service.
So a big silly smile on my face(from relief as much as anything) I went up to the GW club and ordered a long drink !
10 minutes later it was time to board so I bid my friend goodbye and told them not to give the incident another thought and I popped my BP through the EGR - and again got a "Thank you. Mr. MEL" from the F/A. I think
this must be status based. I just said "no, Thank YOU" back - of course they had no idea what had gone on, and I didn't care. I was just happy.
My BP helpfully said "CATERING NOT ASSURED" (care factor: 0) but if I had worried about it, there was no need. The aircraft was EMPTY. I am thinking 40 pax total.
19MAY01 AN0155Y BNE SYD 320(VH-HYR) 1910 2040 0:03E/0:10E
13G 41->13 19=>?? BACK 1907 OFF 1918 ON 2024 GATE 2030 FT=1:06
Grade: B+
With the whole row to myself I was happy. Also offered a newspaper - even more happy! Pax were told they could move in their rows but not change rows due to "weight and balance" (hmm).
Dinner service was a spicy chicken breast(yummy) with potatoes and green leaves.. actually very nice. Crackers and cheese finished up the meal. Certainly not wonderful, but not half bad either.
Flight was smooth and we arrived 10 minutes early nosing up to the terminal right on 8:30pm - the departure time of my originally booked SYD-MEL flight.
It, of course, had left so I went up to the big new GW club at gate 1 to spend the next 90 mins or so. Gorgeous club as I had heard.. lots of areas to relax, or work(with lots of printers in the area for laptops,
and internet capable computers) and a huge "board room" with large screen showing share prices (and I assume could be used for presentations and so on). I had a few drinks and read my book and waited to board my flight - the last one out of Sydney in fact - so the terminal was a ghost town.
All except Gate 11, which was full of people and one little 737. Also a large video wall here is looping the current "absolutely" advertising campaign, which after 2 or 3 times is bloody irritating(and loud). Incidently the song they are using for a theme for this campaign was written for a friend thinking about commiting suicide?!!! Smart one, that....
19MAY01 AN0059Y SYD MEL 737(VH-CZP) 2225 2345 0:03L/0:02E
14G 11->8 16R=>16 BACK 2228 OFF 2232 ON 2335 GATE 2338 FT=1:03
Grade: B
Somehow I had been assigned my beloved/traditional window seat into MEL by the friendly lass in BNE(and the last thing I was going to do was ask for any kind of special seat selection!). So this was like a
cherry on the top and kept my record of all window seats back home for the past 10 years well intact.
I remember very little about this flight as I slept for 80% of it. It was absolutely full though - I'd say 2 free seats in the entire plane. many connections aparent(folks behind me had come from Sri Lanka and some next to me from india). Some kind of snack passed, but I said no thanks and went back to sleep.
Quick landing and taxi to the gate and a long but eventful day came to a close.
"Am I with Ansett? Absolutely."
------------------
RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.
[This message has been edited by RichardMEL (edited 05-24-2001).]
I should have known from the horrid time I had just booking this ticket that
it would be a day with a difference. Bought the ticket on an impulse (one
of the key selling ideas behind VQ's advertising) atround 35 hours before
departure via Ansett's web site. Tix issued as an e ticket(A service mark
of United) and fax receipt waiting at work the next day (faxed).
Booked myself on AN64 MEL-BNE(1005->1205), AN151 BNE-SYD(1810->1930) and
AN55 SYD-MEL(2030->2150).
Arrived at MEL around 0910 and decided to try Ansett's e-check in system
to see what it was like. Screens are touch activated and pretty user
friendly. Would not accept my UA1K card, but would accept AN elite FF
cards (AN silver and saphire members only get pieces of paper for membership
cards these days!) and credit cards. I popped in the CC that booked my
ticket and voila I was set. Interestingly it gave me only 2 of my 3 legs
(ie: MEL-BNE, BNE-SYD). Perhaps the system didn't understand day trips, or
could only handle 2 segments at a time. I'm not sure. Big friendly buttons
indicate what you can change - seats are automatically selected for you, but
you can change these by using a button and a seat map comes up allowing you
to do so. On MEL-BNE, for example, I had been assigned 4E, but I wanted to
see if a window was available(there was not). It did select the nicest seat
for me though automatically (Due to status or not, I do not know). Demerit
in that the system would *not* allow you to go back to the seat assignment
window after you'd been there once (why?). There was also an option to put
in, or change, your FF number, but I didn't have need to do that so hit
OK and 20 seconds later was presented with 2 BP's. I should also note that
about 30 seconds after I started using the machine an agent came around to
see if I needed any help, which was very good of AN I thought - they checked
everyone using the machines just in case anyone needed help.
I went to the GW Club and asked the agent what the deal was with only being
given 2 of the 3 bp's. She took them and told me something about "Well we
need to know if you are there" (so why not just give me MEL-BNE only? If
my next flight was >4 hours after I arrived at my destination(it was) then
the system should *not* assume a connection and not issue the pass I should
think). She took away my issued BNE-SYD pass and ripped it up and told me
to use e-check in when I get back to BNE (as it turns out, this was a
*good* thing).
A moderate saturday morning crowd in the GW Club but finding a chair was no
real hassle. Got some coffee to wake up and enjoyed watching the ramp. Was
going to take a banana with me for on board, but they were all a bit green
(yuck).
19MAY01 AN0064Y MEL BNE 320(VH-HYJ) 1005 1205 0:01E/0:03L
4E A1->39 27=>?? BACK 1004 OFF 1016 ON 1205 GATE 1208 FT=1:49
Grade: B+
1 and then 2 agents manning the podium for this flight. They boarded a
wheelchair pax first and asked for any small kids etc before boarding
proper. As usual the F/A's handled the process at the EGR with pax encouraged
to pop their own boarding passes through the gate reader (unlike the
US). The F/A's smiled nicely to everyone, and I got a "Thank you, Mr. MEL" when I put mine throught (no idea if they did that for UA*G or I just got lucky).
Row 4 on this 320 was first row of Y, but still in the J "zone" with convertable seats. One great plus of this is that the seats have J pitch and more comfortable seats(just) and so sitting here is like sitting in Y+ on United. I had the aisle so could see right into the cockpit from here(they did not close the door until during the taxi).
Y load would have been about 85% full, with 5/12 in J. 4F was clear, so even Bob wouldn't have minded this trip - plenty of space for newspapers and stuff.
We held on the ramp for about 5 minutes after the safety demo - likely for traffic - almost abreast to the UA 744 just in from AKL then taxi'd out to runway 27 past the rest of the international terminal (SQ 744, 2xQF 744 including "Formula 1" livery). Takeoff was very quick and smooth and soon we were into the wide blue yonder.
Tuned into the audio to find the comedy channel(about the best thing on AN domestic, apart from the live radio feed) was the same programme as for April but still it was good listening. "Refreshment" passed that somehow seemed a mix between breakfast and desert - 1 pack of yoghurt, 1 "hazlenut and apple treat"(a sort of pie thing, that was very nice) and a mars bar. Still, the tea was hot. F/A's did the service pretty quickly. It looked like J got some kind of chilled delli plate and salad, but I can't be totally sure.
F/A's on this flight were really good - at one point one of them, of her own accord offered to give a mother a break and took her baby off her for about 10 minutes to walk around and whatnot. As there was *another* mother and new baby sitting in row 3, there was a mini party with babies and F/A's and mothers going on. The babies did not cry once during all this and all looked very happy - no wonder with mothers, F/A's and other pax all playing with them and lavishing attention on them. All of this was the best inflight entertainment. I thought it was nice that the crew helped out in this way, and the F/A seemed to love playing with the baby (perhaps a case of "I love to borrow this one for a while, but you can have her back when she needs changing!").
I went forward to the lav around 1:20 into the flight and was next in line behind our Captain. A young gentleman whoose name was Mark. They thought there was someone in the lav, so had a chance to talk to Mark while waiting. I asked about the latest rumours re the fleet, and he suggested A321's(!) and more 767-300's to replace the 200's. I then asked if he would prefer A330's for domestic
widebody so they could use CCQ and he could transition between the two and he said personally he'd love it, but he then commented that aparently LH had disbanded using CCQ for their pilots as they were aparently having trouble going from shot hops to long hauls. I said it maybe wouldn't be so much of an issue in Australia with the longest segment likely being SYD-PER and he agreed. Trevor(purser) then chimed in and said "when Singapore buys us, we'll get 777's" and Mark agreed saying that he liked those planes, and he conceeded that "we'd kick QF's butt with 777's on the trunk routes"(not if noone pays to sit in them, buddy!) but he actually said that he didn't
think the 777 was that great - citing sitting up front on an EK -300 to SIN recently though he did agree the 777-200 aparently flew very well. He was very nice. By this time though he needed to do his duty, so a mini conference ensured to work out the most tactful way to get whoever ewas in the lav out of it. We all agreed the guy with the stripes should do it, but it was no issue - there was actually noone in there all that time!!!
After I had my turn I got out to find the F/O waiting too, but let him do his thing and I went back to my seat. Trevor was talking to a pax in row 3 at this stage and making it clear his feelings about the failing NZ empire - suggesting there was a current labour issue with NZ removing or changing the overtime pay rates(or something like that) and he was simply waiting till the
end of the year so he could get out with some kind of payout. Quite up front with this pax, who was an AN elite(plat) I think from his bag tags, he said "Look, I don't give a sh*t about this place anymore. It's not worth working here and the conditions are terrible, and Air NZ have made it hell" - he then went on to say he was actually trained musically and hoped to return to
producing classical music performance on CD's(one wonders how he got into the AN purser game then!). Fascinating stuff.
Bright sunny day in BNE for our arrival and quick taxi to the gate where I met my friend and we raced off to a movie and lunch to catch up. We ended up at southbank in the city around 5pm and decided it was time to head to the airport. Unfortunately my friend is not a resident of Brisbane and so they weren't quite sure just how to get to the airport, but we both knew it was north of the city. So off we went. Well, somehow we missed whatever obvious turnoff we were supposed to make, and around 5:20 I suggested we stop at a service station and ask. Sure enough we were "close" but had to
backtrack a bit. We got out the street directory and attempted to navigate the streets in failing light. Well by 5:40 it was clear we would not make it to the airport in time before boarding closed. So I decided to call AN res to see if I could be put on a later flight. Well next to no help there. They were polite enough, but basically told me that I was voiding the terms of my fare(no change) and they could not change it for me. I told them "look, I'm on my way to the airport but I know I will be
late, I don't want to change it to another day, I just want the next flight so you guys don't cancel my whole reservation for being a no show when I am trying to show" "Sorry sir, we cannot override a N class booking.
Good luck at the airport!" (well thanks guys). They did however say they put a note in the PNR to say I had contacted them and was "enroute" - not thinking that was at all going to help(unless someone at the airport
decided to make an issue of things). My poor friend by this stage is sweating(and swearing) profusely by now and feeling awful that we are basically lost and I will miss my flight. We find our way to the airport freeway by about 6:05pm so the AN151 to SYD is well out of the question... and believe this or not somehow we shot PAST the **** airport and had to turn back! Just a comedy of errors like one of those old movies was this whole transit to the airport. Res had told me there was a 6:45pm Direct flight to MEL departing, and I knew there was a 7:10 to SYD as well, but I had been told there was no later flight to MEL from there(which I didn't believe at the time, but didn't push it as I felt we could make the 6:45). Well rocked up at the airport just after 6:30FINALLY. I ran for my life into the terminal and up to the AN checkin and explained who I was, that I missed the 6:10 to SYD and I want to get to MEL - can you help me?
This agent was superb. She really was. She didn't berate me for being late. Didn't give me any flack about "cheaper than cheap non changeable fare" and the like. She just said "Well sir, the Melbourne flight just
closed. Hold on a moment" and she called the gate and asked if they would accept me as I had no bags and would be at the gate in 90 seconds. No, they had closed it and were about to depart. Sorry. At least she tried. Well I said to her are there anymore flights to MEL tonight? No. Okay how about the 7:10 to SYD? Yes, we can get you on that... and she plays around and she looks at me and she says "I'm sorry sir, but the best I can do is get you into Melbourne at 11:45pm" and had this look as if to say "I know I am
disappointing you so much by this news but there is nothing I can do" but I just said "yes please" and smiled happily and relaxed a bit. phew. She kept apologising and I said to the agent "thank YOU so much. I get home tonight and it was our own fault for being so late. You have done a great
service here. Thank you" - my pleasure sir is the response. She overrode the N class fare and suddenly I was rebooked in Y without even a comment. Now, this is class service.
So a big silly smile on my face(from relief as much as anything) I went up to the GW club and ordered a long drink !
10 minutes later it was time to board so I bid my friend goodbye and told them not to give the incident another thought and I popped my BP through the EGR - and again got a "Thank you. Mr. MEL" from the F/A. I think
this must be status based. I just said "no, Thank YOU" back - of course they had no idea what had gone on, and I didn't care. I was just happy.
My BP helpfully said "CATERING NOT ASSURED" (care factor: 0) but if I had worried about it, there was no need. The aircraft was EMPTY. I am thinking 40 pax total.
19MAY01 AN0155Y BNE SYD 320(VH-HYR) 1910 2040 0:03E/0:10E
13G 41->13 19=>?? BACK 1907 OFF 1918 ON 2024 GATE 2030 FT=1:06
Grade: B+
With the whole row to myself I was happy. Also offered a newspaper - even more happy! Pax were told they could move in their rows but not change rows due to "weight and balance" (hmm).
Dinner service was a spicy chicken breast(yummy) with potatoes and green leaves.. actually very nice. Crackers and cheese finished up the meal. Certainly not wonderful, but not half bad either.
Flight was smooth and we arrived 10 minutes early nosing up to the terminal right on 8:30pm - the departure time of my originally booked SYD-MEL flight.
It, of course, had left so I went up to the big new GW club at gate 1 to spend the next 90 mins or so. Gorgeous club as I had heard.. lots of areas to relax, or work(with lots of printers in the area for laptops,
and internet capable computers) and a huge "board room" with large screen showing share prices (and I assume could be used for presentations and so on). I had a few drinks and read my book and waited to board my flight - the last one out of Sydney in fact - so the terminal was a ghost town.
All except Gate 11, which was full of people and one little 737. Also a large video wall here is looping the current "absolutely" advertising campaign, which after 2 or 3 times is bloody irritating(and loud). Incidently the song they are using for a theme for this campaign was written for a friend thinking about commiting suicide?!!! Smart one, that....
19MAY01 AN0059Y SYD MEL 737(VH-CZP) 2225 2345 0:03L/0:02E
14G 11->8 16R=>16 BACK 2228 OFF 2232 ON 2335 GATE 2338 FT=1:03
Grade: B
Somehow I had been assigned my beloved/traditional window seat into MEL by the friendly lass in BNE(and the last thing I was going to do was ask for any kind of special seat selection!). So this was like a
cherry on the top and kept my record of all window seats back home for the past 10 years well intact.
I remember very little about this flight as I slept for 80% of it. It was absolutely full though - I'd say 2 free seats in the entire plane. many connections aparent(folks behind me had come from Sri Lanka and some next to me from india). Some kind of snack passed, but I said no thanks and went back to sleep.
Quick landing and taxi to the gate and a long but eventful day came to a close.
"Am I with Ansett? Absolutely."
------------------
RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.
[This message has been edited by RichardMEL (edited 05-24-2001).]
May 24, 2001 | 12:29 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 657
Great report Richard,
I've generally found AN to be reasonably flexible when it comes to these things.
I've got a trip report coming up, I just have to go and finish it (it's been sitting on the computer for a few months!)
Cheers,
Justin
I've generally found AN to be reasonably flexible when it comes to these things.
I've got a trip report coming up, I just have to go and finish it (it's been sitting on the computer for a few months!)
Cheers,
Justin
May 24, 2001 | 6:03 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,988
Wow, Ansett Australia seems to be excellent in terms of ground service. I can't imagine what happen if this is a United flight. In LA, I will perhaps be lectured for an hour on this topic. I will also have to pay a penalty definitely. It happened to me once at SFO, and I missed my SFO-IAD due to traffic in the freeway. I had to pay $75 if I want a confirmed reservation for the next flight. It was not a pleasant experience.
Ansett's service is excellent and I am surprised that the morning refreshment has so many components. The dinner on your way back sounds pretty good too. I am really looking forward to my travels down under this summer (winter for down under).
Thanks,
Carfield
Ansett's service is excellent and I am surprised that the morning refreshment has so many components. The dinner on your way back sounds pretty good too. I am really looking forward to my travels down under this summer (winter for down under).
Thanks,
Carfield
May 25, 2001 | 10:47 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Posts: 43
It is reports like these that will make me choose Ansett when I go down under next February (I plan on flying SYD-CNS). Maybe they will have their 767-300s on the route by that time!
It does worry me, though, that pilots are describing the airline as "hell". Hopefully that will change!
It does worry me, though, that pilots are describing the airline as "hell". Hopefully that will change!
May 26, 2001 | 10:08 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
No the "hell" comment was from the purser, not from the pilot. The pilot (Mark) actually seemed fairly happy and didn't seem at all interested(for example) to move to SQ (I had asked if he might be interested, in the future, to transition up to the A380)....
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RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.
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RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.