Celebrating a birthday on board
Feb 4, 2016, 6:15 pm
#1
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,102
Celebrating a birthday on board
Hi All
A family member lost their brother in a motorcycle accident a few years ago and coming out of a depression slowly but surely^
I'm trying to celebrate their birthday this year in a big way
I gifted them with tickets in business class to Australia including a week at the Park Hyatt Sydney to cheer them up
As well as purchased their passport as this will be their first trip out of the US.
In social media I saw that a VA team on board brought out a slice of cake and candle and sung happy birthday on board to a passenger which had been previously arranged
Anyway to arrange this officially?
I tried calling their overseas reservations who didn't sound overly reassuring and certainly didn't sound Australian
Oh well they were reasonably nice.Fingers crossed
Was hoping to join them on board but I will now be in London and will now fly Qantas from London to SYD and catch up with them during their journey
Cheers
A family member lost their brother in a motorcycle accident a few years ago and coming out of a depression slowly but surely^
I'm trying to celebrate their birthday this year in a big way
I gifted them with tickets in business class to Australia including a week at the Park Hyatt Sydney to cheer them up
As well as purchased their passport as this will be their first trip out of the US.
In social media I saw that a VA team on board brought out a slice of cake and candle and sung happy birthday on board to a passenger which had been previously arranged
Anyway to arrange this officially?
I tried calling their overseas reservations who didn't sound overly reassuring and certainly didn't sound Australian
Oh well they were reasonably nice.Fingers crossed
Was hoping to join them on board but I will now be in London and will now fly Qantas from London to SYD and catch up with them during their journey
Cheers
Feb 7, 2016, 5:12 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: BNE, 73H Seat 13A
Programs: QF Silver
Posts: 298
I'm a bit miffed with VA at the moment but my honest neutral advice:
-Don't expect call centre staff to be in Australia. This isn't Qantas.
-Cake etc. won't happen. It happened that I've spent my three last brithdays over the pacific in J with them and nobody even said anything to me despite having status with them (not that I'd expect them to).
-Your best bet would be to have the non-birthday family member say something to the crew once onboard. They'll definitely do something if they're asked to and will probably go above and beyond.
-Don't expect call centre staff to be in Australia. This isn't Qantas.
-Cake etc. won't happen. It happened that I've spent my three last brithdays over the pacific in J with them and nobody even said anything to me despite having status with them (not that I'd expect them to).
-Your best bet would be to have the non-birthday family member say something to the crew once onboard. They'll definitely do something if they're asked to and will probably go above and beyond.
Feb 7, 2016, 5:41 pm
#5
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,102
I'm a bit miffed with VA at the moment but my honest neutral advice:
-Don't expect call centre staff to be in Australia. This isn't Qantas.
-Cake etc. won't happen. It happened that I've spent my three last brithdays over the pacific in J with them and nobody even said anything to me despite having status with them (not that I'd expect them to).
-Your best bet would be to have the non-birthday family member say something to the crew once onboard. They'll definitely do something if they're asked to and will probably go above and beyond.
-Don't expect call centre staff to be in Australia. This isn't Qantas.
-Cake etc. won't happen. It happened that I've spent my three last brithdays over the pacific in J with them and nobody even said anything to me despite having status with them (not that I'd expect them to).
-Your best bet would be to have the non-birthday family member say something to the crew once onboard. They'll definitely do something if they're asked to and will probably go above and beyond.
Got it.They really hurt their brand with a disappointing call center
It leaves a bad perception of their customer service
Now I'm thinking they just told me what I wanted to hear
I booked Qantas for my next trip and all our flights within Australia
VA support reminds me of IHG rewards
Think we will wait till they arrive Down Under
I cant imagine asking even for myself on board.Its really about the surprise of it all.
Oh well the trip will be awesome even if VA isn't onboard with the party/celebration
Feb 7, 2016, 9:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 335
As a Platinum, I think Im batting 100 with aussie local call centre staff answered within 90 seconds, except for the occasional person that migrated to this country but they are locals. No idea what non status callers get when they phone.
BTW, Qantas call centre currently is experiencing 1hr to 2+hrs on hold ("new" call centre call back system actioned prior to Christmas).
For the cake situation, maybe via their Facebook account and there is a Rep. on Australian Frequent Flyer named VelocityFrequentFlyer who might be able to assist.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...ent-flyer.html
Hope your brother has a great trip.
BTW, Qantas call centre currently is experiencing 1hr to 2+hrs on hold ("new" call centre call back system actioned prior to Christmas).
For the cake situation, maybe via their Facebook account and there is a Rep. on Australian Frequent Flyer named VelocityFrequentFlyer who might be able to assist.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...ent-flyer.html
Hope your brother has a great trip.
Feb 7, 2016, 9:07 pm
#7
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,102
As a Platinum, I think Im batting 100 with aussie local call centre staff answered within 90 seconds, except for the occasional person that migrated to this country but they are locals. No idea what non status callers get when they phone.
BTW, Qantas call centre currently is experiencing 1hr to 2+hrs on hold ("new" call centre call back system actioned prior to Christmas).
For the cake situation, maybe via their Facebook account and there is a Rep. on Australian Frequent Flyer named VelocityFrequentFlyer who might be able to assist.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...ent-flyer.html
Hope your brother has a great trip.
BTW, Qantas call centre currently is experiencing 1hr to 2+hrs on hold ("new" call centre call back system actioned prior to Christmas).
For the cake situation, maybe via their Facebook account and there is a Rep. on Australian Frequent Flyer named VelocityFrequentFlyer who might be able to assist.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...ent-flyer.html
Hope your brother has a great trip.
Feb 9, 2016, 12:57 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: GLA
Programs: AF/KL FB Plat 4L, VA Vel Silver, BA EC, LH M&M
Posts: 1,825
Frankly speaking, Ive never heard of any airline providing birthday cakes and songs. After all there is likely to be at least one birthday boy/girl on each single flight. Imagine the consequences.
But what you/ the travel companion of birthday boy/girl could do is to take a nice birthday cake with them (no candles for obvious reasons) and give it to staff members at some time during the flight. Im pretty sure they would be happy to serve the cake with the meal and say some nice words.
But what you/ the travel companion of birthday boy/girl could do is to take a nice birthday cake with them (no candles for obvious reasons) and give it to staff members at some time during the flight. Im pretty sure they would be happy to serve the cake with the meal and say some nice words.
Feb 9, 2016, 1:04 am
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I would hope that there would be no singing "Happy Birthday to You" on board. It's bad enough when tacky restaurants do this.
Some airlines, such as SQ, do supply special cakes upon request.
A good hotel can do something special if you contact the concierge in advance. If you're willing to pay, the limit is your (and the concierge's) imagination.
Some airlines, such as SQ, do supply special cakes upon request.
A good hotel can do something special if you contact the concierge in advance. If you're willing to pay, the limit is your (and the concierge's) imagination.
Feb 14, 2016, 6:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 335
Feb 15, 2016, 9:28 am
#12
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Katoomba (Blue Mountains)
Programs: Mucci
Posts: 8,083
Ok, totally out of left field here.
I am booked on VA, SYD MEL on 12AUG, back MEL-SYD on 14AUG. Going to watch the Swans v St. Kilda on 13AUG, the day I turn 50 (my birthday)
I have upgraded my flight (only 10K miles, who cares) on the way back on 14AUG, so in J from MEL to SYD.
Can I expect anything? Apart from a few hours in the Lounge, of course!
Dave
I am booked on VA, SYD MEL on 12AUG, back MEL-SYD on 14AUG. Going to watch the Swans v St. Kilda on 13AUG, the day I turn 50 (my birthday)
I have upgraded my flight (only 10K miles, who cares) on the way back on 14AUG, so in J from MEL to SYD.
Can I expect anything? Apart from a few hours in the Lounge, of course!
Dave
Feb 15, 2016, 2:00 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,997
Feb 17, 2016, 1:02 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: QF Plat, VA Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 528
Similar to my experience as well. I've had nothing but excellent service via their phone centre. Hopefully this is a good sign for you OP! Good luck
Feb 18, 2016, 5:42 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
Would you able to provide us with a list of any business, let alone an airline, that excels with their call centre? I agree (generally) with posters who report good service from the Platinum boys and girls but once they have to hand off a query to another division eg. "Why is your iPhone App so bad - here's a list of things where the App says one thing and your Web site something completely different for my account"? then you're back in the standard call centre black hole (I've never had an answer to that question by the way)