Qantas leaves staff hopping mad

Qantas Airbus A380 aircraft on the Los Angeles route will trial in-flight access to internet, including emails, for all passengers. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

A SEARCH is on to find more suitable accommodation for Qantas flight crews in Los Angeles after the airline switched to a "pet friendly" hotel opposite Disneyland, in an apparent cost cutting move.

Although the Anaheim Hilton is closer to LA Airport than alternative digs at Costa Mesa, crews have been unhappy about the noise from excited guests, animals, and the nearby theme park which stages nightly fireworks displays.

But the biggest issue is the neighbouring convention centre that hosts regular music festivals and concerts.

Cost cutting ... Qantas is now putting its sleep-deprived crew up at a loud hotel near Disneyland after working flights to LA. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

As a result, unions representing flight attendants and pilots have been inundated with complaints from members and fear if the situation continues flights may be cancelled.

"If crews are not adequately rested, they are required to report unfit for duty," said Flight Attendants Association of Australia National Industrial Officer Steven Reed.

"That hasn't happened yet but if there's not a move, that could be the situation."

He said they understood it was a logistical challenge for the airline to accommodate crews in a city like Los Angeles where occupancy rates were generally high.

But Mr Reed said it may be the case Qantas would have to spend a "few more dollars" to ensure flight crews were well rested.

"The 14 to 15-hour flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane arrive into LA about 7 or 8 in the morning. Then it's an hour bus ride to Anaheim," said Mr Reed.

Complaints ... Qantas is being slammed for making its flight crew stay at a noisy hotel in California. Picture: AP/Rick Rycroft Source: AP

"By the time you get to the hotel you want to go for a walk and then get some rest, not face a rock band playing in the foyer and kids running up and down the halls."

Flight attendants get one night between the long haul flights and pilots two-nights.

The hotel change was made 12-months ago shortly after group CEO Alan Joyce announced plans to slash $2 billion over three years.

In the group's half-year results delivered last month, it was revealed the transformation program had delivered $374 million in savings.

Noisy ... Qantas crew can't sleep near Mickey's Fun Wheel roller-coaster at Disneyland. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

It is unclear what savings are being made from the hotel change but standard rates at the Anaheim Hilton are about two-thirds of those at the Marriott and Hilton at Costa Mesa, or a difference of $100 a room a night.

Security guards were being used to try to minimise disruption on the floors where the crews were located, Mr Reed said.

"But there's not much you can do about music so loud that it penetrates the walls and your silicon ear plugs."

A meeting has been scheduled with Qantas next week to try to resolve the issue.

"Qantas is keen to address our concerns," he said.

A Qantas spokesman acknowledged the noise issues and said they were working with the hotel to get advance notice of music festivals so they could book crews elsewhere.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Qantas leaves staff hopping mad

Dengan url

http://gosipesbuk.blogspot.com/2015/03/qantas-leaves-staff-hopping-mad.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Qantas leaves staff hopping mad

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Qantas leaves staff hopping mad

sebagai sumbernya