20 JANUARY 2011 – THURSDAY
THIRTY-SIXTH DAY – 1400-2200
It was my last day at the check-in counter for our rotating deployment. After the briefing, we went down to the counter. I stayed at the Business class counter even if Sir Dustin wasn’t there yet. Passengers started queuing but Sir Dustin was still at the office. I heard he took a nap. Ma’am Candy asked me if I already knew how to check-in. Even if I already know the process, I accidentally answered I didn’t know the process and I wasn’t an expert at it. In fact, I really wanted to try it but I was hesitant because the passengers I’d check-in were in the business class. Ma’am Arah came and started checking-in and minutes later, Sir Dustin went to his post already. All was good during the check-in process.
Since it was Jomie’s second to the last day of duty in Qantas, she requested me to have photos of herself taken in different areas of the airport. I went with her and I took photos of her at the gate first, inside the aircraft, then at the arrival area (LL), then back to the office. She even took photos of me inside the aircraft, too, which I was really glad to have some. On our way back to the office, I saw Sir Cyrus running towards our direction. He was holding a paper and when he finally approached us, he asked if someone could bring the paper (letter of guarantee) to Sir Dustin down at the immigration area. I got the paper and we hurried back down to the immigration. We were informed Sir Dustin fetched “someone” so we went to the gate instead. Marky found us on our way to the gate and he got the paper from me already because it was needed at the podium.
At the gate, something strange happened. Usually, after all the passengers have boarded the aircraft, QF agents and practicumers at the gate were supposed to stay there until pushback. “Pushback” is the backward movement of the aircraft usually positioned and readied for “taxi”, which then means the preparation for takeoff. However, at that night, I felt a strange feeling that something was not good. In a little while, Sir Dustin approached us (practicumers) and told us to go back at the office already. We were very clueless that time about what had happened. We were nervous because we might have made some mistakes which caused trouble. We were afraid that the agents might get mad at us. At the office, we kept on thinking what might have been done wrong. I guessed maybe they were mad because the paper that Sir Cyrus gave me which was to be passed to Sir Dustin was not given at once at the gate. Then, Ancla and Keycelyn shared the mistake that they’ve done. Ancla mistakenly exchanged QF 19 and QF 20 arrival and departure documents which was placed at the crew lane. This was the issue we all thought that caused Sir Eric and Ma’am Ai to be mad. We were all worried and sad that time. All the agents were making fun of us and they were teasing us about the mistake we’ve made. Someone from the gate even called at the office and informed us that we would have a post-flight briefing with Sir Eric, meaning, we would talk about the details of the flight, including the mistake we might have made.
When all the agents got back to the office, they were fooling us “it” was our fault while on the other side, all of us were scared, especially I, who was worried because of our performance nowadays.
Surprisingly, in the middle of all the practicumers’ confusion, Ma’am Candy and the rest of the agents told us to go home already. We were all shocked because we’re expecting to be scolded or informed at least of what was going on. However, the agents told us to go home because Sir Eric was in a bad mood already.
Despite all the confusion caused by whatever “it” might have been, we just concluded that if ever the agents have been scolded at the gate that night for some confidential matters, the supervisors and managers didn’t want us to witness the not-so-good moment. They always remind us that if ever we would incur mistakes, we must not be worried because the agent who’s handling us would be the one’s responsible for our actions. But, for me, it’s just better to be careful, always careful and sensitive with each and every one’s actions. We must always have presence of mind, patience, alertness, and endurance in every task given to us and most especially, the right attitude as we accomplish and achieve the tasks.
21 JANUARY 2011 – FRIDAY
THIRTY- SEVENTH DAY– 1000-1800
I was still at the bus when Earl texted me that we would be ordering food at Jollibee. I arrived at the office at twelve noon already and I was surprised at the setup of the office. Closed window shades, turned off lights, a gathering of my co-practicumers with ma’am Pat, watching intently to the movie “The Tournament”. I was shy because I arrived late but it was nothing with Ma’am Pat. So, I just watched the movie also. We found the movie very nice. It was an action-themed movie. I gladly recommend this, lol. Anyway, before we had finished the movie, our Jollibee food arrived and we ate silently and quickly first before resuming with the movie.
After watching, we still did nothing. Ban started a conversation and we ended up in a circle, sharing stories and laughing out loud. By the way, we started talking about horror/suspense stuff which turned into comedy, finding whose turn it was to share their experience until we ended up like a television “live show”. We really had a great bonding that time that I would never forget. My first impression of Ma’am Pat changed a lot as we were able to have fun with each other that afternoon. We even hid ourselves at the area near the refrigerator and bookshelves when Ma’am Pat went outside. We planned to scare her, lol.
This was definitely my most amazing non-flight experience with Qantas. We were able to unwind and release the stress out through laughing our hearts out loud the whole afternoon until we got tired and decided to go home to have a good night rest.
22 JANUARY 2011 – SATURDAY
THIRTY- EIGHTH DAY – 1300-2100
It was Jomie’s last day today. Dana, my co-practicumer who also ended her OJT few weeks ago, visited us at the office. They gave the whole QF team a treat (spaghetti, pancit malabon, pichi-pichi).
During the briefing, Sir Eric gave us a few reminders. It was about the unaccompanied minor last flight that wasn’t endorsed at the gate. Whenever there are UMs in a flight, it is a must to endorse them at the gate overall agent. They are supposed to sit in front so they would be recognized at once during the boarding. He also added few reminders regarding visa. Ma’am Ai also reminded that staff must conform to the policy of smart casual attire.
After the briefing, we ate the food Jomie and Dana brought. Then, we went down to the gate to start the work. It was my first time to be assigned at the queue. I was nervous but I just said to myself that I must enjoy and be excited rather than be nervous at all. Being at the queue requires a lot of pains. Number one: Headache, for I must be alert on which counter is already open that is a signal I have to direct the passenger to that open counter. And number two: Back pains. I experienced a lot of it because I was standing for almost three hours straight. However, despite these pains I experienced during my first queue assignment, I still enjoyed it, especially that I got to interact with the passengers.
After queue, I went to the immigration to find QF passengers. Then, when it was already “all up”, we went back to the office, and went home.
24 JANUARY 2011 – MONDAY
THIRTY- NINTH DAY– 1200-2000
I was assigned at the check-in counter today. We made our new deployment and instead of us staying in one area for the whole week, we would be rotating daily instead. At the counter, I assisted Sir Josh. Sir Dustin was with us, too, assisting or “shadowing” Sir Josh.
I was requested by Ma’am Nancy to swipe the credit card of a passenger at the office. She told me to charge Php1000. When I reached the office, I gave the credit card to Ma’am Pat. There was a family at the office and I was informed at once that I would accompany the UM. We went down at the departure area and the UM said her goodbyes to her aunts. I was worried because I still have the passengers’ credit card and receipts with me. I had to go back to the counter so that the passenger could have his credit card back. I was sure that time that the passenger was already impatient and mad. But, I couldn’t leave the UM. I assisted the UM upon entering the airport and the moment we passed through the security, I talked to the officer who lead them to the QF office. I left the UM with him for a while and hurried back to the counter to give the credit card. As I walked toward the passenger at the counter, the impatient man told me in a loud voice “ang bagal naman, I need/have to go to the bathroom!” I was really pissed off at him. Karen also told me that man told her that his credit card must’ve not been handed over to other person but he couldn’t do anything because our credit card swipe machine failed to work, so Ma’am Nancy had to ask me to swipe it at the office.
That impatient man even told Karen that he was Dr. ___. I didn’t care if he’s a doctor. My point was that he didn’t know how to respect a person. He didn’t have an idea that I also assisted another person. He must’ve not told me that I was slow because I tried to run the errand quickly. I was really humiliated that time because the other people around might have heard it. I immediately left the credit card and receipts to Karen and she was already the one who called Ma’am Nancy, then I left the counter and assisted the UM.
I assisted the UM at the check-in counter. Ma’am Jade checked-in the UM and we headed to the immigration. We paid for her terminal fee and when we passed through the line, I was surprised that I didn’t notice the huge crowd at the immigration. Just right after the terminal fee was the queue of passengers in the immigration. Keycelyn, who was also assisting a mother with a child, called me and Karen and told us to go to the queue at the side where they could prioritize passengers with children. We passed through the immigration after several minutes of waiting. It was really difficult for me and Karen because both our UMs had heavy carry-on which we had to carry because they were small. Upon exiting the immigration, we headed to the gate. My UM asked me if there was a toilet at the gate, but I told her she could still go out after her boarding pass had been torn. The moment I endorsed the UM to the gate, it was already boarding time and she was lead straight to the aircraft by Sir Eric.
I had nothing to do at the gate by then so I just went up to the immigration to help looking for QF passengers. After all had been accounted, we went back to the office.
25 JANUARY 2011 – TUESDAY
FORTIETH DAY –1300-2100
I was assigned at the Arrival today with Mike. After arranging the arrival documents and briefing, we distributed them at designated areas. Ma’am Jade didn’t accompany us because we already knew the process and I wanted to learn everything even without the guide of the agent. After the arrival documents have been distributed, I stayed at check-in first with Sir Cyrus. He let me check-in and I was able to accomplish almost 10 passengers. When the aircraft already arrived, I, Mike, and Ma’am Jade went to the gate and accomplished all documents. We had difficulty having the documents signed at the AOD because the elevator was not working. However, we still managed to finish them and went back to the gate.
Back in the office we had a post-flight briefing regarding general security precautions by Sir Larry, sent by MIAA. Early that afternoon I received a text from my partner that a bus in EDSA was bombed and passengers were hurt and sadly, few passengers died. We were reminded and given some precautions such as avoid going out alone and possibly just stay inside. We were also informed that MIAA heightened their security to Level 3. I just pray and hope nothing bad would happen at our workplace.
27 JANUARY 2011 – THURSDAY
FORTY- FIRST DAY – 1400-2200
We had the usual flight. I was at my favorite post today, at the gate. Before going down at the gate, I helped at the BCO first. We encountered Filipino passenger complaining about an Australian who got into the wrong part of the queue. When it was the Australian’s turn to weigh his baggage, two Filipinos pointed at him while telling us that he just got into the wrong queue. The Australian said that he just went to the CR. He put his baggage on the weighing scale. Still, the Filipinos who said they witnessed the Australian’s wrong act kept on complaining about him. They were very furious. I pitied the Australian because he was calm even if they were threatening him. I’d like to explain to the Filipinos to just let it pass and to understand him since I thought Filipinos would understand us better and they’d just give way and be considerate. However, it’s as if they were very hard on the Australian who wasn’t even fighting back. We learned he was a Frequent Flyer passenger. He was calm and just asked where’d he go instead.
The Australian even told while the Filipinos were complaining against him, “Where’d I go now? You wouldn’t want to lose your passenger” (He was referring to himself who’s a Frequent Flyer). Yes, we wouldn’t want to lose such passenger even if we’re not sure if he really cheated or not. My point was, he must’ve not experienced such treatment from the Filipinos. I really pity him. How rude were those Filipinos. They even removed and threw back to the Australian his baggage. We all saw the Australian’s nails were somehow infected and they went more severe when he caught his baggage thrown by them. He even told them “be careful of my bags”. I really pitied him. Ma’amJade just let him line up at the Qantas Club counter.
At the gate, we also encountered a passenger whom we /I thought at first was fun to talk to. We started the conversations with topics about the places he visited in the Philippines. He pronounced funny places, like Iloilo which his pronunciation sounded like Honolulu. But then when our conversation was already going beyond the limit as to he was already asking who were single among us and he even asked me if I had kids. We avoided talking to him after that and we just continued with our work and ignored him until boarding time.
28 JANUARY 2011 – FRIDAY
FORTY- SECOND DAY –1000-1800
It was a non-flight day. The agents today were Ma’am Pat, Ma’am Rovynne, and Ma’am Loren. When I arrived at the office, the agents were talking about something that I might have agreed at some points but I was sad because they were talking against a person. I just hope they would resolve their problem immediately.
We did nothing today. We were supposed to watch a movie at the office but Ma’am Loren was not yet done with her tasks. So, the whole afternoon was a stress-free one for us.
29 JANUARY 2011 – SATURDAY
FORTY-THIRD DAY – 1300-2100
My post today was at the arrival. I and Ban photocopied the arrival documents. While doing the documents, Ma’am Pat needed one of us to accompany the UM. I was the one who assisted the UM only until the check-in because the UM still needed to go out with his grandparents. I had fun assisting the UM because he’s only seven years old yet he’s very smart as he kept on talking to me. One funny part was when I was about to bring him to the business counter, we accidentally went to the wrong queue. I didn’t notice at once because there were so many passengers around and I thought the queue was directing to the business class counter. Then I noticed the queue of passengers curving in front directing to Hawaiian Airlines. It was later that I learned we were on that wrong queue. I immediately pushed the baggage cart towards the QF business class counter. I was really humiliated. Thankfully, the UM didn’t notice.
After accompanying the child, I went at the BCO, then gate, and finally assisted Sir Josh with the arrival documents.
31 JANUARY 2011 – MONDAY
FORTY- FOURTH DAY – 1200-2000
My post today was at the counter. We had a normal flight today. I assisted Sir Anthony at the counter. At first he let me check-in one passenger but Ma’am Rovynne told him to not let me check-in at once because we had a full flight and there were many passengers on the queue. So, Sir Anthony checked-in passengers first. When few passengers were left, I was asked by Sir Anthony to do the task already. I enjoy checking-in passengers because it lets me interact with the passengers and I also learn a lot from the system. After checking-in, we went to the immigration. When it was “all accounted”, we headed straight down to the gate.