Practicum Report 9

11 FEBRUARY 2011 – FRIDAY

FIFTY – FOURTH DAY – 1000-1800

Today was a non-flight day. We had nothing to do so we just played word search for the first few hours and watched a movie “Burlesque” again.

I, Keycelyn, and Evan also planned to photocopy some practicum sample works and I just volunteered to do it.

After watching, we just grabbed a snack and went home.

12 FEBRUARY 2011 – SATURDAY

FIFTY – FIFTH DAY – 1300-2100

Today, I did few errands. When it was not yet briefing, Ma’am Arah asked me to photocopy an evaluation form. Next, she told us to prepare the OCS mail. I helped in tearing the passenger manifest. I also gave Keycelyn, Earl, and Mac their photocopied sample works. I was assigned at queue today. Everybody hated this post but I love it. This is the opportunity that I get to interact with the passengers while they were waiting for their turn. Some passengers are friendly, some ignore me, and some don’t listen to me and head straight at the counter at once. They don’t understand my role as a queue comber. Anyway, I just enjoy this post because I have time to talk to the passenger. My co-practicumers didn’t like this because it was very tiring just like today that I almost ran to the counter to sit for awhile because I couldn’t stand the pain in my shoulders and legs. However, even if I love this post, I never get to exchange posts if the assigned practicumer wanted to. I always follow where I was assigned to.

After queuing, I stayed at the counter to rest for awhile before going to the immigration to look for passengers. I took note of some information of the system while I was resting at the counter. For flight info, Shift F7, CTRL E to reduce the display, and CTRL H to add.

The counters already closed and I started looking for passengers at the immigration area.

14 FEBRUARY 2011 – MONDAY

FIFTY – SIXTH DAY – 1200-2000

Today, I was assigned at the check-in counter. Everything went well at the counter.  I was asked by Ma’am Arah to get excess baggage coupons at the office.

It was also Mac’s last day today so we were all sad because we would lose one practicumer again. Many agents were resigning and still Qantas have lots of things to do. They were very thankful they have us practicumers to help them. These past few days we feel the pressure as we always had a full flight yet Qantas already lack manpower.

15 FEBRUARY 2011 – TUESDAY

FIFTY – SEVENTH DAY – 1300-2100

During the briefing, Ma’am Aileen reminded us of the age of UM (unaccompanied minor). The limit of UM passengers would be 12 to 15 years old upon the request of their parents. They should not be seated with a male passenger.

This day every one of us also multitasked because we lack in agents and practicumers already and it was very difficult for us to work.

17 FEBRUARY 2011 – THURSDAY

FIFTY – EIGHTH DAY – 1400-2200

Today I was assigned at the counter. Everything was normal today although we had a full flight and some passengers had clarifications with their travel documents.

I was supposed to have my photos taken at each post but it was cancelled because we were all busy. After counter, I went to the immigration and gate until we waited for pushback and went home.

19 FEBRUARY 2011 – SATURDAY

FIFTY – NINTH DAY – 1300-2100

It was a very tough day for me. This was my last day for my journal and this was a memorable one. Since we lack manpower these past few days, we had difficulties in every post. I was assigned at the gate but I was left with Hsu at the BCO. I was the only one dealing with the many passengers who had excess baggage. Most of the passengers were impatient and this gave me difficulties. Added to this were the slow counters where most passengers had problems, too. At the gate, there was also lack of agents. Our plan of having our photos inside the aircraft was postponed again.

I was already sick this night and we all really felt the difficulty of the tasks. However, I still enjoyed my duty that despite the lack of manpower, I felt that I was able to contribute well to the departure flight that night.