Booing as woman dies in queue

[jokemaster]

Booing as woman dies in queue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QANTAS staff have been booed by frustrated passengers at Brisbane Airport after leaving their check-in counters to assist an elderly woman who collapsed and died in the long queue.

 

 

 

The 80-year-old woman is believed to have suffered a heart attack shortly after joining Qantas Club check-in queue on Monday morning.

 

 

 

Two doctors at the terminal provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived 15 minutes later but they were unable to revive her.

 

 

 

Julie Bignell, from the Australian Services Union, said that when staff heard of the woman's plight, two of them went to her aid but were booed when they closed their counters.

 

 

 

"There were only half the number of check-in points operating that morning because six staff had called in sick. The terminal was packed with about 1000 people and no one could move. The public didn't know what was going on," Ms Bignell said.

 

 

 

She said it was not particularly unusual for check-in staff to be booed or even spat on when they finished their shift and closed their counters during busy periods.

 

 

 

"The Qantas terminal at Brisbane Airport is chronically understaffed. We've been trying for two years to have staffing levels improved, but they've actually decreased," she said.

 

 

 

More than 90 staff had left Qantas from the domestic and international terminals since September 2006, and there were "always people off on stress leave", Ms Bignell said.

 

 

 

"It's extremely stressful for staff when they have such big workloads, and now they've got people dying in the queues," she said.

 

 

 

Curtis Davies from Qantas said the airline was employing more than 20 additional staff "to provide even better levels of service".

 

 

 

"We have done a great deal to improve the check-in process, including introducing online check-in and QuickCheck kiosk," said Mr Davies.

 

 

 

But Ms Bignell predicted waiting times at Brisbane Airport would worsen in the upcoming school holiday period.

[Hydraides]

:-s Thats Auzzies for you

[StrOwez]

I don't see why they needed more than 1 person to look after the old woman..

[tomdavies90]

They weren't booing because she was dead..they were booing because they were gonna have to wait twice as long to get to their destination, they didn't know someone had died..

[AThousandLies]

Airports really bring out the best in people, huh?

[Defender2516]

They weren't booing because she was dead..they were booing because they were gonna have to wait twice as long to get to their destination, they didn't know someone had died..

 

 

 

Did you not read the article? She died while waiting in the queue. Guess where those 1000's of people are.. in the queue. Those waiting didn't seem to care and when the staff heard and actually did something, got boo'ed out for it.

[dsavi]

Where is the love by the Black Eyed Peas rocks.

 

 

 

On topic: That's just sick.

[Will H]

Where is the love by the Black Eyed Peas rocks.

 

 

 

 

:?: How is that... relevant?

 

Anyway, I think that these people either didn't know what had happened, and/or were REALLY annoyed at anything which made their queue even slower. I think that both were the case. Since the queue was described as 'long', and considering this is the entire load of passengers for a plane, I seriously doubt that everyone actually saw the heart attack and so were probably just booing the staff as they went past, assuming that they were really doing something pointless and wasting time.

 

 

 

I bet the booing stopped abruptly when they saw a dead body being wheeled the other way on a stretcher.

 

 

 

And yes, airports do sometimes show the worst of people, but that is exactly what excruciating boredom and tiredness does. I'm sure we've all been through it at lease once.

[Lionheart_0]

They weren't booing because she was dead..they were booing because they were gonna have to wait twice as long to get to their destination, they didn't know someone had died..

 

 

 

Did you not read the article? She died while waiting in the queue. Guess where those 1000's of people are.. in the queue. Those waiting didn't seem to care and when the staff heard and actually did something, got boo'ed out for it.

 

 

 

"There were only half the number of check-in points operating that morning because six staff had called in sick. The terminal was packed with about 1000 people and no one could move. The public didn't know what was going on," Ms Bignell said.

 

 

 

It's very understandable, just as bad as road rage. Most people were unaware of the incident due to the number of people, thus not being able to see what happend.

[indy500fan]

And yes, airports do sometimes show the worst of people, but that is exactly what excruciating boredom and tiredness does. I'm sure we've all been through it at lease once.

 

 

 

I've never waited in an airport line :D .

 

 

 

I think I was only in an airport once, and that was a long time ago, before all the crazy security stuff was implemented. Didn't fly, just went to meet my grandparents flying in.

[Barihawk]

I buy all my tickets online. I've got my boarding pass in my hand before I even get to the airport. I walk from security to the chair at the gate. First in line to board, too (buy C class tickets if you are going coach, they board first).

 

 

 

It was kind of rude for people to boo in the first place. I mean, spitting at people for doing their jobs? Would the people doing the booing or hissing appreciate having to stay late?

[Zonorhc]

passengers at Brisbane Airport

 

 

 

I see the problem. =p

[warren211]

If you ask me, whoever wrote the article is even lower then the people booing. They only had one line say "the public didnt know what was going on." Other then that, the whole article plus its title made it seem as though the lady died in front of them and they started booing when someone ran to help. They didn't know what was happening. They just knew they had to wait. Its not their fault.

[warren211]

They weren't booing because she was dead..they were booing because they were gonna have to wait twice as long to get to their destination, they didn't know someone had died..

 

 

 

Did you not read the article? She died while waiting in the queue. Guess where those 1000's of people are.. in the queue. Those waiting didn't seem to care and when the staff heard and actually did something, got boo'ed out for it.

 

 

 

Did YOU read the article? Reread the whole thing, particularly the quote for what the lady was saying about the issue. Don't skim and then start quoting other people.

[warri0r45]

:-s Thats Auzzies for you

 

 

 

What, you think we boo when we don't get service because the service goes to help dead people? They didn't know what was going on.

 

 

 

Did you not read the article? She died while waiting in the queue. Guess where those 1000's of people are.. in the queue. Those waiting didn't seem to care and when the staff heard and actually did something, got boo'ed out for it.

 

 

 

Do you read it? It said they didn't know what was going on.

 

 

 

Perhaps if you did your research you'd figure out that that Qantas club check in queue (old woman) is on the first floor of the domestic terminal while terminal check-in (1000 angry people) is on the ground floor.

 

 

 

http://www.bne.com.au/content/standard. ... rminalMaps

 

 

 

If it was in the international terminal, then you'd find the qantas club lounge on level 3 and check in on level 2.

[Ginger_Warrior]

It was kind of rude for people to boo in the first place. I mean, spitting at people for doing their jobs? Would the people doing the booing or hissing appreciate having to stay late?

 

Sums it up nicely for me.

 

 

 

They wouldn't treat a doctor, or a lawyer, or a politician with such contempt. Why do the rules change because they're merely check-in assistants?

[Giordano]

They didn't know somone was dying, they probably thought a dog found some strange smell and were going to shut down the terminal. I would of boo'ed too if I didn't knew. -.-

[warri0r45]

It was kind of rude for people to boo in the first place. I mean, spitting at people for doing their jobs? Would the people doing the booing or hissing appreciate having to stay late?

 

Sums it up nicely for me.

 

 

 

They wouldn't treat a doctor, or a lawyer, or a politician with such contempt. Why do the rules change because they're merely check-in assistants?

 

 

 

It's not merely because of their job, it's because they are severely understaffed. That's no excuse for spitting and being rude but it's a far cry from discriminatory behaviour based merely on job discription.

[IGoddessI]

It's like customer service at a restaurant, full house from open to close, under staffed.

 

 

 

People threaten the airline check in assistants, spit on them, abuse them because THEY were late, drunk, you name it and this happens in EVERY air port, not just BrisbaneÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s.

 

 

 

People can be so self centred and not able put themselves in other peopleÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s shoes for a lousy 2 seconds and realise things from another persons prospective.

 

 

 

People are quite happy to become outraged before finding explanations.

 

 

 

I point my finger at QANTAS itself, they need to treat their staff better if they're going to be "the face of the company".

[doomy]

I'd be booing, I mean she's a stranger to the staff, they could have just moved her and gotten something to move her after, she's dead, I highly doubt she cares whats happening to her..

[hells_mishap]

I'd be booing, I mean she's a stranger to the staff, they could have just moved her and gotten something to move her after, she's dead, I highly doubt she cares whats happening to her..

 

 

 

She wasn't dead when they went to help her.

[dsavi]

Where is the love by the Black Eyed Peas rocks.

 

 

:?: How is that... relevant?

 

 

 

 

Becuse where is the love was the original name of the thread.

 

 

 

EDIT: 666 posts O:)

[Ginger_Warrior]

It was kind of rude for people to boo in the first place. I mean, spitting at people for doing their jobs? Would the people doing the booing or hissing appreciate having to stay late?

 

Sums it up nicely for me.

 

 

 

They wouldn't treat a doctor, or a lawyer, or a politician with such contempt. Why do the rules change because they're merely check-in assistants?

 

 

 

It's not merely because of their job, it's because they are severely understaffed. That's no excuse for spitting and being rude but it's a far cry from discriminatory behaviour based merely on job discription.

 

I disagree. The NHS in the UK is severely understaffed, but you'd never dream of spitting or booing at a doctor as they walk past your bed because you're waiting another 30mins in A&E because of it.

 

 

 

I understand the fact they were understaffed is a factor in explaining the que's reaction, but it's certainly not the cause. The fact still remains that there is deep prejudice about the jobs people have in soceity.

[Guest]

Bloody Aussies, they're such useless bastards!

 

 

 

 

 

Gee I'd hate to be one! :^o :P

[warri0r45]

It was kind of rude for people to boo in the first place. I mean, spitting at people for doing their jobs? Would the people doing the booing or hissing appreciate having to stay late?

 

Sums it up nicely for me.

 

 

 

They wouldn't treat a doctor, or a lawyer, or a politician with such contempt. Why do the rules change because they're merely check-in assistants?

 

 

 

It's not merely because of their job, it's because they are severely understaffed. That's no excuse for spitting and being rude but it's a far cry from discriminatory behaviour based merely on job discription.

 

I disagree. The NHS in the UK is severely understaffed, but you'd never dream of spitting or booing at a doctor as they walk past your bed because you're waiting another 30mins in A&E because of it.

 

 

 

I understand the fact they were understaffed is a factor in explaining the que's reaction, but it's certainly not the cause. The fact still remains that there is deep prejudice about the jobs people have in soceity.

 

 

 

Likewise you'd never dream of seeing a well staffed, well run airport terminal where people randomly boo or spit at the staff just because of their jobs. I agree that there is a prejudice in society against certain jobs yet in this case I'd agree that lack of staff and prejudice play a part in the cause of the behaviour.