Alan Joyce on inaugural QF9 Perth-London flight

Saw in the news review on QF9 that AJ was on the inaugural flight. Respect - I must say. You don’t see an airline CEO too often amongst the public flying on commercial flights.

Thanks for your comments

A bodyguard lolololol. He's an airline executive, not Beyonce. I imagine his Chief of Staff or PA would have travelled with him to intervene if pax lingered too long but most pax would have had very little interest in talking to him unless he actually went row to row introducing himself.

AJ was on a flight was on to Singapore a month or so ago (he was in Business class), and interestingly (according to the flight crew) his entourage all flew economy. He has even been know to help in food service to get to say hello to passengers, and at other times wanders around to chat, but not on my flight. Even airline execs do have to fly for work. He does quite often and I think he has been on all inaugural flights, it is part of their job, and being a gregarious type he likes to chat, and according to the crew is an aviation nut. I doubt if Qantas has a private jet - not a good look.

Like most modern-day executives I imagine he would travel in a way that is both efficient and cost effective. He, nor Qantas would splurge for a private jet. I imagine he would have been perfectly happy in either QF A380 F or even a compeditors J.

I was onboard and there was Security in the transit lounge (with all the cream pies around) but onboard he was amongst “friends” so to speak. I must say he roamed the cabin all classes and was quite approachable and willing to chat with the punters.

He also did a PA before landing thanking the tech crew and cabin crew efforts as well as those who have been working on the flight for the last couple of years.

Others I seen onboard were Anthony Albanese, GT, WA premier. Wa tourism minister, federal transport minister, Qantas PR Amanda, Neil Perry & wife.

In terms of TV and media most high profile I seen was CNN Richard Quest as well as a contingent of media who took up most of the W cabin.

Tech crew Including Lisa Norman roamed the cabins and spoke to the punters about all the tech stuff.

He flew with his partner Shane, not an entourage of security guards!

AJ is a regular flying on QF flights and I heard a great anecdote of a difficult passenger in economy claiming to be a close friend of AJ without realising he was onboard. Of course when AJ came down to the passenger, he had no idea who the guy was.

Thanks everyone. No need to down-like the post. Wasn’t aware that airline CEOs seem to mix up with crowds and fly even economy (read on quota “do airline CEOs fly commercial?”) - respect to AJ for doing this.

I was on a flight with James Strong. He was in a windowless economy class seat on a 737. I spoke to him briefly and he said he asked for the least desirable seat so that paying passengers would not be disappointed. Classy.

Well done AJ. I hope that many of his criticisers have read this post.

I used to be cabin crew for wee ol Virgin Blue. The then CEO Brett Godfrey only flew economy and helped us crew clean the aircraft on turn arounds. I had Branson on once travelling for personal reasons and he introduced himself to every single passenger and shook their hands. I think it’s a done thing and is a gorgeous gesture