Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[Port Power]

Imagine the trouble that will cause couples travelling when one is Platinum and one is Bronze and currently you tag on as Platinum

I'll just take my son's carry on to put in the overhead locker for him, then wait for him to eventually board in Group whatever.
(Sometimes we are on the same PNR so he will have my priority group, but sometimes we are booked on separate tickets.)

 

[BAM1748]

It’s never insisted you use the back stairs just a request.

 

[AussieBird]

Seems to work OK in USA. My 2 bits worth is that those who are called eg first, don’t use the bin space of those coming on later.

 

[quick_dry]

admittedly it's an edge case, but with scanners rejecting boarding passes, this is going to be a PITA for people (i.e. me) building status into QF but travelling on another OW status. e.g. QR platinum but earning onto a QF account.

 

[straitman]

That's just like Mrs Beano and me. I had both BPs on my phone. Same for train tickets in Europe. Just a swipe away!

Which we do also however what about what we have on Monday? Three travelling together and sitting together, however one is on a seperate PNR as she is doing 3 legs and we are only doing 2 legs. Does she have to join the plebs line?

So what happens when my wife is travelling with me but is only on the lowest tier but i have gold does the scanner reject her ticket but let me on ?

I guess it depends upon whether you are on the same PNR or not.

 

[Danger]

So, just to be clear, Qantas has got a reasonable amount of media attention over the introduction of ... group boarding, the procedure that's been used by multiple airlines around the world for years?

This is from the AFF article that was linked up thread - no PB for QC or Silver members. If you are in a wheelchair or otherwise need assistance, then I expect you would board before these groups, as per usual.

Cheers,
Matt.

Taking oneworld Sapphire out of the "priority" boarding group is an issue, I think, given one of the benefits of Sapphire is "priority boarding"

 

[RealtimeY]

Taking oneworld Sapphire out of the "priority" boarding group is an issue, I think, given one of the benefits of Sapphire is "priority boarding"

This is really just a matter of terminology, Gold/Sapphire still has priority above Y and below F/J.

 

[dairyfloss]

Taking oneworld Sapphire out of the "priority" boarding group is an issue, I think, given one of the benefits of Sapphire is "priority boarding"

Qantas SG is ow sapphire. There’s no PB for ow Ruby / QF Silver, which is fine.

If you mean they aren’t in the group named Priority; I don’t think that matters, so long as they can board before the rest

 

[Blackadder]

Generally speaking those last to board in whY, are struggling to find overhead bin space from my experience.
Will be interesting to see if this continues to hold true.

 

[NSun]

It will be interesting to see how it works - and it only will if it is actually enforced. Obviously as a Platinum I hope it'll mean less of a queue when I board because it seems on some weekday peak hour flights more than half of the passengers are WP or SG. Ultimately, only time will tell.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Generally speaking those last to board in whY, are struggling to find overhead bin space from my experience.
Will be interesting to see if this continues to hold true.

You mean they wont get to drop their bag off at Row 4 as they walk to the back?

I still think the most reasonable answer to the carry-on baggage issue it to allocate and label each spot in the bins to a seat.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

So, just to be clear, Qantas has got a reasonable amount of media attention over the introduction of ... group boarding, the procedure that's been used by multiple airlines around the world for years?



Taking oneworld Sapphire out of the "priority" boarding group is an issue, I think, given one of the benefits of Sapphire is "priority boarding"

Another win for the QF PR machine, making themselves look cutting edge when they're actually way behind the rest of the world.

 

[PlaneHopperPal]

The solution is not as complicated as it appears. Having previously worked as an agent at LHR for years, the delays and frustration for boarding arose due to the amount of carry on luggage allowed onto the aircraft. ITs that simple! Nobody monitors this anymore, and waiting until passengers arrive at the gate to insist bags are checked into the hold just causes chaos and fights. If hand luggage is monitored at checkin in with the 7kg limit reinstated, people are boarded much quicker. Yep, dont overcomplicate things......board those needing assistance & FFs with higher status first, then the remaining passengers according to rear first (if theres only one door) or middle first if there are doors front and rear. Its logical. No need to spend so long arguing about who has the right to snaffle up more than their fair share of bin space. If the hand luggage is limited to a reasonable amount then there is no issue with bin space up top. If people have paid for business seats and the bin space above those seats can handle more than the standard allowance then they can have more carry on allowance, but ONLY if the business class carry on is contained within the business seat bin spaces. On a recent couple of flights out of the US last month each person got onboard with at least 3-4 times the amount they should have. Bins were full in no time, before most passengers were even onboard. It was ridiculous, then we all sat for ages while the crew tried to sort out the mess so we could take off. What a farce.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @PlaneHopperPal .

You are absolutely correct in saying a check at check-in would help restrict the amount of carry-on. Unfortunately the airlines themselves have pushed us away from the check-in counters and in fact abolished them altogether in many (?most) places.

The cure now would be greater enforcement at the gate, and an efficient gate-check process.

 

[DC3]

… On a recent couple of flights out of the US last month each person got onboard with at least 3-4 times the amount they should have …

That’s nothing new of course. It’s been happening for decades on USA domestic flights. Everything but the kitchen sink from what I’ve seen.

But I take your point.

 

[justinbrett]

Qantas SG is ow sapphire. There’s no PB for ow Ruby / QF Silver, which is fine.

If you mean they aren’t in the group named Priority; I don’t think that matters, so long as they can board before the rest

I would expect/hope feedback from the trial leads to priority being renamed Group 1, and then then rest of the group numbers adjusted.

I wouldn't rule out them inserting a group for Silver / OWR, as this exists on AA & BA.

Sounds to me they were afraid of having too many boarding group numbers - but once the system is introduced easy to increase the number of groups, like the other airlines did.

 

[love_the_life]

Welcome to AFF @PlaneHopperPal .

You are absolutely correct in saying a check at check-in would help restrict the amount of carry-on. Unfortunately the airlines themselves have pushed us away from the check-in counters and in fact abolished them altogether in many (?most) places.

The cure now would be greater enforcement at the gate, and an efficient gate-check process.

Remember a recent thread from someone who had a tanty when they were told at check in that they had too many bags for carry on (4 from memory)? There are also people who game the system at a check in counter by not having all their stuff with them and with the removal of check in counters, there will be more fights at the gate, though staff at present seem often to be averse to anything that can lead to conflict.

 

[jase05]

Everyone knows how disorderly Indonesia can be but at DPS domestic yesterday I thought GA did a pretty amazing job. Firstly at the GA checkin counter the staff weighed all cabin bags and applied “Cabin bag approved” tag to bags. Any excess bags or overweight bags were rejected and told they had to be checked in and excess baggage paid if over allowance. Then at the gate they had a pretty easy setup that worked amazingly smooth.
Had 4 rows set up with the retractable bollards and one staff member operating the bollards and another 2 scanning BP’s
First line was J, then SkyPriority, and then Y to row 39 with the final line being Y rows 39-55. We boarded first but the lines weren’t overly huge with many people remaining seated at the gate until their “group” was called. I don’t know how it went on the aircraft down the back as they closed the curtains but we had the A330 fully loaded in about 15 minutes and doors closed ahead of time and going by EF there wasn’t a empty seat on the flight

 

[1022]

Welcome @PlaneHopperPal. I wholeheartedly agree! I’ve said it before on this thread (or one similar) and I say it again: IMO QF are over engineering what should be a simple process. Limit the ridiculous amount of cabbin baggage people bring on board and ensure that the current priority boarding lanes are actually properly managed so that SG and above can board first if they are already at the gate, or use the priority lane when they arrive from the lounge. VA do this adequately 90% of the time. It’s not rocket science.

Last time I flew through SYD T3, QF staff were at the entrance to security weighing cabin bags and sending people back to kiosks and bag belts who were over the limit. (Priority security queue included).
Simple, eminently sensible and probably abandoned in favour of their trial in BNE of half a dozen complicated zones at the gate which won’t solve the fundamental problem.

 

[Flashback]

I like BAs approach. 1 normal sized bag with no weight limit and 1 personal item, that has to go under the seat in front unless in an exit row or bulkhead. Works just fine.