Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[ajca]

Posted Nov 16th:

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Domestic Priority Boarding has had a lot of commentary and feedback on AFF for some time now and I know you are all keen for an update.

As you know we started a trial in August in Sydney and I can now happily say that we will be enhancing our Domestic Priority Boarding by providing a dedicated premium boarding lane for Platinum, Platinum One, and oneworld Emerald members and Business class customers at major Cityflyer ports in the next few weeks.
I know that you are all hot on this so I have included exact implementation dates but they could change by a few days.

- Perth (21 November 2011)
- Brisbane (28 November 2011)
- Sydney (5 December 2011)
- Melbourne (12 December 2011)

Discussions are underway with airport authorities in other ports to see if it can be rolled out further.

Do let me know if you have any feedback once it is implemented.
...

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Posted in this in the 'upcoming changes' thread but realised it probably deserves its own.

I was in J on a full 767 flight from SYD-MEL on Friday night. Arrived at the gate to see a massive line extending about 100m+ back into the terminal.

No sign of a priority boarding lane and a few pissed looking J passengers trying to decide whether they should just walk up to the front of the line.

Any word from QF on whether this is meant to be in place? It's not a great J experience when you line up for 20 minutes to board...

 

[OverrideServlet]

The story is that they rarely do it, so don't expect it.

I'd love to know why this is the case though.

I suspect the staff are just lazy.

They could also be better equipped for the task. AA has signage at each gate which makes it very obvious which line people should be standing in.

 

[Mwenenzi]

For many of us priority boarding means boarding last spending more time in the QF lounge
QF is not like American carriers scrambling for overhead space

 

[JetLagged]

For most of us priority boarding means boarding last
QF is not like American carriers

Here, here! More time in the QP, then when they make the call a leisurely walk to the gate, and no need to encounter the hoardes sitting to the rear of the plane!

What's the rush?

 

[flyinghightoday]

MEL it works out quite well if you're in the QP
By the time they announce boarding and you walk all the way to the gate you can pretty much get straight on without waiting.

SYD the walk is a lot shorter I found

 

[oz_mark]

For many of us priority boarding means boarding last spending more time in the QF lounge
QF is not like American carriers scrambling for overhead space

Have you tried catching a 737 in the Friday peak hour lately?

 

[ajca]

For many of us priority boarding means boarding last spending more time in the QF lounge
QF is not like American carriers scrambling for overhead space

I agree - but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be a priority boarding lane when you do get there, because chances are other pax are still waiting in line.

An extra 10 minutes in the J lounge on Friday night would have meant another slice of that quite delicious pizza and a glass of red. Which would have made for a very happy traveller.

 

[medhead]

I don't even need an extra lane. I realise you're talking about J but this is also a WP benefit. As such I'd like to see it as well, even if it is pre-board priority as DJ use (I have no problem leaving the lounge early). Having banged on about this the main problem I see is that it a benefit for J, WP and OWS (you can argue that may not have been intended for domestic). On peak hour flights this might very well be half the passengers. The normal lane would probably be shorter.

 

[ajca]

On peak hour flights this might very well be half the passengers. The normal lane would probably be shorter.

Ah yes that is undoubtedly true if you include OWS / QF SG. If that's the case I reckon they should make priority boarding OWE / QF WP / J.

But it comes down to another question of whether QF prioritises J pax or WP Y pax. My vote would be J pax who pay $600+ for a one-way SYD-MEL. But I am biased!

 

[medhead]

But it comes down to another question of whether QF prioritises J pax or WP Y pax. My vote would be J pax who pay $600+ for a one-way SYD-MEL. But I am biased!

I wouldn't disagree about J passengers. But as mentioned the main imperative to board early is overhead space and the cabin crew seem to do a very good job of protecting that space in J, IME

I have been enjoying the DJ priority boarding experience, if only because it makes boarding slightly more orderly. At the very least I would like qantas to have a board first system. I'm back into the qantas total boarding mess (2 words starts with S F) next Monday morning after a 7 week break will see how that goes.

 

[drewbles]

For many of us priority boarding means boarding last spending more time in the QF lounge
QF is not like American carriers scrambling for overhead space

Have you travelled QF recently? My last flight from LHR to MEL was so full I was struggling to find any overhead space. The walk from the T3 F Lounge to the A380 gates is quite long, and when they said they would give a final boarding call in 10 minutes, i made a beeline for boarding. Just as well I did, or I would have not had any space. Was a struggle to find any overhead bins at all.

I've noted similarly on the Aus trans-con segments on 737's. The mantra of pack-the-kitchen-sink the LOTFAP adopts is quickly becoming the norm here too (probably thanks to slower-than-sludge baggage handlers at many airports).

 

[drewbles]

An extra 10 minutes in the J lounge on Friday night would have meant another slice of that quite delicious pizza and a glass of red. Which would have made for a very happy traveller.

Which J lounge were you in?

I've never had a delicious pizza nor red in any QP/J lounge

(The F Lounge reds are rather acceptable though!)

 

[ajca]

Which J lounge were you in?

I've never had a delicious pizza nor red in any QP/J lounge

Sydney Domestic J (T3). The one slice of pizza I scoffed down in about 30 seconds (before I had to run to the gate) was really quite delicious.

Incidentally I find the Domestic J lounge food to be quite a bit better than the QP food (I seem to be unusual in this).

 

[djfuzz]

Not sure where to stand on the issue of whether or not this is a worthwhile benefit, but the fact of the matter is that it's still listed as such as a WP benefit. But why? They're no longer even giving it lip service.

Previously on Cityflyer flights out of MEL and SYD from gates with two doors, or even two positions, they'd have one nominally dedicated to priority boarding. Now everything is labelled "Business/Economy". Why bother, and why continue spruiking it as a benefit?

 

[TonyHancock]

My experience this week at both MEL and BNE was the same. 737 both times.

When boarding was called first up were economy in rows 15-29, then it was announced that J, WP, SG and OW equivalent passengers could board at their leisure. So unless you were in the queue before boarding was called there was no priority boarding.

....and I'd forgotten just how bad the 73H was until today!!! :shock:

 

[JohnK]

For many of us priority boarding means boarding last spending more time in the QF lounge
QF is not like American carriers scrambling for overhead space

I am very close to last to board on all my flughts. Depending on how far I have to walk to the gate I hang around in the lounge until I see the 'FINAL CALL' or even 'FLIGHT CLOSED' sign before heading off the gates. Get to the gate very late in the piece and hang around until I am told there are only a couple of passengers to go or I am the last.

Why would I want to be on the aircraft in row 23 aisle on 767 or row 4 aisle on 737 watching everyone board and bumping everything but the kitchen sink into my shoulder as they walk past?

Have you tried catching a 737 in the Friday peak hour lately?

I do it quite regularly. I don't normally travel with carry-on but when I do I can easily fit 2 bags under the seat in front when I am in row 4 on QF.

 

[Timba-Jet]

When boarding was called first up were economy in rows 15-29, then it was announced that J, WP, SG and OW equivalent passengers could board at their leisure. So unless you were in the queue before boarding was called there was no priority boarding.

Same here on recent SYD-BNE-SYD flight. And I doubt QF police this at all. Also the annoucement is usually made before the lounge visitors have arrived at the gate if they wait until the loung boarding call.

LAN even can manage a proper priority boarding lane for OWE S/E!

 

[Stealth]

At Perth I've noticed a few people pass around the queue and go to the boarding desk from the side/rear, they seemed to be allowed through.

The comments about carry on bags and overhead lockers is also a pet hate of mine, I wouldn't want a totally rigid approach, but far too much stuff is being carried on these days. Some of the cheeky sods try to use the bins on J rows on 737s.

 

[TheInsider]

The comments about carry on bags and overhead lockers is also a pet hate of mine, I wouldn't want a totally rigid approach, but far too much stuff is being carried on these days. Some of the cheeky sods try to use the bins on J rows on 737s.

Shortly QF will some how be watching this more closely, the carry-on baggage and excess carry-on baggage.

 

[TonyHancock]

Shortly QF will some how be watching this more closely, the carry-on baggage and excess carry-on baggage.

I think that would be a good move. At the moment we seem to be edging closer to the US scenario where passengers appear to take their life possessions on board. :shock: