Better QF Ground Service / Benefits?

[anat0l]

It's something that we often complain about with QF. Whilst QF has some good benefits in the air, we often state that the ground based perks are pretty ordinary. Yes, every airline FFP offers their pax priority baggage, priority check-in, priority standby and usually for their top tier last-minute fully flexible Economy ticketing. Of course, there's no telling that these benefits are consistently offered, but then there are other things we'd like to see...

...hence this thread.

What other ground benefits would you like to see? So we're talking about anything covered which is not on the aircraft itself (that seems like a fair definition - yes, this includes lounges, but I'm not sure whether we should include upgrades). We can discuss about current benefits and how they could be better, or new benefits. We can discuss whether this is something that should apply to anyone, or certain tiers of the QFF program.

Some (all?) of this thread may be a pipe dream, but oh well.....




I'll start proceedings......

One thing I'd like to see is F check-in improved for SYD. At the moment, you front up the kerb, drag your bags to the end of zone B only to turn up at a hollowed out marble block that is otherwise much like your regular check-in desk. I'd say its not much better than the other airlines' premium check-in desks where the only accessory is a carpet.

I'd like to see SYD T1 F check-in set up like MEL, i.e. from kerb, you pop straight into a door to the F check-in area. Your bags are attended to by handling staff and you can sit down whilst your check-in is completed. The only disadvantage with MEL is that the immigration entry is quite far from the F check-in lounge. With most other Premium areas around the world (most! ) the two areas are close to each other; in some cases, there is direct entry (e.g. DXB for EK elites, or AKL for NZ/*A elites).


Second thing: limo transfers (QF Drive) for F and J pax to origin airport and from destination airport, under the following conditions:

• Complimentary service for F pax paying in cash (includes full F and F Saver)
• Complimentary service for most J pax paying in cash
• Not complimentary for Award F, Award J pax or some J tickets on heavily promotional rates or booking codes (e.g. I). Can be purchased for a fee of points. Exception: QF WPs (not oneworld Emeralds) have complimentary service on these ticket types.
• Only available to arrange in conjunction with a QF operated and marketed flight
• Trans-Tasman, Pacific (e.g. Fiji) and domestic flights are excluded
• Points upgrades are excluded
• A nominal maximum radius of travel (e.g. 50 km) will apply (further travel possible for a cash fee)
• QF WPs who are also LTG receive one voucher every year for one complimentary limo transfer (can be redeemed within a 2 year period)

I'll probably think of more later.

 

[Travel Guru]

I dont tend to fly QF internationally much, I tend to use a multitude of carriers, but as a SG, i'd just be happy to see priority boarding on QF Domestic flights.

TG

 

[N860CR]

And wind back the bar openning time in the QP to 11 to match DJ!

Hmm seems to be a common theme with my requests of late!

 

[samh004]

I dont tend to fly QF internationally much, I tend to use a multitude of carriers, but as a SG, i'd just be happy to see priority boarding on QF Domestic flights.

Agree. Priority boarding for OW status (plus QC), similar to AA’s Priority AAccess would be good.

And wind back the bar openning time in the QP to 11 to match DJ!!

I like to drink too, but when does it become too early? I’d be happy with 12, so I could have a beer with my lunch.

 

[anat0l]

I don't know how well US-based airlines do it, but a lot of people disrespect the whole priority boarding system in Australia (i.e. when it is used for international flights) and a lot of time is wasted in getting people to line up in the correct line or wait until they are called.

Plus, there would need to be a good system for priority boarding, because lumping all the QP+PS/SG/WP+OWR/OWS/OWE into one line and everyone else in the other line will probably give a decent 50-50 split at the best of times and maybe even a 80-20 split (80 = premium) during the worst (peak) times!

The current system is not ideal but there would need to be a very good system in place to effectively implement priority boarding for domestic flights.

 

[straitman]

I like to drink too, but when does it become too early? I’d be happy with 12, so I could have a beer with my lunch.

Agreed that 1200 would be quite adequate for this. Also priority boarding for SG and above for domestic flights would be great.

 

[samh004]

Plus, there would need to be a good system for priority boarding, because lumping all the QP+PS/SG/WP+OWR/OWS/OWE into one line and everyone else in the other line will probably give a decent 50-50 split at the best of times and maybe even a 80-20 split (80 = premium) during the worst (peak) times!

The benefit of having priority boarding is you can choose either line, so when the priority boarding line gets too long, there’s nothing stopping you from passing over to the shorter cattle class line

As for the lines becoming 50-50, even that would help load planes faster and produce better on-time performance.

 

[straitman]

As for the lines becoming 50-50, even that would help load planes faster and produce better on-time performance.

Not really as it still turns into a dogs breakfast on the airbridge.

 

[samh004]

Not really as it still turns into a dogs breakfast on the airbridge.

So we need better infrastructure too, and to use two doors

 

[dajop]

I dont tend to fly QF internationally much, I tend to use a multitude of carriers, but as a SG, i'd just be happy to see priority boarding on QF Domestic flights.

TG

It's funny how things differ. I think QF see priority boarding as getting you from the QP to the plane, after everyone else has already boarded (ie getting on the plane as late as possible). I even notice that internationally, often the lounge pax board later than most.

This is distinct from the LOTKSICO (land of the kitchen sinks in carry on, aka the LOTFAP) where getting on the plane 45 minutes (ok I exaggerate) before departure is a must!

 

[BlueAU]

I dont tend to fly QF internationally much, I tend to use a multitude of carriers, but as a SG, i'd just be happy to see priority boarding on QF Domestic flights.

TG

If that was in CBR, then almost everybody would use that and the normal PAX line would be empty! :shock: I have found that most people arriving into CBR, (during busy days Monday e.g.), everyone seems to have status, or friends with status and everyone gets priority tags!

On a side note, I would like to see ground staff put priority tagged bags out first. I find domestic just chuck whatever out. I find that in Asia, priority tags are always first to be out ... e.g. they follow the rules!

 

[anat0l]

It's funny how things differ. I think QF see priority boarding as getting you from the QP to the plane, after everyone else has already boarded (ie getting on the plane as late as possible). I even notice that internationally, often the lounge pax board later than most.

This is distinct from the LOTKSICO (land of the kitchen sinks in carry on, aka the LOTFAP) where getting on the plane 45 minutes (ok I exaggerate) before departure is a must!

+1 on this actually.

Many of us on this forum do just that, actually. We end up spending the "maximal" amount of time in the lounge before heading to board. So so much for priority boarding. At times I have arrived at the gate and there is still a healthy number of pax, so having a "clear lane" for priority boarders would be nice. Of course, you would probably need 3 lanes - 2 lanes for regulars and 1 lane for priority boarders; or, one agent handles two lanes (one lane is priority, the other regular plebs), and processes priority pax on an as-needed basis.

The current set ups at domestic gates around the country definitely don't suit the model I've suggested above. Plus, having double boarding aerobridges is only useful to separate classes, not to board priority vs. plebs.


In countries like the US and the UK where people bring everything with them on carry-on, overhead locker space becomes a real premium, and in these cases this forces people out of the lounge (and also gives rise to the term 'gate lice') in time to start boarding. I know I definitely left the lounge early when I was on a LHR-FRA flight so that I could make front of the queue for boarding, even though I was in CE. Good thing I did go, because near the end of boarding (the plane was full), the cabin crew were frantically trying to fit bags in the overhead jigsaw puzzle.

When AU gets to that point then boarding practices will more than likely need to change (both as pax and as an airline).

 

[serfty]

With Domestic OZ flights, when boarding commences, more often than not reference is made for Qantas elites to board "at their Leisure".

Since I began my sojourns in the USA, I am now in the habit of generally trying to be at the gate in Oz at the time boarding commences.

 

[JetLagged]

On a side note, I would like to see ground staff put priority tagged bags out first. I find domestic just chuck whatever out. I find that in Asia, priority tags are always first to be out ... e.g. they follow the rules!

I agree entirely, I recently flew Syd/LHR on QF31 - arrived in nice time to make of FL massage etc - then when arrived, bags took their jolly time - one of the last 50 people there. Think Heahtrow luggage handlers either want to do some reverse class system, o else it is 'first on, last off' principle. Maybe a special pallet for priority bags?

 

[dajop]

+In countries like the US and the UK where people bring everything with them on carry-on, overhead locker space becomes a real premium,

I'm the opposite, when I travel in the US, I'm quite Ok with the 15-20mins (but usually less) for baggage retrieval and I just have a small backpack with my laptop and a few essentials , that I've never had a problem squeezing into an overhead, even if almost the last to board. Prefer relaxing in a lounge to the scrum at the gate (and usually I am away for long enough that I need to check bags anyway). I remember a few years ago after one incident there were severe restrictions on hand luggage in the US - and it was really easy. In fact I heard quite a few people comment how much more relaxing travel was without the fight for OH locker space.

 

[straitman]

So we need better infrastructure too, and to use two doors

On a 737 :?:

 

[samh004]

On a 737 :?:

Tongue-in-cheek (or outside of mouth)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Second thing: limo transfers (QF Drive) for F and J pax to origin airport and from destination airport, under the following conditions:

• Trans-Tasman, Pacific (e.g. Fiji) and domestic flights are excluded

Limo service is a nice idea - but not sure why you would exclude Trans-Tasman or longer domestic flights?

At $1700 or so to AKL, and over $3000 to Perth it would seem justified to provide a limo. Those fares almost work out the same, or more, as flying to London on a per mile basis.

At least I would argue the provision of a complimentary taxi service for those tickets.

Can understand excluding limos/taxis for some heavily discounted leisure markets such as Fiji.

 

[oz_mark]

On a 737 :?:

They have a back door. Admit it may be hard to get a aerobridge to service it....

 

[straitman]

They have a back door. Admit it may be hard to get a aerobridge to service it....

I did think of that but figured that as we were discussing air bridges then that was excluded.