Economy X Priority Boarding

[ThatMrBlake]

I've been using Virgin's economy X product this year to travel between Brisbane and Perth, and one of the advertised benefits is priority boarding.

What I have found all year, and am continuing to notice is that every single time I am using priority lane, the initial reaction is sir you should wait for the general boarding call, and each time I have to explain slowly, economy X. Doesn't matter if it is row three, or the exit rows, there doesn't seem to be the knowledge of what rows are economy x and the entitlement to priority boarding.

Is this something others have noticed?

 

[Saab34]

The Perth operation is run by Aerocare which is a sub contractor ground crew. They are not highly regarded as a operation.

I can’t remember but do the priority boarding stands gave Econ X on them?

 

[ThatMrBlake]

I can’t remember but do the priority boarding stands gave Econ X on them?

They don't but the announcement for business and status boarding also includes economy X.

 

[serfty]

@youfoundblake Welcome to QFF.

If there is nothing on the Boarding Pass to indicate Economy X then you will simply need to be understanding and patient. When pulled up, calmly tell then you are in Economy X.

The gate agents will be looking for workds like "Buusines", "Platinum" etc.

Hopefully VA will fix this.

 

[Silvia]

The Perth operation is run by Aerocare which is a sub contractor ground crew. They are not highly regarded as a operation.

I can’t remember but do the priority boarding stands gave Econ X on them?

Yes, in theory you should get PB, from memory it should say boarding group 1?

Having a look at the VA website it states:
"Economy X guests travelling on Domestic flights will receive:

• Priority Screening (where available)
• Priority Boarding (where available)
• Greater legroom at the front of the Economy Cabin or in the over wing exits
• Preferred overhead locker space"

Don't usually fly from Perth, but in Melbourne and Sydney I've had no issues, now... the preferred overhead locker space has been a different story in some of my flights.

 

[babysun]

The Perth operation is run by Aerocare which is a sub contractor ground crew. They are not highly regarded as a operation.

I can’t remember but do the priority boarding stands gave Econ X on them?

I used to notice it on the couple of times I'd paid for it in the past. You'd think they have their act together by now. I've seen passengers sent from priority queue to general economy queue at LAX too. It's ridiculous that this has been a VA product for ages they'd get their act together on it by now. Shouldn't matter whether they are VA staff or not. It's a staff training issue or documentation issue on the boarding pass. I felt a bit embarrassed when staff member was quite stern about trying to decline me priority boarding. She gave the impression that she disagreed with me but shrugged her shoulders and let me go ahead as if it was easier to let me go that fight about it.

 

[RooFlyer]

They don't but the announcement for business and status boarding also includes economy X.

Welcome to AFF.

 

[Blinky]

The Perth operation is run by Aerocare which is a sub contractor ground crew. They are not highly regarded as a operation.

I don’t agree with this at all. They are now Swissport by the way, and are growing steadily.

 

[ozstamps]

You'd think they have their act together by now. I've seen passengers sent from priority queue to general economy queue at LAX too. It's ridiculous that this has been a VA product for ages they'd get their act together on it by now.

Shouldn't matter whether they are VA staff or not. It's a staff training issue or documentation issue on the boarding pass. I felt a bit embarrassed when staff member was quite stern about trying to decline me priority boarding. She gave the impression that she disagreed with me but shrugged her shoulders and let me go ahead as if it was easier to let me go that fight about it.

Virgin run expensive TV ads etc, hyping this early boarding up as a BENEFIT and they charge plenty for it, so appalling after all this time they have not trained staff. No-one wants to pay top dollar and be embarrassed at gate.

 

[Blackswan]

I've mentioned it in another thread, but from my experience priority boarding in PER is often a shambles (being non-policing of the priority queue altogether - they let he general group start congregating in the priority queue, and then it becomes too hard to police).

 

[Saab34]

Aerocare was rebadged Swissport. Same stuff different name. The shambles goes on.

They are truly a disorganised and terrible company, I have not seen such rubbish from a ground company whilst in this industry. Working around them was bad enough, let alone hearing the staff there who just cough and moan all day about working for them.

 

[Pleb Status]

I witnessed mutliple PB queue rejections in BNE this afternoon, indicating that it is PB is being enforced. A gate agent also did a quick run up the PB queue as well.

The biggest 'issue' is large number of valid users of the PB queue, not enforcement of the queue...

 

[dxwell]

Out of interest, how many people did the gate agent find in the PB queue @Pleb Status

 

[Pleb Status]

Out of interest, how many people did the gate agent find in the PB queue @Pleb Status

Two or three were sent packing (along with three that walked voluntarily as the gate agent approached) out of about 40 to 50 in the PB queue in front of me...