Is Priority Boarding Needed in Australia?

[justinbrett]

Possibly why QF avoids this space, you might put an elite slightly offside if PB isn't enforced, but you can get a full blown PR (and even security) incident if you go too far the other way.

We really just need to use boarding groups like the US - makes it all completely objective and transparent.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thats why they should just get rid of PB. All because the airline is trying to cater to a small group of passengers so they can get onboard first.
Overzealousness, underzealousness, where is the correct level of zealousness?.

There is a much easier way to board an aircraft.
Outside of disabled and parents with small children, boarding should be by row. Back row first and carryons size and weight should be policed.

 

[justinbrett]

Back row first and carryons size and weight should be policed.

Actually proven to be one of the worst methods. Random is quicker.

 

[Quickstatus]

Random is quicker

I was not talking about quicker.
But if quicker is the goal then random is not necessarily quicker:

I like the back to front not because its quickest but because it is easier. There is less people to nudge past.

The picture below shows that slow pasengers first is faster than random - which is what airlines are already doing in a limited way

To make the back to front even faster, you could use the Steffen Boarding method which is a variation of the back to front and maybe the quickest (on paper at least) that Ive come across

Not surprisingly, none of these has anything to do with PB.

 

[justinbrett]

I was not talking about quicker.
But if quicker is the goal then random is not necessarily quicker:

View attachment 318753

Quicker than back to front which your chart seems to agree with... unless I'm reading it wrong.

I didn't say random was the best method, it's just better than back to front.

 

[justinbrett]

To make the back to front even faster, you could use the Steffen Boarding method which is a variation of the back to front but it is maybe the quickest (on paper at least) that Ive come across

Again, never said it was the fastest, just refuting back to front as a good method (video explains why - it is slightly better than front to back, but both are much worse than random).

The video does say the Steffen method is the best.

PB is closest to front to back

 

[Quickstatus]

Random is quicker.

never said it was the fastest

Again I did not say back to front was quickest - just easier.
But you (not me) opened the door to the topic of speed of boarding - "random is quicker", so then I suggested slow fast is faster than random and the Steffen boarding method which is a variation of back to front is maybe the quickest (on paper at least)

I haven't looked at the Youtube link you provided.

That is only if speed of boarding is the criteria (which you raised). Ease of boarding on the other hand is a completely different topic and Im speculating that after slow passengers board, then back to front maybe the easiest - because you don't need to nudge past passengers. Not quicker than random but Im thinking easier.

Maybe the Steffen method is easier and quicker?. But Im not aware of any alirline using it

Of Course, all of these methods assume all the passengers are present at the gate when boarding starts which is not the case in reality.

 

[snabbu]

We really just need to use boarding groups like the US - makes it all completely objective and transparent.

I've wondered for 20+ years why this hasn't happened. The US does it brilliantly, makes sense, enforced, boarding is generally smooth in my experience.

 

[justinbrett]

Again I did not say back to front was quickest - just easier.
But you (not me) opened the door to the topic of speed of boarding - "random is quicker", so then I suggested slow fast is faster than random and the Steffen boarding method which is a variation of back to front is maybe the quickest (on paper at least)

I haven't looked at the Youtube link you provided.

That is only if speed of boarding is the criteria (which you raised). Ease of boarding on the other hand is a completely different topic and Im speculating that after slow passengers board, then back to front maybe the easiest - because you don't need to nudge past passengers. Not quicker than random but Im thinking easier.

Maybe the Steffen method is easier and quicker?. But Im not aware of any alirline using it

Of Course, all of these methods assume all the passengers are present at the gate when boarding starts which is not the case in reality.

I'll clarify my statement, which I thought was implied, but I'll spell it out.

random is quicker than back to front

Random is also the easiest for the airline since it requires no systems, allocations or enforcement. Most airlines don't care about what's easiest for the passenger.

The video really explains why back to front is so bad, it's there if you want to watch it, otherwise I'm moving on. (executive summary is every passenger waits whilst the person in front is stowing their bag; random allows this to occur simultaneously many times over)

 

[Sprucegoose]

I've wondered for 20+ years why this hasn't happened. The US does it brilliantly, makes sense, enforced, boarding is generally smooth in my experience.

Because Australia started life as a penal colony and (strangely enough) our free-spirited folk tend to avoid prescriptive processes that eliminate shortcuts that reduce opportunities.

 

[TheInsider]

I've wondered for 20+ years why this hasn't happened. The US does it brilliantly, makes sense, enforced, boarding is generally smooth in my experience.

Most Australian flights board within >20min. A lot of US carriers and EU carriers board within 40-25 minutes. It could have something to do with timings?

To be honest, it wouldn't be hard to set up if they wanted to do it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Most Australian flights board within >20min. A lot of US carriers and EU carriers board within 40-25 minutes. It could have something to do with timings?

Do US carriers typically use FAs at the boarding gate to scan BPs? Or do they typically use dedicated gate agents?

Possibly: With the former, the boarding process may need to be more compact as the FAs have duties on board and then the duty at the gate. If separate teams, then they can obviously work in parallel and have a longer boarding process.

 

[serfty]

Personally, as one who rarely checks luggage, I believe PB is a good thing - one of the several perks which makes status worth attaining for a regular flyer.

PB should be enforced consistently and pleasantly.

With consistency comes expectation.

 

[TheInsider]

Do US carriers typically use FAs at the boarding gate to scan BPs? Or do they typically use dedicated gate agents?

Possibly: With the former, the boarding process may need to be more compact as the FAs have duties on board and then the duty at the gate. If separate teams, then they can obviously work in parallel and have a longer boarding process.

AFAIK most use their own gate staff and the FA's stay on board.

I know QF run to a 35 minute turnaround on B737 flights currently, which obviously gets rid of boarding at -30 or -40

 

[dk4]

Ummmm, why has this thread appeared in the community area, it seems a Qantas specific discussion!!? (Staff who can't be bothered, systems/processes not fit for purpose, too many passengers qualifying as priority on some flights...)

Australia has domestic priority boarding! It happens every day on Virgin and Rex jet services. (NB: Virgin has recently implemented a variation on flights which are delayed departures though, to the annoyance of some regulars.)

 

[Lynda2475]

Yes it is needed, because except for Jetstar and Singapore Airlines Ive never seen carry-on allowances strictly enforced in terms of weight, number of pieces and size.

If our domestic airlines (in particular) all consistently enforced carry-on rules, and ensured people put 1 smaller item under their seat (exit rows excluded) and only 1 larger item in the overhead bin then we wouldnt see frequent delays while FAs play bag tetris due to the selfish sods who put 2-3 items over head bin.

I am thankful that status and/or class of travel allow me (someone who does not abuse carry-on entitlements) the ability to board early and ensure my bags are in the overhead bin nearest my seat.

I understand also allowing early boarding for those passengers who need assistance i.e. in a wheelchair or walker because this does clog up the aisle. But a lot of time people with older children seriously take the p***; if your kid is at school and capable of doing up their own seat belt you dont need to be let on early. Seen far too many with older kids (teenagers) board early simply to flout the carry-on allowance.

Boarding groups would be the simplest solution (and if there is anyone on prioroty queue stop boarding the pleb queue until cleared ubless there are dual aerobriodges) and make people who need assistance or have "small children" apply for the early boarding at check-in/bag drop/gate before boarding starts to ensure the need is genuine and not queue jumpting.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ummmm, why has this thread appeared in the community area, it seems a Qantas specific discussion!!? (Staff who can't be bothered, systems/processes not fit for purpose, too many passengers qualifying as priority on some flights...)

The thread title makes it open for discussion across all airlines in Australia and whether PB is actually needed. I can't see much QF specific content, other than a couple of relevant posts ....

 

[justinbrett]

Ummmm, why has this thread appeared in the community area, it seems a Qantas specific discussion!!? (Staff who can't be bothered, systems/processes not fit for purpose, too many passengers qualifying as priority on some flights...)

Australia has domestic priority boarding! It happens every day on Virgin and Rex jet services. (NB: Virgin has recently implemented a variation on flights which are delayed departures though, to the annoyance of some regulars.)

Because it started in the VA forum in this thread discussing a terrible VA PB experience "What makes you think YOU'RE allowed to board?" - Shocking priority boarding experience

It is not QF specific, it's discussing two ends of the spectrum and whether there is a middle ground

 

[Brissy1]

Actually proven to be one of the worst methods. Random is quicker.

Loved the link but...getting 99% on board quicker just means waiting longer for the remaining 1%.

 

[UP4014]

The quickest way would be to board window seats firsts, then middle then aisle.

But imagine how hard that would be for people lining up at the gate.