Priority Boarding Lane *PHOTO*

[medhead]

While there was no priority lane as suchh, I had a DJ flight from Port Macquarie to Sydney last week booked in Premium Economy. It was a fairly empty flight (E170, maybe 40 pax) and the chatty check-in lady mentioned that I was the only Y+ pax and the only DJ Gold on the flight.

Come boarding time, everyone is sitting in the rather small gate area and the same lady calls for boarding "Any Premium economy or Gold FF's" while staring directly at me! I felt like quite the tool walking up to the gate alone, but appreciated the gesture!

Don't feel like that, it is a massive point of difference over qantas. While the service is not so personal, this is what they do in ADL, which is also without priority boarding lane

 

[allitsab]

The priority boarding lane is great when it's actually used properly. The last few flights I've been on have seen the masses flock down it, and the check in staff just let it go. What a gigantic waste of time it becomes.

 

[Saab34]

So what are the ports that have Priority Boarding...?

Melbourne
Brisbane
Sydney
Gold Coast
Perth

Anymore?

The priority boarding lane is great when it's actually used properly. The last few flights I've been on have seen the masses flock down it, and the check in staff just let it go. What a gigantic waste of time it becomes.

Sounds like the priority screening line at Melbourne.....

 

[LiamR]

So what are the ports that have Priority Boarding...?

Melbourne
Brisbane
Sydney
Gold Coast
Perth

Anymore?

Gold Coast doesn't have a priority boarding lane. Oh how I wish it did.

However, ground staff to allow pre boarding for Velocity Golds and PE pax. But you generally only get 30 seconds between the announcement, and the flood gates opening for general boarding.

Every port does this pre boarding for priority pax. Right?

 

[Saab34]

Unless it changed, all I have heard is "Premium Economy and Gold Velocity members are welcome to board now or at anytime during boarding".

 

[LiamR]

Unless it changed, all I have heard is "Premium Economy and Gold Velocity members are welcome to board now or at anytime during boarding".

On the Gold Coast it's something along the lines of... " We will be commencing boarding shortly, at this time we invite Velocity Gold members, guests seated in Premium Economy, or those requiring special assistance to board now."

 

[allitsab]

On the Gold Coast it's something along the lines of... " We will be commencing boarding shortly, at this time we invite Velocity Gold members, guests seated in Premium Economy, or those requiring special assistance to board now."

Thats pretty much what happens in Syd, Bne & Mel - but with the addition of "and are welcome to board at any time using the priority lane", which of course is redundant once one person goes down that side then the flock follows...

In the US they do a similar deal on Virgin America; but those check in people are dead serious about it - if you go at the wrong time, or down the wrong way, bad luck, back of the line for you. Until that starts happening here, people will just ignore what is stated during the announcements.

 

[jsd]

Sounds like the priority screening line at Melbourne.....

Had to bring that up didn't you

If you pipe up enough the offenders get sent to the back of the 'normal' line by the screeners

 

[LiamR]

The priority boarding lane is great when it's actually used properly. The last few flights I've been on have seen the masses flock down it, and the check in staff just let it go. What a gigantic waste of time it becomes.

By the way, they are called gate agents, not check in staff.

IME I've seen the gate agents always make sure you are a velocity member. When I've used it in Sydney the gate agent always loudly says "Are you a Gold member sir?" Once I say yes, I'l let through. No gate lice would say they are a gold member when they aren't.

 

[Saab34]

On a few of my flights ex MEL lately, alot of the bag buys are doing the scanning for some reason (training mabye?) and so didn't really enforce anything.

 

[Major]

On the Gold Coast it's something along the lines of... " We will be commencing boarding shortly, at this time we invite Velocity Gold members, guests seated in Premium Economy, or those requiring special assistance to board now."

And unless you are standing within 1 meter of the gate you have to barge in from the side near the desk. Makes you look like some sort of ill mannered hooligan

 

[Gremlin]

Thats pretty much what happens in Syd, Bne & Mel - but with the addition of "and are welcome to board at any time using the priority lane", which of course is redundant once one person goes down that side then the flock follows...

I have to politely disagree. I've used priority boarding on DJ several times now and I've seen gate agents refer several people to the back of the non-priority queue. On one occasion the flock started to form and boarding was stopped whilst an announcement was made reminding pax just who was eligible to use the priority queue. Whilst I've received the odd death stare for using the priority queue, my personal experience has been that it works incredibly well.

 

[Noob]

Honestly, what type of w*nker thinks they are entitled to priority boarding for no particular reason? And also, what is it with people and rushing to line up to get onto the plane? Gosh people are annoying....

 

[Justchecking]

Honestly, what type of w*nker thinks they are entitled to priority boarding for no particular reason? And also, what is it with people and rushing to line up to get onto the plane? Gosh people are annoying....

At lot of people have a distorted sense of entitlement actually. Just stand in any public place and witness the masses attempting to complain and bully their way into something for nothing. Basically no-one really thinks they deserve the life they are living (unless it's a really good one) as if someone robbed them of everything the moment they were born.

 

[UP4014]

I never use priority boarding and can't see what the benefit actually is, why rush onto the plane and just sit there while everyone walks past you.

I'd mush prefer to step on last and have the plane push back just as I'm buckling my belt and opening my book than sit there for 15 minutes getting to know the back of the seat in front.

 

[Noob]

I never use priority boarding and can't see what the benefit actually is, why rush onto the plane and just sit there while everyone walks past you.

I'd mush prefer to step on last and have the plane push back just as I'm buckling my belt and opening my book than sit there for 15 minutes getting to know the back of the seat in front.

Unless there is a pre flight drink awaiting you!

 

[UP4014]

Unless there is a pre flight drink awaiting you!

I'm usually gulping down the one in the lounge and making a run for the gate anyway.

 

[serfty]

I never use priority boarding and can't see what the benefit actually is, why rush onto the plane and just sit there while everyone walks past you.

I'd mush prefer to step on last and have the plane push back just as I'm buckling my belt and opening my book than sit there for 15 minutes getting to know the back of the seat in front.

Obviously you don't do carry-on only travel.

 

[Saab34]

Honestly, what type of w*nker thinks they are entitled to priority boarding for no particular reason? And also, what is it with people and rushing to line up to get onto the plane? Gosh people are annoying....

Some are just so eager to get on board, on my last flight to BNE, got to the gate about 15mins before boarding and there was already a queue 50 deep at the gate, and the looks on their faces was priceless as I strolled past in the Priority lane....

 

[Virgin Australia]

An update to this piece - from this week, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue will also be offering Priority Boarding at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth international airports.

The same eligibility criteria apply - Premium Economy Guests, Velocity Gold members and our partner airline reciprocal status members.

If you're flying somewhere warm (or cold) and get the chance to check it out, let us know what you think!