Priority Boarding led to threats of violence to me from another passenger

[reductionist]

OT: So this is basically the kind of situation that QF's current priority boarding implementation will create. Is it not?

 

[Verde]

People traveling with children board first, but in the general boarding queue. They do not line up in the Business class queue to get on board quickly. Mind you, most of the passengers would have children from Fiji. And I gathered the woman was not obviously pregnant if the OP had to be told she was. Poor kids, nothing like abusive threatening parents.

I am fairly sure I had an Air Pacific flight where those with small children etc were allowed to board before business class and were invited/able to use both lines (I have a feeling it might have been departing Sydney rather than Fiji though). If they do this regularly, it would explain why others felt you shouldn't have been pushing in, since there have been times that those with small children boarded before those in business.

From my recollection of departing Fiji on AirPacific it was a slow situation with long lines and delays (and this for flights that were basically on time), after a several hour delay I can see how anyone who was at all inclined towards aggressive behaviour might start mouthing off.

I don't recall any issues with luggage space on AirPacific (whether in economy or business with them). While taking advantage of the Business line is fair enough, I'd rather relax in the queue than make an issue working my way past people in the wrong line.

 

[N860CR]

I was booked on FJ911 yesterday as well (allocated 1A) however ended up switching onto the BNE flight after the delay (I would have missed all my connections).

Yesterday at NAN was an absolute bogan zoo (is that normal?) and people were (I guess its understandable) very PO'd with the delay. To FJ/QF's credit, they did advise all pax the night before (just as I'd gotten off my HNL flight so was at the airport and went upstairs to fix it on the spot). Did you get a hotel room for the day? The QF agent was quick to offer me one until she realised I had several connections to make.

When finally making it, I was almost knocked over by someone getting off the flight in BNE as they stormed through J to get to the front of the plane. Seems Fiji still attracts a certain type of Australian client... There is no excuse for that kind of behaviour and you were very restrained (I'd have cracked it).

I'm assuming the flight boarded through the gate at the right rear of the terminal? This is the largest gate and it has three lines, two for economy and the third is clearly marked Tabua Class (and usually has someone standing there guarding it). I used the same gate for the morning BNE flight and there was someone checking my boarding pass before I could proceed to the machine. It's a terrible spot (because it's pushed right into the corner) and people in the Y lines tend to block it as they "hang" next to the wall while waiting. I found I often have to walk through the middle of the Y lines in order to get to it (however the masses aren't generally accepted into the J line itself).

All in all a pretty bad situation that the airline(s) don't help by not making such lines clear. A big problem with FJ is everything is labelled "Tabua" instead of "Business" and this can be confusing in itself. A large, clear "Business" sign (like QF have at the J gates) would help a lot.

 

[Austman]

I'm assuming the flight boarded through the gate at the right rear of the terminal? This is the largest gate and it has three lines, two for economy and the third is clearly marked Tabua Class (and usually has someone standing there guarding it). I used the same gate for the morning BNE flight and there was someone checking my boarding pass before I could proceed to the machine. It's a terrible spot (because it's pushed right into the corner) and people in the Y lines tend to block it as they "hang" next to the wall while waiting. I found I often have to walk through the middle of the Y lines in order to get to it (however the masses aren't generally accepted into the J line itself).

All in all a pretty bad situation that the airline(s) don't help by not making such lines clear. A big problem with FJ is everything is labelled "Tabua" instead of "Business" and this can be confusing in itself. A large, clear "Business" sign (like QF have at the J gates) would help a lot.

I think you're right about the three lines. But there was no one policing the Tabua Class this time. I wish I could remember if the sign said Business Class too (as well as Tabua Class).

As for the priority boarding of passengers with young children - on my FJ911 flight that would have been about half the passengers (it's a Fiji flight - lots of young kids!). It turned out none were seated in business class. If the idea of priority boarding of passengers with young children is to get them settled so that the aisles will not be blocked, then it would make no difference to allow J-class passengers to board first too.

 

[pauly7]

OT: So this is basically the kind of situation that QF's current priority boarding implementation will create. Is it not?

Probably more likely to happen with a VA crowd than QF

 

[rockyroad]

Actually they are allowed to board early ahead of everyone else generally (in fact before J/F pax on occasion) rather than use priority queues. If it was so important to him he should have actually boarded early and maybe berated the 50+ people who decided to ignore the boarding calls.

Just maybe the child needed to do a potty run and when that was finished, the first round of infant and young children boarding was completed. The Paxs then may have joined the Priority line as they had been told earlier and now assumed that they still had Priority boarding rights.

This Black Duck would never cut in front of a couple with young children in a Priority boarding line. It it not my right to question if the paxs in the Priority line should be there or not nor to take proactive action, become judge and jury and cut in-front of another Pax in that line. Sorting out that line as to who should and should not be there is the job of the ground staff and not the Paxs in the line.

So OK the Pax holding the child should not have got angry (you have to assume he thought he was 100% entitled to be in that line) but neither should the OP have cut into the line. 2 wrongs do not make a right.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Sorry to say it, but this was a great read.

I'm glad to hear that it didn't escalate into anything further.

What a knob.

Agree, clearly peasants.

 

[Pushka]

I am fairly sure I had an Air Pacific flight where those with small children etc were allowed to board before business class and were invited/able to use both lines (I have a feeling it might have been departing Sydney rather than Fiji though). If they do this regularly, it would explain why others felt you shouldn't have been pushing in

Except the OP said that all the Business class people had already boarded from this line. I guess the bogans have moved from Bali to Fiji. I love Bali but you do get a very interesting passenger mix. And then the women who change from normal clothing into Bali type dresses and shorts (and people who have been to Bali know what I mean) on the plane.


I think it is the fault of the airline for not policing it, just like the ridiculous carry on luggage that some people abuse and leave no room for others.

 

[Austman]

To restate: I followed some other J-class passengers over to the priority lane - I recognised their faces from the lounge before I saw the priority lane sign. They all got through by line cutting. All lines were full of passengers with children - many very young. It was not typical a SYD-MEL passenger mix! I probably would have been near last to board if I had waited for all the families. I was not intending to be rude and felt a bit uncomfortable cutting in. And for what it's worth, the lockers near row 1 were all taken by the time I got to my seat - it's the only minus of row 1 (there is no under-seat storage either of course, but you might have some luck with the cupboard).

 

[Austman]

I'm assuming the flight boarded through the gate at the right rear of the terminal? This is the largest gate and it has three lines, two for economy and the third is clearly marked Tabua Class (and usually has someone standing there guarding it). I used the same gate for the morning BNE flight and there was someone checking my boarding pass before I could proceed to the machine. It's a terrible spot (because it's pushed right into the corner) and people in the Y lines tend to block it as they "hang" next to the wall while waiting. I found I often have to walk through the middle of the Y lines in order to get to it (however the masses aren't generally accepted into the J line itself).

Looked at my BP - it was gate 7. It's the first on the left when you get off the escalator. But the priority lane was on the far right hand side of the gate. I was sequence number 407 which shows how full the flight was (FJ's 747 is 430Y/28J). And I found a photo of the express lane signs (the same sign is used at security, migration and boarding lanes I think). Seems pretty clear to me:

 

[samiam]

OT: So this is basically the kind of situation that QF's current priority boarding implementation will create. Is it not?

Based upon one experience, in Fiji?

That puts the vicarious into generalisation.

(Apologies if your post is tongue-in-cheek; no smiley to indicate so).

 

[Moopere]

Based upon one experience, in Fiji?

That puts the vicarious into generalisation.

(Apologies if your post is tongue-in-cheek; no smiley to indicate so).

No, based upon the way they word and implement what everyone else calls priority boarding. The advice from QF to those looking to exercise their PB right is to "cut into the front of the line" ... this is how QF's "boarding at convenience" works accoridng to QF.

Cutting into a line, without clear 'right' to those behind you is always going to elicit a fairly short and abrupt response.

 

[rockyroad]

No, based upon the way they word and implement what everyone else calls priority boarding. The advice from QF to those looking to exercise their PB right is to "cut into the front of the line" ... this is how QF's "boarding at convenience" works accoridng to QF.

Cutting into a line, without clear 'right' to those behind you is always going to elicit a fairly short and abrupt response.

The message is then very clear. As we (QF) will not enforce PB, it is up to the WP / J pax to work out how to access / gain the benefit for themselves.

I note QF do now link the OW "boarding at convenience" benefit via the use of a physical "priority boarding" system:
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/privilegesPlatinum#at-the-airport

Priority boarding
Board your flight at your convenience with priority boarding available on selected Qantas international flights§

 

[Moopere]

The message is then very clear. As we (QF) will not enforce PB, it is up to the WP / J pax to work out how to access / gain the benefit for themselves.

So it seems. Presumably they will appear after the fight to mop up the blood of the unhappy PAX.

 

[rockyroad]

So it seems. Presumably they will appear after the fight to mop up the blood of the unhappy PAX.

Airport cleaners will do that.

 

[rockyroad]

QF have a OW requirement to provide "Boarding at Convenience" benefit to their WPs, PGs OWe, OWs, J and F paxs. They do that by creating a physical priority boarding facility. In so providing that physical priority boarding facility, they need to enforce the physical facility in delivering the OW benefit so it is not abused by those that they do not owe the benefit and enjoyed by those that are entitled to the delivery of the benefit.

IE, they have a clear duty of care.

 

[samiam]

Whilst I appreciate and agree with the sentiment re QF PB, I maintain that one can't automatically connect the original post with QF's implementation (or rather lack of) PB.

Apart from an experience in Fiji, are there other valid examples before y'all decide to generalise about something that's not yet implemented at QF is going to lead to bloodshed?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

There is already a thread on QF Priority Boarding (or lack thereof) in existence where a lot of the above comments have already been discussed.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....priority-boarding-qf-domestic-what-30246.html

 

[Austman]

This Black Duck would never cut in front of a couple with young children in a Priority boarding line. It it not my right to question if the paxs in the Priority line should be there or not nor to take proactive action, become judge and jury and cut in-front of another Pax in that line. Sorting out that line as to who should and should not be there is the job of the ground staff and not the Paxs in the line.

So OK the Pax holding the child should not have got angry (you have to assume he thought he was 100% entitled to be in that line) but neither should the OP have cut into the line. 2 wrongs do not make a right.

Could you please say what 'wrong' I made, considering what the sign said? Just because no-one is around at the time to police something does not make actions right or wrong.

Heavens! - society is largely based on that concept.

We tend to obey signs and I was just utilising it (and following others from the lounge). And I stated my reason to the others when line-cutting. I should add that any local gate boarding announcements were not made in the lounge (where most priority lane passengers would have been). In the lounge they just announced that the flight was now boarding

 

[rockyroad]

Could you please say what 'wrong' I made, considering what the sign said? Just because no-one is around at the time to police something does not make actions right or wrong.

Heavens! - society is largely based on that concept.

We tend to obey signs and I was just utilising it (and following others from the lounge). And I stated my reason to the others when line-cutting. I should add that any local gate boarding announcements were not made in the lounge (where most priority lane passengers would have been). In the lounge they just announced that the flight was now boarding

The incident was apparently caused because the airline did not exercise their "duty of care" obligation to ensure the PB lane benefit was not being abused by those not entitled to use it. When entitled paxs need to cut into a PB line, because it is full of non entitled paxs, then something is wrong. It is not the entitled pax's job to determine who is and who is not entitled to be standing in a PB line. YMMV.

I once had 2 SGs cut into a QF domestic boarding line right in front of me. They said "Were QF Golds and have PB rights". I guess they thought I was a NB as I was in shorts with a pack on my back. Got a bit of a surprise when I raised my hand and they saw my WP card. What I have learned is that if I need to ensure I can get all my carry-on into the overhead locker (as I normally fly in exit row seats) I don't wait for the lounge boarding call to be made but instead get to the gate early so as to ensure I'm one of the first to board the aircraft.