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

[bossreggie]

I have read this with some interest. I exercise my priority boarding privileges most times I fly.

You do get the odd comment, however I have never been threatened I even scoot down the outside of the queue in the air-bridge domestically.

For me, I just like to get on the aircraft without being held up.

Internationally on QF, of course it is easier as you are escorted from the lounge to your seat.

Sorry to hear of your experience.

 

[Austman]

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.

But the sign stated it, clearly enough.

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.

The very, very late departure stated 15:00 boarding on my BP (already 6 hours late). It had already been moved back a few times. Actual boarding was at about 15:40. Who knew when 'get to the gate early' would have been? Regardless, if a pax wants to stay in the lounge until boarding is called, there should be no problem with that.

 

[UP4014]

Personally, I tend to hang back if there is a queue, as a passenger I am not in a position to question anyone on their reason for being the in queue and as the plane isn't leaving until everyone is on pushing in front 'because you can' isn't going to win any smiles. If you were cutting right in front of this couple perhaps you could have stepped back and said "sure, please go ahead of me". If it ended up in a fight I'm sure you'd have both missed the flight. :shock:

Being in the right doesn't always mean you win.

Yes, I'd register a complaint with the airline, but ultimately it is your word against someone else so isn't going to go anywhere.

Matt

 

[munitalP]

...

Being in the right doesn't always mean you win (or make it morally right)

...
Matt

Good words of advice (I've added a bit as well)

I priority board all the time, priority check in all the time at hotels where I can, and where ever else I am entitled to priority. I have had comments passed before at me, I dont rudely push in, but in the same instance I ignore the comments.

If someone actually in the airbridge tried priority pushing through however, I would probably trip them up on the way past. Until there is a separate bridge, its free for all once past the scanners.

Sorry to hear about the OP's experience, however the airline (regardless of which one) cannot be held responsible for a rude passenger

 

[Austman]

Personally, I tend to hang back if there is a queue, as a passenger I am not in a position to question anyone on their reason for being the in queue and as the plane isn't leaving until everyone is on pushing in front 'because you can' isn't going to win any smiles. If you were cutting right in front of this couple perhaps you could have stepped back and said "sure, please go ahead of me". If it ended up in a fight I'm sure you'd have both missed the flight. :shock:

Being in the right doesn't always mean you win.

Yes, I'd register a complaint with the airline, but ultimately it is your word against someone else so isn't going to go anywhere.

Matt

I always line up too unless a sign or an announcement says I can do otherwise.
There was never going to be a fight - I would not be fighting back - it would have been an attack.
The complaint is registered and Air Pacific have acknowledged receiving it. They asked me to make it. It might not go anywhere.

Good words of advice (I've added a bit as well)

I priority board all the time, priority check in all the time at hotels where I can, and where ever else I am entitled to priority. I have had comments passed before at me, I dont rudely push in, but in the same instance I ignore the comments.

If someone actually in the airbridge tried priority pushing through however, I would probably trip them up on the way past. Until there is a separate bridge, its free for all once past the scanners.

Sorry to hear about the OP's experience, however the airline (regardless of which one) cannot be held responsible for a rude passenger

Thanks. Rudeness is one thing - violence is another. Of course on the airbridge it's all one line - it's only at the gate where the Express Lane existed. In my email to Air Pacific I suggested:

"...that some adjustment be made to your boarding process so that passengers who are entitled to use the Express Lane can do so safely without the risk of physical violence from other passengers."

 

[bossreggie]

If someone actually in the airbridge tried priority pushing through however, I would probably trip them up on the way past. Until there is a separate bridge, its free for all once past the scanners.

Mr munitalP...... I certainly hope you would not trip me up!!:shock:

I NEVER "push through".... I just casually walk past saying "excuse me"

When I am flying internationally, the very kind person who collects me from the lounge does the "excuse me's" as we head down the air-bridge!!

 

[munitalP]

Mr munitalP...... I certainly hope you would not trip me up!!:shock:

I NEVER "push through".... I just casually walk past saying "excuse me"

When I am flying internationally, the very kind person who collects me from the lounge does the "excuse me's" as we head down the air-bridge!!

Seeing as you called me Mr. I wouldn't

 

[UP4014]

I always line up too unless a sign or an announcement says I can do otherwise.

I guess that's a difference between us, I'm happy not to push in the queue just because there is a sign or announcement. My seat is reserved and I'll get there when the other passengers who arrived at the gate before me get to theirs.

If you were trying for locker space in row 1 then perhaps getting ahead of the economy passengers in row 70 is a pointless exercise.

Just my opinion, each to his own.

Matt

 

[Austman]

I guess that's a difference between us, I'm happy not to push in the queue just because there is a sign or announcement. My seat is reserved and I'll get there when the other passengers who arrived at the gate before me get to theirs.

If you were trying for locker space in row 1 then perhaps getting ahead of the economy passengers in row 70 is a pointless exercise.

Just my opinion, each to his own.

Matt

Actually is was to beat the rest of J-class . But I failed . It turns out the other J-class pax that I saw use the Priority Lane ahead of me were in row 1 too. My bag went in the nearest free locker which was row 3 . Still, waiting in a long line when I shouldn't need to is not a very enticing option for me.

 

[rockyroad]

When I am flying internationally, the very kind person who collects me from the lounge does the "excuse me's" as we head down the air-bridge!!

:shock: Must be missing something. Have never been walked from the F lounge to my seat when flying QF F outbound from Mel or Syd. :shock: Is this a CL benefit?

 

[bossreggie]

:shock: Must be missing something. Have never been walked from the F lounge to my seat when flying QF F outbound from Mel or Syd. :shock: Is this a CL benefit?

I'm not sure. I get escorted through from the F Check In area on departure and I have someone collect me from the lounge prior to boarding. It has been like that for several years. Very useful in LHR, LAX, HKG and BKK and whenever flying a 744.

 

[rockyroad]

...If you were cutting right in front of this couple perhaps you could have stepped back and said "sure, please go ahead of me". If it ended up in a fight I'm sure you'd have both missed the flight. :shock:

Being in the right doesn't always mean you win.

Cutting in assumed the pax you just cut into does not have the right to be in the PB line. That is a big call to make as you just might be wrong. I would never cut in front of a guy holding a child as they do have priority boarding rights even of they do not have a bit of plastic. Especially when the flight was delayed and tempers would have been already heated.

My rule is simple, children, pregnant women and old people have priority boarding rights over me, even if I'm flying F or a WP. Full stop. When flights are delayed, ever more compassion is needed from FFers as those with a lower tolerance and less flying experience will be in a elevated state of agro as will their children and partners.

Life is too short to drink bad wine or cause others agro for meaning less events.

That said, yes airports and airlines do have a duty of care to ensure the safety of all pax and visitors. That includes checking that PB line paxs are entitled to be there. If the airline does not do this, then the PB line benefit WILL be abused and this abuse may effect pax safety. Just because the airline erects PB signs and tape lines, does not excuse their "Duty of Care" to ensure only PB line entitled pax are there. Of course the PB right may include families with children and the elderly that have have joined the boarding process too late for the pre boarding event.

 

[rockyroad]

I'm not sure. I get escorted through from the F Check In area on departure and I have someone collect me from the lounge prior to boarding. It has been like that for several years. Very useful in LHR, LAX, HKG and BKK and whenever flying a 744.

I have never had that treatment when leaving Oz. Have you? Bkk and Hkg for sure.

View attachment 4300

You actually walk?

 

[reductionist]

I get escorted through from the F Check In area on departure and I have someone collect me from the lounge prior to boarding. It has been like that for several years. Very useful in LHR, LAX, HKG and BKK and whenever flying a 744.

Why is it useful at these airports and on the 744?

Time? Distance? Both?

I think I would feel awkward being escorted like this. It'd be interesting to see it in action though.

 

[Austman]

My rule is simple, children, pregnant women and old people have priority boarding rights over me, even if I'm flying F or a WP. Full stop.

You will be boarding near last on Fiji flights then. There were children everywhere at the gate. You may as well totally forget about priority boarding in Fiji if it is based on children alone. General boarding had been in progress for perhaps 8 minutes by the time I got to the "Express Lane for Tabua Club and Business Class Passengers Only" (to quote the sign), so I imagined any passengers who genuinely needed special assistance would have been through. Pre-boarding (if there was any) would be been done even earlier. I did not notice the man holding the child at the time I entered the line and I suspect he picked up the child afterwards (in any event the child was not a baby). As for the pregnant woman - it was her claim - I didn't notice it at all. And I knew they were not business class or Tabua Club for reasons I've given before.

And I was just following other business class passengers, including the lady who ended up sitting next to me, who also deemed it OK at this point, to line cut.

Gee what was I supposed to do? Go to the end of a 50 person line? I followed the sign that showed my entitlement. I explained why I was cutting-in and pointed to the sign. It seemed to be initially accepted. And then I got the tap on the shoulder...

 

[bossreggie]

I have only ever flown THAI once and I had a buggy waiting. MEL-BKK

I'm OK with walking as long as the gate is not a km away. I quite like a walk pre and post flight. Gets the circulation going.

 

[UP4014]

I have only ever flown THAI once and I had a buggy waiting. MEL-BKK

I'm OK with walking as long as the gate is not a km away. I quite like a walk pre and post flight. Gets the circulation going.

Quiet a buggy ride. :mrgreen:

 

[straitman]

But the sign stated it, clearly enough.

Sorry to hear about the OP's experience, however the airline (regardless of which one) cannot be held responsible for a rude passenger

Personal experience from catching this flight 8 days earlier.

1. I can see how this situation could easily occur in Nadi but even so there is no excuse for the behaviour.
2. The sign is clear though it could be taller as we could not find it initially. (A bit of local knowledge helped)
3. With 300+ pax attacking 2 boarding lines it was a real zoo.
4. The staff were doing a very good job and in real Fiji style were certainly not getting phased at all.
5. We were on time but that means that some people had been at the airport for up to 3 hours and up a lot earlier so they were tired. I can't imagine how many would have been after a 6 hour+ delay.

 

[Austman]

I would never cut in front of a guy holding a child as they do have priority boarding rights even of they do not have a bit of plastic.

I can't find that this is always true. It does seem true for pre-boarding on single class airlines or for airlines that do not have elite priority boarding lanes. But for every airline I can find that offers an elite boarding lane, non elite pax with children or other pax with special needs get priority in the general boarding lanes.

 

[bossreggie]

Why is it useful at these airports and on the 744?

Time? Distance? Both?

I think I would feel awkward being escorted like this. It'd be interesting to see it in action though.

It's mostly the priority immigration. It means absolutely no waiting in lines. I hate that cough