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

[TiredOldFlyer]

Why not stay in the Flounge ( or Bar or Coffee Shop) wander down when you are ready and board last !!

 

[serfty]

Why not stay in the Flounge ( or Bar or Coffee Shop) wander down when you are ready and board last !!

Read post #1 (and a few others): lack of OHSB space in row 1!

 

[rockyroad]

Why not stay in the Flounge ( or Bar or Coffee Shop) wander down when you are ready and board last !!

Would be nice, except the overhead locker space would be full, especially if you have a exit row seat. I now do the reverse and leave the lounge early so as to arrive at the gate before the published boarding time.

That way I'm in my seat, carry on stowed into empty overhead lockers and enjoying a nice drink before the shoving, threats and fights in the PB line start.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Would be nice, except the overhead locker space would be full, especially if you have a exit row seat. I now do the reverse and leave the lounge early so as to arrive at the gate before the published boarding time.

That way I'm in my seat, carry on stowed into empty overhead lockers and enjoying a nice drink before the shoving, threats and fights in the PB line start.

If there is no luggage space in the lockers I simply ask the cabin attendant and they normally find space and then bring your bag back before getting off.
Of course not good if you want your bag during the flight. ! Always do this on domestic and on International never had a problem with locker space (or a pre flight drink ! ) Sometimes I am even Welcomed - "Nice of you to join us Tired Old Flyer "

 

[UP4014]

I wonder what others here, if answered honestly, would have done? It's very easy to say 'I'd have gone back to the end of the 50 person queue despite already lining up once and despite what the sign I was standing right next to clearly said", if you were not actually there at the time. Have others here actually done that? The other business class passengers in front of me certainly did not do that. I suppose looking for FJ staff was another alternative - but there weren't any around.

What I do is not push to the front even if I am entitled to. The plane isn't going until everyone is on. If I want to be on early I'll be ready to board as soon as they open the gate.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Read post #1 (and a few others): lack of OHSB space in row 1!

Plenty space in row 1 on SIA 777's Serfty.

 

[serfty]

Plenty space in row 1 on SIA 777's Serfty.

That's nice to know; I've never travelled on a SIA aircraft.

This is a specific situation: "Why not stay in ... wander down when you are ready and board last".

I was flying NAN-SYD yesterday in J-class on a Qantas ticket (QF392), operated by Air Pacific (FJ911).

This 09:00 service eventually left at 16:38. But I was informed of the delay (then estimated to be 14:20 departure) by a Qantas SMS the day before.

Most J-class passengers were in the Air Pacific lounge when boarding was announced. I was down the far end of the lounge, so some of the lounge passengers beat me to the gate area, which is an escalator ride upstairs.

It was a pretty full 747 and the gate area was a bit of a mess - with quite long lines. I was in row 1 and wanted to get on board fairly quickly because I knew there were no overhead lockers at row 1. ...

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

That's nice to know; I've never travelled on a SIA aircraft.

This is a specific situation: "Why not stay in ... wander down when you are ready and board last".

I suppose its "Horses for Courses"
Try SIA sometime - never seems to be any drama with boarding etc - particularly great with Children (Not Suggesting You a Child)
Always load elderly (Not Suggesting you are Old ) Families with children etc first when they can.

 

[Tortuga]

I have some funny and dramatic memories related to boarding time.. My opinion is that the airlines are really not doing their job by policing and organising people, because based on my experience most people aren't capable of understanding directions or forming a line... Apparently a line looks like a flock of sheep trying to escape a farm dog. From the moment travel day comes around I turn my brain into "relax" mode, because I am well aware there are going to be problems - delays, discomfort, arguments etc. It comes with the territory.

Recently in Madrid two ladies squared off and started yelling obscenities in Spanish at each other over line cutting. Basically one group (including me) had formed some resemblance of a line to board, while a flock of late arriving sheep formed right next to us and proceeded to jump the line. This caused a lot of arguments between the line formers and the flock of sheep, I choose to sit back and laugh when the arguments start.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

What a frustrating thread!!!!

There are two very simple issues here;

1. the fact that the OP was threatened for queue-jumping; I am sure we all encounter queue-jumpers from time to time, but I never personally threaten a person who has engaged in such an act (I may however question their reasons for not lining up correctly depending on circumstance)

2. it is now obvious that FJ were not correctly managing the boarding procedure with relation to priority PAX. PAX should never have to jump a queue themselves so events exactly like this do not occur.

In saying this it seems like it was a perfect storm in that the flight was already delayed several hours, you were within the last group of PAX to board a full 747, FJ were using all boarding lines to get all PAX on ASAP and to top it off you cut in front of the only d!ckhead on the plane!

I personally would have called FJ gate staff at once and resolved it there and then. Putting people like this on the spot (which you did in a way by calling his bluff) is one good way to deal with people like this.

My complaint would be directed at FJ for not having a decent boarding procedure in place - pure and simple.

 

[NM]

[Mod Hat]
Time to get back to the topic folks. Some posts have been deleted as they were heading very quickly down a very slippery slope of no return.
[/Mod Hat]

 

[pauly7]

Wow posts deleted and no VA fanboi involved

My opinion is congruent with others, a better solution needs to be provided for PB by FJ. However I also think sometimes a bit of humanity and common sense needs to be used by pax (NOT implying the OP was lacking) and just read the environment / setting before acting in a certain way.