Priority boarding my cough

[jasecao]

It has happened twice, but i don't think for a minute that it is the norm in the situation.

 

[Harthagan]

Being first to board the plane is not a priority to me at all. However avoiding the queue to board is somewhat nice although id just as soon prefer to spend anan extra 15 minutes in the lounge and then be one of the last to board lol. So id say priority boarding is a nice option to have but if u have lounge access its not really that important to me at least.

Can only recall one time when priority boarding wasn't adhered to by virgin and it was for an international flight to LAX which was delayed over 2 hrs so maybe they just decided to dispense with PB. No idea if that is standard procedure or not.

 

[jase05]

Being first to board the plane is not a priority to me at all. However avoiding the queue to board is somewhat nice although id just as soon prefer to spend anan extra 15 minutes in the lounge and then be one of the last to board lol. So id say priority boarding is a nice option to have but if u have lounge access its not really that important to me at least.

Can only recall one time when priority boarding wasn't adhered to by virgin and it was for an international flight to LAX which was delayed over 2 hrs so maybe they just decided to dispense with PB. No idea if that is standard procedure or not.

Funny you say that. On our last trip with BI from MEL that is exactly what happened. J pax in the lounge were told they would be boarding last so we got about 10 extra minutes in the lounge and then just strolled through the deserted gate

 

[Blinky]

Funny you say that. On our last trip with BI from MEL that is exactly what happened. J pax in the lounge were told they would be boarding last so we got about 10 extra minutes in the lounge and then just strolled through the deserted gate

That’s fine if you don’t have carry on. Almost all of my travels are 1-3 days, so I value using bins above me and the ability to easily access them.

But I do get the appeal of PB to those who don’t fly regularly. My wife is normally a quiet, non-assertive person, but when we travel together she does her best to get on first. Good on her.

 

[pauly7]

I think the facebook post is a bit over the top, I mean what if the 20 in front of them was Gold, Platinum or economy x people..

they should check out Syd <-> Melb on a weekday in the morning or afternoon when half the plane is priority boarding!

Agreed and that’s because Velocity and VA have been too loose with Gold comps, fastracks, flybuys you name it. I’ve written to them in the past after being asked for feedback suggesting either pull back on all the ‘easy gold’ offers or don’t let gold members have PB (Cue howls of VA Gold Members!)

 

[Pleb Status]

With free domestic YX seating for WP, and a PB system that works >90% of the time, boarding first is not really a hardship as you get a nice amount of extra legroom during your 'extended' time on board.

I prefer to board on first, have my carry on situated directly above my seat, then stretch out and get settled in for the next four to six hours.

I am also happy that VA are not actively enforcing the carry on 'restrictions', as boarding first, I have never found carry on space to be a problem on VA (except when the FA used to put their bags over row 3, but I have not seen this since YX was introduced).

If I was a WP on another airline, with a LCC like 30" seat pitch for WP and a failed PB system, I may have to reassess the above (and that airline).

 

[straitman]

Remind me again why I spend thousands of dollars a year on VA

Boarding farce! They were boarding general at the same time as priority.

To answer your question. If you want priority boarding you just need to accept that occasionally VA doesn't deliver and Qantas occasionally does deliver.

 

[Bibendum]

Agreed and that’s because Velocity and VA have been too loose with Gold comps, fastracks, flybuys you name it. I’ve written to them in the past after being asked for feedback suggesting either pull back on all the ‘easy gold’ offers or don’t let gold members have PB (Cue howls of VA Gold Members!)

This, this and this....

VA seem to hand out gold status like candy. My next feedback to VA will be along the same lines..

 

[Harthagan]

VA seem to hand out gold status like candy. My next feedback to VA will be along the same lines..

Its obviously part of their strategy to attract a new segment of the market. If a certain % become frequent flyers with virgin then its a win for everyone. It seems short sighted to think that things would be better with less people flying virgin.

 

[jase05]

To answer your question. If you want priority boarding you just need to accept that occasionally VA doesn't deliver and Qantas occasionally does deliver.

VA were a perfect 2 from 2 for me yesterday with both ADL and MEL enforcing it fine. The return trip with QF was 0 from 2 with OOL being an utter shambles and a free for all whilst MEL only had once staff member at the gate who proceeded to allow about 40 passengers through the regular line before realising that the passengers in the PB were standing there twiddling their thumbs.

 

[adamkps]

BNE-DRW 20DEC and ret 26DEC PB line worked perfectly (and both excellent flights as well).

 

[Saltywings]

Caught ~15 flights with VA last year (all domestic), and PB was properly enforced on all of them. 15/15 = nubad.

 

[grimace]

I just did a status run with Virgin which gave the pleasure of MEL, SYD, BNE in one day.
PB is enforced and definitely works better than QF. Some of the US carriers, specifically Delta have a much better process for boarding.
The only issue I noted with PB is that the queue in all 3 cities was just as full as general boarding. It would seem Virgin makes it way too easy to obtain status. My flight from BNE to SYD (peak Monday morning), almost the whole plane was in the PB queue.
It'd be better if they broke it into Assistance/Special Needs, Business/Platinum, Gold/Silver, General Boarding

 

[Denali]

I just did a status run with Virgin which gave the pleasure of MEL, SYD, BNE in one day.
PB is enforced and definitely works better than QF. Some of the US carriers, specifically Delta have a much better process for boarding.
The only issue I noted with PB is that the queue in all 3 cities was just as full as general boarding. It would seem Virgin makes it way too easy to obtain status. My flight from BNE to SYD (peak Monday morning), almost the whole plane was in the PB queue.
It'd be better if they broke it into Assistance/Special Needs, Business/Platinum, Gold/Silver, General Boarding

I would think that most on your flight were business FFers like yourself so making it "too easy to obtain status" might affect you so be careful what you wish for.

 

[stm1sydney]

Yes, peak early morning golden triangle will be lots of business travellers therefore lots of status. If you break it up into too many groups, it just gets chaotic and there are too many barking announcements.

Contrast my last off-peak flight, 1000 hours SYD/BNE, arrived at the gate after a leisurely breakfast in the lounge, boarding underway, very long queue for normal boarding, PB line empty so I waltzed through. VA does it very well.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Agreed peak time in the triangle, it feels like more status than regular flyers - but that's to be expected and no different on the red rat. Outside of those times, it's very good and few status members around. Very easy PB experience in most ports. Once you're through the boarding gate though I feel like just one of the sheep, nothing special. Lounges often feel overcrowded though

 

[grimace]

I would think that most on your flight were business FFers like yourself so making it "too easy to obtain status" might affect you so be careful what you wish for.

It already came up in this thread - I spent over $180k with Virgin in 2018 (6 AU to US round trips, 5 to CN - although not VA metal) yet people are practically gifted Gold for doing nothing. Boarding early is a nice benefit for travelers but everyone can't have a piece of the pie or it's no benefit to anyone.
I don't care really care myself, I get anxiety and try and board after everyone.

 

[clipped_wings]

I've waited 2 hours in line to ride Disneyland's Radiator Springs Racers - a slot car ride that lasts a mind boggling 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

I've waited 75 mins just to see my doctor. 15 to use a public restroom. 7 just to use one in my own home.

Don't waste my time...……..

 

[Mr H]

I spent over $180k with Virgin in 2018

Just curious to know whether you feel that was money well spent?

 

[maccaisking]

Flying MEL - HKG in early Jan Virgin setup the PB sign and regular sign, then directed people to the opposite sides to what the signs said. After about 10 people went through they realised and asked everybody to swap sides. As people were swapping sides, they then decided to switch the signs instead and move people back. It was quite funny, and when when combining the sign switch with language barriers I’m sure more people ended in the wrong line than the amount who started in it!

With this said I agree Virgin (and most) airlines usually manage PB very well. In fact one of my preflight highlights is watching the reactions of people who are sent packing from PB line to the normal line. Macs law is that the size of the reaction to this is directly proportional to the amount of money spent on the clothes/accessories being worn or carried.