Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[cmon0005]

QF advertises priority/premium boarding as a benefit for the platinum frequent fliers and you have quoted another example of QF failing to deliver.

I agree with you here, yes it is a failing, though its just sad though when someone thinks they can take down a rope blocking access to something instead of just going to the front of the general line for fast service.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Saw some sad DYKWIA's on Sat morning.

Flying from Melb to Syd on 737-400, there was only 1 boarding lane open (general boarding) as there was only 1 staff member.
The priority boarding queue was roped off and closed, a DYKWIA thought it was his entitlement to only board via that lane so he 'undid' the rope strutted down priority lane and stood there like a stunned mullet meanwhile all the people boarding via the normal queue kept giving him dirty looks.

I agree with you here, yes it is a failing, though its just sad though when someone thinks they can take down a rope blocking access to something instead of just going to the front of the general line for fast service.

IMO undoing the rope & going to the front of of a non-staffed PB queue or going to the front of the general queue when there's only one F/A amounts to the same thing.

Having said that unless they put on a 5th F/A on the 734 with the 12/132 config (there are already 5 on any flight to/from CBR with a 20/120 config) boarding will continue to be a total mess each and every time.

 

[TheInsider]

The issue is Qantas is aware of the situation, but the bean counters are not allocating any funds towards anyone implementing a plan and no area is taking this as their issue, so it's basically in limbo until someone picks it up. Also keep the feedback to QF continuing, as this forum was the reason why QF started up PB on QF domestic.

 

[haydensydney]

See my QF priority boarding fail story here:

Flight Review: Qantas Business Class Sydney - Perth | flymefunky.com

 

[Danger]

Saw some sad DYKWIA's on Sat morning.

Flying from Melb to Syd on 737-400, there was only 1 boarding lane open (general boarding) as there was only 1 staff member.
The priority boarding queue was roped off and closed, a DYKWIA thought it was his entitlement to only board via that lane so he 'undid' the rope strutted down priority lane and stood there like a stunned mullet meanwhile all the people boarding via the normal queue kept giving him dirty looks.
After standing there for 30 seconds realising no-one gives a cough who he is, he tries to push through the well flowing boarding pax and saying loudly excuse me, excuse me I'm Platinum, waving his boarding pass in the air, people still unfazed and continue boarding, eventually the poor Qantas guy scanned his BP so he would just shut up.

There was a well known Australian actor on the same flight flying in J, he boarded via General boarding with the rest of us at least he has some humanity!

While it might well have been perceived as rude and self righteous, I tend to back the passenger, as a couple of other members have outlined below.

As a fellow DYKWIA I have a lot of sympathy with the poor chap. I wish I had the nerve to do what he did. QF advertises priority/premium boarding as a benefit for the platinum frequent fliers and you have quoted another example of QF failing to deliver. If it was anything like QF400 on Saturday boarding commenced prior to any announcement and the announcement made no attempt to offer J and WP pax the opportunity to board first.

The issue is Qantas is aware of the situation, but the bean counters are not allocating any funds towards anyone implementing a plan and no area is taking this as their issue, so it's basically in limbo until someone picks it up. Also keep the feedback to QF continuing, as this forum was the reason why QF started up PB on QF domestic.

I think it'd be a different story if priority boarding worked 95% of the time. The odd time when, for example, an FA gets held up because she tore her stockings or he spilled coffee on his tie (meaning reduced staff at the gate), I'd take it in my stride. Much like delayed flights or a mis-catered flight: they're not the norm and when they do happen you remember that fact.

As I posted many, many posts ago in this thread, I more or less held up a flight out of Perth when priority boarding wasn't on offer:

I put the W in WP today.

This morning I was flying out of Perth for an interstate port where I would transit for another interstate port. I'd wanted to be at the gate before the first boarding call was made but I was held back in the lounge. However, I took a punt (long odds, I know) and suspected a priority boarding call wasn't made.

I went to the service desk and asked why a priority boarding call wasn't made for my flight.

Desk agent: We only do those for international flights.
Me: Actually, that's not correct. I can show you a printout where it applies to domestic flights also. [I leant down to my bag.]
Desk agent: No that's fine. You're welcome to joing the line and board at your convenience.
Me: But that's not priority boarding. Who should I speak to?
Desk agent: You can speak to the agent at the gate.


​

Recalling that a number of other members had been told to simply push in front, I first walked alongside the queue, waiting for about half a minute until the gate agent gave me attention and presented my Platinum card:

Me: Hi, I'd like to board please.
Gate agent 1: [A look of 'what about the line, you clown?'] You need to join the end of the queue.
Me: But there wasn't a priority boarding call made so I assumed I just needed to push to the front.
Gate agent 1: No but you can board at your convenience.
Me: Okay. I'll be sitting down over there then [very close to the gate].​

Then the fun began.

Boarding finished about 12 or so minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. At this time, gate agent 1 came across to me and said 'Please come through' or something to that effect'. I said 'No, thank you. I'm boarding at my convenience." He got the point and moved away.

A minute or two passed and then I was paged as the last remaning passenger and "proceed without delay". I didn't move.

A short time later gate agent 2 came across to speak with me.

Gate agent 2: Mr danger, the flight is closed and you're the last remaining passenger to board.
Me: Boarding does not close until 15 [sic: 5 is what I said] minutes before the flight. I was told I could board at my convenience so I'm doing so.

Another minute passed and I was paged a second time. Once again, I didn't move. I waited probably another minute before gate agent 2 came over and said that it was now time to board and I risked being off-loaded. I reckon I still had a couple of minutes up my sleeve but I said "I think there's still a couple of minutes to go but I think I've made my point so I will board now".​

At night, sometimes, I think about this particular moment in my flying history and think maybe, just maybe, I may have done something to move QF along!

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

FWIW...The majority of my trips are BNE-CBR, BNE-MEL, BNE-SYD (I'm thankful my long haul days are almost over...do have the occasional o/s visit)

This morning on BNE-MEL got to the gate, PB working fine, I'm sure there where people in the wrong lanes, but regardless, we all wait together on the jetway.
Most of my flights have been this way, when anything in life is not policed, people will cheat/cut corners, human nature.

I really cant relate to anyone that has an issue with this, QF has given us PB, as usual some people flying do not want to read the signs, I for one don't really care and I use the overhead bins!

On another note, I was in the AA lounge in Denver last year and almost missed my flight because the screens in the lounge did not indicate boarding, the AA Angels said we dont do that, u have to know when to go...Personally, I prefer that signs are updated to reflect reality and I can deal with PB in how it works today.

Cheers
BF

 

[samh004]

I have 4 flights, 5 segments tomorrow, and don't expect PB to work for any of them... Well maybe ISA.




 

[TonyHancock]

QF has given us PB, as usual some people flying do not want to read the signs, I for one don't really care and I use the overhead bins!

I think the point is that QF has not given us PB, well not consistently anyway. If you are on a 734 there is no priority boarding, if you fly from Adelaide there is no priority boarding, etc.

 

[btkw]

Fly out of MEL at least once a week. Would say PB works, at best, 10% of the time.
Both lines end up the same length.... 90% of the time.

 

[pshepvic]

I agree with this, but I was pretty annoyed that the staff member apologised to the person in the other queue last week before turning and scanning my BP.

I'm with you on this. I don't think for a second it should be an apology. By doing that they are indicating that they don't agree with the concept of priority boarding and are effectively apologising for management's decision to introduce it. No, what they should be doing is saying "one moment please" or something to that effect, scan the BP of the Priority pax, then go back to the regular queue. If anyone gets annoyed then explain the process. If they continue then tell them that once they spend 200+ hours a year onboard an aircraft, they too will be offered the same benefit. If they are going to apologise to people when someone turns up halfway through boarding in the priority lane, then they may as well at the start of boarding say "Please familiarise yourself with your seat number and remain seated until your row is called. We're really sorry to everyone else, but we do have to board business class and gold and platinum passengers first and the rest of you will have to wait. I don't know who they think they are, so very sorry".


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[turnip666]

I've never heard them say say they we're sorry that I had a wider seat, better food and drinks....or we're sorry that my luggage came out first. Never heard them say to me sorry you paid five time the price of person cutting in front of you......So why is this so hard???

 

[simongr]

Possibly the best bad PB experience in MEL today. My flight cancelled but moved to the earlier flight (that flew at pretty much the same time...) as such it was going to be a shmozzle at the gate but though it was messy it was faster in the PB queue and they were mostly Emerald.

 

[munitalP]

I have tried to stay out of this thread, in fact, I believe I posted the first pic of QF priority boarding I took in BNE. PB has failed me equally the same on VA as QF, and thats bugger all. I flew out of MEL every week (basically) for 14 months, and PB fails? None I remember as stand outs. On the reverse, PB ex SYD, problems 1 or 2 times.

My suggestion, get over it.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have tried to stay out of this thread, in fact, I believe I posted the first pic of QF priority boarding I took in BNE. PB has failed me equally the same on VA as QF, and thats bugger all. I flew out of MEL every week (basically) for 14 months, and PB fails? None I remember as stand outs. On the reverse, PB ex SYD, problems 1 or 2 times.

My suggestion, get over it.

Never flown on a 734 then? Try it, and then tell us to get over it.

 

[munitalP]

Never flown on a 734 then? Try it, and then tell us to get over it.

are you saying PB fails happen because a 734 is at the gate rather than a 738 or a 76...

I understand the air crew limitations, but how does that define a Fail? A fail in my books is were the resource or tools are available and the system process allows an incomplete or inaccurate conclusion.

 

[TonyHancock]

are you saying PB fails happen because a 734 is at the gate rather than a 738 or a 76...

I understand the air crew limitations, but how does that define a Fail? A fail in my books is were the resource or tools are available and the system process allows an incomplete or inaccurate conclusion.

No PB with a 734. Therefore it is a fail. It is an advertised benefit and not delivered if the aircraft is a 734. Unfortunately, more often than not, QF400 seems to be a 734.

As it happens PB was not enforced today on QF423, it was a 738. I'd love to get over it, in fact if QF just came out and said the PB was no longer a benefit I could then make a choice based on accurate information. At the moment QF is not providing something it advertises.

 

[pshepvic]

I have tried to stay out of this thread, in fact, I believe I posted the first pic of QF priority boarding I took in BNE. PB has failed me equally the same on VA as QF, and thats bugger all. I flew out of MEL every week (basically) for 14 months, and PB fails? None I remember as stand outs. On the reverse, PB ex SYD, problems 1 or 2 times.

My suggestion, get over it.

You're inferring then that everyone else's experience must have been exactly the same as yours! I can tell you that I have NEVER had PB work on any QF domestic flight. I've also had it fail on a number of international flights. I must say that I don't fly QF anywhere near as much as DJ. But when 10 out of 10 domestic flights in the last year have failed PB I'd say that's not a coincidence. I'd also say that PB working on 51 out of the 52 Virgin flights I've taken in the last 12 months is also not a coincidence.


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[munitalP]

You're inferring then that everyone else's experience must have been exactly the same as yours! I can tell you that I have NEVER had PB work on any QF domestic flight. I've also had it fail on a number of international flights. I must say that I don't fly QF anywhere near as much as DJ. But when 10 out of 10 domestic flights in the last year have failed PB I'd say that's not a coincidence. I'd also say that PB working on 51 out of the 52 Virgin flights I've taken in the last 12 months is also not a coincidence.


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I guess with that level of flying [lack of] PB wont be an issue much longer for you on QF.

137 - thats the number of QF or VA flights I have boarded in the last 12 months btw... I generalise with my statement based on my limited experiences only

 

[nlagalle]

Well another 2 flights on QF and another 2 PB that worked without a problem. QF402 up at 7:45am and QF463 back tonight (at gate 17 of all places too!). I arrived early for the 402 to see what would happen and everyone sitting there lined up in the non PB lane leaving the PB lane empty.

 

[Kangol]

I guess the only way to get QF to listen is to get a whole bunch of CLs, who collectively direct hundreds of millions to QF, threaten to move all their spending to VA unless PB is implemented and enforced every single time.