Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Pleb Status]

Originally Posted by Pleb Status
Travelled on QF582 PER-SYD yesterday and no priority boarding infrastructure was to be seen (at all, not even to the side of the gate). As I have never seen QF even remotely enforce priority boarding (in anyway whatsoever), the boarding scrum without the infrastructure was no different to when it is present.

The PB system is broken, has never worked at all and will only become worse until QF do something to enforce it.

Thats strange because some people here have never seen it fail, well maybe once.

I have honestly seen it policed once and that was on a Per-BNE flight and as well as the 2 FA checking people in, a third was guarding the PB line kicking people out who shouldn,t be in it. That was about 6 months ago, have not seen it enforced since.

Make a complaint to Qantas about it, if enough people start doing that they may start to do something.

I stand by my original comments, without reservation. I have complained to QF about PB on numerous occasions but it would appear that I am 'flogging a dead horse' on this subject. It would appear that QF do not want to enforce PB. It was only brought in to match VA.

 

[Mal Ware]

I've said it before throughout this thread but I'll keep saying it - it shouldn't be up to the F/A's to enforce the rule it should be nipped in the bud before at the time the pax attempts to join to PB queue so if they're not eligible for PB they can be redirected immediately to the general boarding queue.

I agree with this. All they need to do is employ 3 or 4 people at each major airport to assist with boarding flights as they go and all of a sudden it would work. But they are too tight to fork out the money for something that they advertise because the failings of it are dynamic and diverse but they are consistant.

Don't worry, the poster doesn't want to believe my experiences

It's not that I don't want to believe you, I do, but I cannot believe you, nor according to many other posters experiences in this and thread should anyone else. 1 fail in 75+ flights is simply not believable at all.

From my now, fortunately, limited QF domestic experience I would have to say that the complete lack of any sort of policing is a significant contributing factor in the systemic failure of QF to provide premium boarding. If QF allows pax who are not entitled to premium boarding to use the service unhindered how can premium boarding be anything but a fail? I agree that this is not the single factor but it is a significant contributing factor. I have now come to terms with the ongoing failures and fly VA domestically unless I have an international connection. Tomorrow I fully expect yet another failure. We pax are still nothing more than self loading freight on QF domestic....regardless of status. (I have experienced the odd CSM and FA that bucks the trend so there is still some hope.)

So true.

I stand by my original comments, without reservation. I have complained to QF about PB on numerous occasions but it would appear that I am 'flogging a dead horse' on this subject. It would appear that QF do not want to enforce PB. It was only brought in to match VA.

The other annoying thing about Qantas's failure to police priority boarding besides not offering what people essentially pay for, it also forces those who could normally just rock up at boarding time and join the PB que to mill around the gate and wait for the first signs of movement before the ensuing scrum.

If it were commonly policed and working, those with PB would not be forced to mill around and by doing so they actually cause the beginning of the scrum because non PB can sniff out something going on. lol.

Hence the free for all at boarding time.

 

[ashleyn]

This is a key concern to AFF members and rightly so. Why don't we try to fix it in 2013 ? Surely there is enough clout from members on here to make a difference. Open to suggestions but on each and every occasion, members should post to the QF FB site or an on line feedback simply.. "QF999 Per-Syd 9:00 complete fail/no monitoring/worked well, whatever. What do your think ?

 

[serfty]

...

Just imagine for a minute what would happen if a (non PB eligible) pax gets to the gate reader in the PB queue & the F/A says "I'm sorry Sir/Madam you'll have to join the general boarding queue". Do you really think they're going to say "okay"??? No they're going to attempt to stand their ground and argue the point & just put on the usual DYKWIA performance holding up all the eligible PB pax behind him/her which will annoy everyone.

It also promotes possible air rage and makes it an uncomfortable situation for the F/A who then has to see that pax again onboard.
...

It does happen in the USA - the Gate agents generally will enforce boarding regimes each and every time.

I reckon the main issue is caused by the general failure of Qantas to use dedicated gate agents at the BP scanners for domestic flights.

VA in Oz and most carriers in the USA have such dedicated staff and PB tends to work well.

 

[nlagalle]

It's not that I don't want to believe you, I do, but I cannot believe you, nor according to many other posters experiences in this and thread should anyone else. 1 fail in 75+ flights is simply not believable at all.

Then drop it Mal Ware should i start photographing it to prove it to you. I have no reason to lie about it. I've pointed out to you many times I complain to Qantas when I am not happy with something. For me out of all my flights PB worked as it should except once. Whether the time of day I flew and the airport or my proximity to Tony Hancock is a factor I don't know. An I can assure you that if it doesn't work next week on my next QF flight I will complain again.

 

[CaviAck]

only on Australia Day!

But everyday is "Australia Day" (well at least from what I've notice in Cairns lol)

I agree. I also continue to maintain that the lack of truly prominent signage (small text and arrows) helps neither the staff nor the pax. One would have to be almost blind to miss seeing, or misunderstand, AA's PB signs.

Even as a lowly PS I failed to miss those almost in your face signs! Really love how OW advertise that OWS get priority boarding... Miss AA because of this, really odd feeling when you're one of the first on the plane yet sit in the second last row hahah

This is a key concern to AFF members and rightly so. Why don't we try to fix it in 2013 ? Surely there is enough clout from members on here to make a difference. Open to suggestions but on each and every occasion, members should post to the QF FB site or an on line feedback simply.. "QF999 Per-Syd 9:00 complete fail/no monitoring/worked well, whatever. What do your think ?

Is it wrong if I complain as a SG? xD

 

[medhead]

. It would appear that QF do not want to enforce PB. It was only brought in to match VA.

Pretty hard to agree with that. QF have offered PB on international flights for a long time. They also had a published benefit of PB on domestic flight for platinum that was never offered. I don't know about the broader community. But I do know that there was a bit if a ramp up in complaints about no PB, as per published benefits, on domestic by a few AFF members. For me this started when they removed some other benefit. Sometime later Qantas introduced premium boarding for domestic flights. First as a trial, then at limited airports and now at more airports. Sure this coincided with VA introducing PB but it is really provision of an already advertised benefit.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

There's also the reverse situation where people who are entitled to PB don't use it. I saw Wayne Swan boarding a BNE/CBR flight late last year & despite the PB queue operational he & his colleague joined the general queue and boarded with everyone else.

He blended in so much that nobody seemed to notice him apart from one couple I suspect reside in Australia but conversed in their mother tongue. Whilst I didn't know exactly what they were saying their body language said "did you see who that was"?

 

[Mal Ware]

This is a key concern to AFF members and rightly so. Why don't we try to fix it in 2013 ? Surely there is enough clout from members on here to make a difference. Open to suggestions but on each and every occasion, members should post to the QF FB site or an on line feedback simply.. "QF999 Per-Syd 9:00 complete fail/no monitoring/worked well, whatever. What do your think ?

Wish I thought of that, maybe I should create a poll about it and try and encourage people to complain to QF when it doesn't work. Oh hang on....

Then drop it Mal Ware should i start photographing it to prove it to you. I have no reason to lie about it. I've pointed out to you many times I complain to Qantas when I am not happy with something. For me out of all my flights PB worked as it should except once. Whether the time of day I flew and the airport or my proximity to Tony Hancock is a factor I don't know. An I can assure you that if it doesn't work next week on my next QF flight I will complain again.

You are the one who makes the outrageous claims not me. It is clear that most people on this site would agree that priority boarding with Qantas does not work most of the time, and you come along and say it always works except for once. LOL. Either your take on reality is a little warped, you work for Qantas, or your are just a very lucky person.
Let me know your lotto numbers next time you put it in.

 

[medhead]

Yeah a poll that didn't basically say people don't care that qantas has screwed up PB would make a change.

 

[nlagalle]

Wish I thought of that, maybe I should create a poll about it and try and encourage people to complain to QF when it doesn't work. Oh hang on....

considering your poll was totally loaded and not fair, add to that a new poll was started with the correct options.. doesn't that tell you something??

You are the one who makes the outrageous claims not me. It is clear that most people on this site would agree that priority boarding with Qantas does not work most of the time, and you come along and say it always works except for once. LOL. Either your take on reality is a little warped, you work for Qantas, or your are just a very lucky person.
Let me know your lotto numbers next time you put it in.

No outrageous claims at all. weekly travel which i have posted. You just choose to not believe it. again, why would I lie about about?? I have said numerous times it has worked for me.. i get to the gate, the PB lane has a couple of people in it so i line up, check in and board. If that is warped then I am definitely wrong, I also don't work for Qantas. THose that know me know who i work for. so I must be lucky in the PB stakes. and my lotto number are in, but sure as hell I won't be sharing with them with you.

 

[RooFlyer]

Wish I thought of that, maybe I should create a poll about it and try and encourage people to complain to QF when it doesn't work. Oh hang on....

<snip>.

I love it when that infamous poll re-surfaces. The one which was so obviously loaded, and where a professional pollster weighed in to say the same effective thing; the poll which was locked off, and where a new poll had to be created to enable a balanced response to be given. A classic!

I note serfty's comments, but in the US I have about 50/50 experiences with PB (mainly United). With Air Canada, PB is also a strong bone of contention in similar forums to this. The issue there is that so many people have 'status' that its a genuine bunfight, as opposed to interlopers joining the queue. (AC's FF program 'aeroplan' isn't run by the airline, but is outsourced to a general 'points scheme' A lot of credit card status pax.) BTW, AC has also changed their PB order. Pax with children are no longer invited up in the first round. It's now people in wheelchairs or otherwise physically impaired, then status pax, then I think pax with children, then the ruck.

I agree with another poster that having the gate agents challenge those not entitled to PB could easily slow the whole process down if the pax also challenges; but I sorta wish they would.

One thing that could be done easily is to have clear announcements - having called for people's attention (yeah, like addressing kids) - saying look at BP, this is what's going to happen. Like - "If your BP says WP1, WP, Sg (or whatever), you'll be invited .... blah blah ... AND THIS WILL BE ENFORCED. IF YOU JOIN THE QUEUE EARLY YOU WILL BE ASKED TO STEP ASIDE .... "

Yeah, you're right. Won't work. Just continue as is, I guess.

... waits for guess who to chime in ...

 

[serfty]

...

I note serfty's comments, but in the US I have about 50/50 experiences with PB (mainly United). With Air Canada, PB is also a strong bone of contention in similar forums to this. The issue there is that so many people have 'status' that its a genuine bunfight, as opposed to interlopers joining the queue. ...

I have no experience in Canada, but in the USA have learnt to be at the gate before boarding commences. This is in conjunction with travel on AS, DL, AA, US & UA.

Those carriers all have more than just the two boarding groups; from First/Business, various status levels, those eligible for other premium boarding, down to rows/random group #.

In general it is enforced by the gate agents, the passengers expect it to be enforced and it basically works.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have no experience in Canada, but in the USA have learnt to be at the gate before boarding commences.
<snip>

Absolutely! As do most all of the status pax on AC it seems. Compounded by the fact that because AC (and most NA carriers I think) don't announce boarding in the lounge, AND due to the immense amount of carry-on thats the norm there, you always want to be there well in advance to 'hover' somewhere near the the boarding line start, else you'll have your gear around your feet, no matter what status. Doesn't help when AC run dinky little E190s on 'main line' routes such as YYC-YVR and the bin storage in J is less than that in Y.

Sorry all, I know this is a QF forum, but sometimes the situation at home doesn't seem so bad when compared to similar airlines.

 

[Grooba]

My last few domestic sectors out of BNE have certainly changed my opinion of QF and PB. I've been at the gate a cpl minutes prior to scheduled boarding time and there have been clear, single file lines for both PB and regular. I didn't see/hear any announcements about the whole PB process; it seemed people just knew what to do. Can't say the same for SYD/MEL/PER/etc.

[flame suit on]
Seems the folk in QLD are finally working out how to do something correctly for a change.
[/flame suit off]

 

[QF WP]

Well I've got an ADL/BNE sector on Thursday in J, so will make sure I'm there early to see if PB is used.

 

[Austashes]

Personnaly I would start PB at the check in area with notices that on board bag limits will be enforced. Second I would boldly print priority status on boarding tickets. Have gate staff walk the line chat to customers and discuss identify potential issues with luggage. I would abandon the dual line concept an call passangers according to priority (thus eliminating late arrival angst of cattle in the priority lane).

Perhaps some QF managers need to move on if they can't impove the boarding flow and ontime departure rates.

 

[Deleted member]

Aside from the issue of bag room in the overhead, I think I prefer to board later rather than first. I like being first off though.
Sitting in the front means having to deal with people trying to push past while you get organised.
To me PB is a benefit only if in Y and looking to secure prime storage space ......and you are in a window seat

 

[cmon0005]

Please don't see this as me putting fuel on the fire... just an observation from someone that uses PB 15% of the time, General queue 85% of the time (when flying Business, am only a Gold, soon to be Plat!).

Although I agree PB needs to be enforced a bit more, to protect WP's entitlements and what not BUT I find that QF's method seems to be just fill the plane as quickly and orderly as possible so its of little fuss to a majority of pax, and thus depart on-time or early.
Whereas the VA way (I was flying VA quite regularly on Flexi fares til mid last year as they were works preferred airline at the time) seems to be a boarding "scrum" long snaking PB line (mind you most of my VA flights were peak hours) sometimes shorter general boarding line, then onboard you had people entering from back and front of the plane meeting in the middle trying to cross paths, FA's trying to move around the plane, and a million bits of carry on.

In the end the boarding on QF seems more orderly in general and seems that the flights board quicker and get off the ground with minimal fuss.
The VA boarding always seems dis-organised, all over the shop, Yes the PB does work and is policed better, but does it help the entire plane have a seemless boarding experience? No not from my experience. Out of 9 VA flights MEL-SYD in a 4 month period none were on time departing and all boarding was a shambles. Maybe its better now I don't know.

 

[Pleb Status]

My last few domestic sectors out of BNE have certainly changed my opinion of QF and PB. I've been at the gate a cpl minutes prior to scheduled boarding time and there have been clear, single file lines for both PB and regular. I didn't see/hear any announcements about the whole PB process; it seemed people just knew what to do. Can't say the same for SYD/MEL/PER/etc.

[flame suit on]
Seems the folk in QLD are finally working out how to do something correctly for a change.
[/flame suit off]

Just because there are two nicely formed lines, how do you know that people in the PB line are supposed to be there? The best way to cheat is to look and act like you belong, not push in etc.

As this has become a bit of an issue for me, I like to have a look at the boarding passes/cards of those directly in front of me to see if they are WP or travelling in Business. On average, at least 50% of those I can see should not have been in the PB line.