Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[m_ratt]

It had a mag strip but no bar code! I got one of the trial cards and it was the first thing I noticed!

Just got home and checked my previous (non-Q - issued in Apr-10) card - it does have a barcode. Glad I'm not losing my mind.

 

[markis10]

Just got home and checked my previous (non-Q - issued in Apr-10) card - it does have a barcode. Glad I'm not losing my mind.

They were first issued in Nov 09, my first one was part of the Q Card trial as my renewal was the month before the first sighting, which is why my barcode first appeared alongside the Q Chip! You are definitely not loosing your mind, but they are a recent addition.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

QF2 BKK-SYD (yesterday)

Boarding call went like this....

'First and Business can now board (via this door)'
I see WP's and SG's walk over to door......and get rejected for boarding :shock::shock::shock:
Crowd not happy, and has to wait about 5-10 minutes...


BUD 2B - shoddy, but did the job (picture below)
View attachment 2919

 

[connieguy]

QF2 BKK-SYD (yesterday)

Boarding call went like this....

'First and Business can now board (via this door)'
I see WP's and SG's walk over to door......and get rejected for boarding :shock::shock::shock:

Was that BKK airport staff or QF staff doing the boarding?

Oh WTF, maybe WPs just got 'Enhanced" again to make way for WP1s getting "Anytime Boarding Rights".

 

[Moopere]

QF773 MEL-PER on Wednesday evening. Two air bridges feeding the A330-300 but both entry doors had business/economy signs. Economy passengers who went in the left door had to wander through business to get to the back of the plane. No call or sign for elites, just a verbal welcome to (mumble) oneworld passengers - I think the mumble might have been emerald and sapphire, but they were only welcomed, not asked to board first.

sigh ...

 

[Danger]

QF773 MEL-PER on Wednesday evening. Two air bridges feeding the A330-300 but both entry doors had business/economy signs. Economy passengers who went in the left door had to wander through business to get to the back of the plane. No call or sign for elites, just a verbal welcome to (mumble) oneworld passengers - I think the mumble might have been emerald and sapphire, but they were only welcomed, not asked to board first.sigh ...

What hope have we got for a consistent application of this benefit when QF can't even do it for a flight with two aerobridges. Unbelievable.

 

[kirk7]

Its shocking....took two flights yesterday and at both- priority wasnt even mentioned.

It was a free for all

Since QF is redoing all the signage with their new fonts- surely an extra sign at each gate is not too much more.

 

[crum]

I did QF2 BKK-SYD two weeks ago and joined the F and J passengers with my SG card...no problems at all. Must just be the staff on the day.

 

[im.daniel]

I did QF2 BKK-SYD two weeks ago and joined the F and J passengers with my SG card...no problems at all. Must just be the staff on the day.

For international flights, I tend to find that priority boarding works fine - because sometimes there are signs guiding the passengers where to line up with respects to what class they're flying and status. Domestically, it's a mess. People start line up at the boarding gate like 30 minutes before boarding and when boarding time comes around, there's around 60-80 people in line already!! As such, the staff tend to let it go rather than inconvenience and deny boarding to those already waiting in line (without the applicable status/class).
Funny what difference a few signs can make.

 

[Danger]

I waited in great anticipation for a priority boarding call to be made for 577 SYD-PER today but, alas, nothing. So I walked up to the service desk and enquirer as to why there wasn't one. The female agent checked with the male agent (the one who made the boarding call) and he said he didn't make a priority call, with a lok of half-forgetfulness, half-'whatever'. I was less than impressed and I think the female agent could tell so she walked me to the front of the queue. Apparently my disappointment was conveyed to the baggage handlers - as my bags didn't make the journey with me. I'm sure they'll be "among the first to arrive" on the carousel in Perth on the flight later tonight.

 

[Moopere]

Apparently my disappointment was conveyed to the baggage handlers - as my bags didn't make the journey with me. I'm sure they'll be "among the first to arrive" on the carousel in Perth on the flight later tonight.

Oh good lord! Whats the chances? One hopes its a coincidence

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I received a call from QF (Bianca) this morning about my query on how priority boarding works.

She assured me that walking to the front of the line, pushing infront of all the plebs is how it works and if a Platinum does not receive it then a complaint should be raised.

Can't say I feel comfortable doing this given the dirty looks received... what do others think?

 

[BVT]

Slightly OT.

I was accessing priority boarding for QF16 last week. My son and his partner on the same flight were in whY and were waiting patiently in the approprite non priority queue. I called them over to board with me - no problem from CSA, we all got prioity boarding.

Another whY passenger, who watched what happened, sprinted down the airbridge to (roughly) push in front of us to board the plane first! Whatever! Just striking a blow for equality, I suppose.

 

[Ewing]

She assured me that walking to the front of the line, pushing infront of all the plebs is how it works and if a Platinum does not receive it then a complaint should be raised.

Can't say I feel comfortable doing this given the dirty looks received... what do others think?

I've done it twice before on QF international flights when priority boarding was not in operation, making it very clear to the person at the gate that I was looking for the priority boarding lane. I did feel uncomfortable, but it could be the difference between another glass of champagne before take-off, so one must have one's priorities in order

Domestically I wouldn't do it - especially out of CBR when 3/4ths of the flight are probably entitled to it

Oh, and dirty looks - you still get them when using official priority boarding anyway. I had the biggest death glare from a pleb on American Airlines once when using priority boarding. I was called forward and a guy from the pleb line pushed in front - gate AAngel's response to him: "Sir, you'll need to step back right now" before charmingly turning to me and welcoming me The glare continued when he passed me getting comfortable in First.

-Shaun

 

[OverrideServlet]

She assured me that walking to the front of the line, pushing infront of all the plebs is how it works and if a Platinum does not receive it then a complaint should be raised.

Can't say I feel comfortable doing this given the dirty looks received... what do others think?

Personally I think this is a terrible implementation of "priority boarding".

In fact, I wouldn't even describe this as an implementation. The airline is basically leaving it up to the passengers to manage & implement this benefit for themselves.

 

[ozmille]

Personally I think this is a terrible implementation of "priority boarding".

In fact, I wouldn't even describe this as an implementation. The airline is basically leaving it up to the passengers to manage & implement this benefit for themselves.

Indeed this is very wrong

 

[connieguy]

I've done it twice before on QF international flights when priority boarding was not in operation, making it very clear to the person at the gate that I was looking for the priority boarding lane. I did feel uncomfortable, but it could be the difference between another glass of champagne before take-off, so one must have one's priorities in order

Domestically I wouldn't do it - especially out of CBR when 3/4ths of the flight are probably entitled to it

Oh, and dirty looks - you still get them when using official priority boarding anyway. I had the biggest death glare from a pleb on American Airlines once when using priority boarding. I was called forward and a guy from the pleb line pushed in front - gate AAngel's response to him: "Sir, you'll need to step back right now" before charmingly turning to me and welcoming me The glare continued when he passed me getting comfortable in First.

-Shaun

I suspect that if this guy had done the hard yard air miles we have done, he would have understood. But maybe not.

Anyway now I just walk up to the ground staff doing the BP scanning (never cut in front of the main Pax line, just to the side) and ask. "Where is the Platinum Priority Line" as I hold out my WP card? Only failed once and I was told to go to the back of the line. I gotta say it does make you think QF does not think we WPs place much value on priority boarding as otherwise they would have done something about it by now. I mean it is very easy to fix as they do it internationally. Just change the wording to reflect the domestic situation. Nice wheels to move it away when not needed.

So please Red Roo why are these not used on domestic QF flights?

 

[djfuzz]

Dropped someone off on an E-Jet flight from MEL-CBR on the small, far pier of T3.

Sure enough, even at the smaller gates, DJ has the Priority Lane up and running, with a series of very helpful announcements about it.

No one on the flight seemed to qualify, but neither did they mind using the regular queue.



[EDIT] Also, the signs also referred to Velocity Platinum. So not only have they implemented priority boarding very quickly and effectively, they've also had the foresight to save themselves from having to print out new signs when they roll out their new tier (though not sure how expensive that would be anyway). Top marks on this one, DJ.

 

[connieguy]

Dropped someone off on an E-Jet flight from MEL-CBR on the small, far pier of T3.

Sure enough, even at the smaller gates, DJ has the Priority Lane up and running, with a series of very helpful announcements about it.

No one on the flight seemed to qualify, but neither did they mind using the regular queue.

View attachment 3087

[EDIT] Also, the signs also referred to Velocity Platinum. So not only have they implemented priority boarding very quickly and effectively, they've also had the foresight to save themselves from having to print out new signs when they roll out their new tier (though not sure how expensive that would be anyway). Top marks on this one, DJ.

As many have said before, it would be easy for QF to do this. Why they do not do something so simple, to eliminate one major and long term sore point for their SGs and WPs is something I just can't get my head around. I can only guess they do not really listen to / care about SG and WP feedback on this issue.

 

[TonyHancock]

What I don't understand is that QF seems unwilling, or unable, to say or do anything about this published benefit.

If it is too hard to achieve remove it from the published benefits list, if it is not then do something about it.

The lack of action, one way or another, just seems odd.