Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[QFMEL]

I find MEL far worse for priority baggage than PER on QF.

For priority boarding observance- MEL best, CBR obviously non-existent despite the fact they had plenty of time to plan for it, only really a problem at PER for 73H and 763 flights. Unless you're in the first couple of rows of Y on a 332 or 333, cutting the line at the first door quite often doesn't save you much time.

 

[nlagalle]

Well I just experienced ADL PB..

Walked out of the QP and straight to the PB lane on gate 21 right past the general boarding line! Success!!

Judging by this I can safely say Tony Hancock wasn't in ADL today!

 

[maomaocat]

Well I just experienced ADL PB..

Walked out of the QP and straight to the PB lane on gate 21 right past the general boarding line! Success!!

Judging by this I can safely say Tony Hancock wasn't in ADL today!

A few days ago the PB line in ADL was backwards. Everyone was lined up in the priority line like a schmuck, and then People With Status clued in and started jumping ahead to the other line. At 6:20am I don't care if I get there quickly or slowly, I just wish I could have slept a few more hours!

 

[knightman7]

Has Qantas changed their PB procedures? Have been shocked to see it working perfectly lately. Over the last 10 flights in the last 2 weeks, SYD - MEL return and SYD - BNE return, every single time I've left the lounge I've walked into either an empty or almost empty PB queue with a long line of pax in the standard queue. Is the tide finally starting to turn or is it an East Coast phenomenon. Have a PER flight coming up next week so will be interesting to see.

 

[simongr]

Interesting variety of Premium Boarding today on the delayed qF423 to MEL from SYD. It looked like PB was not working as th were at least three queues snaking to the aircraftf. However once I got loser I could see the three queues all funneling into the non premium side and the premium side was fairly empty.

However it wasn't just premium pax and it wasn't enforced as the solo traveller in front of me was a QP member in 51C...

 

[medhead]

I sent off feedback to support a CSM enforcing the carry on baggage limits last week. I also had a whinge about gold people in the premium boarding line in Sydney. Please note the word Sydney, as in my flight departed from Sydney and I boarded in Sydney. Anyway, here is the reply I received concerning my priority boarding whinge.

However, I was sorry to read of your disappointment when you were boarding your flight in Adelaide. To explain, our priority boarding is available at Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports. I apologise if you were unaware of this.

To assist you further, I have attached the link to our website which outlines the Platinum Frequent Flyer privileges at the airport.
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/privilegesPlatinum#at-the-airport

Notwithstanding the fact I was boarding in Sydney not Adelaide. The priority boarding signage in Adelaide suggests a bit of a disconnect between the customer care/the website and operations.

 

[Red Roo]

I sent off feedback to support a CSM enforcing the carry on baggage limits last week. I also had a whinge about gold people in the premium boarding line in Sydney. Please note the word Sydney, as in my flight departed from Sydney and I boarded in Sydney. Anyway, here is the reply I received concerning my priority boarding whinge.



Notwithstanding the fact I was boarding in Sydney not Adelaide. The priority boarding signage in Adelaide suggests a bit of a disconnect between the customer care/the website and operations.

Medhead - Please PM the details as I'm keen to follow up with Customer Care.

 

[Anna]

The priority boarding signage in Adelaide suggests a bit of a disconnect between the customer care/the website and operations.

When I departed ADL on the way to the QF81 farewell function, the priority boarding signage had the large sign indicating PB to the right hand side and the small sign indicating PB to the left hand side. I think this was at gate 20. When boarding was called the announcement was for PB to the right hand side.

So there's a disconnect even between the PB signs at ADL !

 

[nlagalle]

Well PB worked a treat both yesterday and today. although i think on my flight this afternoon there was an elderly couple looking lost that make it into the PB lane..

So either I am very lucky or Tony Hancock is no where to be seen!!

 

[medhead]

Medhead - Please PM the details as I'm keen to follow up with Customer Care.

Will do. About the only important point I have is updating the website info.

 

[eastwest101]

Will do. About the only important point I have is updating the website info.

With all the exceptions on the web site please - like excluding Perth (at the moment), excluding weekends, excluding B734 services, excluding when the staff can't be bothered to enforce, excluding Gate 19 in BNE, excluding ADL where the signs are the wrong way around.... etc etc.... see previous 2000+ posts for reports on there PB has failed on QF domestic.

Seems that QF are trying to make an effort at the moment though....

 

[medhead]

Some feedback to say that I am very happy with the assistance provided by Red Roo in following up with the feedback I sent in. A reply has also come back that moves past the initial confusion between ADL and SYD. Thanks for the help.

It also seems that there is a boarder review underway than just updating the website for the new situation in ADL. Beyond that I have no other information or timelines or anything. So it will be interesting to see if anything changes.

 

[Red Roo]

Some feedback to say that I am very happy with the assistance provided by Red Roo in following up with the feedback I sent in. A reply has also come back that moves past the initial confusion between ADL and SYD. Thanks for the help.

It also seems that there is a boarder review underway than just updating the website for the new situation in ADL. Beyond that I have no other information or timelines or anything. So it will be interesting to see if anything changes.

Thanks medhead. Happy to help where I can.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was surprised to see in the quote in post #2546 that premium boarding was only available at PER, SYD, MEL and BNE. I can't think of any reason why it shouldn't officially be available at, say DRW, HBA, ADL at least and any number of smaller airports with 'conventional' scan points and departure gates.

What's involved? Signage, lane ropes, and a knowledge of the ground staff as to what to announce and (hopefully) how to police it. I guess there MAY be some impact of how they handle 'pax needing assistance' - eg in HBA its a wheelchair across the tarmac then a lift by the entrance stairs - but this doesn't apply at ADL or DRW, or even TSV etc!

At HBA yesterday, there were 2 scan points operating and plenty of room in front of them for lane ropes etc.

We know the policy, but what's the reason, Red Roo, please?

 

[puppysparkes]

Medhead - Please PM the details as I'm keen to follow up with Customer Care.

The argument for cloning red roo is justified!

 

[opusman]

Complete fail today MEL-BNE and return. At both ends the premium lane was announced but in both cases there was only one person actually doing the boarding so of course both lanes ended up a huge mess as they merged. What's the point in having a separate lane without a separate person to run it?

 

[CaviAck]

Complete fail today MEL-BNE and return. At both ends the premium lane was announced but in both cases there was only one person actually doing the boarding so of course both lanes ended up a huge mess as they merged. What's the point in having a separate lane without a separate person to run it?

Process the priority line until no one there and then process the general line and stopping for any late priority turnups, or alternate between priority and general. It can still work (albeit slower) with just the one scanner.

 

[madrooster]

It appears there has been a crew cutback on 737 services from 5 FAs to 4 for non-breakfast/dinner services starting today.

It seems to have had an effect on priority boarding today too.

QF610 priority boarding failed however QF541 worked fine (as did priority baggage on this flight).

 

[opusman]

Process the priority line until no one there and then process the general line and stopping for any late priority turnups, or alternate between priority and general. It can still work (albeit slower) with just the one scanner.

Well that was definitely not happening today!

 

[CaviAck]

It appears there has been a crew cutback on 737 services from 5 FAs to 4 for non-breakfast/dinner services starting today.

It seems to have had an effect on priority boarding today too.

QF610 priority boarding failed however QF541 worked fine (as did priority baggage on this flight).

Wouldn't that put it above the max FA/pax ratio? Sure it wasn't a 734?

Well that was definitely not happening today!

And they were doing so well with the priority boarding...