Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[pauly7]

I'm glad to know that Premium Boarding was seamless for you in Brisbane. However your experience in Adelaide is very concerning, and I too have passed on your feedback to senior management for their reference.

Unfortunately a fail to report this morning on QF600 in Melbourne Red Roo, no enforcement at all.

 

[Red Roo]

Unfortunately a fail to report this morning on QF600 in Melbourne Red Roo, no enforcement at all.

Thanks for letting me know. I understand there were some weather related disruptions this morning ex MEL. This may have been a factor, however perhaps better communication would help in these situations.

 

[pauly7]

Thanks for letting me know. I understand there were some weather related disruptions this morning ex MEL. This may have been a factor, however perhaps better communication would help in these situations.

Nothing weather related with this flight (QF600)

However QF635 just now ex Brisbane was done really well, sending non priority pax back to the end of the general queue!

 

[Cynicor]

Nothing weather related with this flight (QF600)

However QF635 just now ex Brisbane was done really well, sending non priority pax back to the end of the general queue!

I rarely fly domestic, but this is a good sign. It needs to be done in conjunction with decent boarding announcements, however. If it was not clearly announced that PB is allowed/in process/ to the right etc, then I feel for those who may have queued quite early in the wrong line. But they should probably learn to read signs too...

 

[medhead]

QF660 departing ADL on Friday - oh dear. Departing gate 20 again, and the signs are still conflicting even though I reported this about a month ago both here and direct to QF. The large sign and the announcement said PB to the right, the small sign said PB to the left. I mentioned it to the ground staffer behind the desk - it would have been difficult for her to have cared less about the discrepancy. She could not have given a rats, that much was obvious. I mentioned it again to the CSM on board. Initially he said nothing. Then we had a short delay and he came down to Y to tell the pax in rows 4 and 5. He told me he had asked the ground staff about the signage discrepancy and had been told that PB doesn't work at ADL because the large sign "interferes with the monitor". He also told me that PB would be being phased out as more flights move to 4 FAs instead of 5 because "PB doesn't work when there is only 1 FA at the scanner". I told him Virgin can make it work and that some people choose to fly VA out of ADL because of it. He was absolutely astonished that PB mattered that much to anybody.

Hahaha I'd love to know the CSMs name. Hopefully, I remember to ask on 5 July. I can only agree that for some reason ADL ground staff really don't give a rat's about priority boarding.

 

[Hvr]

Today: (24 June)
MEL-PER two lines and a short priority line, however the first customer in the priority line had a problem and some customers were processed before any priority customers. Surely the initial priority line should be processed before any other customers are let on board?

PER-KTA no line and no real use because of the use of boarding at a stand.
KTA-PER not observed.

PER-MEL separate lines and I walked to the front of the priority line (not cutting in front of other pax) after boarding had commenced and was the next person processed.

 

[wafliron]

Nothing weather related with this flight (QF600)

However QF635 just now ex Brisbane was done really well, sending non priority pax back to the end of the general queue!

Sorry, but pics of it didn't happen

 

[medhead]

I reckon VA priority boarding is going to fail at ADL this morning. They're using gate 25, which is at the qantas end of the terminal.

 

[mrpooky]

I have a few recent flights to report on:

QF598 (PER -> BNE), 19th June: success, but I arrived quite late, so normal lane wasn't very full anyway. I commented to the FA who scanned my ticket to the effect that "Next week I'll be able to use the priority lane" (WP now, SG then), and she said something like, "Oh I would have let you in as a gold member anyway." I thanked her for the thought, but also said (nicely) that she shouldn't do that.

QF661 (BNE -> ADL), QF587 (ADL -> PER), 22nd June: definite success! I arrived a little late at the QF661 gate, but the normal lane was still very long, and the priority lane was empty. Was in J, so walked straight up and on in the priority lane. QF587 was also a walk on in the priority lane, even though normal lane was long.

QF916 (PER -> KTA), 22nd June: both lanes were pretty much empty, so success, I guess.

QF915 (KTA -> PER), 22nd June: failure. No priority lane. But it's KTA; I didn't really expect one.

QF648 (PER -> MEL), 23rd June: both lanes were fairly empty, but priority lane was more empty. Walked on. Success again.

QF610 (MEL -> BNE), 23rd June: success. Was quite late to gate, but again, walked straight up and on through the priority lane.

This weekend experience gave me great hope for the process, but alas, come Monday morning:

QF589 (BNE -> PER), 24th June: absolute failure! Flight was delayed by ~20 minutes or so and PAX just jammed through both lanes at once when boarding was called. Announcement regarding priority lane and boarding by rows was made, but completely ignored by PAX and FAs scanning boarding passes.

 

[eastwest101]

QF589 (BNE -> PER), 24th June: absolute failure! Flight was delayed by ~20 minutes or so and PAX just jammed through both lanes at once when boarding was called. Announcement regarding priority lane and boarding by rows was made, but completely ignored by PAX and FAs scanning boarding passes.

Very good observations - and I highlighted the final one to confirm that's quite often how I see it happen a lot too. As soon as a flight is delayed/late then the scrum just rush at both lanes before the priority boarding announcement is even started.....

So it seems that an aircraft running late seems to induce temporary blindness of QF pax even if the signage is out and correct.

 

[Fifa]

Fail in CBR this morning on QF872.
I arrived at the gate before boarding and a general boarding call was announced.
It was a free for all with the tiny PB sign ignored, two FAs scanning boarding passes and no policing.

I got the beep and had been moved from 4A to 8A :shock:.
Thank goodness it was only a quick CBR-SYD flight.

 

[sparoz]

All they have to do is do what CX does and close off the regular lane whenever there is someone at the Priority lane. You only can have one passenger passing the door anyway, so the extra staff at the door is better off to be at the gate managing the priority lane.

 

[medhead]

QF785 worked well tonight. Gate 8 SYD T3, one FA, rather long line. I just walked down the empty PB lane. Gate agent ignored me, FA served me next. QF730 on Tuesday (25/6) was kinda ok as well.

I have think I was the only Platinum on the flight, because I was the only person to get an on board greeting from the CSM (Kylie). But I did see a CL drink coaster in 5A. :?: BTW (since RedRoo might read this) Kylie was amazing. She recognises me from past flights and it is really warm and friendly to have such recognition. Previously sent feedback to Qantas about this in the last 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I think QF704 on 26th was a success. (CBR SYD) I had just been reading dozens of pages on the asa thread in the lounge so wasn't really thinking of PB. There was definitely a sign up but just went into the shortest queue. Mr FM claims that I went into the general boarding queue and that he saw someone in the priority queue told to use the other queue. Doing this flight again the 10th so will try and concentrate a bit more......

 

[Kangol]

Fail in CBR this morning on QF872.
I arrived at the gate before boarding and a general boarding call was announced.
It was a free for all with the tiny PB sign ignored, two FAs scanning boarding passes and no policing.

I got the beep and had been moved from 4A to 8A :shock:.
Thank goodness it was only a quick CBR-SYD flight.

Did you see who ended up sitting in 4A? CL perhaps?

 

[Fifa]

She certainly didn't 'look' like a CL (if you know what I mean).
In a fluster with a big odd looking duffle bag and didn't know where to put it as there was no room in the surrounding OH lockers - a guy in 5C helped her locate some space.

 

[Hvr]

She certainly didn't 'look' like a CL (if you know what I mean).
In a fluster with a big odd looking duffle bag and didn't know where to put it as there was no room in the surrounding OH lockers - a guy in 5C helped her locate some space.

Maybe the spouse of a CL? Although as far as I know there's no criteria to be good looking to be given CL.

Thank goodness handsomeness isn't a criteria for WP/WP1. :mrgreen: I'd be a below zero nothing bronze for ever otherwise.

 

[Fifa]

Maybe the spouse of a CL? Although as far as I know there's no criteria to be good looking to be given CL.

I didn't say she wasn't good looking - I said she didn't 'look' like a CL!
Her whole demeanour just wasn't that of a frequent flyer or even a sometimes flyer .

 

[mrfreeze]

QF431 SYD-MEL today was a free for all.
Delayed flight and when boarding called everyone just took what lane they could and not in single file either.

 

[TonyHancock]

QF431 SYD-MEL today was a free for all.
Delayed flight and when boarding called everyone just took what lane they could and not in single file either.

Indeed! It was an absolute shambles.