Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[RooFlyer]

At 2,780 posts, this thread has been a jolly good read. Bad experiences noted by Red Roo and feedback sent to the relevant people. While the same keeps happening.

Here's a suggestion. How about we lock the thread until Red Roo comes back and says:

"No worries people; we've got everyone to read the manual, re-educated those who need it; managers have their bonuses riding on the outcome; simple really, people will just do their job ... Premium boarding henceforth WILL OCCUR at every airport where its should. It wasn't hard, really - just a matter of people focussing and doing what they should have been doing all along.

I reckon it will only take till about Wednesday for this to occur. But if longer, continuing silence might say more about QF's commitment to Premium Boarding than any negative post here could?

 

[Pleb Status]

QF597 BNE-PER must have been extremely platinum heavy today (30/06) as almost 60 people observed waiting in the premium boarding lane prior to the commencement of boarding. A late change to a 738 means that only 11 of them could of been in J (as I was the 12th and boarded in the far quicker non-premium boarding lane).

 

[tm.smile]

I wonder why international sign are clearly differentiated (black) from normal (red).

Its just a matter of of eliminating lines off the priority banner - first, gold and premium. By all accounts, international boarding usually works well...

 

[Hvr]

I wonder why international sign are clearly differentiated (black) from normal (red).

Its just a matter of of eliminating lines off the priority banner - first, gold and premium. By all accounts, international boarding usually works well...

It works because it is enforced and possibly also people are more used to following the rules regarding boarding. Maybe it is because there are also enough non-status flyers who know something will happen re boarding and they had better read the signs.

Where priority boarding is in place no non-status pax should be boarded until the priority line is cleared, otherwise it means that your actual boarding position is a matter of essentially luck depending on how quickly your line moves. Not appropriate at all.

 

[Anna]

2 PB successes to report from the weekend.

QF680 from ADL, gate 22 - PB worked like a dream :shock: Even the signs were the correct way round! I guess they must have strapped that pesky monitor down so it didn't get in the way of the larger sign

QF701 from MEL PB also worked well.

 

[mickeyc747]

Successful priority boarding this morning on QF 740 with FA turning a couple away who should not have been in the line. She explained it to them and the moved to the ordinary lane. Gate 23 ADL

 

[nonpop]

I know this isn't a QF sign, but this is how MH Domestic do it. I think the sign is clear and very large. It is also up high so can be viewed no matter where you are in the line i.e you don't need to walk right up to (almost) where boarding commences to work out which way the QF sign is pointing. Interesting that anyone with status gets priority boarding.

View attachment 16940

 

[Danger]

I know this isn't a QF sign, but this is how MH Domestic do it. I think the sign is clear and very large. It is also up high so can be viewed no matter where you are in the line i.e you don't need to walk right up to (almost) where boarding commences to work out which way the QF sign is pointing. Interesting that anyone with status gets priority boarding.

There must only be one or two random passengers who don't have priority boarding.

 

[boomy]

I know this isn't a QF sign, but this is how MH Domestic do it. I think the sign is clear and very large. It is also up high so can be viewed no matter where you are in the line i.e you don't need to walk right up to (almost) where boarding commences to work out which way the QF sign is pointing. Interesting that anyone with status gets priority boarding.

View attachment 16940

If QF puts a sign like that, I seriously don't know which queue will be shorter.

I can't believe I'm saying that, but this MH sign actually made the QF PB system look good (and it's not).

 

[serfty]

If QF puts a sign like that, I seriously don't know which queue will be shorter.

I can't believe I'm saying that, but this MH sign actually made the QF PB system look good (and it's not).

Actually the MH sign makes it clear from a distance who are entitled to use the priority queue.

The standard Qantas signs do not. Here's some international ones courtesy of tm.smile:

View attachment 16944
I wonder why international sign are clearly differentiated (black) from normal (red).

Its just a matter of of eliminating lines off the priority banner - first, gold and premium. By all accounts, international boarding usually works well...

 

[nonpop]

If QF puts a sign like that, I seriously don't know which queue will be shorter.

I can't believe I'm saying that, but this MH sign actually made the QF PB system look good (and it's not).

I think the difference is with MH there doesn't appear to be as many local 'elites'.
The dome Y lines was packed (the flight both directions was 100% full).
I guess it is nice they extend PB to OWR (would encourage me to fly them if I dropped back to that).
But the policing of it was done well with a bouncer either redirecting you or waving you on to the gate agent.
On board I did notice a fair few QF Platinum & Gold RFID bag tags (on hand luggage) so it seems that may be MH is benefiting from the OW alliance.

And yes, with the sign so bloody large, clear & dark type face on large background it was very clear. As you approch it makes things very easy and helps with the flow as people move straight to their designated line.

The issue I find with QF is when I show up 'late' it can be hard to tell if A) PB is actually in place e.g at OOL or B) is the sign point correctly or C) is it being policed.

But again, 1st world problems.

 

[Shelf]

The MH sign isn't pretty, but I bet it is effective.

 

[jdp]

Fail again QF765 in Sydney 9 July due to only one FA.

One FA playing traffic cop - stopping the standard line every couple of pax and calling for premium pax.

It worked ok but had a very amateur feel and you could feel everyone getting frustrated at the experience.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Fail again QF765 in Sydney 9 July due to only one FA.

One FA playing traffic cop - stopping the standard line every couple of pax and calling for premium pax.

It worked ok but had a very amateur feel and you could feel everyone getting frustrated at the experience.

View attachment 16974

I notice that flight was delayed as well which seems to be a common occurrence now when boarding with a single F/A as the one doing the boarding still has to do the overwing exit safety brief & close all the overhead bins.

 

[Flying mermaid]

QF704 CBR-SYD 10 July. No PB sign, but not much of a queue either when we came out the lounge.

QF 872 today - reasonable queue, no PB although they had 2 people checking boarding passes. Is PB actually still happening in Canberra?

 

[tm.smile]

QF704 CBR-SYD 10 July. No PB sign, but not much of a queue either when we came out the lounge.

QF 872 today - reasonable queue, no PB although they had 2 people checking boarding passes. Is PB actually still happening in Canberra?

Its not offered in Canberra.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Its not offered in Canberra.

Has been since late April - even saw it once .....

 

[Flying mermaid]

On a more positive note Qf842 syd-drw. Worked like a charm this morning. Came out of lounge huge queue in general boarding no-one in priority. Walked to the top of PB immediately called forward and processed.

 

[tm.smile]

Has been since late April - even saw it once .....

Officially on the Qantas website under Platinum Privileges, its only offered domestically:

* Available in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

 

[mickeyc747]

Officially on the Qantas website under Platinum Privileges, its only offered domestically:

We have it on the Gold Coast for our three flights a day.