Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[TonyHancock]

I would agree with this - from a couple of conversations I have had with staff, they see it as an irritation to them and are not committed to it.......

I'm not sure I would be either. There is likely to be a fair bit of conflict involved...continually sending non WP and non J pax to the end of a long queue when you are trying to get the plane boarded as quickly as possible. The alternative is to police the lines and train pax accordingly, but that would mean additional staff.

..........but VA manages it?

 

[QF WP]

I will be bringing up this issue at my meeting with the QF QLD RGM on Thursday.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I would agree with this - from a couple of conversations I have had with staff, they see it as an irritation to them and are not committed to it.......

Them irritating passengers, one sure way of ruining a good airline.

 

[JohnM]

Easy to fix: Here is my version of the training manual:
1. Make the sign large and so can be seen from anywhere in the line (not needing to be right up close and personal)
1A. Make a pre-boarding call and spell out it is a PRE-BOARDING announcement with details
2. Enforce it
3. Have ALL gate agents pull from the priority line until it is specifically cleared
4. When PB line is cleared, gate agents then clear normal line
5. If a PAX/s appears in PB line, then agents stop the general line and clear PB line
6. Rinse and repeat

But with self scan coming may be it is a moot point.

I've long said that the very poorly designed and implemented signage is a very large part of the problem. The tiny, spindly arrows and small text are graphically terrible.

 

[medhead]

I'd give up hope of self scanning. admittedly I don't know the timeframe of the trial but the self scanner at gate 2 syd was sidelined last Thursday night.

 

[power71]

Maybe a better idea would be have PB to the side of the departure gate rather than in front of the gate directly next to the general boarding queue.

Easy to fix: Here is my version of the training manual:
1. Make the sign large and so can be seen from anywhere in the line (not needing to be right up close and personal)
1A. Make a pre-boarding call and spell out it is a PRE-BOARDING announcement with details
2. Enforce it
3. Have ALL gate agents pull from the priority line until it is specifically cleared
4. When PB line is cleared, gate agents then clear normal line
5. If a PAX/s appears in PB line, then agents stop the general line and clear PB line
6. Rinse and repeat

But with self scan coming may be it is a moot point.

 

[serfty]

Maybe a better idea would be have PB to the side of the departure gate rather than in front of the gate directly next to the general boarding queue.

That's what VA have done with their refurbished gates at SYD T2! :idea:

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

PB worked today, BNE-SYD QF 513.
Everyone obeyed, the non PB line was long, PB was short, just had to wait behind Julia Bishop and her 2IC.

Also, there was a Qantas staff member in J, they behaved and acted like a normal person would

 

[btkw]

It works less than 25% of the time... at best..

 

[nlagalle]

After what was being reported as an improvement to this aspect of our service, I'm sorry to hear of these recent failures. I've noted these examples individually and will be passing them back as per our recently updated guidelines. Hopefully we can get back on the right track again.

I hope you do Red Roo.. I can report that i would class Mondays effort in ADL as a fail. the three people in front of me were a Bronze, Gold and a nothing... Please, have staff enforce the lane. as soon a the let them through it means they will continue to do it. Send them back to the normal lane, especially Golds who know better.

 

[ts911993]

Maybe they could just print PRIORITY on the boarding pass like AA do. Might take away a few of the people trying to sneak into the PB lane.

 

[Boogs]

Absolute WIN on QF650 PER-BNE. well done QF.
I boarded 5 mins after the call so boarding was well underway. Walked up to the gate and saw two long lines of pax. My heart sank. Then I realised two ques had formed in the non PB line!!

NOT ONE PERSON was in the PB lane!!!

Walked straight up and the FA saw me and when some non PB pax's still tried to push forward ignoring me she very politely but firmly said excuse me to the other pax's and scanned my card!

Very pleased with myself and QF.

 

[nonpop]

Send them back to the normal lane, especially Golds who know better.

Yesterday I took a straw poll of 3 Golds at the office (yes small sample size I know) ... specifically selected them as they fly International vs Domestic and mainly in whY. When I asked them if they get PB Internationally they responded "yes" then when I asked Domestic .. they responded with "yes, sure do". They probably fly 2 or 3 domestic (golden triangle inc OOL) per year mainly for leisure / family.

After some chatting I pointed out that domestic PB was OWE / WP only. They didn't believe it. Their view was "we get it international so why not domestic". I did show them the rules.

I was promptly directed to go back to smoking whatever it was I was smoking and I asked them if QF was to deny them PB domestic what would they do ... answer was they would make the switch (they are not loyal to the QFFP but do enjoy lounge / PB in whY especially for international).

Anyway, not a big sample, but was interesting to see their view of the world.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yesterday I took a straw poll of 3 Golds at the office (yes small sample size I know) ... specifically selected them as they fly International vs Domestic and mainly in whY. When I asked them if they get PB Internationally they responded "yes" then when I asked Domestic .. they responded with "yes, sure do". They probably fly 2 or 3 domestic (golden triangle inc OOL) per year mainly for leisure / family.

After some chatting I pointed out that domestic PB was OWE / WP only. They didn't believe it. Their view was "we get it international so why not domestic". I did show them the rules.

I was promptly directed to go back to smoking whatever it was I was smoking and I asked them if QF was to deny them PB domestic what would they do ... answer was they would make the switch (they are not loyal to the QFFP but do enjoy lounge / PB in whY especially for international).

Anyway, not a big sample, but was interesting to see their view of the world.

It's easy to understand why SG's think they get PB domestically when all the other QF signs at the airport allow them entry eg Premium Check in, Premium Security & Lounge access not to mention for QFi flights.

 

[k3nnis]

Does non QF OWS get premium security? I.e cx gold.

It's easy to understand why SG's think they get PB domestically when all the other QF signs at the airport allow them entry eg Premium Check in, Premium Security & Lounge access not to mention for QFi flights.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Does non QF OWS get premium security? I.e cx gold.

Apparently not: My oneworld tier status - oneworld.

 

[madrooster]

Apparently not: My oneworld tier status - oneworld.

This is in relation to priority security for international otherwise known as express path for Australian ports - it is not very well stated on the oneworld site. Domestic is up to the airline it seems - AA allows rubies, sapphires and emeralds to have priority, QF allows sapphires/emeralds.

Their view was "we get it international so why not domestic". I did show them the rules.

Given VA gives priority boarding to golds, why not QF for consistency (since golds get priority everything else). Then again I guess we know QF is known for inconsistency...

 

[tm.smile]

Given VA gives priority boarding to golds, why not QF for consistency (since golds get priority everything else). Then again I guess we know QF is known for inconsistency...

Qantas has far more golds than VA, the priority queue in some ports would be longer than the normal queue.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Given VA gives priority boarding to golds, why not QF for consistency (since golds get priority everything else). Then again I guess we know QF is known for inconsistency...

As I sit beside SGs in row 4 domestic Y, is no WP benefit sacred?

 

[TonyHancock]

QF1011 MEL-HBA 1st August 2013



Can the QF team spot why this might just lead to a failure of Premium Boarding?