Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Robert K]

Guess they could put dividers up in the overhead bins so everyone gets allocated storage space then there wouldn't be a problem.

Why should a passenger who's paid for a seat on the same plane have to put their belonging where their foot goes just because other people feel the need to bring a lot more onto the plane?

 

[dfcatch]

Guess they could put dividers up in the overhead bins so everyone gets allocated storage space then there wouldn't be a problem.

Why should a passenger who's paid for a seat on the same plane have to put their belonging where their foot goes just because other people feel the need to bring a lot more onto the plane?

You are more than entitled to put your jacket in the overhead locker. But as overhead space is a premium, if you choose to use the locker rather than under the seat in front - then you should, as a matter of courtesy, wait until bulkier rollaboards are loaded - and then place your jacket on top or in front of said rollaboards.

This has the added benefit of ensuring your jacket isn't crushed or moved by others.

IMHO - it's just common sense - not to mention common courtesy.

In the US - this procedure is actually enforced by the FA's. And if overhead space is running low - they will enforce that smaller carry-ons are placed under the seat in front.

 

[cwphoto]

That may be your norm but it's not mine. I'm entitled to use the overhead bins for my items, jacket included.

Not if you're also carrying-on a full size roller-case and taking up double the room you're not..

 

[LiamR]

You are more than entitled to put your jacket in the overhead locker. But as overhead space is a premium, if you choose to use the locker rather than under the seat in front - then you should, as a matter of courtesy, wait until bulkier rollaboards are loaded - and then place your jacket on top or in front of said rollaboards.

This has the added benefit of ensuring your jacket isn't crushed or moved by others.

IMHO - it's just common sense - not to mention common courtesy.

In the US - this procedure is actually enforced by the FA's. And if overhead space is running low - they will enforce that smaller carry-ons are placed under the seat in front.

This is exactley what I do. I usually wear a jacket as I board and then, as the doors are closed (or it's obvious that everybody is onboard and we are about to leave) I take it off and put it in the overhead compartment. This means nobody else will move it or crush it. Much easier.

This obviously only works if you are in an aisle seat. Otherwise it becomes a mess.

 

[cwphoto]

Why should a passenger who's paid for a seat on the same plane have to put their belonging where their foot goes just because other people feel the need to bring a lot more onto the plane?

Re-read my post and it should make sense. I'm referring to those that bring a large hand-piece (typical roller case) plus a jumper/hat/hand-bag/laptop/camera bag/suit-bag whatever and expect to have all in the overheads - so that the rest of us with one item have no-where to stow.

 

[Robert K]

Re-read my post and it should make sense. I'm referring to those that bring a large hand-piece (typical roller case) plus a jumper/hat/hand-bag/laptop/camera bag/suit-bag whatever and expect to have all in the overheads - so that the rest of us with one item have no-where to stow.

We're on the same side!

 

[dfcatch]

If I don't need my rollaboard I'll quite often just use my Targa backpack which I can stow under the seat (great for row 4), and then I don't have to risk not having room above

 

[nonpop]

On 2 recent Syd - Mel return flights I saw a few pax complaining of "getting wet" by something dripping from the overhead bins. Both times it was something in a overhead bag that was leaking (due to pressure changes). One was so bad that the jackets that were above were rather damp along with laptop bags etc. It turned out to be mum & dad with baby (seats A & B on a B737). The pax in the isle seat C noticed he was getting dripped on. He was in business shirt and suite ... but then looked like he had spilled something down his front. And it was a early AM flight so he was just starting his day.

All the crew could do was grab paper towels and start to clean it up as best as possible.

Having seen that now I fold my jacket on my lap but fold it inside out so the lining is showing vs the outside fabric.

 

[MelUser]

MEL to SYD this morning at 7am .No reference to priority boarding - in fact they asked for Rows 35-?

As I was in J I boarded first which on the A330 makes sense as with 2 doors - the forward door only goes to the business cabin.

Heard the 7am MEL to BNE flight being called - again they asked for rows 15-30 and no reference to elites.

Jetstar flight was called and they did invite those with PRIORITY (or whatever it is called) on their boarding passes to board whenever they wished.

I think the QF training for priority boarding has a long way to go!

 

[Moopere]

As far as stowing jackets goes - if we're talking about something more than just a 'hoodie' I always ask one of the FA's to hang it for me when I board. This way it doesn't get crumpled and filthy ... never thought to roll up my suit jacket and shove it under the seat (ha!).

Having now heard the tale of leaking god-knows-what in the storage bins, theres no way on earth I'd think of stowing jackets in them.

 

[samh004]

As far as stowing jackets goes - if we're talking about something more than just a 'hoodie' I always ask one of the FA's to hang it for me when I board. This way it doesn't get crumpled and filthy ... never thought to roll up my suit jacket and shove it under the seat (ha!).

Having now heard the tale of leaking god-knows-what in the storage bins, theres no way on earth I'd think of stowing jackets in them.

While that may work in J, I've often found them unwilling to hang a jacket if I'm in Y, even in the first row. On a 767 though this can be a moot point with the locker being right there, and easily accessible by the first few rows (in the mini cabin). Now I'm not saying all Y pax should get the same benefit, but it'd be nice, space permitting, for the elites up front.

 

[Robert K]

While that may work in J, I've often found them unwilling to hang a jacket if I'm in Y, even in the first row. On a 767 though this can be a moot point with the locker being right there, and easily accessible by the first few rows (in the mini cabin). Now I'm not saying all Y pax should get the same benefit, but it'd be nice, space permitting, for the elites up front.

shhhhh. thats one of the secret WP1 benefits!

 

[Jobu]

I always have 2 carry-ons which go straight into the overhead bins, and jacket into the cupboard. It's clear though that if everyone took their full entitlement of carry-on luggage on board, there wouldn't be enough room.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Lets have a look at what the published benefits are;

=From the oneworld website=

View attachment 3211

oneworld - Qantas


=From the QF website=

View attachment 3212
View attachment 3213

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges - Status Privileges



And from another section of the QF website...

View attachment 3216

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Platinum Benefits


And there we have it folks.

 

[Moopere]

[removed, I can't seem to post a full post - AFF is freezing on me]

 

[Danger]

Lets have a look at what the published benefits are;

. . .

And there we have it folks.

Sorry, Oneworldplus2. What is your point here?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Sorry, Oneworldplus2. What is your point here?

I thought that l'd just put it all in one post, so that everyone could see where the benefits are published, with pictures and links.

On top of that...l'm a pictures type of guy. When it is all placed in front of me, l can now see (and other AFF members too l hope), clearly that QF is offering a published benefit, and failing to act on it. It happened before my eyes in BKK on QF002 a few weeks ago where QF Platinums and Golds were denied priority boarding. I saw a few turned away.

 

[Danger]

I thought that l'd just put it all in one post, so that everyone could see where the benefits are published, with pictures and links.

On top of that...l'm a pictures type of guy. When it is all placed in front of me, l can now see (and other AFF members too l hope), clearly that QF is offering a published benefit, and failing to act on it. It happened before my eyes in BKK on QF002 a few weeks ago where QF Platinums and Golds were denied priority boarding. I saw a few turned away.

Ahhh, very good. Understood.

 

[connieguy]

I thought that l'd just put it all in one post, so that everyone could see where the benefits are published, with pictures and links.

On top of that...l'm a pictures type of guy. When it is all placed in front of me, l can now see (and other AFF members too l hope), clearly that QF is offering a published benefit, and failing to act on it. It happened before my eyes in BKK on QF002 a few weeks ago where QF Platinums and Golds were denied priority boarding. I saw a few turned away.

On my last 2 QF domestic flights, this week in fact, the PA in Adl and Mel very clearly said:

"Qantas would like to invite Business, Platinum, Gold, OW Emerald and Sapphire customers to board at their convenience".

I then went to the desk, not to the TWO BP scanning stations that were in action and asked how, as a WP, was I to do that? I was told to just come to the head of the line and have my card of BP scanned. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: I then asked why one of the 2 BP scanners in action could not be used to do that instead of cutting into the queue? The answer as initially a blank stare. Then I was told "We have no instructions to do that", she added she thought it would slow down boarding if one line was just for that.

So now it appears we may have the reason why QF will not dedicate a boarding line. It would slow down boarding by reducing the normal BP scanning process from 2 to 1 scanner.

 

[MatF]

The salient point for me is that being "invited to board at my convenience", as the OneWorld and QF benefits wording above states, is one thing. I'm often given the invitation to board at my convenience on domestic flights, though it's by no means consistent (consistently inconsistent in fact, though it does seem to be getting better.)

It's another thing all together, however, to be provided with a mechanism by which to actually get on board at my convenience, without having to form a flying wedge and plough through the queue of people already there, which as we know, forms well before any boarding calls are made. It's all a bit uncivilised for me, and I don't normally feel like that's something I'd want to do.

A separate boarding area (subdivide the gate, etc) is the only answer IMHO.


EDIT: ^^ what he said.