Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Mr_Orange]

QF 546 from SYD to BNE, gate 12, was another success. Maybe QF are finally getting their act together......

 

[nlagalle]

Fail here on Monday MEL-BNE QF604

PB lane was a free for all.. Complaint sent in too..

 

[mrpooky]

Success in PER last Thursday on QF598.

Mega-fail in BNE this morning on QF589: boarding call not made until two roughly equal lines had formed, then most people in the PB lane stayed there even though a number of them shouldn't have. FA scanning BPs in the PB lane say anything to any of the 'non-premium' PAX in this lane.

It still seems very hit-and-miss.

mrpooky.

 

[mr_pb]

I don't really frequent with DOM travel but I agree with y'all, it's very hit and miss. Did a weekend MEL-SYD a few weeks ago, everyone was such in a rush to get on board & ignored priority lines, ground staff telling them off but boarding them regardless. I don't really give a toss - went from gate to seat in under 90 seconds anyways - but it'd be nice if QF really did enforce the lines like they do in Intl.

 

[Newk]

QF756. ADL to SYD.
long queue. No attempt at priority boarding. Sign left in the corner all alone.

 

[nlagalle]

Last night BNE-MEL

Big PB sign on one side and the smaller sides pointing the other way...

I have them a serve on the phone yesterday about how poor it was.. Apparently a "review" is still happening!

 

[Ansett]

Last night BNE-MEL

Big PB sign on one side and the smaller sides pointing the other way...

I have them a serve on the phone yesterday about how poor it was.. Apparently a "review" is still happening!

REVIEW a review of what????

 

[defurax]

I've recently witnessed how two other airlines I rarely fly with enforce priority boarding:

LA uses the "holding pen" technique for "cattle sorting" in which three parallel holding areas are cordoned off (row 1 to X, row X to last row and J/Status Pax), they only process J/status pax first and when the lane is empty they then proceed to open the other lanes.

AF uses the "public humiliation" technique in which the airline employee ridicules, lectures and yells at the non-status pax trying to board at the same time as J/Gold pax, somewhat effective, but can lead to grandiose arguments...it's a cultural thing I guess...:mrgreen:

 

[QF WP]

Either of these options could be used by QF, however the former is ultimately more successful as a business model in Australia. Of course, the non-status pax would complain...

 

[codash1099]

The length of the PB line sometimes amazes me. If they are all entitled to priority, then the whole thing is of little value.

However if, as I suspect, many are interlopers, and QF is unwilling to shame them, then the only remedy I can see is to use the AA method of calling priority passengers to board first.

 

[lovestotravel]

The length of the PB line sometimes amazes me. If they are all entitled to priority, then the whole thing is of little value.

Hence no PB at CBR.....

 

[gogo419]

QF568 PER-SYD yesterday. Gate 14. Everything setup perfectly and a huge line snaking back 50+ metres. 10 people in priority. Don't know if they were entitled to it however?

currently sitting at SYD gate 11 QF583. Flight back to Perth is already 1.5hrs late. Should be interesting to see what happens when they call us. I'm going to wait and watch the start. There is a big priority boarding sign on both sides!!! WTF! So I am preparing for an epic fail. Plus the fact that people just want to get on board as it's getting late!

1st Edit: first call made for elderly and others needing extra assistance. The huge queue has formed... Will they avoid priority?

 

[aupirate]

keep us informed

 

[pjm99au]

Was first in the queue so it worked perfectly for me . QF580 from Perth had a medical emergency diversion to Melbourne hence what looks like being a 2 hour delay. Won't get into Perth until about 2.30 am Sydney time

 

[gogo419]

keep us informed

I will call it a success! However. I have no idea how people managed to stay in one line. The second big sign (for gate next door) was more prominent than the actual one for our gate... Any whom. I know a few plebs snuck through that shouldn't have and weren't denied. Managed to make a last second seat change to snag a spare seat. Wouldn't call it a shadow as I had to hunt all night for it..

captain in is telling me to switch off!

 

[mickeyc747]

I will call it a success! However. I have no idea how people managed to stay in one line. The second big sign (for gate next door) was more prominent than the actual one for our gate... Any whom. I know a few plebs snuck through that shouldn't have and weren't denied. Managed to make a last second seat change to snag a spare seat. Wouldn't call it a shadow as I had to hunt all night for it..

captain in is telling me to switch off!

Happy Flighting

 

[mrpooky]

I've flown out of Adelaide a few times in the last couple of months and PB seems to work well there. I've flown out of Melbourne twice in the last four months and both times it's been a fail.

(Hmmm, I'm quoting myself; is that bad form?)

Another Adelaide success. QF662 ADL -> BNE last week (30th October): I arrived after boarding had started and walked to the front of the PB queue, past the very long 'normal' boarding line. Only one FA was scanning, and she motioned me forward straight away, before returning to scanning PAX from the other queue.

I was very impressed. That's exactly how it should work. I only wish I'd noted her name so that I could let Red Roo know.

mrpooky.

 

[CaviAck]

(Hmmm, I'm quoting myself; is that bad form?)

Another Adelaide success. QF662 ADL -> BNE last week (30th October): I arrived after boarding had started and walked to the front of the PB queue, past the very long 'normal' boarding line. Only one FA was scanning, and she motioned me forward straight away, before returning to scanning PAX from the other queue.

I was very impressed. That's exactly how it should work. I only wish I'd noted her name so that I could let Red Roo know.

mrpooky.

Note the flight and airport you were leaving from and it wouldn't be too hard for Red Roo to track her down. I mean there are only so many FA's on that flight doing the scanning

 

[aupirate]

Boarding a VA flight last week there was only about 8 pax in the line as the boarding had commenced sometime earlier. The FA made a remark to the passenger in front of me which I didn`t quite hear. He then said to me "another status passenger in the normal queue" I just smiled, sometimes, although generally I hate queueing I`m happy to go with the flow if the lineup isn`t great.

 

[DrA]

QF925 CNS-SYD was a free for all. No priority boarding was even attempted, not even the usual signs were up indicating priority boarding or general boarding lines.