Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[LiamR]

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.

They can't do what Virgin do?

Have either one or two people at the boarding gate scanning BPs, while having a Priority Boarding lane set up, and the Gate Agent stops helping others and assists a WP/Gold/Whoever else is important.

Or if they don't want to restructure, you can have one lane for Priority, one regular. And then when there is nobody in the Priority Lane. The gate agent can pull some people over from the other lane, and stop when a Priority Pax walks up.

Other airlines can get it right.

 

[Ewing]

Or if they don't want to restructure, you can have one lane for Priority, one regular. And then when there is nobody in the Priority Lane. The gate agent can pull some people over from the other lane, and stop when a Priority Pax walks up.

Other airlines can get it right.

That's what American do after the initial rush of priority pax, and again it works perfectly.

 

[nlagalle]

That's what American do after the initial rush of priority pax, and again it works perfectly.

And they have done it each time I have flown INT so why can't they do it DOM???

 

[djfuzz]

They can't do what Virgin do?

Have either one or two people at the boarding gate scanning BPs, while having a Priority Boarding lane set up, and the Gate Agent stops helping others and assists a WP/Gold/Whoever else is important.

Or if they don't want to restructure, you can have one lane for Priority, one regular. And then when there is nobody in the Priority Lane. The gate agent can pull some people over from the other lane, and stop when a Priority Pax walks up.

Other airlines can get it right.

As can QF itself!

For international flights and check-in - when the F/J/OWE/OWS priority queues are not being used, do they sit empty? Or do they call pax from the other queues through until someone else appears in the priority queue to keep the queues flowing as fast as possible?

I don't know what the reason is, but that particular reason seems to be about as much a cop out as the anytime access = overcrowding one. On the other hand, perhaps priority boarding is another reason why QFi is such a drag on QF's balance sheet.

 

[connieguy]

That's what American do after the initial rush of priority pax, and again it works perfectly.

As an engineer, to me, the answer is very simple and can be made operational at all boarding gates:

                           Aircraft
                              ^
                              ^ Single ground staff
Priority boarders >>>>>>>>>>>   BP scanner
                            * ^
                         *    ^
Movable tape Divider  *       ^
                   *       Standard
                *            Line
       << Priority sign

This is so easy to do and will totally eliminate cutting in the queue and delayed boarding if one BP scanner was dedicated to priority boarding.

 

[OverrideServlet]

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.

As others have suggested, there are competing airlines which can quite successfully run a priority & regular boarding lane. So, what we are asking for is not without precedent.

Also the current situation, with 2 lanes for all passengers, only results in a long queue on the bridge. It's not at all efficient and I don't believe it results in faster boarding times.

I hope everyone who agrees that the current implementation is bad has (or will) email qantas with this feedback. They need to know about it.

Seriously, WTF? How do I know I'm not pushing in front of someone who is also entitled to priority boarding?

 

[connieguy]

As others have suggested, there are competing airlines which can quite successfully run a priority & regular boarding lane. So, what we are asking for is not without precedent....I hope everyone who agrees that the current implementation is bad has (or will) email qantas with this feedback. They need to know about it....

They do know. I have emailed QF and PMed Red Roo.

"Hi Red Roo,

Can you please comment. The uncertainty about Domestic Priority Boarding has gone on long enough.

Does QF:

1) Offer Domestic "Priority Boarding" access to QF FFers and / or OW FFers? Here I mean walk up anytime, get your boarding pass / QF FFer card scanned and walk on the plane, even if there is a long line of boarding Paxs and only one ground staff scanning the BPs?

2) If so what QF / OW tier statuses are offered this Domestic "Priority Boarding" service?

3) If so and their is no clearly marked "Priority Boarding" channel, how does a FFer physically obtain the Priority Boarding access?

Thanks in advance."

24 June, Red Roo did reply saying Business, WPs and OW customers were invited to board first and that they were looking at the situation.

Since then they have modified the boarding announcement to align with the OW stated benefits saying:

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

And as I have related I have been told by ground staff that to gain this benefit I need to cut into the head of the waiting passenger boarding queue, which I have done. Worked twice and the 3rd time I was told to get to the back of the queue. I only did this when I was going OS and had a big coat, laptop bag and small suitcase that needed to get in the overhead bin as I was sitting in exit rows.

Now I either get to the gate early if I have lots to stow or stand in the queue or get there late and just walk onto the plane with annoyed stares from the ground staff and give them my suitcase, with WP NGCI tag clearly swinging to stow forward.

This is so stupid of QF as it is so easy to fix as I detailed earlier. Anyway from Aug I fly DJ domestically. Signed up for a DJ corp account and got 2 DJ Gold cards. At least DJ seem to appreciate the money I will now be spending with them and have given me anytime lounge access for myself and one other employee, for short business meetings, etc and priority boarding that works.

 

[serfty]

...
Sorry for the dots. See them as spaces. Forum SW eliminates multiple spaces. ...

Use [noparse]

 ...

[/NOPARSE] tags:

                           Aircraft
                              ^
                              ^ Single ground staff
Priority boarders >>>>>>>>    BP scanner
                            * ^
                         *    ^
Movable tape Divider  *       ^
                   *       Standard
                *            Line
       << Priority sign

 

[connieguy]

Use [noparse]

 ...

[/noparse] tags:

                           Aircraft
                              ^
                              ^ Single ground staff
Priority boarders >>>>>>>>    BP scanner
                            * ^
                         *    ^
Movable tape Divider  *       ^
                   *       Standard
                *            Line
       << Priority sign

Ah. Tks. I see said the blind mute to the deaf man.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Last night. BNE - SYD Call went out for J Class, WP's, SG's and OW equivalent's. Literally 100 stood up at once. 2 lanes only. QF did try. But in the end, did not work at all.

 

[serfty]

Last night. BNE - SYD Call went out for J Class, WP's, SG's and OW equivalent's. Literally 100 stood up at once. 2 lanes only. QF did try. But in the end, did not work at all.

But were they all eligible?

 

[medhead]

Sorry to say but I think this discussion is not worth having, anymore. Mainly because the OWS benefit extending this to SG means there are just too many people eligible. Not saying SG shouldn't get OWS benefits, just that it isn't an exclusive WP benefit as the website would suggest and that makes it too hard to implement.

But were they all eligible?

If the stood up, I would guess not as those with status would be in the lounge. Anyone coming from the lounge early to board are usually found standing around the start of the boarding lane.

 

[Danger]

Sorry to say but I think this discussion is not worth having, anymore. Mainly because the OWS benefit extending this to SG means there are just too many people eligible. Not saying SG shouldn't get OWS benefits, just that it isn't an exclusive WP benefit as the website would suggest and that makes it too hard to implement.

I disagree. The oneworld website refers to "Boarding at convenience". The Qantas website refers to "Priority boarding". Board at convenience and priority boarding are certainly not the same. To me, the former is most beneficial on international flights where an airline may, for example, call rows 35-50 first. A oneworld Sapphire or Emerald, seated outside of these rows, could then choose to board with that group. Priority boarding, by virtue of the word 'priority', suggests you will be in the first lot of passengers to board and will be given precedence over other passengers to do so.

 

[serfty]

... Anyone coming from the lounge early to board are usually found standing around the start of the boarding lane.

I resemble that ...


(I blame too much LOTFAP travel. )

 

[dfcatch]

Sorry to say but I think this discussion is not worth having, anymore. Mainly because the OWS benefit extending this to SG means there are just too many people eligible. Not saying SG shouldn't get OWS benefits, just that it isn't an exclusive WP benefit as the website would suggest and that makes it too hard to implement.



If the stood up, I would guess not as those with status would be in the lounge. Anyone coming from the lounge early to board are usually found standing around the start of the boarding lane.

Bottom Line - If AA, BA and DJ can do it - so can QF - all they have to do is...... Do It!

It's not difficult, it's simple, it's proven, they don't have to reinvent anything - and it meets the OW benefit obligations.

It's a no brainer - I really don't see why it's a problem.

 

[connieguy]

I disagree. The oneworld website refers to "Boarding at convenience". The Qantas website refers to "Priority boarding". Board at convenience and priority boarding are certainly not the same. To me, the former is most beneficial on international flights where an airline may, for example, call rows 35-50 first. A oneworld Sapphire or Emerald, seated outside of these rows, could then choose to board with that group. Priority boarding, by virtue of the word 'priority', suggests you will be in the first lot of passengers to board and will be given precedence over other passengers to do so.

Every boarding announcement I have heard in the last month has said Board at Convenience" which aligns with the OW requirement. Now all QF needs to do is use a Priority side feeding lane. No queue jumping or wasted BP scanner and staff dedicated to Priority boarding. That way everybody is happy. Well at least as happy as they can be about the boarding process.

All QF needs is a removable tape barrier and a sign like this, of which I'm sure they have plenty of:

                           Aircraft
                              ^
                              ^ Single ground staff
Priority boarders >>>>>>>>>>>   BP scanner
                            * ^
                         *    ^
Movable tape Divider  *       ^
                   *       Standard
                *            Line
       << Priority sign

I mean WHY is this SO HARD for QF to do?

Maybe we (the AFF) need to become proactive, have a "Gate Meeting" and create this setup, so to demonstrate to QF and ourselves that doing this is a no brainer. We could even invite AJ and the press. Now that would be fun! Then using our DJ Gold cards and guesting privileges, go to the DJ Lounge for a anytime access drink or 2!

 

[medhead]

I disagree. The oneworld website refers to "Boarding at convenience". The Qantas website refers to "Priority boarding". Board at convenience and priority boarding are certainly not the same. To me, the former is most beneficial on international flights where an airline may, for example, call rows 35-50 first. A oneworld Sapphire or Emerald, seated outside of these rows, could then choose to board with that group. Priority boarding, by virtue of the word 'priority', suggests you will be in the first lot of passengers to board and will be given precedence over other passengers to do so.

I certainly agree with you're analysis. It just seems that qantas either doesn't see the diference or lack the willingness to actually provide the benefit, or both. No matter how why Qantas is, and how poor their performance, I've given up. Personally they are probably just holding out until WP+++ comes in where priority boarding will no longer be a WP benefit. Besides DJ provide the benefit - even if that will be of less benefit as they get more golds/plats.

I resemble that ...


(I blame too much LOTFAP travel. )

As do I, the only way to deal with the situation. Nothing to be about, IMO.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

But were they all eligible?

Probably not, but l can't say for sure (I didn't recognise people from the lounge though). So many people cued up in an instant when that announcement was made, l ended up way back, with no priority cue either. Only 2 FA's scanning tickets.

 

[connieguy]

Probably not, but l can't say for sure (I didn't recognise people from the lounge though). So many people cued up in an instant when that announcement was made, l ended up way back, with no priority cue either. Only 2 FA's scanning tickets.

QF domestic are making money, so why would the accountant care about doing what they said they would do but are not doing? Hey maybe make QF international profitable by doing boarding like domestic does? Yup that would sure have an effect on the international bottom line. Anyone got some more RED ink?

Anyway DJ domestic for me. You lost my business there QF. Yeah I know so what? But as a new DJ current shifts the existing QF tides and the 7.8 million gains of sand on the QF beach start moving about in altered patterns, well anything could happen.

 

[connieguy]

This is now DJ does domestic "Boarding at Convenience":

1 ground staff.
1 BP scanner.
2 boarding pathways.

Why it it that DJ can provide this service and and QF can not or will not provide this service this despite saying their Elites can "Board at Convenience"?