Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[CaviAck]

I think all the boarding in the US is done by ground staff as with the 1:50 F/A to pax ratio there would only be 3 F/A's on a 738 who all need to be onboard to oversee the carry on debacle.

But I agree, they do have a 'take no prisoners' attitude to not just boarding but other aspects of customer service which we may not necessarily want to see on our shores.

In Australia it's a CASA requirement on 738's that three cabin crew members must be on the aircraft at all times during the boarding process.

There are 4 F/A's on a QF 738, CSM + 3 others. From what I've seen it's the FA that does the safety briefing for the exit row pax and stands at the front of the Y cabin doing the general safety demo that does the scanning at the gate, they may or may not be later on joined by ground crew. Of course this is only what I've seen and could be way off the general mark.

 

[serfty]

There are 4 F/A's on a QF 738, CSM + 3 others. From what I've seen it's the FA that does the safety briefing for the exit row pax and stands at the front of the Y cabin doing the general safety demo that does the scanning at the gate, they may or may not be later on joined by ground crew. Of course this is only what I've seen and could be way off the general mark.

Yes - 3 on the aircraft and 1 scanning the BP's at the reader.

 

[medhead]

QF740 1 December ADL-SYD Gold QFF not turned back, passengers boarded from non-premium line in preference to premium boarding passengers (even if they were the said Gold QFF). Yes, I do know they were a gold QFF, by both their bag tag and their boarding pass.

Time for qantas to give up.

 

[ashleyn]

I hate it when the none PB pax all just hang around so the PB pax can't even get through.

 

[roncritch]

Yes - 3 on the aircraft and 1 scanning the BP's at the reader.

On all KTA-PER-KTA 738 flights they always send 2 FA's to scan..... loading is mostly more efficient than interstate flights. We never get priority lanes though

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On all KTA-PER-KTA 738 flights they always send 2 FA's to scan..... loading is mostly more efficient than interstate flights. We never get priority lanes though

It will depend whether there's 5 or 4 cabin crew as to how many do the boarding.

Five cabin crew = 2 F/A's doing boarding so with four cc only one F/A will board.

It's apparently a CASA requirement that 3 cabin crew must remain on the aircraft when passengers are boarding or on board the a/c.

 

[ashleyn]

It's both, I fear .

Also a fair number of newbie flyers who aren't even aware of the concept and hence don't see/read the signs or if they do don't really understand.

 

[Quickstatus]

Time to enforce carryon rules and board in zones. Enforcement at checkin and at gate using the carryon size frame. Bags that don't fit have to go to gate counter and line up for gate check + fee

 

[Willy]

It'd be a rush to the non-PB lane in KTA if PB was implemented.

On all KTA-PER-KTA 738 flights they always send 2 FA's to scan..... loading is mostly more efficient than interstate flights. We never get priority lanes though

 

[BD1959]

QF740 1 December ADL-SYD Gold QFF not turned back

Except .... and I thought I misheard at ADL a couple of weeks ago, but I heard the same announcement at SYD today as I was walking passed a gate ....

"Business Class and Qantas Platinum and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire passengers can board using the Priority lane at any time ..."

This is in direct contradiction of the signage which definitely only has the OW emerald oval on the PB lane signs.

RR: what is happening here? Have QF changed ("enhanced") the boarding rules for the Priority lane?

Regards,

BD

 

[medhead]

Except .... and I thought I misheard at ADL a couple of weeks ago, but I heard the same announcement at SYD today as I was walking passed a gate ....

"Business Class and Qantas Platinum and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire passengers can board using the Priority lane at any time ..."

This is in direct contradiction of the signage which definitely only has the OW emerald oval on the PB lane signs.

RR: what is happening here? Have QF changed ("enhanced") the boarding rules for the Priority lane?

Regards,

BD

There was no announcement in this case. But agreed the differences between gold and OWS are subtle.

 

[TheInsider]

Nothing has changed regarding boarding announcements. It' purely staff cant be bothered reading the correct announcements they are given. This has been happening for years and local management dont care about it.

 

[tuapekastar]

MEL-PER-MEL recently, and PB seemed to work perfectly in both directions (i.e. long general boarding queue, versus extremely short PB queue).

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Bit off topic but...just boarded and flew St Louis to Dallas.
Boarding by priority access (First and Emerald) and then by zones makes it quite simple.

Also like the way AA actually tells people they are wrong and they need to wait to board, think of the options the passenger has in the US, yet they feel compelled to pull them up and have a go, sweet. Qantas should not fear the competition, pull up those that are boarding incorrectly and let them know, if they go to the competition, then let them go. Airlines are really good at copying each other, plenty of examples within Oneworld for Qantas to emulate.

Cheers
BF

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Bit off topic but...just boarded and flew St Louis to Dallas. Boarding by priority access (First and Emerald) and then by zones makes it quite simple.

Also like the way AA actually tells people they are wrong and they need to wait to board, think of the options the passenger has in the US, yet they feel compelled to pull them up and have a go, sweet.

Cheers
BF

What makes it easier is when the zones or groups are printed in bold type face on your boarding pass so if you're in boarding group 5 & they're boarding group 1 it's a black and white issue which will override even the best DYKWIA dummy spit.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Bit off topic but...just boarded and flew St Louis to Dallas.
Boarding by priority access (First and Emerald) and then by zones makes it quite simple.

Also like the way AA actually tells people they are wrong and they need to wait to board, think of the options the passenger has in the US, yet they feel compelled to pull them up and have a go, sweet. Qantas should not fear the competition, pull up those that are boarding incorrectly and let them know, if they go to the competition, then let them go. Airlines are really good at copying each other, plenty of examples within Oneworld for Qantas to emulate.

Cheers
BF

The differences in approach highlight cultural differences. LOTFAB need to be herded more and its is monre control centric. We have a more casual appreaoch to matters, reflected in the lesser enforcement regime.

Interesting point you have made.

 

[Buzzard]

Except .... and I thought I misheard at ADL a couple of weeks ago, but I heard the same announcement at SYD today as I was walking passed a gate ....

"Business Class and Qantas Platinum and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire passengers can board using the Priority lane at any time ..."

This is in direct contradiction of the signage which definitely only has the OW emerald oval on the PB lane signs.

RR: what is happening here? Have QF changed ("enhanced") the boarding rules for the Priority lane?

Regards,

BD

Hope so - +1 and I are both Gold

 

[Pleb Status]

Interesting change in BNE today.

 

[defurax]

Interesting change in BNE today.

View attachment 38596

Just flew MEL-SYD and saw the exact same sign. Maybe the number of WP is dwindling post MASA removal.

 

[danny09]

That is really poxy! Sorry but i don't think SG's should be in premium boarding lanes.

Very disappointing QF!

Redroo care to share any info on this "enhancement"