Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[eminere]

I do hope you made a spelling mistake and meant to write 'turning ineligible people away',

No, unfortunately they were turning eligible people away, ie Gold passengers.

 

[njba]

The great Qantas consistency in action.

 

[OzEire]

MEL this morning PB was in action, signposted, separate roped off lines but no apparent enforcement, I was at least pleasantly surprised to see the effort being made.

However this particular crew were strictly stopping and tagging all "second" carry-on bags, with a long winded explanation to every pax. PB pax were the worst offenders, so any slight gain from PB was wiped away by this added delay.

Crew told one pax that they were in an exit row and must put all bags in the overhead. Then went on auto and tagged their backpack saying "you must put this one under the seat"... = Confused pax.

 

[Quickstatus]

MEL this morning PB was in action, signposted, separate roped off lines but no apparent enforcement, I was at least pleasantly surprised to see the effort being made.

However this particular crew were strictly stopping and tagging all "second" carry-on bags, with a long winded explanation to every pax. PB pax were the worst offenders, so any slight gain from PB was wiped away by this added delay.

Crew told one pax that they were in an exit row and must put all bags in the overhead. Then went on auto and tagged their backpack saying "you must put this one under the seat"... = Confused pax.

Airlines only have themselves to blame re carry on luggage. The regulations are already stipulated in the ticket. Just enforce the rules. Easy

 

[TheInsider]

Airlines only have themselves to blame re carry on luggage. The regulations are already stipulated in the ticket. Just enforce the rules. Easy

Absolutely enforce the rules, but you'll find the majority of Qantas cabin crew (who do the boarding) won't tell the passengers to check-in their bags at the gate, they keep on letting them through.

 

[medhead]

MEL this morning PB was in action, signposted, separate roped off lines but no apparent enforcement, I was at least pleasantly surprised to see the effort being made.

However this particular crew were strictly stopping and tagging all "second" carry-on bags, with a long winded explanation to every pax. PB pax were the worst offenders, so any slight gain from PB was wiped away by this added delay.

Crew told one pax that they were in an exit row and must put all bags in the overhead. Then went on auto and tagged their backpack saying "you must put this one under the seat"... = Confused pax.

I keep one of the red tags in the pocket of my second bag. When they go to give me a tag, I pull it out and say here's one I prepared earlier. A little effort at recycling. Also saves on holding up the PB line.

CSM specifically asked me to put my second bag under the seat this week as the flight was full, so I jammed it into the little space in front of 4D. Then we took off with plenty of room for that bag in the overhead above 4D.

Airlines only have themselves to blame re carry on luggage. The regulations are already stipulated in the ticket. Just enforce the rules. Easy

My carry on luggage is well within the limits. that doesn't stop me getting a red tag on the second bag. Also doesn't make much difference to giving exit row pax confusing instructions.

 

[Pleb Status]

I keep one of the red tags in the pocket of my second bag. When they go to give me a tag, I pull it out and say here's one I prepared earlier. A little effort at recycling. Also saves on holding up the PB line.

CSM specifically asked me to put my second bag under the seat this week as the flight was full, so I jammed it into the little space in front of 4D. Then we took off with plenty of room for that bag in the overhead above 4D.

My carry on luggage is well within the limits. that doesn't stop me getting a red tag on the second bag. Also doesn't make much difference to given exit row pax confusing instructions.

The red tag issue is just another reason not to fly QF in Y. I have not seen anything like this on a non-LCC elsewhere in the world. Last time I flew QF in Y, I was sitting at a bulkhead and given the tag which was completely pointless. They were giving them out even though the flight was far from full.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have not seen anything like this on a non-LCC elsewhere in the world.

BA has a yellow tag for exactly the same purpose.

 

[Pleb Status]

BA has a yellow tag for exactly the same purpose.

I stand corrected. I try to avoid BA in Y more than QF...

 

[Katie]

Flew three QF domestic sectors over the weekend for the Buzz Barossa tour.
Sat middayish BNE-SYD. Excellent PB, Gate 23 IIRC. Regular line had a right angle to the left, so quite distinct boarding queues.
Sat afternoon SYD-ADL. Can't recall, too busy chatting with Jojen. Think we all walked straight into the PB line.
Monday middayish ADL-BNE. Schemozzle. One FA scanning, older people from the regular queue and Miss Back Row Window seat pushed in in front of us. Despite the announcements that Business and status pax were boarding first, everyone just shoved through and no-one was stopped. Minimal clear sections for queuing.

 

[PaulST]

Has anyone else noted that OOL and BNE seem to police PB better than elsewhere? Maybe it's a QLD thing?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Has anyone else noted that OOL and BNE seem to police PB better than elsewhere? Maybe it's a QLD thing?

Can't speak for OOL but BNE is still hit and miss. I have had some of the best experiences in BNE however, with a staff member standing at the entrance checking eligibility. SYD staff couldn't give a rat's a$$.

 

[medhead]

Monday middayish ADL-BNE. Schemozzle. One FA scanning, older people from the regular queue and Miss Back Row Window seat pushed in in front of us. Despite the announcements that Business and status pax were boarding first, everyone just shoved through and no-one was stopped. Minimal clear sections for queuing.

The good old people's republic of Adelaide. You've experienced what annoys me greatly about PB - ADL.

 

[Milefest]

Can't speak for OOL but BNE is still hit and miss. I have had some of the best experiences in BNE however, with a staff member standing at the entrance checking eligibility. SYD staff couldn't give a rat's a$$.

It really depends, constantly seeing NBs in the PB queue, not sure whether they're oblivious or not but they're very rarely turned back at any airport I've been to.

 

[PaulST]

It really depends, constantly seeing NBs in the PB queue, not sure whether they're oblivious or not but they're very rarely turned back at any airport I've been to.

I had an interesting experience at OOL two weekends ago. Quite a few people were already lined up in both lane and then they announced that J and status pax were to use the one on the left. A whole group of people in front of me looked at their BP and moved over to the right lane thus allowing my to walk almost to the front. I suspect the people in front of me were still in the wrong lane and completely oblivious but at least some people know the rules (since we can't trust QF to enforce their own policies...)

 

[blackcat20]

The good old people's republic of Adelaide. You've experienced what annoys me greatly about PB - ADL.

They had the lanes set up properly on Sunday so that people were in the correct queue. But when pax one in the PB lane had issues with his boarding pass our line halted while all the plebs kept boarding. That's where QF don't understand the word priority. The general agent should serve PB pax ahead of general pax.

 

[katiebell]

They had the lanes set up properly on Sunday so that people were in the correct queue. But when pax one in the PB lane had issues with his boarding pass our line halted while all the plebs kept boarding. That's where QF don't understand the word priority. The general agent should serve PB pax ahead of general pax.

QFi can manage so surely QFd can look and learn.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

They just need more staff at the gates, rather then one or two or three, should be a roving one or a problem solving one, ...
But to be profitable, AJ would not have all this.

 

[medhead]

QFi can manage so surely QFd can look and learn.

At ADL they can just wander down to the VA end to look and learn. Occasionally a VA flight departs at the QF end, no need to walk - just look and learn.

They just need more staff at the gates, rather then one or two or three, should be a roving one or a problem solving one, ...
But to be profitable, AJ would not have all this.

It's all about training the customer. VA do it consistently well without any extra staff. And Qantas could as well if they wanted to do so.

 

[serfty]

...
Crew told one pax that they were in an exit row and must put all bags in the overhead. Then went on auto and tagged their backpack saying "you must put this one under the seat"... = Confused pax.

Considering that on most domestic jet services Qantas permit two 105cm bags up to 7kg each as carry-on, neither of which would likely fit under the seat in front I am wondering how they would cope.