Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[samiam]

Shortly QF will some how be watching this more closely, the carry-on baggage and excess carry-on baggage.

Maybe they should pay closer attention to priority boarding while they are at it.

 

[TheInsider]

Maybe they should pay closer attention to priority boarding while they are at it.

I agree, but generally Australian's have an issue of being told what to do when it comes to that (compared to experiences in the US). For a passenger to be told "not yet" or "we haven't called your row", really gets them fired up, along with the rant about how they are entitled to board when ever they would like and that Virgin and Tiger let them board when ever, etc etc etc, blah blah blah .

Although telling people to move back would be the job of the cabin crew, as they are the ones boarding the a/c on domestic flights.

 

[TonyHancock]

I agree, but generally Australian's have an issue of being told what to do when it comes to that (compared to experiences in the US). For a passenger to be told "not yet" or "we haven't called your row", really gets them fired up, along with the rant about how they are entitled to board when ever they would like and that Virgin and Tiger let them board when ever, etc etc etc, blah blah blah .

Although telling people to move back would be the job of the cabin crew, as they are the ones boarding the a/c on domestic flights.

In that case it would be better for QF not to publish priority boarding as a benefit. That is my complaint. I am told priority boarding is a benefit, for WP's, but it simply does not exist on domestic flights.

Easy solution for QF! Just announce another enhancement Removal of something that doesn't exist!!!!

 

[munitalP]

I agree, but generally Australian's have an issue of being told what to do when it comes to that (compared to experiences in the US). For a passenger to be told "not yet" or "we haven't called your row", really gets them fired up, along with the rant about how they are entitled to board when ever they would like and that Virgin and Tiger let them board when ever, etc etc etc, blah blah blah .

Although telling people to move back would be the job of the cabin crew, as they are the ones boarding the a/c on domestic flights.

on the few occasions i have been involved with (as a pax) with priority boarding, i have not once heard the other pax complaining.

I have found many CSM's on QF flights in the last few years are a little out of touch :!:. I can happily say that considering my flight count in the last 3 years is > 300 flights.

munitalP

 

[TheInsider]

In that case it would be better for QF not to publish priority boarding as a benefit.

It also comes down to the announcement by the ground staff member.
Alot of the ground staff departing flights are very bitter and when they are advised there are changes (even in the announcements), they will not do them as they don't think it's good and doesn't benefit them to change their old ways.

This would all change if all staff members were able to go to different areas in the airport, instead of some staff being in the same area for 10 years +.

If you travel out of MEL T2 you will notice not one QF announcement will be along the new lines of 'Hello Everyone etc etc', it will just be made up on the spot with other words and language. Once again just comes down to the generally ex-ansett staff and staff who are past their used by date.
Not discussing on what is said, but just the general inconsistancy of things.

 

[TonyHancock]

It also comes down to the announcement by the ground staff member.
Alot of the ground staff departing flights are very bitter and when they are advised there are changes (even in the announcements), they will not do them as they don't think it's good and doesn't benefit them to change their old ways.

This would all change if all staff members were able to go to different areas in the airport, instead of some staff being in the same area for 10 years +.

If you travel out of MEL T2 you will notice not one QF announcement will be along the new lines of 'Hello Everyone etc etc', it will just be made up on the spot with other words and language. Once again just comes down to the generally ex-ansett staff and staff who are past their used by date.
Not discussing on what is said, but just the general inconsistancy of things.

As an outsider looking in I'd say QF management has to understand the need to empower it's staff. I'm a firm believer that in any business people development is everything, even more critical when dealing with the public is so important.

 

[Happy Trails]

Is it a published benefit for domestic flights?
This is all I can see on the website:

Board your flight at your convenience with priority boarding available on selected Qantas international flights�

 

[djfuzz]

Is it a published benefit for domestic flights?
This is all I can see on the website:

Board your flight at your convenience with priority boarding available on selected Qantas international flights�

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

Halfway down the page. Also included in various enhancement announcements.

@QFCSA - certainly take your point about the difficulty in practically managing something like priority boarding on Cityflyer milk runs. That's why it would need some care in implementation, or better not be advertised / offered at all.

 

[TonyHancock]

Is it a published benefit for domestic flights?
This is all I can see on the website:

Board your flight at your convenience with priority boarding available on selected Qantas international flights�

LOL

Looks like it has been enhanced! That is one way to deal with complaints that domestic priority boarding is not being enforced!!!!

Looks like hey need to get it out of the comparison table.

 

[medhead]

I agree, but generally Australian's have an issue of being told what to do when it comes to that (compared to experiences in the US). For a passenger to be told "not yet" or "we haven't called your row", really gets them fired up, along with the rant about how they are entitled to board when ever they would like and that Virgin and Tiger let them board when ever, etc etc etc, blah blah blah .

Except virgin do provide priority boarding and there are no complaints. If pax tell you virgin let them board whenever they are lying.

 

[OverrideServlet]

Shortly QF will some how be watching this more closely, the carry-on baggage and excess carry-on baggage.

I support this.

I also support giving jaded change-averse staff a kick in the cough.

QF should definitely offer priority boarding as a benefit for the higher tiers and they should be sending someone with a clipboard & checklist to each gate to mark/review the ground staff until they are consistently getting it right.

Get rid of the people who can't or won't do their job properly.

It's a benefit which costs next to nothing to implement and keeps the higher tiers feeling warm and fuzzy.

Priority boarding in my eyes means this: I can walk to the gate at any time after boarding has commenced and use a dedicated priority lane (which is well signed & rigorously policed). While the priority lane has people queueing in it the processing of the regular lane should stop until the priority queue is empty.

This is good for passengers entitled to priority boarding, no matter if they like to board early in the process or be the last passenger to board the plane.

Priority boarding is not just calling for J class & top tier passengers at the start of the boarding process. If this really is QFs implementation it's a truly horrible one.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Last 6 flights l have taken, ALL have had priority boarding called over the PA system. J, QF Plats + Golds, and any Oneworld equiv can board at any time.

 

[dfcatch]

I think that would be a good move. At the moment we seem to be edging closer to the US scenario where passengers appear to take their life possessions on board. :shock:

OT - but the issue of excess carry on baggage is totally the airlines' fault.

The reason QF is starting to have these issues more and more is a reflection of reduced checked baggage allowances, combined with a new mentality amongst pax which associates checked baggage with "fees".

Reduced allowances, other airlines such as JQ and DJ charging for bags, no more "tolerance" for being over the limit, and people or their friends being "once bitten" and stung with excess fees.

The problems in the US (at least in my experience with AA/UA), never existed before they started charging for checked baggage. Yes people try and take EVERYTHING on board now, but that's a reflection of the social response to checked bag fees.

Interesting to note that whilst AA charges for checked bags, they are very generous with the carry on allowance. Just shows that you can tighten carry-on, or you can tighten checked, but not both. (unless you want to seriously piss off your customers - which QF is of course quite good at).

On topic - priority boarding - if AA can do it, so should QF - it's as simple as that!

 

[TonyHancock]

The problems in the US (at least in my experience with AA/UA), never existed before they started charging for checked baggage. Yes people try and take EVERYTHING on board now, but that's a reflection of the social response to checked bag fees.

My experience goes back 15 years when I was living in the US. Baggage handling a DL was so poor bags missed connections routinely so carry on was the way to go. I think you are right though. Checked bag fees are behind the problem today.

On topic - priority boarding - if AA can do it, so should QF - it's as simple as that!

That's the way I see it too.

 

[Moopere]

Baggage handling a DL was so poor bags missed connections routinely so carry on was the way to go.

Definitely this was a problem, also handlers or more probably screeners, stealing from baggage was a widespread urban legend that had more then a bit of truth to it.

As for priority boarding. Easy as pie to do and many airlines do it really well. You just have to show some leadership and unwaveringly enforce your policy ... the PAX fall into line with almost no problems at all. The problems with grumbling pax in this scenario are almost always to do with ambiguity and weakness (of the gate staff).

 

[connieguy]

...Priority boarding in my eyes means this: I can walk to the gate at any time after boarding has commenced and use a dedicated priority lane (which is well signed & rigorously policed). While the priority lane has people queueing in it the processing of the regular lane should stop until the priority queue is empty.

There needs to be a sign clearly indicating Priority Boarding. Without that, if anyone tried to walk to the head of the queue, they would be told by other Paxs to get back to the end. Would need, in my opinion, 2 ground staff to run the boarding as anyone walking to the head of the queue, even with a Priority Boarding sign, and taking away the one ground staff from the normal Pax queue could also cause problems. So it seems to me to be a cost issue of using 1 ground staff to run the boarding process. 2 would cost more and that is why, I suggest, there is no Priority Boarding.

Interesting that JQ now SELL priority boarding as a add on. More testing of the water for future QF "Enhancements"??

 

[TonyHancock]

Interesting that JQ now SELL priority boarding as a add on. More testing of the water for future QF "Enhancements"??

That is a very good point. I noticed last week at NTL the ground staff called the paid for priority boarding well in advance of general boarding. It was called twice and people who did not have paid priority were turned away.

 

[JohnK]

As an outsider looking in I'd say QF management has to understand the need to empower it's staff.

Sorry to say it but you are expecting something from someone who is not capable of understanding. The higher you go the worse it gets.

Last 6 flights l have taken, ALL have had priority boarding called over the PA system. J, QF Plats + Golds, and any Oneworld equiv can board at any time.

Luckily I am never around to hear these announcements on domestic flights.

 

[anchew]

Luckily I am never around to hear these announcements on domestic flights.

+1

I've never heard priority boarding be called - never been there early enough. Actually, I get a little annoyed if I get to the gate and there's a huge line, even though I leave the lounge then final call is announced.

 

[OverrideServlet]

There needs to be a sign clearly indicating Priority Boarding.

Yes, absolutely. The red LED displays currently used by QF are very easy to miss and not at all a good example of clear & obvious signage.

American Airlines has the following signage at eye level. It's really hard to miss and passengers seem to rarely find themselves in the wrong queue.

Would need, in my opinion, 2 ground staff to run the boarding as anyone walking to the head of the queue, even with a Priority Boarding sign, and taking away the one ground staff from the normal Pax queue could also cause problems. So it seems to me to be a cost issue of using 1 ground staff to run the boarding process. 2 would cost more and that is why, I suggest, there is no Priority Boarding.

A 2 lane boarding system can definitely be handled by 1 ground staff. Other airlines do this all the time (again, American Airlines). They will simply ask the passengers in the regular lane to wait a moment while they invite anyone standing in the priority queue to come forward.

Also, for what it's worth some QF domestic flights do have 2 crew scanning boarding passes.