Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Strategic Aviation]

I have seen it done perfectly all over the world, but it all seems to be too hard for Qantas.

And from a business perspective it's far wiser not to offer something that you can't deliver with any semblance of consistency or reliability. Especially if that something is simple to deliver, which will resultantly aggravate customers and undermine perceptions of your competence.

 

[Pushka]

Under promise and over deliver.

 

[calmelb]

Just boarded a QF flight out of CBR and overheard the gate agent/ flight attendant mention to the other ga “technically business is meant to board first but I usually just board everyone at once”

Seems like it’s not working because the crew don’t care about the system...

 

[Austman]

I didn't think CBR has ever had priority boarding. I've never seen it ...

 

[kermatu]

I didn't think CBR has ever had priority boarding. I've never seen it ...

I've seen the boards occasionally at gates 11 and 12, but randomly placed and only one agent seeing people anyway in my experience. Never gates 13 or 14. But in fairness they seem to be pretty quick in CBR.

 

[Austman]

Flights to MEL seem to leave from gates 13 or 14. I've never seen it over many years - and believe me, I look for it every time!

The lines can be LONG!

Maybe I'll be proved wrong next week!

 

[Flying mermaid]

I've seen the boards occasionally at gates 11 and 12, but randomly placed and only one agent seeing people anyway in my experience. Never gates 13 or 14. But in fairness they seem to be pretty quick in CBR.

I also have seen the boards in the days when I bothered looking for them, but rarely used. With so many flights being dash8s, so low numbers anyway, I don't find it an issue in Canberra.

 

[Austman]

It was, occasionally 767s, in CBR. But almost all of my flights (to MEL) have been 737s. And the lines have been humongous. And never a priority boarding sign in sight.

 

[kermatu]

It was, occasionally 767s, in CBR. But almost all of my flights (to MEL) have been 737s. And the lines have been humongous. And never a priority boarding sign in sight.

I just stay longer in the lounge. I have minimal carry-on so it's no big deal for me anymore. And now I've been in the CL a few more times this year I know I'm getting onboard just about last, with no queues and the door shut pretty much as I take my seat.

 

[Austman]

I just stay longer in the lounge. I have minimal carry-on so it's no big deal for me anymore. And now I've been in the CL a few more times this year I know I'm getting onboard just about last, with no queues and the door shut pretty much as I take my seat.

Sure.

But that has nothing to do with the issue of priority boarding.

 

[kermatu]

Sure.

But that has nothing to do with the issue of priority boarding.

True. But given that failure, it's a better way (for me, irrespective of lounge) to avoid any angst.

 

[katiebell]

True. But given that failure, it's a better way (for me, irrespective of lounge) to avoid any angst.

Isn't it better to fix the problem and do what is offered and promoted as a benefit? That way no one has to second guess what QF do or work around them. If you still want to stay in the lounge then that is then a personal choice and not one created by QF's inability to organise a booze up in a brewery (which is my impression of QF's premium boarding)

 

[Flying mermaid]

Isn't it better to fix the problem and do what is offered and promoted as a benefit? That way no one has to second guess what QF do or work around them. If you still want to stay in the lounge then that is then a personal choice and not one created by QF's inability to organise a booze up in a brewery (which is my impression of QF's premium boarding)

This thread is more than 6 years old and 400 pages long. At what point do you stop bashing your head against a brick wall and admit there is no desire to fix the problem......

 

[serfty]

Just had 15 flights with VA, DL & AA where priority boarding was enforced ... My 16th flight was with QF and the normal shambles occurred.

I have stated before in this thread that QF FA's doing the boarding basically don't want to enforce it.

 

[kermatu]

This thread is more than 6 years old and 400 pages long. At what point do you stop bashing your head against a brick wall and admit there is no desire to fix the problem......

Exactly. There's been countless feedback and, as noted just in recent posts, staff know it is a problem and actively contribute to it.

My posts noted it doesn't matter much to me. But by no means am I happy or complacent. If I can't put my carry-on under the seat in front (sometimes happens on the 717s or in 4C or 4D on a 737) I will get the staff to find a locker and retrieve my bag for me if it is not overhead (the price they pay for PB failure). What I can't help though is in the rare event I have a window seat and I will get to the gate on time - but sometimes have to disturb other pax who are already seated. Properly enforced priority boarding would help a lot in this regard.

 

[katiebell]

This thread is more than 6 years old and 400 pages long. At what point do you stop bashing your head against a brick wall and admit there is no desire to fix the problem......

If QF do not want to do PB properly then they should stop stating that it is available: either it is or it is not. Doing it well is not rocket science and it is not rare amongst other airlines.

QF should either get it right or not do it all.

 

[Flying mermaid]

If QF do not want to do PB properly then they should stop stating that it is available: either it is or it is not. Doing it well is not rocket science and it is not rare amongst other airlines.

QF should either get it right or not do it all.

given it has been done very badly for 6 years, Qantas clearly won't fix it, but like to say they have it. Not saying you are wrong in what you want, just don't think either of your scenarios will happen.

 

[kermatu]

And it does work sometimes so suspect it will stay like this for the foreseeable future.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
I have stated before in this thread that QF FA's doing the boarding basically don't want to enforce it.

Exactly. There's been countless feedback and, as noted just in recent posts, staff know it is a problem and actively contribute to it.<snip>.

Does anyone else here wonder if this is, if not a Union thing, then a deliberate FA push-back against being required to attend the boarding gate? That is, informally or in an organised campaign, they are "sabotaging" the priority boarding policy in a way to get management to get them away from the gate lounge and back on board the plane?

 

[kermatu]

Does anyone else here wonder if this is, if not a Union thing, then a deliberate FA push-back against being required to attend the boarding gate? That is, informally or in an organised campaign, they are "sabotaging" the priority boarding policy in a way to get management to get them away from the gate lounge and back on board the plane?

Personally I reckon it's two things. 1 - get people onboard asap (turning people away slows it down). 2 - why be "rude" / make waves with a pax who you are about to see on the plane. That's just my guess though.

If it's a campaign, they need a new strategy.