Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Austman]

As has been reported many times on AFF, QF Priority Boarding has never been offered in CBR. And I've never seen it over many years, countless flights, many times of day... But maybe I'm blind. But I do always look for it!

 

[Flying mermaid]

As has been reported many times on AFF, QF Priority Boarding has never been offered in CBR. And I've never seen it over many years, countless flights, many times of day... But maybe I'm blind. But I do always look for it!

Well Qantas say they do....

Domestic Business Class | Qantas

I don't remember the big boards they have in the big smoke, but they used to have small (and I mean small) boards with arrows that they moved around, although generally they were hidden and not used....it has been years since I even bothered to look for them

 

[Austman]

Well Qantas say they do.... Domestic Business Class | Qantas I don't remember the big boards they have in the big smoke, but they used to have small (and I mean small) boards with arrows that they moved around, although generally they were hidden and not used....it has been years since I even bothered to look for them

Yes I know they say they do - it's just I've never seen them. But I've seen LOTs of long queues. And there are AFF reports that claim PB was never going to work in CBR due to too many status pax. Oh well, I'll have another go this week.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes I know they say they do - it's just I've never seen them. But I've seen LOTs of long queues. And there are AFF reports that claim PB was never going to work in CBR due to too many status pax. Oh well, I'll have another go this week.

clearly you like bashing your head against brick walls

 

[kermatu]

As I stated earlier I've seen the boards. But it is rare, and now I too don't look out for them.

It is a while back (maybe 2 years) travelling with 3 or 4 non-status colleagues so didn't bother accessing any lounges. At the gate the announcement was the usual "invite our business customers and QF P1, WP...(etc) to board on the left hand side". Trouble was with no lanes, or indeed any FA or agent standing on the left hand side, it was kind of irrelevant!

I think what QF needs but for whatever reason won't do is simple. Three ropes/dividers creating two lanes, at least 10 pax long, clear board plus announcement at gate, with a staff member at the entrance checking eligibility. If the extra staff member is the problem (cost) then simply insist the priority lane agent turn people away at the gate if not eligible. I have watched this latter scenario three times in international ports this past month (one of which was QF) and it is amazing how quickly people get the message "this lane is not for me".

 

[Austman]

clearly you like bashing your head against brick walls

Haha - I mean to try to see if there are any PB signs. I'm betting no. I might even ask the staff about it out of interest.

 

[RooFlyer]

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.

I'd agree about 2). Not sure about 1) The choke point seems to be at the plane door ... No matter how fast or slow they go through the gate lounge door, there's always a queue at the plane door, after the first 10 pax or so. PB just decides who is at the front of THAT queue.

 

[serfty]

I reckon it's mainly this:

... 2 - why be "rude" / make waves with a pax who you are about to see on the plane. That's just my guess though.
...

 

[Pushka]

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.

Would it? I don't see how. We usually take aisle seats and board with priority.

 

[Pleb Status]

On my last dom sector, a couple of pax were ejected from the VA PB queue. They appeared to take it pretty well however as they were laughing when they undertook the 'walk of shame' back to join the end of the GB line (which is a long way in PER). From memory, I do not recall anyone ejected from the VA PB line making much of a fuss about their rejection.

So it would appear from the VA PB experience that the excuse about the FA not wanting to be 'rude' is not a valid one. There are far more DYWIA types that fly QF however which may make enforcement more difficult.

 

[Mr_Orange]

PB just decides who is at the front of THAT queue.

This.


extra.....

 

[TonyHancock]

The vast majority of my domestic flights are with VA these days* but every now and then I finish up on a domestic QF sector, typically when I have arrived on BA15 or am departing on BA16. My most recent experience, last week, demonstrated that nothing had changed. As the call for those eligible for PB was made a staff member was busy processing the non PB lane.

I have said many times that I don't care if QF offers PB or not but it remains disingenuous to continue to advertise it as a benefit when there is absolutely no intent to provide it. There is no shame in admitting that the complex process of PB is beyond the capabilities of staff and management.

As I travel HLO I know that I need to join the PB or non PB queue about 10 mins before boarding.

*worryingly this is likely to change as I begin the burn of my BA Avios on domestic J travel with QF. :shock:

 

[love_the_life]

....

As I travel HLO I know that I need to join the PB or non PB queue about 10 mins before boarding.

But that's 10 minutes of possible martini time you will never get back. :shock:
Oh I forgot, it's domestic, so G&T time then.

 

[Pleb Status]

Although PB on QF is an absolute failure, I would still keep the current system over no PB at all.

The alternative is one big line....

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I'd agree about 2). Not sure about 1) The choke point seems to be at the plane door ... No matter how fast or slow they go through the gate lounge door, there's always a queue at the plane door, after the first 10 pax or so. PB just decides who is at the front of THAT queue.

If boarding is through one aerobridge and one door, yes.
If it's an A330 and they are using two doors and two aerobridges, no.
At least not for L1!

 

[kermatu]

Would it? I don't see how. We usually take aisle seats and board with priority.

If there is a pax boarding later in the window seat, don't you then have to get up? I acknowledge this isn't a PB issue though.

 

[kermatu]

I'd agree about 2). Not sure about 1) The choke point seems to be at the plane door ... No matter how fast or slow they go through the gate lounge door, there's always a queue at the plane door, after the first 10 pax or so. PB just decides who is at the front of THAT queue.

True, although different if boarding through 2 doors, and there's a procedure they go through once all pax have cleared the gate so even if there are still passengers on the aerobridge this can be done and save a minute or so.

As an aside, even though I have status, if I am flying Y and there are two doors I will always line up in the Y queue. I don't want to walk through J and see what I am missing, even if it saves me 60 seconds in a queue. I also think it disrupts the J pax and crew. Different if you can easily cross-over, but that's not always the case.

 

[Pushka]

If there is a pax boarding later in the window seat, don't you then have to get up? I acknowledge this isn't a PB issue though.

Of course. But that's the deal with boarding early.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I've personally done a reasonable amount of QF flights (not vast quantities) but have never had any issues with PB at any port on the east coast or Adelaide.

Now being based out of London, I'm a semi-regular BA flyer and I think the issue comes with having 2 different boarding lanes. BA basically just have the one access to the gate so people sit around the gates and wait until they are called they may mull around a bit but BA rope off the actual boarding pass scanning area to an extent and often go through the PB queue starting to form to turn others around which allows a channel of genuine PB passengers to flow through quite quickly. I think BA's breakdown of PB into Club World/Europe and Gold card is also a good idea especially in light of BA silver and bronzes having PB access. With QF having these two different, often ambiguously signed, lanes its very easy for people to get confused and start the non PB lane prematurely.

I echo the above sentiments that despite the reports of it not always occurring, it should definitely remain as I would rather risk it than having a situation akin to a Ryanair/Easyjet stampede

 

[TonyHancock]

BA basically just have the one access to the gate so people sit around the gates and wait until they are called they may mull around a bit but BA rope off the actual boarding pass scanning area to an extent and often go through the PB queue starting to form to turn others around which allows a channel of genuine PB passengers to flow through quite quickly. I think BA's breakdown of PB into Club World/Europe and Gold card is also a good idea especially in light of BA silver and bronzes having PB access. With QF having these two different, often ambiguously signed, lanes its very easy for people to get confused and start the non PB lane prematurely.

BA Priority Boarding from T5A is nothing short of awful. The process was changed a couple of years ago so that Club and Gold Card Holders are called first, but the announcements vary from gate to gate. There is a dedicated PB lane but a line has typically already formed consisting of Gold, Silver, Bronze and Club Europe Pax.....and their guests. Consequently one doesn't know whether there are Golds or Club Europe passengers in front. To be fair BA, Unlike QF, does at least use all of the scanners to process the PB line initially.

The only improvement for me of late has been on the LHR-SVG route which next to nobody flies these days* so PB is all but assured.

It is not so bad from the B and C gates which are predominantly long haul and have multiple scanners.

*BA is dropping this route from the end of October. and that other bastion of the ex EU B2B - BGO.