Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[simongr]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

Has anyone seen the latest "priority tag"? A black dot, resembling the OW logo, about the size of a 10c piece printed on your luggage label with the word "priority" written through the middle?? Yeah right!!

You do know that the priority bags for domestic flights is driven by the bar code and not by some visual clue don't you? Or do facts not help your argument?

 

[UP4014]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

No I'm not angry at all. Just frustrated that QF says they provide Domestic Priority Boarding, yet do not and when questioned many times about this issue all I get is something like "We are looking at that".

I mean please, does this also include intentionally listing this as a WP benefit and then intentionally not delivering the benefit?

To me it is simple. Either deliver the benefit or remove the benefit from the QF web site. There is no "we looking into this" as QF either know exactly what they are doing (they put the benefit on their web site) or if not then they are either incompetent or intentionally not delivering the benefit, which is actually a bigger worry.

I've certainly had priority boarding on QF Dom, but it's certainly no benefit, I much prefer getting on last and not having people push past me.

What's the benefit of getting on first, so you can sit there the longest. :shock:

Can't believe this thread has run to 48 pages.

Back to sleep now......ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzz

Matt

 

[goldy]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

You do know that the priority bags for domestic flights is driven by the bar code and not by some visual clue don't you? Or do facts not help your argument?

Whilst i did not mention it, that trip was MEL-SYD-DFW-MIA. If it is driven by the bar code, would you care to explain why qantas persist with the yellow First and pink Business tags and why all the bags come out at the other end in no priority order??

And why bother to print it on the tag at all if it serves no purpose?

Do you honestly expect me to believe that a baggage handler scans every piece of luggage, until he finds all the priority ones and only then loads the non priority bags onto the belt? Unlikely.
It seems to me, they get dumped onto the belt in roughly the order from which they are unloaded from the aircraft and they are loaded onto the aircraft roughly in the order in which they were checked in!

IME, there is no such thing as priority luggage unless you fly international First, and your bags dont actually appear on the belt, but are already waiting for you in a roped off "priority bag" area!

 

[ozmille]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

It seems to me, they get dumped onto the belt in roughly the order from which they are unloaded from the aircraft and they are loaded onto the aircraft roughly in the order in which they were checked in!

IME, there is no such thing as priority luggage unless you fly international First, and your bags dont actually appear on the belt, but are already waiting for you in a roped off "priority bag" area!

I used to work at the airport in my younger days and the way it was done (in Europe) is that the priority bags get loaded in a different compartment of the hold. That compartment was supposed to be emptied first and driven to the baggage hall first whilst they were starting to unload the rest of the bags. Not sure how it happens here though...

 

[TheInsider]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

I've certainly had priority boarding on QF Dom, but it's certainly no benefit, I much prefer getting on last and not having people push past me.
What's the benefit of getting on first, so you can sit there the longest. :shock:

The general reason i get when i speak to people, is so 'others can see them'. Also have been told it's due to cabin baggage.

As for the answer Redroo has provided, it could be as simple as they were unaware of it, and now have to plan a way to re-train staff and try other methods of working the system properly.

 

[Lawlass]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

I've certainly had priority boarding on QF Dom, but it's certainly no benefit, I much prefer getting on last and not having people push past me.

What's the benefit of getting on first, so you can sit there the longest. :shock:

Priority boarding only ever matters to me if I need to put stuff in the overhead lockers. Otherwise I wait until the queue is completely gone and am one of the last to board.

 

[TheInsider]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

Whilst i did not mention it, that trip was MEL-SYD-DFW-MIA. If it is driven by the bar code, would you care to explain why qantas persist with the yellow First and pink Business tags and why all the bags come out at the other end in no priority order??

Because AA isn't QF, and priority baggage isn't a OW benefit. So AA baggage people couldn't care less about a QF tag.

For the bag tag, the print on it is when you have an international connection. The international bag tags do not print the 'circle' ir 'square' on them due to having different equipment.

Do you honestly expect me to believe that a baggage handler scans every piece of luggage, until he finds all the priority ones and only then loads the non priority bags onto the belt? Unlikely.

They actually scan every peice of luggage that goes onto the plane container or otherwise.
But yes there are different areas and compartments for different luggage 'status'.

 

[TheInsider]

As for the q-bag tags, when they end up in the baggage room and going around in circles, they have TV screens saying where it should be loaded into.

 

[nlagalle]

IMO priority boarding only works well when there are two aerobridges and/or twin aisle aircraft.

The amount of times I have scanned at the gate then had to wait in the queue to get on the plane!! I'd rather wait til the very end to board!

 

[simongr]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

Whilst i did not mention it, that trip was MEL-SYD-DFW-MIA. If it is driven by the bar code, would you care to explain why qantas persist with the yellow First and pink Business tags and why all the bags come out at the other end in no priority order??

Do you honestly expect me to believe that a baggage handler scans every piece of luggage, until he finds all the priority ones and only then loads the non priority bags onto the belt? Unlikely.
It seems to me, they get dumped onto the belt in roughly the order from which they are unloaded from the aircraft and they are loaded onto the aircraft roughly in the order in which they were checked in!

IME, there is no such thing as priority luggage unless you fly international First, and your bags dont actually appear on the belt, but are already waiting for you in a roped off "priority bag" area!

For international flights they cant use the same process as they do domestically as they can't control how bags are unloaded at the other end - hence having to use the tags - seriously are you being obtuse or trolling?

The general reason i get when i speak to people, is so 'others can see them'. Also have been told it's due to cabin baggage.

As for the answer Redroo has provided, it could be as simple as they were unaware of it, and now have to plan a way to re-train staff and try other methods of working the system properly.

On the first point - I board early so as to be able to get everything squared away in the overhead and organised for the flight. If flying int'l it is again to get established, coat taken and a glass of champers in my hand.

I agree on the second point (and I made this earlier) they obviously hadn't been pressed for this and only when they got a website pushed in their face have they now considered the benefit.

 

[OverrideServlet]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

The general reason i get when i speak to people, is so 'others can see them'.

What people do you get this from?

People who are wanting this benefit to be implemented?

Or, people who are (or hopefully will be) responsible for implementing it?

I hate to re-heat old soup, but getting on last is not priority boarding. It's just "late" boarding with a decent chance you'll have nowhere to stow your bag.

I hope to change this to a "Yes" soon.

qantaspriorityboarding.com

 

[mark299]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

Please, they intentionally put the benefit on their web site. If you assume they do know what they are doing then their lack of delivery of the benefit is also intentional.

I can't believe that people are finding fault with what gowatson had to say.

Qantas may be investigating a way forward, but they should in the interim remove that benefit, if it is not provided and inform all the members in that status. Acknowledging that they know about the issue, and still not inform or correct the error is not very good.

I dont know about most people, but we definitely pay and travel enough to get to a Platinum status, and if a benefit that is stated is not provided; i believe we have every right to get frustrated.

 

[medhead]

I can't believe that people are finding fault with what gowatson had to say.

Qantas may be investigating a way forward, but they should in the interim remove that benefit, if it is not provided and inform all the members in that status. Acknowledging that they know about the issue, and still not inform or correct the error is not very good.

I dont know about most people, but we definitely pay and travel enough to get to a Platinum status, and if a benefit that is stated is not provided; i believe we have every right to get frustrated.

Look I totally agree with the message. But I'm not sure I agree with the ernest way it was expressed.

I would also suggest they may not be able to remove a benefit as to do so may require 6 months notice. Note I haven't explicit checked that just putting it out as a reason why the website may not be changed.

 

[connieguy]

IMO priority boarding only works well when there are two aerobridges and/or twin aisle aircraft.

The amount of times I have scanned at the gate then had to wait in the queue to get on the plane!! I'd rather wait til the very end to board!

DJ don't seem to have any problems with the process, despite not having 2 aerobridges or twin aisle aircraft:



I have used it and it works fine with 2 boarding lanes, 1 ground staff, 1 BP scanner and it does not delay boarding.

 

[nlagalle]

DJ don't seem to have any problems with the process, despite not having 2 aerobridges or twin aisle aircraft:


I have used it and it works fine with 2 boarding lanes, 1 ground staff, 1 BP scanner and it does not delay boarding.

How about a photo past the gate and on the aerobridge to get onto the plane (which is what i was referring to). You cannot tell me you just wander straight on and sit down?

 

[connieguy]

I would also suggest they may not be able to remove a benefit as to do so may require 6 months notice. Note I haven't explicit checked that just putting it out as a reason why the website may not be changed.

Qantas have never implemented the benefit despite putting it on their web site, so taking it away would not need any notice. Why Qantas would state this benefit and then not implement it is the mystery.

 

[mark299]

How about a photo past the gate and on the aerobridge to get onto the plane (which is what i was referring to). You cannot tell me you just wander straight on and sit down?

Agree. It will only work properly, if you have two aerobridges. Or they will have to call the priority customers first and then call the rest of them to board.

 

[simongr]

Re: Building a stronger Qantas

I can't believe that people are finding fault with what gowatson had to say.

gowatson asked a question, was given a response and then asked the same question over and over again in quite a stern manner that was not really required. The answer the benefit is being investigated - I dont think bold italics is going to change the response.

 

[simongr]

DJ don't seem to have any problems with the process, despite not having 2 aerobridges or twin aisle aircraft:

View attachment 3454

I have used it and it works fine with 2 boarding lanes, 1 ground staff, 1 BP scanner and it does not delay boarding.

How about a photo past the gate and on the aerobridge to get onto the plane (which is what i was referring to). You cannot tell me you just wander straight on and sit down?

Agree. It will only work properly, if you have two aerobridges. Or they will have to call the priority customers first and then call the rest of them to board.

I don't agree re the two aero bridges - I have had priority boarding in SYD int'l with one aerobridge and boarded ok - just not domestically.

I think though that at least I would then skip past half the queue and be stuck in the aerobridge ahead of a lot of people.

 

[awilcockson]

Agree. It will only work properly, if you have two aerobridges. Or they will have to call the priority customers first and then call the rest of them to board.

Why?

AA use this system (two queues, one aerobridge) and it works fine. Sure, you have to join the queue in the aerobridge, but in the mean time you've dodged the 200 people in the non priority queue waiting to have their boarding passes scanned.