Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[nlagalle]

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.

OK point there.. also a twin aisle aircraft is going to have little to no queue.

Also i question how good Priority boarding is on a MEL-SYD flight during peak? It's more of who isn't a status pax!! so it defeats the purpose!

 

[connieguy]

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?

Even with twin aerobridges and twin aisle aircraft you can get congestion as you board the aircraft. What the subject of this thread has always been about is the BP scanning process and having a priority lane to allow eligible FFers to get access to the BP scanner faster than standing at the back of the queue.

Same as:

Priority Seating
Priority Check-in
Priority Baggage
Priority Security
Priority Customs
Priority Immigration
Lounge access
Priority Boarding

All part of one process, designed to make the curb to aircraft seat process as quick as possible and to grant eligible FFers access to fast track pathways.

Priority Boarding is not a single event but was designed to be part of the entire curb to aircraft seat process. The issue is QF have broken the chain in not delivering on the Priority Boarding event, despite saying they do.

 

[ozmille]

waiting to have their boarding passes scanned.

Or waiting to get their boarding pass out of their backpack :shock: :shock: :shock: it is not that hard, if you go to board you need your boarding pass :!:

rant over, happy again

 

[connieguy]

OK point there.. also a twin aisle aircraft is going to have little to no queue.

Also i question how good Priority boarding is on a MEL-SYD flight during peak? It's more of who isn't a status pax!! so it defeats the purpose!

Seems to work OK for DJ. The point is it is a stated benefit and QF are not delivering it.

 

[nlagalle]

Even with twin aerobridges and twin aisle aircraft you can get congestion as you board the aircraft. What the subject of this thread has always been about is the BP scanning process and having a priority lane to allow eligible FFers to get access to the BP scanner faster than standing at the back of the queue.


Priority Boarding is not a single event but was designed to be part of the entire curb to aircraft seat process. The issue is QF have broken the chain in not delivering on the Priority Boarding event, despite saying they do.

Sorry but the only time I have seen congfestion getting onto an aircraft is on a 737 or any single aisle. I've never been caught waiting on an aerobridge boarding an A330 or 767. And again on most of my flights, there would be more status pax than non, so it defeats the purpose!

Don't get me wrong, in some ports and routes it is a boon, but on most that I take, it wouldn't be worth it due to the number of SG's and WP's on board..

 

[awilcockson]

Or waiting to get their boarding pass out of their backpack :shock: :shock: :shock: it is not that hard, if you go to board you need your boarding pass :!:

rant over, happy again

I was originally going to say something along those lines, but didn't want to give anyone to start throwing the "W in WP" line back at me

 

[djfuzz]

Sorry but the only time I have seen congfestion getting onto an aircraft is on a 737 or any single aisle. I've never been caught waiting on an aerobridge boarding an A330 or 767. And again on most of my flights, there would be more status pax than non, so it defeats the purpose!

Agreed.

Don't get me wrong, in some ports and routes it is a boon, but on most that I take, it wouldn't be worth it due to the number of SG's and WP's on board..

I think the point here is that priority boarding is not being implemented even in circumstances where it would make more sense, let alone across the board. It would be one thing for QF to say that priority boarding is only being implemented where two aerobridges are available, but even in those cases one or both doors are labelled 'Business/Economy' - in other words, there is no priority boarding, only 'boarding at your convenience' which, as has been gone into more than enough above, is not even close to the same thing.

While it may be really really really really really really really annoying to keep hearing about it, this was absolutely not being taken seriously by QF until gowatson, simongr, OverrideServlet, medhead and Danger did their respective things and even now, the only response has been a shrug-off 'wait and see' when days continue to pass and an advertised benefit continues not to be delivered - which would appear to misleading, in the very least, if not deceptive.

QF had no problem copping the negativity they were dished out here when they removed Anytime Access - if they really didn't want to go to the trouble of delivering this, then they should simply get rid of it and be done. At the very least, they'd not be at risk of a trade practices breach, and the value proposition between them and their competitors would be a little bit more transparent.

 

[medhead]

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.

I'll refer you to clause 3.2a) of the QFF T&C. Implemented or not, it is a published benefit. Removal would limit benefits and hence requires 6 months notice to remove. Otherwise they have not followed the T&C and that is a whole other world of hurt.

 

[pshepvic]

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?

Most of the time there is very little queue on DJ once on the bridge, because they also use the rear stairs. I haven't had to queue behind more than about 5-10 people.

 

[medhead]

While it may be really really really really really really really annoying to keep hearing about it, this was absolutely not being taken seriously by QF until gowatson, simongr and OverrideServlet did their respective things and even now, the only response has been a shrug-off 'wait and see' when days continue to pass and an advertised benefit continues not to be delivered - which would appear to misleading, in the very least, if not deceptive.

I'm not sure if I should be upset or just accept the reality that my campaign on priority boarding has been ineffective. Certainly the 3 people mentioned have done an exceptional job at bringing this issue to the fore.

At least my latest whinge on the FB page got a "we're looking at it" instead of the previous "we do that already". Gotta say I was very annoyed about a SG, according to luggage tag, pushing in front of me on Monday morning. Might have to send some feedback

 

[djfuzz]

I'm not sure if I should be upset or just accept the reality that my campaign on priority boarding has been ineffective. Certainly the 3 people mentioned have done an exceptional job at bringing this issue to the fore.

Corrected above, my apologies!

 

[medhead]

Corrected above, my apologies!

Oh come on don't pander to my ego.

Of course, I sincerely mean that those guys have done an exceptional job. I started on this subject but have been worn down by the corporate inaction.

 

[LiamR]

OK point there.. also a twin aisle aircraft is going to have little to no queue.

Also i question how good Priority boarding is on a MEL-SYD flight during peak? It's more of who isn't a status pax!! so it defeats the purpose!

Well, status pax know what to do, and will be much more efficient in boarding, as well as spreading boarding over a 5-10 min period should ensure you can still 'Walk up and go'

This is compared to non-status pax (I am stereotyping here) who need to fumble, not sure what is happening, and all want to get on first, making a large queue.

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?

Virgin board via the front and rear doors, I rarely have to queue on the aero bridge/stairs. Obviously this will be different for Qantas.

 

[nlagalle]

Well, status pax know what to do, and will be much more efficient in boarding, as well as spreading boarding over a 5-10 min period should ensure you can still 'Walk up and go'

This is compared to non-status pax (I am stereotyping here) who need to fumble, not sure what is happening, and all want to get on first, making a large queue.

yes but they still need to board and my point was with so many status flyers on that flight, the priority queue will probably be the longest.

As I said there are cases where it may not be as efficient. That's a prime example as it is a flight with a high ratio of status pax.

Virgin board via the front and rear doors, I rarely have to queue on the aero bridge/stairs. Obviously this will be different for Qantas.

Forgot about the rear doors.. hate to be doing that in the rain!

 

[medhead]

yes but they still need to board and my point was with so many status flyers on that flight, the priority queue will probably be the longest.

Herein lies the problem with the current qantas response of giving pre-boarding priority to WP/OWE and SG/OWS. The qantas website clearly says that domestic priority boarding is a benefit for WP only. There is the short line.

We can argue about OW benefits but the gist of other posts seems to be that OW status offers board at convenience. Something that seems to be different from priority boarding.

 

[mark299]

Herein lies the problem with the current qantas response of giving pre-boarding priority to WP/OWE and SG/OWS. The qantas website clearly says that domestic priority boarding is a benefit for WP only. There is the short line.

We can argue about OW benefits but the gist of other posts seems to be that OW status offers board at convenience. Something that seems to be different from priority boarding.

Yes. You are correct. Priority boarding is a stated benefit only for WP. I am not very interested in the board at your convinience offered by OW. I request the Qantas Rep to provide some more clarification on this topic and how they are addressing this. Also, we need clear definition and difference between Priority Boarding, Boarding at convinience and any other variation.

 

[Simo]

I know we are talking about priority boarding but you know IMHO priority getting off the plane would be better....

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I know we are talking about priority boarding but you know IMHO priority getting off the plane would be better....

...and priority luggage...

 

[connieguy]

I know we are talking about priority boarding but you know IMHO priority getting off the plane would be better....

Yup and that is where Priority Seat Selection comes into play. Then Priority Immigrations, Priority Customs and Priority Baggage gets you to the curb and out of the airport fast.

It is all part of a curb to curb Priority chain, except QF seems to think they can withhold / not implement the Domestic Priority Boarding link of the chain, despite saying it is there on their web site. They have done nothing about this, except for lip service, for at least 6 months that I know of. It took DJ less than 1 month to roll out Domestic Priority Boarding. For QF this is a disgusting and really bad example of how to ignore a stated benefit and ever worst how to spin doctor those who call them out on their failure to deliver.

 

[greenfish]

Playing the devil's advocate, surely priority boarding for WP in particular will slow aircraft departures? Given that we're typically at the front and are more likely to be hand-carry baggage only, we effectively completely block the aisle towards the front of a 737. The real goal is to get people "down the back" as quickly as possible for an on-time departure. This never seems to work as I've never seen any enforcement of the "by row number" boarding announcements (when they're made).

I also hate sitting on the plane when I could still be in the lounge; the only thing that gets me on early is to get overhead bin access. What I'd like is some platinum only overhead bins, and a lounge announcement timed to let me waltz onto the plane from the lounge once the queue to board has died down...