Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[samiam]

The priority boarding at PER Gate 14 today for QF802 to MEL

It appears, my good mod, that we were on the same flight

I almost took the same picture - lucky you were around to do so

 

[markis10]

It appears, my good mod, that we were on the same flight

I almost took the same picture - lucky you were around to do so

Mods do get around . Priority queues are a funny thing, I had two instances yesterday where people were unhappy that I was served first despite them being in the normal line, one cantankerous old lady was most insistent she had priority because she had been waiting long enough, the check in crew put her in her place! Nonetheless I felt awkward despite not doing anything other than enjoy my privileges!

 

[QF WP]

Sorry I missed you then, but I have referenced you in the FAMOUS PEOPLE thread, so consider yourself (in)famous.

It appears, my good mod, that we were on the same flight

I almost took the same picture - lucky you were around to do so

I missed getting the two separate lines though, was rushed in my camera shot.

 

[goldy]

I don't think you need scanners to determine priority boarding IMHO, just a pair of eyes, it works perfectly well with AA. It's also usually obvious to them if it's a family group

That is a perfectly acceptable solution.... the only downside is that THEY DONT DO IT!!!!!

To be honest, i dont really care what/how they do it, wether its the gate agent, the scanner, or some other method, but if you advertise it, provide it!

for some reason, we humans are not the smartest of creatures in that if a machine/computer says "no" we accept it, but when a human says "no" we ask why not?.

Only concern I see with scanners determining priority boarding is the varying status levels within my travel group. IE. On leisure with fam. 1 x WP, 1x SG, 1x PS (child) etc. I'm sure it can be addressed, but still needs a human touch. Something I always want anyway to differentiate from bus/train/jetstar travel.

The system could be configured to accommodate "valid" BP's, meaning that if someone is travelling with you, on the same RECLOC or linked bookings, it would then be eligible.

I dont see why this is so difficult. Any "roadblock", like your suggestion of different entitlements etc, is easily overcome. Qantas operate some of the most advanced machines man has ever built and yet they cant seem to implement an effective priority boarding system, that in its most simplest form, as stated by Princess Fiona, only requires a pair of eyes.

 

[oz_mark]

That is a perfectly acceptable solution.... the only downside is that THEY DONT DO IT!!!!!

To be honest, i dont really care what/how they do it, wether its the gate agent, the scanner, or some other method, but if you advertise it, provide it!

So what's wrong with the PA Announcement/Barge in method?

 

[goldy]

So what's wrong with the PA Announcement/Barge in method?

If it works... nothing. But IMO, it doesn't.

Mods do get around . Priority queues are a funny thing, I had two instances yesterday where people were unhappy that I was served first despite them being in the normal line, one cantankerous old lady was most insistent she had priority because she had been waiting long enough, the check in crew put her in her place! Nonetheless I felt awkward despite not doing anything other than enjoy my privileges!

I think the important thing to remember is that people need to be educated about how things work. Making the process more official, a la Virgin, with signage and dedicated "lanes" would go a long way in helping those poor, awful non status members in understanding that we are superior and therefore get special treatment! (please note the sarcasm!!)

 

[Red Roo]

Hi everyone,

I promised that as soon as I had a concrete update, I would share it with you all. To be honest, I do not think it is what you are looking for but we are listening to all the issues and it is a start.

In Sydney over the next few weeks we wil be trying out a number of different priority boarding options to see which works best (without getting into all the detail, it is not quite as easy as just putting up a sign). After this we are looking at rolling out to all other airports ASAP.

As you all seem to travel quite a bit, do let me know if you have any feedback.

Cheers,
Red Roo

 

[chrizzz14]

Hi everyone,

I promised that as soon as I had a concrete update, I would share it with you all. To be honest, I do not think it is what you are looking for but we are listening to all the issues and it is a start.

In Sydney over the next few weeks we wil be trying out a number of different priority boarding options to see which works best (without getting into all the detail, it is not quite as easy as just putting up a sign). After this we are looking at rolling out to all other airports ASAP.

As you all seem to travel quite a bit, do let me know if you have any feedback.

Cheers,
Red Roo

Dear Humble Listening Roo Roo

Umm mind explaining why its not quite as easy as just putting up a sign???

like previously discussed Virgin Do it, just about every full service airline in the US do it, as do most in Europe!!! One line for business/platinum the other for the rest!!

i think its pathetic that we pay (for example) $1,200 for a Business seat MEL-BNE and have to que to get on the aircraft. On a recent flight last weekend there was absolutely no mention from ground crew to allow business passengers to board first - it was just we're now boarding as if its a single class aircraft!

Lazy i think!!!

So simple answer from Roo Roo would be appreciated - why is it so hard to have one line for Business/Plat PAX and one for Economy? There are in most cases two ground crew staff working at a gate anyway????

Cheers

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Thanks for the update Red Roo.

I'm doing SYD-BNE tomorrow morning, l'll report back to AFF if QF have indeed started to try various options.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I could be wrong here but I recall reading on the OW website that QF Domestic J Lounge is excluded from the OW agreement for lounge access and is only available to OWE / WP and those travelling J ?

Actually, I believe they will let OWS members from any other airline into the Dom J Lounge - it is QF Gold (sapphire) members that are specifically excluded.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

i think its pathetic that we pay (for example) $1,200 for a Business seat MEL-BNE and have to que to get on the aircraft. On a recent flight last weekend there was absolutely no mention from ground crew to allow business passengers to board first - it was just we're now boarding as if its a single class aircraft!

I thought that was a misprint. So l just had a look on QF. The next month all J (MEL-BNE) seems to be in that ballpark. Expensive for 2 hours flying time.

 

[chrizzz14]

I thought that was a misprint. So l just had a look on QF. The next month all J (MEL-BNE) seems to be in that ballpark. Expensive for 2 hours flying time.

have a laugh and look at the cost of a business class seat MEL-PER and then compare it with a first class seat on AA LAX-JFK (roughly the same distance)

Pathetic really! QF need to do some serious gluteus maximus kissing!

(in my opinion that is)

 

[Oneworldplus2]

have a laugh and look at the cost of a business class seat MEL-PER and then compare it with a first class seat on AA LAX-JFK (roughly the same distance)

Pathetic really! QF need to do some serious gluteus maximus kissing!

(in my opinion that is)

Yes, l was aware of the SYD/MEL-PER pricing (Europe in Y on some carriers, return), but not the MEL-BNE high price.

 

[nlagalle]

Actually, I believe they will let OWS members from any other airline into the Dom J Lounge - it is QF Gold (sapphire) members that are specifically excluded.

Incorrect.. At the door it only has the emerald Dot.. no sapphire ti be seen. I've never seen a gold get in before..

 

[goldy]

Incorrect.. At the door it only has the emerald Dot.. no sapphire ti be seen. I've never seen a gold get in before..

I take it you mean that you've never seen a gold get in, unless they are flying J??

Because i'm gold, I fly J, and I get in!!

have a laugh and look at the cost of a business class seat MEL-PER and then compare it with a first class seat on AA LAX-JFK (roughly the same distance)

Pathetic really!

Their fares are a bit crazy and I often wonder how they can justify it. MEL-PER in J is priced roughly the same as MEL-LHR in Y+ and given that IMO, they are one and the same thing.... I just dont "get" it!

The thing that irks me is that whenever they are in trouble (or not!!), they pull the patriotism card and expect us all to to support them, whilst they offer us the worst AND most expensive service!

 

[nlagalle]

I take it you mean that you've never seen a gold get in, unless they are flying J??

Because i'm gold, I fly J, and I get in!!

yes.. correct there.. my bad.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Wasn't there a big debate with Dave Noble on this subject some time ago?

What was the outcome?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The system could be configured to accommodate "valid" BP's, meaning that if someone is travelling with you, on the same RECLOC or linked bookings, it would then be eligible.

I dont see why this is so difficult. Any "roadblock", like your suggestion of different entitlements etc, is easily overcome. Qantas operate some of the most advanced machines man has ever built and yet they cant seem to implement an effective priority boarding system, that in its most simplest form, as stated by Princess Fiona, only requires a pair of eyes.

I still don't agree with reconfiguring the gate reader to reject people as there are always going to be exceptions eg a WP & NB spouse who are not in the same pnr & are not linked. In that case what do you do when it rejects the NB pax? Tell the WP to board & make the NB spouse wait, make them both wait or let them both board & somehow remember to manually board that person later when the gate reader is accepting the rest of the pax? If the NB did mobile checkin you wouldn't even be able to pull the boarding pass butt to enter into the computer later.

I understand what you're trying to achieve but messing with gate readers is a recipe for disaster & will only end up causing more delays.

Dear Humble Listening Roo Roo

Umm mind explaining why its not quite as easy as just putting up a sign???

like previously discussed Virgin Do it, just about every full service airline in the US do it, as do most in Europe!!! One line for business/platinum the other for the rest!!

i think its pathetic that we pay (for example) $1,200 for a Business seat MEL-BNE and have to que to get on the aircraft. On a recent flight last weekend there was absolutely no mention from ground crew to allow business passengers to board first - it was just we're now boarding as if its a single class aircraft!

Lazy i think!!!

So simple answer from Roo Roo would be appreciated - why is it so hard to have one line for Business/Plat PAX and one for Economy? There are in most cases two ground crew staff working at a gate anyway????

Cheers

Domestically ground staff do not man the gate & assist with boarding pax they have to stay at the counter & keep an eye on the whole boarding process, action any pax who have rejected at the gate, chase up fail to board pax, give final pax clearance etc. On all QF domestic flights 2 flight attendants should come up to board with the exception of a 737-400 when only one FA will board.

I thought that was a misprint. So l just had a look on QF. The next month all J (MEL-BNE) seems to be in that ballpark. Expensive for 2 hours flying time.

Heavens above you could almost fly business class to Nadi cheaper than that!

 

[connieguy]

Implementing a Priority Boarding queue is simple and does not take more ground staff, BP scanners, mods to BP scanner software / procedures, new gate layout / moving BP scanner hubs or delays boarding:

Here you can see DJ use only 1 ground staff and 1 BP scanner to handle 2 boarding lanes.



Also note the Paxs can read and do understand the Priority signs.

So please Red Roo, what is so hard about duplicating what DJ have done? Maybe ask the QF staff that are involved in this effort to go to the other terminal and observe how DJ do this?

 

[LiamR]

Thanks for the update Red Roo,

Everybody - Give them a few weeks to sort this out. Red Roo has told us works are underway so give them a few weeks to sort things out, trial it all and find a solution.

Once this is fully set up, then you can criticise them.