Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[dfcatch]

Even with a priority boarding lane at the gate, there's still only one aerobridge and one aisle (on a 737 anyway) - what happens one you get through the gate and stop dead because of the queue in the aerobridge? Do you just elbow the plebs aside?

I think this misses the critical point - that AA/VA/JQ/BA/NZ/etc can all do it, and it works - even on narrow body aircraft

 

[opusman]

I think this misses the critical point - that AA/VA/JQ/BA/NZ/etc can all do it, and it works - even on narrow body aircraft

Sure - but you didn't answer my question What actually happens once you're funnelled into a single queue with lesser mortals already in it?

 

[ozmille]

Sure - but you didn't answer my question What actually happens once you're funnelled into a single queue with lesser mortals already in it?

You might have bypassed 50 or so other people that would otherwise have been before you in the aerobridge and hence have more available overhead locker space

 

[QF WP]

Sure - but you didn't answer my question What actually happens once you're funnelled into a single queue with lesser mortals already in it?

You might have bypassed 50 or so other people that would otherwise have been before you in the aerobridge and hence have more available overhead locker space

Then it all depends on when we are there to board - if we are there at the first announcement, then we're onboard in (most likely) the first 50 pax (depending on how quickly one gets into the priority line).

If we rely on "anytime we turn up" access to the priority line (after the gate announcement has been made), then it will depend on how many have been scanned in front of you and still may put you ahead of those more likely to abuse the overhead locker space.

If you leave the QP at Final Call, then you get on near last and are hoping that there are still considerate people who haven't bought the kitchen sink as well as have put some of their smaller items under the seat ahead (someting I do with my FF bag going up top and my laptop with my feet).

opusman, whilst it may mean that we get scanned and are standing in the aerobridge waiting to board, then we are likely to have only boarded at the tail end of the first announcement or later. We all wish people would have thought about how to stow their gear and sit down with a minimum of time, but that just isn't going to happen until somebody devises an optimum way to load the aircraft - something they try to do by boarding groups or rows as we all know (and yes, I have read the thread on this - and I don't think there is a simple answer otherwise it would have already been instituted).

 

[Kendall Roy]

and Gold FF's..

That would involve adhering to the OWS published benefits.

 

[oz_mark]

You think that is bad form, well then watch out for having your BP checked before you can use the lounge toilet or shower.

..and this happens where?

 

[simongr]

I think the absence of Red Roo is telling. I also think that the link to the article on P1 that is below the other article tells the story of how out of touch Joyce actually is - do people really want Qantas travel service and the chance to use a flight sim or do they want to simply have a good travel experience?

 

[777]

Well. Tried that. It didn't work. It's obviously impossible. What more do you selfish people want?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Someone mentioned the size of the priority boarding signs previously.
I agree, they are massive. Probably too big, (IMO only ).

At least QF are giving it a go and l am happy to see that happen.
Lets no forget that BA only recently started priority boarding, which has been a OW benefit for BA FF's too.

 

[dfcatch]

Someone mentioned the size of the priority boarding signs previously.
I agree, they are massive. Probably too big, (IMO only ).

At least QF are giving it a go and l am happy to see that happen.
Lets no forget that BA only recently started priority boarding, which has been a OW benefit for BA FF's too.

Recently??

I enjoyed BA's priority boarding on several flights in early 2010 and it seemed well entrenched at that point - worked perfectly BTW

 

[connieguy]

..and this happens where?

The SQ KrisFlyer Gold lounge for top tier *A FFers who fly -Y or Y when they present their -Y or Y BPs.

You think AJ / QF have not taken notice? Just look at what AJ / QF did with the recent points bonus increase to all tiers / cabins relationships EXCEPT WPs who fly -Y or Y who received NO additional points bonus. Please, all FFer programs look at what EVERY other FFer program is doing. I see the SQ KrisFlyer Gold lounge lack of toilets and showers for -Y and Y *A FFers as the thin edge of the wedge that may inflict FFer benefit changes across all other FFer programs.

Do you see something else which does not raise the hairs on the back of your neck?

 

[connieguy]

Sure - but you didn't answer my question What actually happens once you're funnelled into a single queue with lesser mortals already in it?

The point is that with Priority Boarding you are closer to the front of that final single queue than if you joined the end of the before BP scanner queue. Why do you have an issue with understanding this?

 

[simongr]

Recently??

I enjoyed BA's priority boarding on several flights in early 2010 and it seemed well entrenched at that point - worked perfectly BTW

It was only recently that BA introduced priority boarding for domestic and European flights.

 

[connieguy]

Well. Tried that. It didn't work. It's obviously impossible. What more do you selfish people want?

Maybe for the QF Priority Boarding team to journey to the VA Syd terminal and see how the other guys do it and without VA complaining they don't have enough space or that it causes congestion in the boarding process. Sorry Red Roo but total BS from a airline that is dying as it considers it knows more about how to give service than listening to their customers.

See those torpedoes streaming toward the soft underbelly of QF's FFers? Does QF think that they will never hit or if they do that they can ever do any significant damage? Well you see that is the crux of the problem. QF are not invincibly and the more that QF think they are, the more they will damage their business.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It was only recently that BA introduced priority boarding for domestic and European flights.

Yes, that was the impression l was under from the BA forum on FT. Sorry for the mix-up dfcatch.

Priority boarding is highlighted significantly in a VA/DJ ad on TV l just saw.

 

[opusman]

The point is that with Priority Boarding you are closer to the front of that final single queue than if you joined the end of the before BP scanner queue. Why do you have an issue with understanding this?

I understand it, I just fail to understand why it is so important. You still end up queuing. You can't just breeze onto the plane and take your exalted seat whenever you want - you still have to queue. The queue might be shorter, but it's still a queue. The only time there would be no queue is if you were at the gate when boarding was called, or last to arrive from the lounge - and that would be the case with or without the priority lane.

If overhead space is the real issue - then think about who you are competing against. It's only the people sitting in the same row as you, or maybe one or two before or behind - and who are they likely to be? On average, other WPs, who are boarding through the same (semi-)priority queue as you are.

I'm not disputing that it's a promised benefit and Qantas should provide it - I just really don't see why so many people think it's such an important one.

 

[dfcatch]

It was only recently that BA introduced priority boarding for domestic and European flights.

Fair enough - like I said, early 2010 it worked great and looked like it had been in operation for ages! (And this was on European flights).

Worked without a hitch.

My only one observation was that BA only allowed the published OWS and OWE flyers to use Priority Boarding, whereas AA (who I have been most used to over the last 12 years) also allows OWR.

I also noticed that in relation to seat selection as well - BA only allows OWS and OWE access to advanced seat selection, whereas AA extends it to OWR.

Either way - BA meets its OW obligations and does it well


EDIT: - BA Priority Boarding does depend on whether you are departing from an aerobridge or a remote gate - as I found out that even F transatlantic has you sardined into the same transfer bus as the great unwashed from whY

 

[connieguy]

...BA Priority Boarding does depend on whether you are departing from an aerobridge or a remote gate - as I found out that even F transatlantic has you sardined into the same transfer bus as the great unwashed from whY

For me, as a exit row -Y WP, it is about gaining access to the exit row overhead bins before they are full. To do that requires me to get on the aircraft as early as I can and that is what PB is all about, especially if I'm in the lounge and leave as soon as the boarding call is made.

Why is it so hard for the QF domestic PB team to understand that? Red Roo is not about putting down another drink in the lounge as you suggested.

 

[dfcatch]

...is not about putting down another drink in the lounge as you suggested.

But I would like to do both please

 

[TheInsider]

I can really only see this working as intended on Qantas' leisure routes, when there isn't 60+ WP's, 10 OWE and another 12+ J passengers travelling on the service.