Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[OverrideServlet]

Yes. They asked everyone to wait while j, WP etc boarded. There was a second announcement when general boarding started I think.

Yeah, this is just standard "board at convenience" method.

We can do much better than that.

 

[Danger]

I flew MEL-CBR this afternoon.

"We will be boarding this flight by rows and would invite passengers seated in rows 11 to 20 to board now. We also invite Business Class passengers as well as Platinum and Gold FFs and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members to board at their convenience [emphasis added]. What's more, QF faked further: I ws flying under my AA FF which clearly hs oneworld Ruby printed on the boarding pass. I was one of the first to board (row seven) and should have been told to bugger off. Instead, nothing and I was allowed to board.

Epic fail, QF. First, 'board at convenience' may be the oneworld wording but its certainy not priority boarding. Second, lip service at its best.

 

[connieguy]

I flew MEL-CBR this afternoon.

"We will be boarding this flight by rows and would invite passengers seated in rows 11 to 20 to board now. We also invite Business Class passengers as well as Platinum and Gold FFs and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members to board at their convenience [emphasis added]. What's more, QF faked further: I ws flying under my AA FF which clearly hs oneworld Ruby printed on the boarding pass. I was one of the first to board (row seven) and should have been told to bugger off. Instead, nothing and I was allowed to board.

Epic fail, QF. First, 'board at convenience' may be the oneworld wording but its certainy not priority boarding. Second, lip service at its best.

Red Roo did say QF were going to implement domestic PB but that how they were going to do it would not be what we expected. In other words QF will meet their "Legal" obligations but by "their" interpretation of how to enact their domestic PB obligation to J, WP and OWE Paxs.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I've been following thus thread for a while, my thoughts

I've lived without PB in QF for years like everyone here so won't influence my decision to fly QF. BUT QF need to get their act together quickly and resolved this yay or nay and move on. Decision needs to be made ASAP, but with all large organizations understand it may take time to implement.

LAN operate in much more chaotic airport environments yet still offer PB on all domestic flights. No operational excuses please QF.

Regardless if percentage entitled to PB is 10, 30 or 50% those eligible still get to priority so don't understand this comment re: no use on Syd-mel route etc.

Finally alot of Business FF I've observed Tend to bring two bags, rollerboard & smaller item eg laptop bag or backpack, and place both items in the overhead bins on full flights. Unless it is a light flight, I think the 2nd item should be under seat (bar exit row) then if space available move item to the bin.
Basic consideration = less bin rage.

 

[Ewing]

I flew out of LRE yesterday, and not only did they not have priority boarding - they didn't even have priority security. This is an outrage!

Of course, they didn't have security screening either, but that's not the point!

</tongue-in-cheek>

 

[simongr]

Finally alot of Business FF I've observed Tend to bring two bags, rollerboard & smaller item eg laptop bag or backpack, and place both items in the overhead bins on full flights. Unless it is a light flight, I think the 2nd item should be under seat (bar exit row) then if space available move item to the bin.
Basic consideration = less bin rage.

I have been guilty of this in the past (and still in in J on int'l flights and that wont change) but now my laptop bag goes under the seat or if possible on top of my rollaboard... Thankfully tomorrow I may only have the iPad...

 

[connieguy]

I have been guilty of this in the past (and still in in J on int'l flights and that wont change) but now my laptop bag goes under the seat or if possible on top of my rollaboard... Thankfully tomorrow I may only have the iPad...

Likewise, laptop bag on top of my rollaboard unless I'm going somewhere that is cold and then my overcoat goes on top of the rollaboard with the laptop bag vertical. Pet peeve is laptop bags stowed flat. I always stow my laptop bag vertically or on top of a rollaboard.

 

[QF WP]

After seeing a client near BNE airport early this afternoon, I dropped in to get my temp VA card. As I walked past the QF Gates I thought of this thread.

I wonder if QF are going to just use the information gathered from the SYD trial to bring in the national policy, or are they going to roll out to other airports to increase the sample size? Would they get different results?

Which airports would they use - BNE or MEL, or smaller ones? BNE Is the second biggest for movements (including QantasLink), so it would make sense from a sample size to have more pax using it to gather relevant data faster.

Then, which Gates would they use - which Gates ate used more, or are better equipped to have the two lanes. The gates out on the pod (17 to 21) have more available space, but further away; whilst Gates 22 to 24 are on the main concourse - do they give any benefits? Would Gate 22, the closest to the QC, be the best option?

Anyway, enough of my musings...

 

[UP4014]

After seeing a client near BNE airport early this afternoon, I dropped in to get my temp VA card. As I walked past the QF Gates I thought of this thread.

Scary, I think you need to get away from your computer and out more. :shock::mrgreen:

 

[MatF]

I flew SYD-BNE this morning on QF510. We left from Gate 2, and an Adelaide flight left from Gate 1 at around the same time. The boarding calls were within minutes of each other.

Gate 1
"Boarding will commence shortly for QFxx_ (can't recall the flight number). At this time we invite our Business Class passengers and Platinum and Gold frequent flyers to board. A general boarding call will then be made"

Gate 2
"Qantas flight 510 to Brisbane is now ready for boarding. We invite passengers requiring assistance to board first. Business Class passengers, and Platinum and Gold frrequent flyers may board at their leisure."

From what I could see, it kind of seemed to work at Gate 1, I think becasue it was specifically staed that a general boarding hadn't commenced - but the standard old boarding call format at Gate 2 of course didn't work, as The Scrum just pushed forward as soon it "is now ready for boarding" was announced.

Surely some standard boarding call wording could at least be implemented?

 

[Ewing]

I'm sure I've posted my views on priority boarding previously, so I'm not going to comment further.

However, last night I happened to leave the BNE J lounge before boarding commenced as I wanted to pick up a magazine on the way. Combine that with the subsequent 10 minute delay to boarding and I managed to get the entire boarding spiel which I found interesting.

It went along the lines of:

"Qantas welcomes passengers travelling on QF555 to Sydney. At this time we would like to invite passengers seated in rows 15-29 to board through gate 20. Platinum and Gold frequent flyers may board at any time, along with passengers in Business class, and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members" (this was a 738).

It seemed a bit silly as they might as well board the entire flight at once. It'd be a safe assumption that most of those seated forward of row 15 would be Gold or Platinum anyway, and seeing as the entire gate area surged towards the boarding line I'd say my assumption was correct.

 

[rechoboam]

I flew SYD-BNE this morning on QF510. We left from Gate 2, and an Adelaide flight left from Gate 1 at around the same time. The boarding calls were within minutes of each other.

Gate 1
"Boarding will commence shortly for QFxx_ (can't recall the flight number). At this time we invite our Business Class passengers and Platinum and Gold frequent flyers to board. A general boarding call will then be made"

Gate 2
"Qantas flight 510 to Brisbane is now ready for boarding. We invite passengers requiring assistance to board first. Business Class passengers, and Platinum and Gold frrequent flyers may board at their leisure."

From what I could see, it kind of seemed to work at Gate 1, I think becasue it was specifically staed that a general boarding hadn't commenced - but the standard old boarding call format at Gate 2 of course didn't work, as The Scrum just pushed forward as soon it "is now ready for boarding" was announced.

Surely some standard boarding call wording could at least be implemented?

Yes, Gate 1 is like what I heard..it worked.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I flew MEL-CBR this afternoon.

"We will be boarding this flight by rows and would invite passengers seated in rows 11 to 20 to board now. We also invite Business Class passengers as well as Platinum and Gold FFs and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members to board at their convenience [emphasis added]. What's more, QF faked further: I ws flying under my AA FF which clearly hs oneworld Ruby printed on the boarding pass. I was one of the first to board (row seven) and should have been told to bugger off. Instead, nothing and I was allowed to board.

Epic fail, QF. First, 'board at convenience' may be the oneworld wording but its certainy not priority boarding. Second, lip service at its best.

So they are boarding QF Golds, despite it only being a published Platinum benefit? Also do the OW rules stipulate than PB is for Emeralds only or does it include Sapphire too?

Finally alot of Business FF I've observed Tend to bring two bags, rollerboard & smaller item eg laptop bag or backpack, and place both items in the overhead bins on full flights. Unless it is a light flight, I think the 2nd item should be under seat (bar exit row) then if space available move item to the bin. Basic consideration = less bin rage.

I prefer to put carry on under the seat in front of me unless of course I have an exit row, aisle seat on DJ which has less space than middle or window seat & J on the intl config A330 with Skybeds as all 30 pax must stow hand luggage in the overhead.

Which airports would they use - BNE or MEL, or smaller ones? BNE Is the second biggest for movements (including QantasLink), so it would make sense from a sample size to have more pax using it to gather relevant data faster.

Then, which Gates would they use - which Gates ate used more, or are better equipped to have the two lanes. The gates out on the pod (17 to 21) have more available space, but further away; whilst Gates 22 to 24 are on the main concourse - do they give any benefits? Would Gate 22, the closest to the QC, be the best option?

Anyway, enough of my musings...

I guess gates 22-24 are usually the gates used for B767 & A330 flights BNE/SYD & would have more corporate folk than leisure, however IME the widebodied aircraft don't experience as much congestion on the aerobridge because with two aisles there's a much better flow of traffic. 737's are another issue.....

Two little ducks twenty two.

 

[oz_mark]

So they are boarding QF Golds, despite it only being a published Platinum benefit? Also do the OW rules stipulate than PB is for Emeralds only or does it include Sapphire too?

Oneworld lists 'Board at convenience' as a benefit of both Emerald and Sapphire levels.

 

[simongr]

Priority boarding worked well on DJ today - a shame though that the overhead bins were completely full despite the first couple of rows being devoid of people... Never experienced that on QF even without PB...

 

[dfcatch]

OW benefit is for Sapphires too

 

[cwills]

QF does not acknowledge J passengers

 

[Austashes]

Well I gave it a go, flew SYD to BNE and the line up was huge. I walked out of the lounge and felt deflated when I saw the wait ahead of me, so I excused myself and walked around to the head of the queue, I was using my WP card as my boarding pass. The attendant took my card and no questions asked walked onto the plane. The other people didn't complain, as said, I was polite and didn't particularly saying I was using my assigned privilage for priority boarding. I only had my briefcase as I was only travelling same day.

If you want priority boarding nothing is stopping you other than your own reluctance.

 

[connieguy]

Well I gave it a go, flew SYD to BNE and the line up was huge. I walked out of the lounge and felt deflated when I saw the wait ahead of me, so I excused myself and walked around to the head of the queue, I was using my WP card as my boarding pass. The attendant took my card and no questions asked walked onto the plane. The other people didn't complain, as said, I was polite and didn't particularly saying I was using my assigned privilage for priority boarding. I only had my briefcase as I was only travelling same day.

If you want priority boarding nothing is stopping you other than your own reluctance.

Like you, I have done that with about 70% success. The other 30% I was told to go join the end of the queue. One issue is what if you just cut into the queue ahead of a brother WP or CL?

It is easy for QF to create a dedicated BP scanner access lane for QF elites. No extra staff or BP scanners needed. It is not for QF WPs to enact domestic PB by cutting into the head of the queue. QF advertise the benefit and they need to make it happen. Lets trust QF do make this happen so we don't feel like naughty boys cutting into the head of the queue.

 

[Toula92122]

I flew on US Airways this past weekend. On every boarding pass they print your boarding zone from 1-5. Obviously it you are in First Class, have status you are Zone 1 and it flows from there. It makes so much sense, there was never any pack of hungry wolves hovering around the boarding gate because everyone knew they would only be allowed on based on their zone.

Surely it would not be that hard for Qantas to implement something similar so people know if they are a 5 there is no need to even bother getting in line before the flight is called.