Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Adel_Traveller]

Had an interesting experience this past week when boarding in ADL. Was near the gate when when they started to make the usual announcement about boarding with "those with small children or requiring assistance plus those in rows at the back etc" so I strolled into the by then considerable queue. The announcement stopped short before the normal part about Business class, platinums etc boarding at their leisure but I thought I'm in the queue now so I may as well continue. To my surprise I was turned away at the scanner (I'm a WP) and told that they "were trying something different" and that I should re-join the queue when general boarding commenced. Hmm.....

 

[samiam]

To my surprise I was turned away at the scanner (I'm a WP) and told that they "were trying something different" and that I should re-join the queue when general boarding commenced. Hmm.....

Sounds like they "were trying" to pi$$ you off

 

[Austman]

For my personal experience on how PB can go wrong (a pax threatened to 'deck' me several times), see here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rity-boarding-led-threats-violence-33856.html

While gate announcements might be fine, the whole process needs to take into account that many pax that qualify for PB will be in a lounge where the boarding announcement for them can be quite different - usually just "Flight xx_ is now boarding at gate yyy" (i.e. no instructions about rows or passengers with children/special needs or elites etc). And that it can take a few minutes for those in the lounge to get to the gate. They still should be entitled to the PB. Policing the line is essential.

 

[TonyHancock]

Moderators please note this post is aimed fairly and squarely at the business that is QF and not the individual member known as RedRoo. (Just to avoid any "accidental" misinterpretation.)

QF please can you provide an update on the "alleged" "Priority" boarding offered to your Platinum Frequent Flyers. Tests in Sydney were reported but no further updates were posted.

This is frustrating and quite frankly disingenuous. "Priority" boarding, not "boarding at your convenience" is offered, on domestic flights, for Platinum Frequent flyers, but from my experience no efforts at priority boarding have been made.

I make no apology to any members of AFF for this post, I think it is high time QF made an update. (Of course I fully understand that "individual members" of AFF cannot be demanded to respond.)

 

[pshepvic]

Moderators please note this post is aimed fairly and squarely at the business that is QF and not the individual member known as RedRoo. (Just to avoid any "accidental" misinterpretation.)

QF please can you provide an update on the "alleged" "Priority" boarding offered to your Platinum Frequent Flyers. Tests in Sydney were reported but no further updates were posted.

This is frustrating and quite frankly disingenuous. "Priority" boarding, not "boarding at your convenience" is offered, on domestic flights, for Platinum Frequent flyers, but from my experience no efforts at priority boarding have been made.

I make no apology to any members of AFF for this post, I think it is high time QF made an update. (Of course I fully understand that "individual members" of AFF cannot be demanded to respond.)

Agreed, particularly as promises were made about the trial and that we'd at least be informed as to the result.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Danger]

Moderators please note this post is aimed fairly and squarely at the business that is QF and not the individual member known as RedRoo. (Just to avoid any "accidental" misinterpretation.)

QF please can you provide an update on the "alleged" "Priority" boarding offered to your Platinum Frequent Flyers. Tests in Sydney were reported but no further updates were posted.

This is frustrating and quite frankly disingenuous. "Priority" boarding, not "boarding at your convenience" is offered, on domestic flights, for Platinum Frequent flyers, but from my experience no efforts at priority boarding have been made.

I make no apology to any members of AFF for this post, I think it is high time QF made an update. (Of course I fully understand that "individual members" of AFF cannot be demanded to respond.)

Full support from me.

 

[Hvr]

Nothing tonight when leaving SYD for CBR.

Will this ever be implemented?

 

[Warks]

Flying SYD-BNE on DJ late one night last week I was about to use my new comp Gold status to board using the priority gate but as there wasn't a soul going through it I felt like something of a w@nker so I was hanging back until they called the front of the plane to board. Then I used the priority lane - was the only one! They didn't staff it, just depended on the other lane's FA twisting around to scan me.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Did MEL-SYD last week, gate 3 (767). No Priority Boarding call made. The que was well and truely formed by the time I arrived to board from the lounge. Kind of dissappinted/let down with QF as it has been a few months since the SYD trials were announced and also witnessing priority calls made up in BNE.

 

[Hawkeye]

Datapoint:
SYD T3 Gate 11 QF520 SYD-BNE 06.11:
Boarding call initially for passengers with infants and small children (no-one came forward).
Followed-up 2 minutes later with call for WP's, SG's and those in J.

Adjacent Gate (?10) SYD-ADL:
First call was for WP's, SG's and those in J

Seems to be some progress? May be some discretion for the individual gate agents.

 

[simongr]

That is no change to the process. Frankly I am done with this topic and will tweet QF one last time and then it is just another nail in the coffin.

 

[Danger]

Datapoint:
SYD T3 Gate 11 QF520 SYD-BNE 06.11:
Boarding call initially for passengers with infants and small children (no-one came forward).
Followed-up 2 minutes later with call for WP's, SG's and those in J.

Adjacent Gate (?10) SYD-ADL:
First call was for WP's, SG's and those in J

Seems to be some progress? May be some discretion for the individual gate agents.

Had a scrum already developed a the gate by the time the WP et al boarding call was made?

In your opinion, were the gate agents actively looking at boarding passes, FF cards etc. and rejected those who didn't fit the priority boarding call?

 

[reductionist]

Is it time to consider changing the thread title to "priority boarding lane on QF domestic"?

That seems to be the actual goal of this thread and it may dissuade people from giving their $0.02 about early boarding calls or how boarding last is priority boarding, etc.

 

[Aus ATC]

What is the point of a first call for WP, SG, J passengers etc. We are all in the QP / J Lounge.......

The Virgin system works very well. Separate queue approaching the gate for Plat, Gold, PE passengers. Clearly marked. I wander out of the lounge when ready, and straight onto the aircraft with a well managed switch of attention by the gate staff to the priority queue - then they get back to the other queue barely missing a beat.

Perhaps the number of status pax on QANTAS is higher than Virgin. But at least having an extra lane for priority boarding gives us an additional option - a bit like the priority security queues where it is sometimes quicker to use the normal queue - eg in BNE where there are more security stations accessible via the normal queue so it moves faster.

 

[medhead]

What is the point of a first call for WP, SG, J passengers etc. We are all in the QP / J Lounge.......

I'm not. Board first is an important benefit for me. A lane would be better, of course.

I'm getting fed up with all the qantas refugees fouling up the Virgin board first priority process in ADL by rushing the gate.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[dfcatch]

I'm not. Board first is an important benefit for me. A lane would be better, of course.

I'm getting fed up with all the qantas refugees fouling up the Virgin board first priority process in ADL by rushing the gate.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

But at least you still have a separate lane to use

 

[medhead]

But at least you still have a separate lane to use

Unfortunately, no lane in ADL I was pretty happy that the 6am QF730 was delayed by at least 20 minutes this morning. For once the virgin flight wasn't delayed and I backed a winner for once.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[dfcatch]

Unfortunately, no lane in ADL I was pretty happy that the 6am QF730 was delayed by at least 20 minutes this morning. For once the virgin flight wasn't delayed and I backed a winner for once.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

Really? No priority boarding lane for VA in ADL??

I thought that kind of thing was only in third-world ports like CNS

 

[medhead]

Really? No priority boarding lane for VA in ADL??

I thought that kind of thing was only in third-world ports like CNS

Nope. There are a few issues being a shared terminal and also domestic/international combined.

But I'll have to wrestle you for 3rd world stakes as ADL only graduated to airbridges in 2005. Before that it was all tarmac and stairs. Whereas the "new" terminal, with these modern aerobridges, in cairns opened while I was still at school in the mid-80s IIRC.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[opusman]

But I'll have to wrestle you for 3rd world stakes as ADL only graduated to airbridges in 2005.

Glass airbridges, without a/c at that. Not fun on a hot day