Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[MatF]

No it's not meant to be as the discretion of the individual, however quite often it ends up being that way. There is a copy of the boarding announcement at each gate for everyone to follow.

The architects of the PB spiel who I'm sure cannot have actually worked at an airport, have designed the wording in such a way that currently it encourages every man & his dog to board at their leisure.

"Hello everyone it's our pleasure to welcome you to QFxx_ to xx_ which is now ready for boarding". Ok you might have to ad lib and actually add in "through gate number 23" as corporate in their widsom neglected to put that on, so I guess in this case you are using your discretion. (all remaining pax will stand up at this stage - the one who weren't already in a queue of about 50 or so).

"To make things easier please have your boarding pass, mobile phone or Qantas card ready for scanning by the crew". (usual boarding scrum well underway by now).

"Today we're boarding economy by row number & if you're seated in rows 34 to 57 etc you're now invited to board". (shut the gate the horse has bolted - anybody not in these rows will still stay in the queue waiting to board & nobody is seen to sit back down).

"Business customers, Platinum & Gold frequent flyers & OW Emerald & Sapphire Members are welcome to continue boarding".....(right behind the other 200 or so pax already ahead of you as there is no dedicated PB lane as for international flights).

Yep, exactly right, it's completely hopeless. Wording was a bit different yesterday, but the concept (and effect), was spot on.

 

[pshepvic]

Last night I flew my first DJ flight in several months (actually, since the anytime access wake and F Lounge run back in January) and this is exactly how it went. I was stunned how well it worked. There was absolutely no scrum at the gate, no flock of passengers clogging the gate area 30 minutes before the boarding call. When the priority boarding announcement was made there was all of about three people moving towards the gate. Wow. Clearly, DJ are well versed in the process.

A few factors to this:

1. The biggest jet they have apart from a couple of 330s going to Perth is a 738 so that does help reduce the numbers at the gate, compared to the large number of QF MEL/SYD and SYD/BNE flights that are wide body jets.

2. A much better designed script that encourages people to stay seated by telling them boarding will be a few minutes away, even though they are actually about to commence priority boarding.

3. Consistent use of the same script, which gets passengers used to a standard process.

4. As mentioned (to death) the use of 2 clearly marked lanes.

Additional benefit that improves the DJ boarding process is using stairs at the back as well as the air bridge. This means there is queues do move quicker once people are past the gate agent and very rarely is there a big queue on the air bridge.

 

[samiam]

Have to agree with you there. If you're not an eligible PB pax but have already been standing around in a queue waiting to board you're not going to suddenly just sit down & wait for your row to be called, you stay where you are as you feel you've earned your stripes by standing in line for the past 10-15 mins so aren't going anywhere.

Not to mention the ability to give death stares, to any who might dare to board ahead of you...

.... 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?

 

[medhead]

A few factors to this:

1. The biggest jet they have apart from a couple of 330s going to Perth is a 738 so that does help reduce the numbers at the gate, compared to the large number of QF MEL/SYD and SYD/BNE flights that are wide body jets.

2. A much better designed script that encourages people to stay seated by telling them boarding will be a few minutes away, even though they are actually about to commence priority boarding.

3. Consistent use of the same script, which gets passengers used to a standard process.

4. As mentioned (to death) the use of 2 clearly marked lanes.

Additional benefit that improves the DJ boarding process is using stairs at the back as well as the air bridge. This means there is queues do move quicker once people are past the gate agent and very rarely is there a big queue on the air bridge.

Yet ADL is almost totally 737s for both airlines and no priority lane and the DJ boarding works and QF doesn't. So I put it down to points 2 and 3 along with well trained passengers. I have noticed that the DJ boarding in ADL getting stuffed up by QF refugees who see the DJ pre-boarding start and they move to board as well.

I'd love qantas to put me on a 6 month contract because that'd be all it would take to sort this cough out.


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

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A few factors to this:

1. The biggest jet they have apart from a couple of 330s going to Perth is a 738 so that does help reduce the numbers at the gate, compared to the large number of QF MEL/SYD and SYD/BNE flights that are wide body jets.

2. A much better designed script that encourages people to stay seated by telling them boarding will be a few minutes away, even though they are actually about to commence priority boarding.

3. Consistent use of the same script, which gets passengers used to a standard process.

4. As mentioned (to death) the use of 2 clearly marked lanes.

Additional benefit that improves the DJ boarding process is using stairs at the back as well as the air bridge. This means there is queues do move quicker once people are past the gate agent and very rarely is there a big queue on the air bridge.

Definitely a better pre-boarding announcement is necessary as per what DJ already do.

I don't think size matters WRT the size of the aircraft as I've seen a full 767 board in 10 minutes because it's got 2 aisles so you get a much better flow of traffic. The real problem child is the narrowbody and these days with more people taking on heaps of carry on, the delays are people stuffing around putting stuff in the overheads and/or trying to find space in a locker first, then stuffing around putting it away.

In addition to DJ using the aerobridge for the forward rows of the plane and the rear stairs via the tarmac for the aft ones, I've seen JQ board via the tarmac using forward and rear stairs which speeds up the boarding process.

Not to mention the ability to give death stares, to any who might dare to board ahead of you...

.... 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?

Just as well is wasn't case of "did I fire six shots or five"! :shock:

Yet ADL is almost totally 737s for both airlines and no priority lane and the DJ boarding works and QF doesn't. So I put it down to points 2 and 3 along with well trained passengers. I have noticed that the DJ boarding in ADL getting stuffed up by QF refugees who see the DJ pre-boarding start and they move to board as well.

I'd love qantas to put me on a 6 month contract because that'd be all it would take to sort this cough out.

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

Trouble is the decision makers don't ask frequent travellers or even staff who work at an airport because some Y Gen whizz kid with a tertiary degree is something thinks they know better & hence you have 'priority boarding' as we know it today.

 

[tyrolean]

4. As mentioned (to death) the use of 2 clearly marked lanes.

But those two lanes have to be enforced. On QF International they usually have those lanes, but on some airports both lanes are very long, because neither pax nor staff care to check it.

On the other hand I love to stay as long as possible in the lounge. So the "flight QF xx_ is now in final stage of boarding" is the perfect time to empty the coffee (morning) or wine (evening) and wander to the gate.

 

[pshepvic]

But those two lanes have to be enforced. On QF International they usually have those lanes, but on some airports both lanes are very long, because neither pax nor staff care to check it.

On the other hand I love to stay as long as possible in the lounge. So the "flight QF xx_ is now in final stage of boarding" is the perfect time to empty the coffee (morning) or wine (evening) and wander to the gate.

VA do enforce the priority lane and I have seen them ask people to move to the correct lane.

 

[Red Roo]

Domestic Priority Boarding has had a lot of commentary and feedback on AFF for some time now and I know you are all keen for an update.

As you know we started a trial in August in Sydney and I can now happily say that we will be enhancing our Domestic Priority Boarding by providing a dedicated premium boarding lane for Platinum, Platinum One, and oneworld Emerald members and Business class customers at major Cityflyer ports in the next few weeks.
I know that you are all hot on this so I have included exact implementation dates but they could change by a few days.

- Perth (21 November 2011)
- Brisbane (28 November 2011)
- Sydney (5 December 2011)
- Melbourne (12 December 2011)

Discussions are underway with airport authorities in other ports to see if it can be rolled out further.

Do let me know if you have any feedback once it is implemented.

Cheers,
Red Roo

P.S. Off to the Platinum One event now. Any questions will have to wait till the morning

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Good news.

(Waits for QF Golds/OW Sapphire's to slam this....)

 

[straitman]

Good news.

(Waits for QF Golds/OW Sapphire's to slam this....)

Great news and my thought exactly re Golds and OW Sapphire's.

I'll try this out in BNE on 1 Dec.

 

[greenfish]

Well done QF! (and sorry SGs)...

 

[nlagalle]

Well done QF.. Look forward to seeing it in action!!

 

[Danger]

Thank you, Red Roo.

I must say, I think this is very much a win for AFF. Notwithstanding the fact the outcome will not please everyone, we've harped and harped on this for a long time and I think we can all be satisfied that action has, finally, occurred.

 

[pshepvic]

Happy WP here ... might not be happy if I ever drop to SG!

However I will say that based on the ports currently selected, if SGs were included, the priority lane on a Friday night would be longer than regular boarding (and yes I know we've talked about that already).

 

[simongr]

Domestic Priority Boarding has had a lot of commentary and feedback on AFF for some time now and I know you are all keen for an update.

As you know we started a trial in August in Sydney and I can now happily say that we will be enhancing our Domestic Priority Boarding by providing a dedicated premium boarding lane for Platinum, Platinum One, and oneworld Emerald members and Business class customers at major Cityflyer ports in the next few weeks.
I know that you are all hot on this so I have included exact implementation dates but they could change by a few days.

- Perth (21 November 2011)
- Brisbane (28 November 2011)
- Sydney (5 December 2011)
- Melbourne (12 December 2011)

Discussions are underway with airport authorities in other ports to see if it can be rolled out further.

Do let me know if you have any feedback once it is implemented.

Cheers,
Red Roo

P.S. Off to the Platinum One event now. Any questions will have to wait till the morning

People power FTW! great new Red Roo though I expect any follow up to be late morning!

Thank you, Red Roo.

I must say, I think this is very much a win for AFF. Notwithstanding the fact the outcome will not please everyone, we've harped and harped on this for a long time and I think we can all be satisfied that action has, finally, occurred.

Could we just clarify exactly who raised this at the AFF lunch

Jeez what can we moan about now - apart from LHR T5 access for QP

 

[MatF]

Excellent, I think this will be an enhancement in the true sense of the word

Jeez what can we maon about now - apart from LHR T5 access for QP

Well, I still miss my party pies

 

[simongr]

I thought awilcoxson got the NPPPs back?

 

[Danger]

Could we just clarify exactly who raised this at the AFF lunch

Okay. Fair point! Extra credit to simongr.

Jeez what can we moan about now - apart from LHR T5 access for QP

The way I see it, one down and one to go - although we may need to get the number of posts in the LHR T5 thread up a bit more before we get a response. Perhaps there's a magic number of posts on AFF that triggers a reaction from QF.

 

[MatF]

I thought awilcoxson got the NPPPs back?

I haven't seen them back anywhere, but I'll be a happy man if that is indeed the case!

 

[nlagalle]

I haven't seen them back anywhere, but I'll be a happy man if that is indeed the case!

I ate some of the NPPP's in the SYD J lounge last week and look forward to tucking into another one or 3 tomorrow night!!!