Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[serfty]

... That leaves one gate agent left scanning the boarding passes for the general boarding queue & they don't even look up & call across anyone new that joins the Priority Access queue midway through boarding. ...

That is contrary to my experience. The times I have been late (i.e. not at the gate when boarding commences) I walk up to the empty PA Queue and hold my BP out with a smile. In my best Humble DYKWIA manner I present the BP is such a way to make sure the First / Priority Access text is very visible to the agent. The agents normally finish scanning the PAX they they are processing then reach across and take yours. This gets scanned and you are good to go and join the queue in the airbridge.

... ...
For the DFW/MIA we were at the gate at minus 30 but boarding didn't start until minus 20. First call was for Executive Platinum & US Military personnel in uniform which was about 15-20 pax, next call was for Platinum probably another 20 or so pax then third call was anyone holding a boarding pass with 'Priority Access' on it which I'm assuming would then be QF WP's. ...

That's unusual, as First Class normally get to board first. With such a call I would have assumed they (or I) missed it (accidentally) and boarded strait away in any case.

...
So in short, be at the gate at minus 45 to utilise the PA queue or arrive midway through boarding & just join the general queue. ...

This is so true; boarding often commence 35-40 minutes before scheduled departure time.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

We had to wait until the third call as we were only travelling in First Class & didn't have the lofty ranks of AA Exec Plat or Plat.

Doesn't AA First Class get priority boarding?

From the AA website;

View attachment 4641

 

[NM]

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.

I'm sure Qantas will deal with it like they do for lounge access for guests of elites. One rule for QF elites (SG), another for non QF oneworld elites (Sapphire).

Now am I just being synical here or do I see the next move at QFF being a re-grading of the QFF teirs against OneWorld tiers? So Platinum-1 becomes Emerald and Platinum becomes Sapphire, with Gold becoming OneWorld Ruby. Then they remove all the issues regarding OneWorld Sapphire and access to Business Class lounges and Priority Boarding. Kind of matches AA's tiers too - WP1=EXP=Emerald, WP=PLAT=Sapphire, Gold=Gold=Ruby.

I am not aware of any other OneWorld FF programs that have two tiers at Emerald level (ignoring invitation-only programs like Chairmans Lounge equiv).

 

[medhead]

I'm pretty sure I made such a prediction a while ago in one of the mega-change threads. Given the changes that are happening it seems logical that the current levels need to be reclassified, or deemed not to provide high enough return to qantas.


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[frankxinyu]

Now am I just being synical here or do I see the next move at QFF being a re-grading of the QFF teirs against OneWorld tiers? So Platinum-1 becomes Emerald and Platinum becomes Sapphire, with Gold becoming OneWorld Ruby. Then they remove all the issues regarding OneWorld Sapphire and access to Business Class lounges and Priority Boarding. Kind of matches AA's tiers too - WP1=EXP=Emerald, WP=PLAT=Sapphire, Gold=Gold=Ruby.

I am not aware of any other OneWorld FF programs that have two tiers at Emerald level (ignoring invitation-only programs like Chairmans Lounge equiv).

I think money spent to reach QFF gold is sufficient for ow saffire..

Relatively speaking, If you put p1 to emarald, there won't be many people Stupid enough sticking with QFF

 

[reductionist]

That is contrary to my experience. The times I have been late (i.e. not at the gate when boarding commences) I walk up to the empty PA Queue and hold my BP out with a smile. In my best Humble DYKWIA manner I present the BP is such a way to make sure the First / Priority Access text is very visible to the agent. The agents normally finish scanning the PAX they they are processing then reach across and take yours. This gets scanned and you are good to go and join the queue in the airbridge.

Yes, this is exactly how it works in my experience too. Have taken quite a few AA flights and have never been around to hear the PA announcement that boarding has commenced.

Come to think of it I don't think I've ever taken an AA flight where there has been more than 1 person scanning boarding passes. They handle the two boarding lanes effortlessly I might add.

 

[NM]

I think money spent to reach QFF gold is sufficient for ow saffire..

I am not certain QFF agrees with you. They don't believe QFF Gold is sufficient for at least two OneWorld Sapphire published benefits ...

And the strange part for me is that my flying during 2011 would have earned me QFF Gold ststus (assuming memebrship year matched calendar year) or AA Executive Platinum. And is using my actual QFF membership year, the earning would have been QFF Silver x 2 years (except for my Lifetime Gold status).

So lets compare common features that apply accross airlines within the alliance between QF and AA:

Check-in at First Class counter:
AA = EXP + PLAT (Emerald + Sapphire)
QF = WP1 + WP (Emerald only)

Check-in at Business Class counter:
AA = Gold (Ruby)
QF International = Gold (Sapphire)
QF Domestic = WP1 + WP (Emerald) [some airports have Qantas Club counters for Gold members]

Priority Boarding via dedicated lane:
AA = EXP + PLAT + GOLD (called in that order) (Emerald + Sapphire + Ruby)
QF Domestic = WP1 + WP (Emerald only)
QF International = WP1 + WP + Gold (Emerald + Sapphire)

FF points/miles Status Bonus:
AA 100% = EXP + PLAT (Emerald and Sapphire) [applies to AA, AS, AY, BA, CX, IB, JA, KA, LA, MX, QF, RJ]
AA 25% = Gold (Ruby)
QF 100% = WP1 + WP (Emerald) [applies to QF, AA, BA, JQ]
QF 75% = Gold (Sapphire) [applies to QF, JQ]
QF 50% = Gold (Sapphire) [applies to AA, BA]
QF 50% = Silver (Ruby] [applies to QF, JQ]
QF 25% = Silver (Ruby) [applies to AA, BA]

Obviously there are lots of other differernces, such as upgrades, fee waivers, baggage priority and fees etc, but these are not alliance benefits and generally only apply to members of their own program, so not really a valid comparision in this case so will be ignored here.

So while the new priority boarding policy from QF is very much welcomed, they are still very much focused on ther Emerald tier, which is understandable as that is their most profitable demographic.

 

[opusman]

I'm pretty sure I made such a prediction a while ago in one of the mega-change threads. Given the changes that are happening it seems logical that the current levels need to be reclassified, or deemed not to provide high enough return to qantas.

I don't really see how the equivalent OW level their tiers have can affect Qantas at all. Whether a WP is Emerald or Sapphire affects the benefits given to them by other OW airlines, but not by Qantas.

 

[NM]

I don't really see how the equivalent OW level their tiers have can affect Qantas at all. Whether a WP is Emerald or Sapphire affects the benefits given to them by other OW airlines, but not by Qantas.

It means they can be consistent in their applicaition of the alliance statuc benefits as published by OneWorld. As it stands now, QF does not provide some of the published benefits to Sapphire members, regardless of what they offer to their own Gold members.

 

[medhead]

I think money spent to reach QFF gold is sufficient for ow saffire..

Relatively speaking, If you put p1 to emarald, there won't be many people Stupid enough sticking with QFF

Based on my flying patterns QF gold costs $4800 and that is at the high end of cost. I don't think that is very much.

But I agree people in the middle will more easily move with such a change to the OW levels.

I don't really see how the equivalent OW level their tiers have can affect Qantas at all. Whether a WP is Emerald or Sapphire affects the benefits given to them by other OW airlines, but not by Qantas.

But moving the current platinum to be gold will benefit qantas and the benefits they provide in their program. Sapphire levels benefits provided by other airlines would probably also result in a lower cost to qantas in the fees paid to the other airlines. eg business lounge vs first lounge cost.


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[NM]

Based on my flying patterns QF gold costs $4800 and that is at the high end of cost. I don't think that is very much.

A quick guess says my flights this calendar year have cost around $17K and would have earned 620 QFF Status Credits or 100,885 AA EQP. So enough for QF domestic priority boarding if I credit the flights to AAdvantage, but not enough if I credit the same flights to QFF. And if would seem that my flight purchases could be considered somewhat more profitable to the airlines than your pattern :-|. But QFF does not want to attract people with my travel/purchase pattern, so its a good thoing that AAdvantage does want me.

I look forward to trying out QF's domestic priority boarding some time soon.

 

[simongr]

Now am I just being synical here or do I see the next move at QFF being a re-grading of the QFF teirs against OneWorld tiers? So Platinum-1 becomes Emerald and Platinum becomes Sapphire, with Gold becoming OneWorld Ruby. Then they remove all the issues regarding OneWorld Sapphire and access to Business Class lounges and Priority Boarding. Kind of matches AA's tiers too - WP1=EXP=Emerald, WP=PLAT=Sapphire, Gold=Gold=Ruby.

I am not aware of any other OneWorld FF programs that have two tiers at Emerald level (ignoring invitation-only programs like Chairmans Lounge equiv).

I don't agree. Just on a numbers basis there are only OFFICIALLY 3000 WP1. For that to become the only top tier would disenfranchise a very large amount of people. I would switch immediately to either *A or DJ/VA for all flights and would direct my team to do the same if that change came in.

I think that AA Concierge Key is closer to WP1 than EXP is to WP1.

Also maybe need to consider other programs such as CX where I think there is a higher level of Diamond beyond OWE. Also BA has not only the GGL but various other tiers based on TPs above and beyond OWE.

 

[simongr]

A quick guess says my flights this calendar year have cost around $17K and would have earned 620 QFF Status Credits or 100,885 AA EQP. So enough for QF domestic priority boarding if I credit the flights to AAdvantage, but not enough if I credit the same flights to QFF. And if would seem that my flight purchases could be considered somewhat more profitable to the airlines than your pattern :-|. But QFF does not want to attract people with my travel/purchase pattern, so its a good thoing that AAdvantage does want me.

It is amazing how different people's patterns are. My travel expense this year on flights is around $39K and based on international flights I would have just about requalified as EXP (probably 130K EQP) - which is a shock to me - I thought I wasn't close. However by comparison I hit 2500 SCs - double the level to hit WP on QFF.

 

[NM]

It is amazing how different people's patterns are.

Indeed its amazing. And it shows the importance of selecting the right program to obtain best benefit for each individual.

And while I like to use priority boarding benefits, its not something that comes into my calculations for the most appropriate FF program to match my travel patterns and desired outcomes.

 

[oz_mark]

Now am I just being synical here or do I see the next move at QFF being a re-grading of the QFF teirs against OneWorld tiers? So Platinum-1 becomes Emerald and Platinum becomes Sapphire, with Gold becoming OneWorld Ruby. Then they remove all the issues regarding OneWorld Sapphire and access to Business Class lounges and Priority Boarding. Kind of matches AA's tiers too - WP1=EXP=Emerald, WP=PLAT=Sapphire, Gold=Gold=Ruby.

I am not aware of any other OneWorld FF programs that have two tiers at Emerald level (ignoring invitation-only programs like Chairmans Lounge equiv).

I can't see it myself. The naming of the level as Plaitnum One makes it clearly a sub level of Platinum. It would also make the gaining of Emerald status ridiculously difficult for all but a handful of members.

 

[NM]

I can't see it myself. The naming of the level as Plaitnum One makes it clearly a sub level of Platinum.

That does not stop AA using Executive Platinum and Platinum as Emerald and Sapphire levels.

It would also make the gaining of Emerald status ridiculously difficult for all but a handful of members.

Nothing stopping them revising the qualification requirements at the same time as revising the OneWorld tier allignment.

 

[Flying mermaid]

By the way, it seems there are a few here who have been subjected to the pain of flying in an MD-80 recently - I do my best to avoid that particular aircraft! They are becoming less common on AA routes with the 738's starting to replace them though I guess.


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I have a couple of legs next year on MD-80s with AA - what are the problems?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have a couple of legs next year on MD-80s with AA - what are the problems?

By the way, it seems there are a few here who have been subjected to the pain of flying in an MD-80 recently - I do my best to avoid that particular aircraft! They are becoming less common on AA routes with the 738's starting to replace them though I guess.

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I'd rather be on an MD-80 than a 757 as the 757's don't have wi-fi. Saw one MD-80 today at DFW that had a rego ending in TW so obviously a hand me down from TWA & no doubt one of the earliest ones off the production line.

That is contrary to my experience. The times I have been late (i.e. not at the gate when boarding commences) I walk up to the empty PA Queue and hold my BP out with a smile. In my best Humble DYKWIA manner I present the BP is such a way to make sure the First / Priority Access text is very visible to the agent. The agents normally finish scanning the PAX they they are processing then reach across and take yours. This gets scanned and you are good to go and join the queue in the airbridge.That's unusual, as First Class normally get to board first. With such a call I would have assumed they (or I) missed it (accidentally) and boarded strait away in any case.This is so true; boarding often commence 35-40 minutes before scheduled departure time.

I will definitely take the 'easier to seek forgiveness than ask permission' stance & go up at the first call or if I happened to be getting a Starbucks cappuccino at the crucial moment & will definitely try to adopt a humble DYKWIA disposition & hope to be called across. Now that I think about it everyone else in the F cabin was in their seats by the time we got on & it's not like we mucked around boarding.

Actually on 3 out of 4 flights whoever was sitting in either 3E or 3F was last to board the aircraft in true DYKWIA style.

Incidentally for the MIA/SJU flight they didn't even bother opening the 'Priority Access' queue at all & just used the general boarding queue & each group used that one queue only.

 

[pshepvic]

I think money spent to reach QFF gold is sufficient for ow saffire..

Relatively speaking, If you put p1 to emarald, there won't be many people Stupid enough sticking with QFF

Agreed. And I will be one who's not that stupid. Currently the only benefit I get from my Plat status is the Flounge. Most of my domestic flights with QF are in J anyway, and for the few that are not, I'm sure I could cope with the QP rather than the Jlounge. I don't fly regularly enough with QF to need the "if something goes wrong you get helped first" benefit, and that's basically gone with the introduction of WP1 as it is.

All my international travel is in J so having status doesn't make that much difference anyway on that side of things. I'm probably better off going with the best deal I can get in J, rather than trying to stick with OW airlines just to maintain a useless QF status.

If they change the OW levels to because of WP1 then they can go jump.


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[pshepvic]

I have a couple of legs next year on MD-80s with AA - what are the problems?

1. Age. 2. Noise, particularly when not flying up the front. 3. Comfort & space (again, when not up the front). 4. IMHO worse during turbulence than a 737. 5. In any case I'd always rather be in a newer aircraft, and would choose a newer AA B738 anyday over the old MD-80s.

Wi-fi in flight makes no difference to me - I'm online enough without being connected at 30,000 feet!


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