Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Oneworldplus2]

Monday morning, SYD to BNE, same thing, 2 long lines. I actually walked up towards the front of the premium line and no one challenged me, which makes me believe no one else had the right to be in that lane!

Tonight, BNE to SYD, only a couple of pax in the premium line, but I'm pretty sure that was because there were few 'regular' Pax due to Xmas!

My gripe is that FAs or Ground staff, whoever 'man' the gates, don't discourage pax from using the premium boarding. I.e. Once they've entered the lane, they don't get turned back. How does that discourage use of the premium boarding lane?

Good point jim. When l was in LHR T5 earlier this year (Terminal 5C l think), there was a BA staff member (FA) positioned at the top/start of the priority lane, resulting in only people who are entitled to use it, using it. Worked well. Maybe QF need to take this approach?

 

[opusman]

PB was working fine yesterday on QF675 MEL-ADL - a 737 too!

 

[serfty]

PB was working fine yesterday on QF675 MEL-ADL - a 737 too!

Yesterday QF675 was operated by VH-VZD, a 73H.

The issue as mentioned for 1 FA doing the scanning relates to 734's.

 

[JohnM]

Good point jim. When l was in LHR T5 earlier this year (Terminal 5C l think), there was a BA staff member (FA) positioned at the top/start of the priority lane, resulting in only people who are entitled to use it, using it. Worked well. Maybe QF need to take this approach?

I agree that crew need to enforce the procedures. However, that has some downsides such as reduced efficiency, the staff having to confront passengers with a negative message and generally lumping on crew 'crowd control' activity that would be better avoided if at all possible. I just think that clearer, simpler, more explicit signage would have gone a long way to doing just that.

Of course, there are likely to be some pax that wilfully ignore the signs or just don't read them that will need 'educating' but I think perhaps in smaller numbers than we may at times see now. It may also help reduce the 'herd effect' where people just follow the mass without reading any signs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

me thinks the crowd wouldn't have so much problem reading the sign if it said 'priority boarding, free for platinums and business class, $10 for everyone else'! (cash only, payable if you want to have your boarding pass scanned from the premium lane)

 

[DC3]

me thinks the crowd wouldn't have so much problem reading the sign if it said 'priority boarding, free for platinums and business class, $10 for everyone else'! (cash only, payable if you want to have your boarding pass scanned from the premium lane)

That's a good one. Maybe more suitable for Jetstar, but a good one.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yesterday QF675 was operated by VH-VZD, a 73H.

The issue as mentioned for 1 FA doing the scanning relates to 734's.

There are actually 5 F/A's on a 734 when to/from CBR as opposed to 4 on 734 flight to/from all other destinations as depending on the config there may be up to 20 J class seats hence the ability to have 2 F/A's come up to board & leave the CSM & remaining 2 F/A's onboard to assist pax to their seats & where to show hand luggage etc.

me thinks the crowd wouldn't have so much problem reading the sign if it said 'priority boarding, free for platinums and business class, $10 for everyone else'! (cash only, payable if you want to have your boarding pass scanned from the premium lane)

The funny thing is you'd probably have someone asking the gate agent "excuse me is this where I pay my $10 for the priority boarding"!

 

[reductionist]

QF 401 this morning SYD-MEL.

Premium boarding lane was open, and there were two FAs scanning boarding passes.

However it was far from being implemented properly. The premium lane was many times longer than the general boarding lane, people were just lining up behind each other like sheep. I arrived at the gate and just took the general lane.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Worked like a charm today, hold on....that was VA

 

[LiamR]

Worked like a charm today, hold on....that was VA

That's because VA Platinums generally police the line themselves. Don't look like you belong there? You'll get a lookover and somebody will say something. Funny to watch.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

That's because VA Platinums generally police the line themselves. Don't look like you belong there? You'll get a lookover and somebody will say something. Funny to watch.

Yet QF still fail on this. How hard can it be??? (Obviously very hard...lol )

 

[LiamR]

Yet QF still fail on this. How hard can it be??? (Obviously very hard...lol )

It's nearly time for us to put on some Qantas uniforms and start helping out.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It's nearly time for us to put on some Qantas uniforms and start helping out.

LOL. Made my day with that one Liam!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's nearly time for us to put on some Qantas uniforms and start helping out.

I am more than willing to don said uniform and 'help out'... provided I get confirmed (free) first class flights for myself and all my family and friends, have access to the First class lounges at MEL/SYD before my shift, and a payrise (equivalent to 26% once perks are taken into account)....wait hang on... I'm not actually flying the plane...

 

[chrispy3276]

Syd-Adl on evening of Friday the 23rd; PB could not be done due to only "one crew member being available for check in", apologies issued. Seemed to be enforced on most other gates though. Strange.

 

[Stephen65]

It's nearly time for us to put on some Qantas uniforms and start helping out.

Maybe Qantas could issue armbands for WPs to wear?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I am more than willing to don said uniform and 'help out'... provided I get confirmed (free) first class flights for myself and all my family and friends, have access to the First class lounges at MEL/SYD before my shift, and a payrise (equivalent to 26% once perks are taken into account)....wait hang on... I'm not actually flying the plane...

I don't think anyone in QF gets that.....well maybe one person but I think the 26% payrise sounds a tad stingy - I think they got more than that. :shock: :shock:

Syd-Adl on evening of Friday the 23rd; PB could not be done due to only "one crew member being available for check in", apologies issued. Seemed to be enforced on most other gates though. Strange.

PB worked ok today at BNE. The folks were on QF529 to SYD @ gate 24 & SO on QF597 to PER also @ gate 24 & PB announcements made on both occasions & no riff raff in the wrong queue. Noticed a few WP's (from tags on their carry on) walk straight up to F/A in the right hand queue & go straight on.

Yet the elephant in the room seems to be ever present when boarding a 734 to anywhere except CBR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think anyone in QF gets that.....well maybe one person but I think the 26% payrise sounds a tad stingy - I think they got more than that. :shock: :shock:


.

I know! the 26% was just the amount of equivalent payrise (as estimated by qantas) by the time the pilots' pay rise and manicures (access to first class lounges) were taken into account (hence the 'I'm not flying the plane )

 

[opusman]

This thread is weird...

 

[Moopere]

Syd-Adl on evening of Friday the 23rd; PB could not be done due to only "one crew member being available for check in", apologies issued. Seemed to be enforced on most other gates though. Strange.

Its staff resisting change I fear.

DJ PER-MEL on the 24th in a 737-800, one FA at the gate who had to ask the Y line to wait as she walked over to the head of the PB lane where I was to book me through then continued with Y boarding ... not a problem and no Pax rage either.