Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[pshepvic]

You can use any QF Q card (QP, PS, SG in addition to the ones you've mentioned) as a BP.

Correct, however the only ones that allow PB are P1, WP and CL, therefore the comment was correct in saying these are the only ones the gate staff / FAs need to know. Any other cards should not be accepted for priority boarding, provided that Emerald is printed on the BP. In most cases it is, but sometimes the systems don't link.

Recently in the US my partner's Emerald status showed up on the BP on only 3 out of 9 AA flights, yet mine showed up on all of them, despite us being on the same booking in all cases. The QFF number was correctly linked each time though, so occasionally the system does get it wrong.


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[Kangol]

Correct, however the only ones that allow PB are P1, WP and CL, therefore the comment was correct in saying these are the only ones the gate staff / FAs need to know. Any other cards should not be accepted for priority boarding, provided that Emerald is printed on the BP. In most cases it is, but sometimes the systems don't link.

Recently in the US my partner's Emerald status showed up on the BP on only 3 out of 9 AA flights, yet mine showed up on all of them, despite us being on the same booking in all cases. The QFF number was correctly linked each time though, so occasionally the system does get it wrong.


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Ah yes, i re-read and now I get the original comment - WP, P1 and CL are guaranteed "PBBP"s!

To add more confusion, in theory any Q card can be used as a PBBP if travelling in J.

I could do an experiment next month - travelling in J and won't have achieved WP by then - I'll see if I get turned back by virtue of my SG card alone (or any other non WP level card).

 

[Heleigh]

Ah yes, i re-read and now I get the original comment - WP, P1 and CL are guaranteed "PBBP"s!

To add more confusion, in theory any Q card can be used as a PBBP if travelling in J.

I could do an experiment next month - travelling in J and won't have achieved WP by then - I'll see if I get turned back by virtue of my SG card alone (or any other non WP level card).

As J pax even without status, you are entitled to PB below is a link to QF J boarding info

Flying with Qantas | Domestic Business | Taking all of your needs onboard

Before you fly section

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Correct, however the only ones that allow PB are P1, WP and CL, therefore the comment was correct in saying these are the only ones the gate staff / FAs need to know. Any other cards should not be accepted for priority boarding, provided that Emerald is printed on the BP. In most cases it is, but sometimes the systems don't link.

Recently in the US my partner's Emerald status showed up on the BP on only 3 out of 9 AA flights, yet mine showed up on all of them, despite us being on the same booking in all cases. The QFF number was correctly linked each time though, so occasionally the system does get it wrong.

Most of the time on Classic Awards the numbers never appear on the boarding pass so you could be WP but get turned away from the PB queue unless you presented your WP card. This also impacts being able to choose a decent seat & baggage allowance so if using a next gen bag drop the system would only think you're entitled to 1 @ 23 kg not 2 @ 32 kg.

I don't know why the number doesn't show on the BP or in checkin despite being in the pnr as the system is smart enough to recognise when to allow SC/points accrual & when not to.

 

[mannej]

Most of the time on Classic Awards the numbers never appear on the boarding pass so you could be WP but get turned away from the PB queue unless you presented your WP card. This also impacts being able to choose a decent seat & baggage allowance so if using a next gen bag drop the system would only think you're entitled to 1 @ 23 kg not 2 @ 32 kg.

I don't know why the number doesn't show on the BP or in checkin despite being in the pnr as the system is smart enough to recognise when to allow SC/points accrual & when not to.

Does this apply for international Classic awards as well?
Although status and FF number is printed on the E-ticket, will the info come out still state J pax at 32kgs instead of the 64kgs that I would be entitled too?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Does this apply for international Classic awards as well? Although status and FF number is printed on the E-ticket, will the info come out still state J pax at 32kgs instead of the 64kgs that I would be entitled too?

I think it happens on both international or domestic classic awards however I would be too worried in your case as you're going to/from HKG you would be seeing a checkin agent anyway & you can show them your ff card so it can be established that you are WP or whatever tier status you are & therefore receive the correct baggage allowance you're entitled to.

I remember in the nineties I was travelling on some kind of contra ticket with QF & even though my QP number was in the booking the flights still showed on the boarding pass & on my ff statement however with a nil SC/points earn as expected.

 

[pshepvic]

Most of the time on Classic Awards the numbers never appear on the boarding pass so you could be WP but get turned away from the PB queue unless you presented your WP card. This also impacts being able to choose a decent seat & baggage allowance so if using a next gen bag drop the system would only think you're entitled to 1 @ 23 kg not 2 @ 32 kg.

I don't know why the number doesn't show on the BP or in checkin despite being in the pnr as the system is smart enough to recognise when to allow SC/points accrual & when not to.

Really? That's interesting as my experience has been different - I've never had a BP that has not shown my FF number and status - and that's based on about 200-odd flights I've had with QF in my lifetime. Out of those I'd say 20% would be classic awards, although these days I tend to use JASAs more often than classics.


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[oz_mark]

Really? That's interesting as my experience has been different - I've never had a BP that has not shown my FF number and status - and that's based on about 200-odd flights I've had with QF in my lifetime. Out of those I'd say 20% would be classic awards, although these days I tend to use JASAs more often than classics.

...and I've had my FF number/status not appear on paid flights, even though the check-in agent said it was in the booking. Points posted fine after the event as well.

 

[beardoc]

Maybe they need to go down the path of the airlines in the US to print Priority Boarding/Priority AAccess/SkyPriority etc in massive font on the BP!

I think this is the most sensible way - it gets around the problem of most of the passengers and whether they're entitled to Priority Boarding.

The only situation in which this is a problem, as mentioned above, is that someone using their Q card to board. I suspect these numbers are low, and wouldn't screw up the boarding system. The "*** Priority AAccess ***" printed on the AA boarding pass also allows security to work out who should be in the Priority security lanes too.

 

[Danger]

I think this is the most sensible way - it gets around the problem of most of the passengers and whether they're entitled to Priority Boarding.

The only situation in which this is a problem, as mentioned above, is that someone using their Q card to board. I suspect these numbers are low, and wouldn't screw up the boarding system. The "*** Priority AAccess ***" printed on the AA boarding pass also allows security to work out who should be in the Priority security lanes too.

I think the numbers would be quite high. It includes everyone with any type of QF FF card.

The solution is for gate agents to pay attention. Obviously, the Q cards are easy: it's the platinum colour and the black colour. Anyone else trying to board with a different colour card should be met with a polite "Are you travelling Business today sir/madam?" On the boarding pass, the norm is for the status to be printed. Again, it takes longer than a second or two for the pass to be scanned at the gate (sometimes upwards of 10 seconds in my experience), which gives ample time for even a cursory glance of the status or 'Business' written on it.

 

[medhead]

Well ADL stands out as a qantas failure. No priority boarding, nit even an attempt at pre-boarding. Come of qantas virgin can get this sorted and it works well.


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[simongr]

Well ADL stands out as a qantas failure. No priority boarding, nit even an attempt at pre-boarding. Come of qantas virgin can get this sorted and it works well.


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I thought VA/DJ didnt provide PB at ADL?

 

[LiamR]

I thought VA/DJ didnt provide PB at ADL?

I think they recently launched it in ADL.

 

[Canny man]

It was a zoo again at Perth gate 13 for the 1230 on Friday. Two huge lines with no way to differentiate until quite close to the gate. No attempt from QF to police it.

 

[beardoc]

I think the numbers would be quite high. It includes everyone with any type of QF FF card.

As you pointed out, lots of people have Q cards. However, very few people use them as their primary boarding pass, in my experience. The only people that would be entitled to use priority boarding but wouldn't have either a WP or CL card or a printed boarding pass that said "Priority Boarding" would be people who are QP, SG or PS that are flying business. As you mentioned, a simple question "are you flying in business class today?" when presented with a QP/SG/PS card would be all that would be needed. If you have the CL/WP card, or a boarding pass with "Priority Access". The only exception mentioned above would have to be a pretty small group, right? And they could be dealt with fairly using the question above.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It was a zoo again at Perth gate 13 for the 1230 on Friday. Two huge lines with no way to differentiate until quite close to the gate. No attempt from QF to police it.

Especially on QF582 (747). Would like to also add that maybe more ground staff (baggage handlers) could be on somehow when it lands. Takes forever to get luggage, and priority luggage, with QF, is hit and miss really......

 

[Kangol]

I think the numbers would be quite high. It includes everyone with any type of QF FF card.

The solution is for gate agents to pay attention. Obviously, the Q cards are easy: it's the platinum colour and the black colour. Anyone else trying to board with a different colour card should be met with a polite "Are you travelling Business today sir/madam?" On the boarding pass, the norm is for the status to be printed. Again, it takes longer than a second or two for the pass to be scanned at the gate (sometimes upwards of 10 seconds in my experience), which gives ample time for even a cursory glance of the status or 'Business' written on it.

To complicate things even more, even if they are travelling in Y and using a different colour card (and are truly WP/WP1, just using an old card for whatever reason) they are still entitled to PB.

 

[medhead]

I thought VA/DJ didnt provide PB at ADL?

I think they recently launched it in ADL.

Yep sometime over Christmas. It was real good using it last weekend. (when I had the little concern about someone jumping seats )

 

[ozbeachbabe]

To complicate things even more, even if they are travelling in Y and using a different colour card (and are truly WP/WP1, just using an old card for whatever reason) they are still entitled to PB.

I don't think it's too much to ask for the pax to have the most up to date card with them to present as they can't expect the F/A to be a mind reader & realise that they're actually WP & entitled to use the PB lane but are still showing their SG card otherwise they'd have to expect to use the general boarding lane.

If they've only just attained WP & have not yet got their new card the smart thing to do would be to print out the boarding pass which would reflect the WP status to avoid any confusion at the gate.

I suppose you will get pax who were WP & have dropped down a peg or two that will use their WP card in the PB lane when they may now be SG or PS.

 

[reductionist]

I suppose you will get pax who were WP & have dropped down a peg or two that will use their WP card in the PB lane when they may now be SG or PS.

If this is the case the card will be invalid won't it? Due to the expiry date having passed? Does the scanning equipment at the gate check this?