Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Simo]

IME just line up and get on the flight...

I have not seen a FA say to someone sorry your rows have not been called or you are not gold or plat so please wait over there.

Priority baggage doesn't happen either...

 

[medhead]

Domestic priority boarding is mentioned, clearly, in the comparison table of benefits as something platinum gets. I would be happy with get on first boarding without being trampled to death, just like VA can manage to do. The fact that nothing happens consistently in practice doesn't make me think raising discussing this failure is pointless.

 

[connieguy]

Red Roo please comment. This uncertainty has gone on long enough.

Does QF:

1) Offer Domestic "Priority Boarding" access to QF FFers and / or OW FFers? Here I mean walk up anytime, get your boarding pass / QF FFer card scanned and walk on the plane, even if there is a long line of boarding Paxs and only one ground staff scanning the BPs?

2) If so what QF / OW tier statuses are offered this Domestic "Priority Boarding" service?

3) If so and there is no clearly marked "Priority Boarding" channel, how does a FFer physically obtain the Priority Boarding access?

Thanks in advance.


Also PMed to Red Roo.

 

[oz_mark]

So in effect Domestic Priority Boarding (IE walk up anytime and get to board the aircraft) basically does not exist and our discussions are a waste of time unless we wish to engage Red Roo and get the current policy changed.

Then why is it mentioned on the comparison page: Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges - Status Privileges

 

[connieguy]

Then why is it mentioned on the comparison page: Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges - Status Privileges

In the detailed Gold and Platinum benefits pages, there is no mention of priority boarding on domestic flights. It is only mentioned on the benefits comparison page, as you point out, and in the initial boarding announcements where Gold is also mentioned. To clear up the confusion, I have asked Red Roo to comment on if this exists as a benefit or not.


"Red Roo please comment. This uncertainty has gone on long enough.

Does QF:

1) Offer Domestic "Priority Boarding" access to QF FFers and / or OW FFers? Here I mean walk up anytime, get your boarding pass / QF FFer card scanned and walk on the plane, even if there is a long line of boarding Paxs and only one ground staff scanning the BPs?

2) If so what QF / OW tier statuses are offered this Domestic "Priority Boarding" service?

3) If so and there is no clearly marked "Priority Boarding" channel, how does a FFer physically obtain the Priority Boarding access?

Thanks in advance."

Maybe you should PM Red Roo with the same question as well?

 

[burrco]

Well morning glory I agree with many of the other posts. For me pre-boarding is not priority boarding - priority boarding is a separate lane for use at any stage during the boarding process.

Extremely selfish I know (but we get so little!) - but such lane should also be reserved for J, OWE & WP. SG & PS (and Oneworld equivalents) should be entitled to pre-boarding if they so desire.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Hi all,

I would love to see QF enhance WP status with a WP boarding call in the lounge that is not given until the gate is clear of other pax. Now that would be great.

ejb

Generally I would agree, but as most travellers ignore the carry-on restrictions it becomes extremely important to be first on to secure valuable real-estate overhead.

AA has done it right and QF should copy it.

 

[medhead]

Maybe you should PM Red Roo with the same question as well?

I've actually submitted feedback a number of times about priority boarding as well as more general feedback about the total lack of control they have over boarding, especially for QF730 from ADL.

Extremely selfish I know (but we get so little!) - but such lane should also be reserved for J, OWE & WP. SG & PS (and Oneworld equivalents) should be entitled to pre-boarding if they so desire.

One minor issue is that priority boarding is a published benefit for OWS. If it was provided then I expect they would have to include them, which then includes SG by extension.

 

[connieguy]

I've actually submitted feedback a number of times about priority boarding as well as more general feedback about the total lack of control they have over boarding, especially for QF730 from ADL.

Ditto. I'm in discussion with Red Roo over this at the moment.

One minor issue is that priority boarding is a published benefit for OWS. If it was provided then I expect they would have to include them, which then includes SG by extension.

Yes the OW web site claims Emeralds (WP) and Sapphires (Gold) get "Boarding at convenience" on OW marketed and operated flights.

oneworld - oneworld Tier Status

Maybe someone needs to tell QF to get their published Platinum and Gold benefits to align with those of OW and then to "Make It Happen".

 

[docjames]

Flying SYD-CBR on Monday evening on a 734, boarding was announced for 'Business Class passengers, Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, travellers with young children, travellers with special needs and those seated in Rows 25-10'.

.

Honestly, that's just idiotic.

 

[MatF]

Honestly, that's just idiotic.

I had a similar (indeed even more idiotic) experience in February - as per my reply to medhead's blog entry:
Woohoo! Priority Boarding - it's a start - Blogs - The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community


"Since reading your previous blog entry on this topic, I've been more consciously listening to the boarding announcements. I like to be at the gate when boarding starts (I have some weird compulsion to get on the aircraft early), so I'm normally there to hear it. The only thing I've really noticed is the total lack of consistency.

Anyway, thought you might like this one. QF539 on Friday afternoon in Brisbane. Boarding was called by row number, with "Economy rows 25-57 boarding first with Business, and Platinum and Gold frequent flyers able to board at their leisure".

This was on a 767-336, so essentially everyone except non-WP/SG (and CL I guess) sitting in rows 23 and 24 had the elusive priority boarding call

Of course, as usual, there was no enforcement, and everyone was already lined up, so it made no difference anyway"

 

[Danger]

Anyway, thought you might like this one. QF539 on Friday afternoon in Brisbane. Boarding was called by row number, with "Economy rows 25-57 boarding first with Business, and Platinum and Gold frequent flyers able to board at their leisure".

Inconsistent, inconsistent. So while the QF website makes no mention of Golds getting domestic priority boarding, reality, once again, is a different story.

I'd actually like to see more of this inconsistency between the website and what's actually provided. For example, the website makes no mention of Platinums receiving, say, porter service at the airport, but I'd like to rock up to Perth one day and have some bloke in tails and a top hat help me with my bags. Similarly, while the website makes no mention of Platinums accessing the Chairmans Lounge, I'd like to knock on the "Private" door next time I'm in Sydney and be told "Why of course, sir. You're Platinum. We don't mention it as a benefit on the website but, please, come on in".

 

[samiam]

I'm in discussion with Red Roo over this at the moment.

Does that mean you have had a reponse, or PM'ed and still waiting on an answer?

 

[connieguy]

Inconsistent, inconsistent. So while the QF website makes no mention of Golds getting domestic priority boarding, reality, once again, is a different story.

I'd actually like to see more of this inconsistency between the website and what's actually provided. For example, the website makes no mention of Platinums receiving, say, porter service at the airport, but I'd like to rock up to Perth one day and have some bloke in tails and a top hat help me with my bags. Similarly, while the website makes no mention of Platinums accessing the Chairmans Lounge, I'd like to knock on the "Private" door next time I'm in Sydney and be told "Why of course, sir. You're Platinum. We don't mention it as a benefit on the website but, please, come on in".

The confusion gets worst as I was informed that domestic Priority Boarding is done via the PA and that J, WP and OW customers are invited to board first...." Note NO mention of GOLD! However what I and others have heard is as reported but no mention of "you can board at your convenience". Seems the QF implementation is done via a first to board process, which requires you to be at the gate when that PA is made and not in the Lounge when the PA is done much later there.

What about QF Golds? Are they not OW Sapphires who have 'Boarding at Convenience" benefits granted to them by ALL OW members?

As others have heard, Golds are mentioned in the PA announcements. So if QF doesn't know that Golds AND Platinums have "Boarding at Convenience" benefits, who the H**L does?

So Red Roo does QF grant OW Emeralds (who are also QF Platinums) AND OW Sapphires (who are also QF Golds) the right to "Board at their Convenience" QF domestic flights or is the OW web site wrong? BTW Boarding at your Convenience is not the same thing as being allowed to board first, especially when we are in the Lounge when that PA is done.

For me I see it like this:

1) Wps / OWEs and SGs / OWSs have the right to walk to the head of the boarding queue, swipe our QF Card / BP and enter the boarding walkway even if there is only 1 ground staff checking BPs.

2) QF need to alter their Gold and Platinum web pages to reflect this so QF is in line with all others OW members and the OW web site.

So no extra signs, just a bit of instructions passed to QF ground staff. Simple, easy, almost no cost and you get a lot of smiles from WPs and SGs. The bottom line is QF's FFer benefit systems need to be publicly seen to be working and delivering FF benefits. Doing the above is a very easy, quick and low cost way to do just that.

 

[connieguy]

Does that mean you have had a reponse, or PM'ed and still waiting on an answer?

I had a answer which did not really address the questions I asked and if fact added to the confusion, so I asked it again in a different way.

 

[samiam]

I had a answer which did not really address the questions I asked and if fact added to the confusion, so I asked it again in a different way.

Excellent - I look forward to hearing the straight response

 

[MatF]

While the PA calls are inconsistent (though this has improved), and also inconsistent with the website (hell, even the website is inconsistent with the website), fixing those issues with a well communicated and consistently applied policy isn't worth much if there's no dedicated priority boarding lane/entrance.

As soon as people see the FA's walking back up the ramp towards the doors, The Scrum™ forms - and I doubt many priority boarders would want to battle their way through it. Virgin can do it, so I can't see why QF can't also.

 

[pshepvic]

I'm half tempted to take a couple of purple signs and queue dividers next time I fly QF and set up my own priority boarding queue.

If Virgin can get it right EVERY TIME after fully implementing it only in the last couple of months, how hard is it for the world's oldest continuously operating airline?? (that's what they keep telling us isn't it?)

 

[connieguy]

I'm half tempted to take a couple of purple signs and queue dividers next time I fly QF and set up my own priority boarding queue.

If Virgin can get it right EVERY TIME after fully implementing it only in the last couple of months, how hard is it for the world's oldest continuously operating airline?? (that's what they keep telling us isn't it?)

Change is a step by step process which I see as being:

1) QF to update the Gold and Platinum benefits with the words "Board at Convenience" for Domestic and International flights so those benefits align with the stated OW Emerald and OW Sapphire benefits.

2) Change the PA to say "QF Business, Platinums, Golds, OW Emeralds and Sapphires can board at their convenience" and ensure the ground staff repeat it 4 - 5 times during the boarding process. That will take care of the Scrum.

3) Make more of the Priority check-in stands so they can stand to one side of the BP checking station.

 

[Danger]

I'm half tempted to take a couple of purple signs and queue dividers next time I fly QF and set up my own priority boarding queue.

I'm in. Perhaps at a future AFF function (maybe if we have a Platinum anytime access anniversary wake or similar), we could put some plans together. I'd be happy to do the leg work if QF still hasn't got it right by that point.

Change is a step by step process which I see as being:

1) QF to update the Gold and Platinum benefits with the words "Board at Convenience" for Domestic and International flights so those benefits align with the stated OW Emerald and OW Sapphire benefits.

2) Change the PA to say "QF Business, Platinums, Golds, OW Emeralds and Sapphires can board at their convenience" and ensure the ground staff repeat it 4 - 5 times during the boarding process. That will take care of the Scrum.

3) Make more of the Priority check-in stands so they can stand to one side of the BP checking station.

The problem with this is, "board at convenience" is not, in any way, priority boarding unless there is some kind of staggered boarding process to begin with. For example, if QF went to something "QFxx_ is now boarding. We invite passengers seated in rows 158-160 to board now. Business Class passengers and QFF Platinums may board at their convenience". It simply doesn't work if the announcement is "QFxx_ is now boarding. Business Class passengers and QFF Platinums may board at their convenience." This appears to be very much the process today.

Whatever they decide, the only one way priority boarding will work is if there's some way to board in advance of the 400-odd people that crowd at the gate before boarding is announced. Otherwise, where's the priority? It certainly isn't found in "board at convenience".