Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[medhead]

Is it just me or is it slightly ironic that PB is branded a failure because someone is knowingly using it when they shouldn't be? There must be a slight chance Danger is the only person flouting the PB rules. So could PB be a success if you stopped using it?


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[Danger]

Is it just me or is it slightly ironic that PB is branded a failure because someone is knowingly using it when they shouldn't be? There must be a slight chance Danger is the only person flouting the PB rules. So could PB be a success if you stopped using it?

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Okay. That's a valid point and I accept it. I will say, however, that there appear to have been more than one or two reports in this thread of 'everyone lining up' in the priority boarding lane and similar.

Regardless, it does not negate the fact that I, by way of my boarding pass, shouldn't be in the PB lane.

 

[medhead]

Okay. That's a valid point and I accept it. I will say, however, that there appear to have been more than one or two reports in this thread of 'everyone lining up' in the priority boarding lane and similar.

Regardless, it does not negate the fact that I, by way of my boarding pass, shouldn't be in the PB lane.

I was only being half serious in that comment. IIRC you've done a lot of pushing on this issue, nothing wrong with getting something back.

Of course, having ADL as my home port PB often requires extensive use of elbows, shoulders and sidesteps.


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[djfuzz]

To be fair, isn't Danger technically entitled to be using the PB lane by virtue of his QFF WP status, despite the fact that it's not printed on his boarding pass, even if it's not checked at the gate?

The real issue I imagine is that others who are not WP or OWE, whatever is printed on their boarding pass, may sneak in there where it's not enforced properly.

 

[Danger]

To be fair, isn't Danger technically entitled to be using the PB lane by virtue of his QFF WP status, despite the fact that it's not printed on his boarding pass, even if it's not checked at the gate?

The real issue I imagine is that others who are not WP or OWE, whatever is printed on their boarding pass, may sneak in there where it's not enforced properly.

Yes, I am entitled to use it, but as far as the gate agent knows, from the information presented to them on the boarding pass, I should be sent politely away. I always have my Platinum card in the back pocket ready to show, but I'm never needed to because I've never been challenged.

 

[Moopere]

If you're referring to the incident whereby a pax in the Premium Boarding Lane accused a WP1 pax of being in the wrong lane - I don't see how this could be construed as a failure of on-the-ground people management as both pax were entitled to use that queue.

It was the assumption of one pax that another pax shouldn't have been there that was the problem.

That was indeed the incident I was referring to. I am trying to make the statement that the Pax in error here are obviously frustrated by their perception (at least) of uncontrolled priority boarding. Its indicative of an overall service failure on the ground by QF leading to vigilante passengers

This whole thread is about the issue, so its not an isolted incident or passenger

 

[Ghostdunks]

FA said sorry not doing PB because the the other FA hasn't arrived yet.

What does that have to do with the price of fish in china?? So what if there's only one FA available to board. Have the FA at the machine, have two lines leading to machine, one normal, one priority, and have FA clear the priority line before working on the normal line. They'll still board the pax at same speed as before, will just be boarding the PRIORITY pax first! I thought that was the whole point of priority boarding... Jeez qantas, it's not rocket science, it just takes some common sense

 

[simongr]

Sorry Danger - using the iPhone app do couldn't see you were WP and this entitled to use the lane.

 

[oz_mark]

To be fair, isn't Danger technically entitled to be using the PB lane by virtue of his QFF WP status, despite the fact that it's not printed on his boarding pass, even if it's not checked at the gate?

The real issue I imagine is that others who are not WP or OWE, whatever is printed on their boarding pass, may sneak in there where it's not enforced properly.

So how do people think this will work. Anyone who thinks they are technically allowed to be in the lane can use it, or should people be able to demonstrate that they are entitled to be in the lane?

 

[djfuzz]

So how do people think this will work. Anyone who thinks they are technically allowed to be in the lane can use it, or should people be able to demonstrate that they are entitled to be in the lane?

The latter, obviously. I was just making the point that we should't be upset at Danger for being naughty and cutting the line, when he was in fact entitled to it but simply did not present his card - sighting / scanning the card should have been requested, that's all.

 

[Danger]

So how do people think this will work. Anyone who thinks they are technically allowed to be in the lane can use it, or should people be able to demonstrate that they are entitled to be in the lane?

I don't think it's so much a matter of demonstrating as it is the gate agents paying the slightest bit of attention. The FF cards are very different in colour and it takes a minimum of three seconds for a boarding pass to scan. While I accept that some people may be using expired FF cards (eg. a once Platinum now Gold), I don't think there's any excuse for a gate agent to be letting the other 99% of those who aren't entitled to use the lane through. I'm not for a moment saying 99% of passengers using PB aren't entitled, merely that only the tiniest amount of those who are should be getting away with it.

. . . sighting / scanning the card should have been requested, that's all.

Exactly my point. Otherwise, what's the point in having PB at all?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I imagine Virgin keeping an eye on this thread and having a good ol' chuckle!

 

[Moopere]

I imagine Virgin keeping an eye on this thread and having a good ol' chuckle!

Yes, I bet you are right. No problem with single gate agents or FA's manning the scanners at the DJ end. They've worked out the key to crowd control, a firm but friendly hand.

 

[nlagalle]

MEL-SYD this morning at gate 24. Big line for normal and 3 people in the priority lane.

Worked a treat..

 

[ozbeachbabe]

As I've mentioned before, it's all well and good to have the fancy, expensive banners and even to make a priority boarding announcement and invite people to use a dedicated lane. But, just like a promised tax cut at election time, it only matters if it actually occurs in practice.

A bit like a John Howard explanation of why a certain thing didn't come about after he was re-elected - "it wasn't a core election promise"!

I don't think it's so much a matter of demonstrating as it is the gate agents paying the slightest bit of attention.

QF gate agents don't board the pax - only the F/A's do.

I think some folk also get confused with both who's eligible to use not only the Priority checkin queue but Priority Boarding queue also. When is says "Business" a lot of people who book through QBT (QF Business Travel) see that as their invitation if they are travelling on business eg some Zoo magazine clutching 19 year olds fresh out of ADF recruit training.

 

[Canny man]

Easyjet have a slightly different system in the UK 'speedyboarding' - you buy PB for a few extra $ as there isn't an FF programme.

What really works though is that the FA checking the ticket is absolutely unbendable on the rules. You try and flaunt the rules and they politely send you aside to await your proper turn. If you protest, they send you to the ticket desk as there are passengers behind you who need processed.

Very quickly, anyone else trying a fast one gets the message and heads off to get in the proper queue - at the tail end.

I can't see how it's too hard for the QF FA's to do the same

 

[Ewing]

Easyjet have a slightly different system in the UK 'speedyboarding' - you buy PB for a few extra $ as there isn't an FF programme.

"Do you sell many of these?"

"Yes, today we've sold one to every passenger on the flight!"

 

[munitalP]

I really think this thread is beyond use. Someone has an experience which is outside of the perceived priority boarding experience and all of a sudden they expect Qantas share prices to drop!

Just through them glass doors it comes to a rapid stop anyway.

Here's an idea for all the whiners that PB does not work and there's no room for their luggage in overhead, play by the rules. Be at the gate at the designated time before boarding instead of sitting in the QP, carry ONLY regulation hand luggage and when you have more than regulation luggage allowance, instead of thinking it's your God given right to carry more than your allowance, check some on - then when the boarding takes 15 minutes longer because people don't like checking in luggage as it takes too long to come out the other-side - do the math...

Priority boarding works and works well in every airport I have been to since it's introduction

 

[TonyHancock]

Bit of a failure on QF400 today....actually more no attempt to offer priority boarding at all. That said I inadvertently received priority boarding.

I arrived at the gate just before 5:40 for the 06:00 flight. It was gate 11, it always seems a little confusing down at that end of the terminal. There was one line but the sign for priority pointed at a right angle to the main line. I followed the sign and found myself at a bit of a dead end, but persevered, and marched forward to have my boarding pass scanned. I was advised that "When I am the only one here we don't have a premium line." She scanned my pass so I guess it was a result. The aircraft was a 737-400.

My domestic travel with QF is now limited to international connections, mainly through Sydney, and this is only the third time I have experienced priority boarding since it was implemented. Unfortunately it seems to be a lottery, I'm not sure whether is is driven by aircraft type, ground crew whimsy, or numbers of staff on duty.

Priority boarding is one of the benefits that is important to me. (Yes I know I have bleated on about it.) I like to get onto the plane early without a mad dash and scramble. It gives me time to place my hand luggage in the overhead locker and get comfortable for the flight. It has become less of an issue for me now because I'll only have to tolerate a handful of QF domestic flights a year, but it still amazes me that something so simple cannot be implemented consistently across a premium airline.

Today's experience left me feeling a bit embarrassed, I had unintentionally pushed in, and probably ahead of many others who should have been able to use priority boarding.

 

[djfuzz]

I really think this thread is beyond use. Someone has an experience which is outside of the perceived priority boarding experience and all of a sudden they expect Qantas share prices to drop!

Just through them glass doors it comes to a rapid stop anyway.

Here's an idea for all the whiners that PB does not work and there's no room for their luggage in overhead, play by the rules. Be at the gate at the designated time before boarding instead of sitting in the QP, carry ONLY regulation hand luggage and when you have more than regulation luggage allowance, instead of thinking it's your God given right to carry more than your allowance, check some on - then when the boarding takes 15 minutes longer because people don't like checking in luggage as it takes too long to come out the other-side - do the math...

Priority boarding works and works well in every airport I have been to since it's introduction

Here's an idea - don't keep reading the thread.

Just because someone else's experience doesn't match your own does not invalidate their concerns.