Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[MEL_Traveller]

hmmm - interesting take on priority boarding here from this trip report on airliners.net.... about half way down the page... simply a sign indicating that those eligible for priority boarding should proceed directly to the front of the queue:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/214648/

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Anybody that has known me for a while knows how I was a complete QF-centric person before I was seduced by VA.

Don't They Know Who We Are?????

Lindsay does that mean you'll throw out all your old QF boarding passes now?

DTKWWA. Sound like you've just created a brand new acronym - that's going straight to the pool room.

 

[QF WP]

No way, my collection is of all my tickets and BPs, even VA's (for which I have been able to switch to card BP's with one exception).

Glad to add to the collection ozbeachbabe [and kudos to TonyHancock for the inspiration]

 

[LiamR]

hmmm - interesting take on priority boarding here from this trip report on airliners.net.... about half way down the page... simply a sign indicating that those eligible for priority boarding should proceed directly to the front of the queue:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/214648/

Funny. I did the exact same flight out of Zurich on AF and noticed the same sign. It works, but it pretty much makes you feel like a douche.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Funny. I did the exact same flight out of Zurich on AF and noticed the same sign. It works, but it pretty much makes you feel like a douche.

I dunno - I pretty much do that anyways - sign or not. The common old system of having coloured boarding passes used to help - just hold up the red pass even it you were at the back of the queue and someone would come get you! It still works for places like HKG with Qantas, except now with everyone having the same pass you have to approach the desk at the gate and actually ask someone to take you to the front... douche or not I don't really want to wait behind 72J and 32W and however many platinums and golds in Y while their having their bags searched for liquids on the pier.

 

[tuapekastar]

This relates to International rather than domestic PB, but had an odd experience at Gate 9 MEL T2 when boarding QF9 the other week. From the Gate area on the departures level you proceed down an escalator to a smaller area where the entrances to the aerobridges are. When I arrived from the Flounge there was a long (single) queue to the top of the escalator. I sort of merged into the middle (having mosied up front to check out what was going on, I had no intention of trekking all the way to the back - a little poncey I know but I just could not be bothered ) then the entire queue was held at the top of the escalator, presumably until a logjam of passengers had been cleared at the bottom. Once the lower level was reached there was normal PB, but took some time to actually get there. Be interesting so see how it goes if QF93 leaves from the same gate tomorrow. I may lob a little early.

 

[TonyHancock]

This relates to International rather than domestic PB, but had an odd experience at Gate 9 MEL T2 when boarding QF9 the other week. From the Gate area on the departures level you proceed down an escalator to a smaller area where the entrances to the aerobridges are. When I arrived from the Flounge there was a long (single) queue to the top of the escalator. I sort of merged into the middle (having mosied up front to check out what was going on, I had no intention of trekking all the way to the back - a little poncey I know but I just could not be bothered ) then the entire queue was held at the top of the escalator, presumably until a logjam of passengers had been cleared at the bottom. Once the lower level was reached there was normal PB, but took some time to actually get there. Be interesting so see how it goes if QF93 leaves from the same gate tomorrow. I may lob a little early.

You can avoid the escalator queue if you use the lift from the F lounge down to the boarding level.

 

[pagingjoan]

This relates to International rather than domestic PB, but had an odd experience at Gate 9 MEL T2 when boarding QF9 the other week. From the Gate area on the departures level you proceed down an escalator to a smaller area where the entrances to the aerobridges are. When I arrived from the Flounge there was a long (single) queue to the top of the escalator. I sort of merged into the middle (having mosied up front to check out what was going on, I had no intention of trekking all the way to the back - a little poncey I know but I just could not be bothered ) then the entire queue was held at the top of the escalator, presumably until a logjam of passengers had been cleared at the bottom. Once the lower level was reached there was normal PB, but took some time to actually get there. Be interesting so see how it goes if QF93 leaves from the same gate tomorrow. I may lob a little early.

If you use the lift, instead of the escalator, you can avoid the queue, I recall.

 

[serfty]

Not for QF093, USA flights are different with additional security and you have to go via the concourse level.

Other than that it's a good option for most departures that use those VLA gates.

(Especialy for those in the J lounge.)

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[pagingjoan]

Not for QF009, USA flights are different with additional security and you have to go via the concourse level.

Really?
Must have circumvented the system then, at some stage. Or, more likely aged memory failure!

 

[tuapekastar]

Dang, thought I had been given a solution! Will remember the lift for non-USA flights though. Cheers. I'll keep an eye out for opportunity tomorrow anyway.

 

[serfty]

Sorry, I meant QF093 ...

... DYAC!

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[TonyHancock]

Not for QF093, USA flights are different with additional security and you have to go via the concourse level.

Indeed I got myself into a little "trouble" by using the lift relatively early for QF93 and was eventually dispatched back, via the lift, for the extra security.

 

[pagingjoan]

Indeed I got myself into a little "trouble" by using the lift relatively early for QF93 and was eventually dispatched back, via the lift, for the extra security.

Ah, that seems to ring a vague bell... But I don't remember the "lift of shame", so maybe the PTB were feeling generous at the time.

 

[nonpop]

19th April
QF415 SYD > MEL
B767
Sort of fail sort of worked.

Once people knew where the lines were it then sort of worked. But until the gate agent stood at the scanning machine, nobody could tell which gate was going to be opened. The entry to the gate was not the entry under the sign announcing the flight details. The pics below should make more sense:

This is what was presented when we all showed up ... the crowd behind me was scattered with no lines as people were unsure

View attachment 6992

Then the gate agent moved the sign board ... which again did nothing to clarify

View attachment 6993

Boarding took place from the far right entry, not where the red carpet is where the above digital sign is announcing the flight.

 

[tm.smile]

Currently on a status run here is what I've witnessed so far today (19th Apr) - FYI not (yet) WP but was a SG in Business....

QF516 SYD-BNE
Boarding started late, but once the doors were open (before any sort of announcement), people lined up in the respective queues. Priority was to the left, everyone else to the right. From what I saw, it went ok.

QF974 BNE-TSV
Got to the gate when it was announced at the QP but all passengers had already boarded so didn't see the scrum in effect. Priority on the right, others to the left.

QF975 TSV-BNE
No priority, just one loooong queue.

 

[tm.smile]

Today's flight QF824 BNE-DRW

Boarding was well under way at gate 23 when I got there. Priority queue was on the right and completely empty when I got there. So much so that I thought it was not operating :-/

Sat down and waited a bit before picking up the courage and walking down the red carpet. Worked well...

 

[nonpop]

QF 444 20APR12 MELBOURNE/SYDNEY B767 PB work well and was clearly set-up

 

[nlagalle]

Both QF412 MEL-SYD and QF459 SYD-MEL worked well for me on Wednesday and Friday

 

[medhead]

Back on QF next week after enjoying a month of 100% perfect DJ boarding. QF730 ADL-SYD, will see if my feedback actually resulted in any action.