Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[Oneworldplus2]

Predictably, the change to a 734 meant, no priority boarding on QF400 this morning. Managed to get to the gate early enough to avoid the long queues. (Two queues had formed.)


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I thought that you had switched all Dom to VA Tony?

 

[TonyHancock]

I thought that you had switched all Dom to VA Tony?

International connection, I'm on QF129 out of Sydney. (Now that Melbourne is pretty much marginalised I have a few of these a year. )

6 out of 7 fails for QF priority boarding for me this year.

It gets worse too. I'm flying to the UK out of Sydney later this month with BA, so another domestic QF flight.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

International connection, I'm on QF129 out of Sydney. (Now that Melbourne is pretty much marginalised I have a few of these a year. )

6 out of 7 fails for QF priority boarding for me this year.

It gets worse too. I'm flying to the UK out of Sydney later this month with BA, so another domestic QF flight.

I see. Keep us posted.
l'm on a SYD-MEL (+ MEL-PER) this coming Friday. Will be interesting.

 

[LiamR]

So, um. I'm flying Qantas out of Hobart this weekend on a J ticket. Does Qantas do priority boarding out of Hobart? I know Virgin recently introduced it into HBA.

 

[tm.smile]

So, um. I'm flying Qantas out of Hobart this weekend on a J ticket. Does Qantas do priority boarding out of Hobart? I know Virgin recently introduced it into HBA.

Did not notice any particular priority queue two weekends ago when I was there on a JASA run... There were two queues, but not big red sign.

 

[AirKat]

Qf635 BNE-MEL tonight total fail. I asked why it was not being policed, I got so much attitude I felt like I was talking to a teenager.

Please QF send me a feedback survey about this flight

 

[eastwest101]

Please QF send me a feedback survey about this flight

I would feedback them anyway with your particular details. Once there are dozens of feedbacks about failure to police priority boarding then QF management might start to do something about it. I think there could be a breakdown in communication here where QF management think that PB is fully rolled out and working, but in reality the operational people on the ground aren't doing it or enforcing it.

 

[Moopere]

I think there could be a breakdown in communication here where QF management think that PB is fully rolled out and working, but in reality the operational people on the ground aren't doing it or enforcing it.

I think you're likely right. Though the query remains... what sort of management doesn't conduct internal audits, at an appropriate level of visibility, to see if their commands are being fulfilled?

 

[flyingfan]

Though the query remains... what sort of management doesn't conduct internal audits, at an appropriate level of visibility, to see if their commands are being fulfilled?

I'd like to know too. Qantas seems to have surveys pretty thoroughly covered (they can't get enough of them it seems) but do they also have, say, a mystery shopper program?

 

[Austashes]

" a mystery shopper program " wonder if they would earn statas credits?

 

[medhead]

I think you're likely right. Though the query remains... what sort of management doesn't conduct internal audits, at an appropriate level of visibility, to see if their commands are being fulfilled?

Or management don't really care and are only doing this to pay lip service to the whole thing.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Solid]

PER-SYD ths morning. First time I have seen priority boarding actually work and not just end up as two lines on Perth outbound flights.

 

[AirKat]

Update - landed in Mel, CSM was very apologetic and supplied J wine the whole flight. Three quarters of a bottle of wine later I am more relaxed about the whole thing

3 flights tomorrow though, let's see how they go

 

[Moopere]

Qf635 BNE-MEL tonight total fail. I asked why it was not being policed, I got so much attitude I felt like I was talking to a teenager.

Please QF send me a feedback survey about this flight

and theres at least part of the answer to this issue. The staff don't want to do it. The attitude is this particular staff member knowing that they _should_ do it and have just been busted.

 

[JSN.Wong]

That's why I've stopped flying QF after being a WP for almost 9 years. Got the DJ status match and jumped over. So much better as they police the priority lane properly.

 

[TheInsider]

That's why I've stopped flying QF after being a WP for almost 9 years. Got the DJ status match and jumped over. So much better as they police the priority lane properly.

So you swap an airline, just because of priority boarding??

 

[medhead]

So you swap an airline, just because of priority boarding??

Once my current bookings are done, I'll be avoiding QF out of Adelaide in preference to DJ, precisely because of priority boarding on DJ compared to the disgrace that QF offer.

 

[docjames]

So you swap an airline, just because of priority boarding??

Once my current bookings are done, I'll be avoiding QF out of Adelaide in preference to DJ, precisely because of priority boarding on DJ compared to the disgrace that QF offer.

Reflecting all else being equal or at least comparable (price, seats, FFP, schedule etc), it would certainly be a discriminator for some (as medhead has given himself as the example) especially as a frequent traveller.

 

[Moopere]

So you swap an airline, just because of priority boarding??

As DocJames says above.

For me, there is a threshold that revolves around my perception of value for money, which is a roundabout way of saying that I'm not insensitive to large differentials in fare price. However, a big determinant, if we assume ballpark similar pricing, is my perception of how I'll be treated and how easy/comfortable and issue free my trip is likely to be.

I whinge a fair bit about my perception of problems that DJ still suffers from, but domestic lounges, priority check-in, bags, boarding and security are not amongst those whinges.... they seem to have a handle on this side of their business and it suits me fine. In all these cases they consistently outperform QF in my experience.... other things being equal, yes, I'd swap, and indeed, have swapped over. This decision has not been price driven.

 

[medhead]

Reflecting all else being equal or at least comparable (price, seats, FFP, schedule etc), it would certainly be a discriminator for some (as medhead has given himself as the example) especially as a frequent traveller.

All things being equal is probably the key point. I will still fly with QF out of SYD because what is on offer there has an edge, timetable wise and in airport to some extent. I guess the other thing I didn't mention is that DJ have got me buying more expensive (flexi) fares for flights from ADL, those on ground extras are making me spend more.