PS to lose priority DOM Checkin

[opusman]

PS still gives you OWR, the benefits of which haven't changed...

 

[samh004]

PS still gives you OWR, the benefits of which haven't changed...

Except to say that OWR status in domestic lines isn’t the same as QF PS status in domestic lines, even though being essentially the same thing. Internationally and in other countries, QF PS will allow priority check-in still. Domestically, OWR (but not also QF PS) will allow priority check-in.

 

[serfty]

I do believe PS can still preselect seating (of some type) on Qantas flights - unlike NB's (including QP NB).

 

[samh004]

I do believe PS can still preselect seating (of some type) on Qantas flights - unlike NB's (including QP NB).

I can confirm that one

 

[anat0l]

In addition to this, PS (OWR) get free baggage on AA domestic. Sure, most people might not travel to America, let alone fly AA there either. But to have the option of a free checked bag can be important. And OWR grants you use of Priority AAccess features.

Given that the requirements are 50 SC lower, that's a plus for some people.

 

[samh004]

In addition to this, PS (OWR) get free baggage on AA domestic. Sure, most people might not travel to America, let alone fly AA there either. But to have the option of a free checked bag can be important. And OWR grants you use of Priority AAccess features.

Given that the requirements are 50 SC lower, that's a plus for some people.

Unless AA re-evaluates who gets this access now that QF have made it easier

 

[ajw373]

Good lord, what a pack of whingers! Qantas clearly want silvers to use the new check-in system, in fact they want every frequent flyer (except bronze it seems) to use the new check-in system hence why everyone else will get the new chip enabled cards.

They clearly only want passengers to go to the old fashioned check-in desks as a last resort, hence why for domestic flights they have taken away the option to use the business class check-in for silvers.

I doubt once new gen check-in is established properly that there will be a need for any frequent flyer to go to a check-in desk. One good thing, looks like many silvers are taking their bats and heading to other carriers. Out of interest what does Virgin Blue and Tiger offer their silver equivilents?

 

[samh004]

Out of interest what does Virgin Blue offer their silver equivilents?

A priority check-in queue, which apparently everyone wants… more interaction, not less.

 

[ajw373]

A priority check-in queue, which apparently everyone wants… more interaction, not less.

Which is what you get on Qantas too, EXCEPT of course the priority check-in is the Next Gen check-in machine not a counter.

To be honest I think the way the program has changed over the years has devalued gold and platinum memberships, so a change to re-balance is long overdue. Silver's still get more than they would if they were bronze, but it finally gives some value back to gold and platinum.

 

[antycbr]

I doubt once new gen check-in is established properly that there will be a need for any frequent flyer to go to a check-in desk.

One scenario - seated in an exit row requires you to go to a service desk to be issued a boarding pass. Most times I just go to the check in line because the service desk line is full of people with complex queries.

Not sure how they'll handle dom-int connections (e.g. cbr-syd-lax) because cbr doesn't (currently) have a international counter but this may change with the new terminal.

I'm guessing the new cbr terminal will be next generation checkin enabled from the get go?

 

[Ewing]

I'm guessing the new cbr terminal will be next generation checkin enabled from the get go?

From what I've heard, not immediately because they are sharing the check in area with DJ.

Once DJ have their own separate check in area NGCI will be enabled.

Of course that may or may not be accurate anymore. And as for the new terminal - so much for QF moving in sometime during September

 

[ajw373]

From what I've heard, not immediately because they are sharing the check in area with DJ.

Once DJ have their own separate check in area NGCI will be enabled.

Of course that may or may not be accurate anymore. And as for the new terminal - so much for QF moving in sometime during September

Canberra is scheduled for mid 2011, so doubt that will be when the rest of the new terminal is complete and DJ move to their own check-in area.

As for the opening of the new terminal it has been a bit quiet on that front. The Canberra airport website is useless when it comes to dates and details, so who knows when it will open.

 

[harvyk]

Does anyone know if this stops QP checkin for those PS + QP members?

Good lord, what a pack of whingers! Qantas clearly want silvers to use the new check-in system, in fact they want every frequent flyer (except bronze it seems) to use the new check-in system hence why everyone else will get the new chip enabled cards.

They clearly only want passengers to go to the old fashioned check-in desks as a last resort, hence why for domestic flights they have taken away the option to use the business class check-in for silvers.

I doubt once new gen check-in is established properly that there will be a need for any frequent flyer to go to a check-in desk. One good thing, looks like many silvers are taking their bats and heading to other carriers. Out of interest what does Virgin Blue and Tiger offer their silver equivilents?

Well as someone who used J check-in when I had checked luggage (or for dom-int connections which are a must when flying from CBR) this will be a major inconvinence for me.

Being able to use the J queue to drop my bag at CBR saved me quite a bit of time, especially when the Y queue was heading for the door.

I don't know what your flying habbits are like, but I quite frankly having better things to do than stand in line.

 

[Bundy Bear]

After re-reading this thread, Qantas silver and Qantas Club are the guinea pigs on the NGCI. I think part of Qantas surveys is that all passengers want faster check in and the NGCI will provide it.

Essentially it is priority check-in, you just check yourself in. :idea:

Passengers from other one-world airlines with status will have the benefit of priority check-in but most might end up using the standard check in machines that the regular passenger uses anyway.

Some previous posts that highlighted the new check in procedure.

Hi All;
Sorry to be controversial, but I for one think that this is an enhancement for me. All too often the supposed quicker line option is full of QP and PS members, as a WP I rarely check in luggage but for those times that I do, I now look forward to a shorter wait when flying domestically, Internationally it won't have any affect as QP and OWE can check in F.

As I understand, the NGCI involves two types of check-in.

1. The normal kiosks for plebs with no status/Bronze

2. The Q-Card Readers which can only be used by status members eligible for Q-Cards. These being the same members who were previously eligible for priority check-in?.

With NGCI it's not going to matter much at all - J/WP will use the Premium Desk for inquiries, the rest use the regular desks for inquiries, and that is if they happen to have a problem (otherwise everyone - from NB to WP - is check, drop and go). The transition to NGCI, however, will hurt PS and QP members the most.

After traveling AirNZ in New Zealand there is very little interaction from check in staff; you go up to a machine put in your details and then put your bag on the conveyor, I think Qantas are more concerned on baggage sizes that is put through the baggage chute.

We are going to loose the boarding pass as we know it but we will end up with faster check in, I am sure the new check in procedures will have a few hiccups but it should lead to a better experience.

 

[TheInsider]

I'm suprised at a few of the comments over the past few days regarding the FF changes and about the NGCI.

IMO the removal of a priority queue for QC and Silver members is not really a big issue, the majority of silvers (atleast 80%) of them don't even use the priority queues at the moment, this also goes for QC members. They don't generally travel enough to know any better and just join the Y bag drop queue. Also what people have to know, QC is that exactly, a paid membership to access the QANTAS Club, and that's what QF seems to be getting back to. A paid lounge membership and that's it, none of this extra perks, just the QC access.

For the NGCI, i have spoken to alot of people that travel to PER that have come over to MEL for the weekend or day and atleast 96% of them love the new check-in procedures and ask as to why MEL still doesn't have it. They clearly see that it is faster and say it's a simple process once they know what they are doing. This is also including MANY WP's and SG FF'ers, they don't want to wait in a queue to drop off a bag, and don't care if they don't speak to a CSA. They just want to get to their destination/lounge. The ones that don't like the self service are generally the 'older' generation that feel obliged to tell everyone that they have status.

BTW not looking forward to the new baggage allowances in a check-in way, but excess baggage will be alot cheaper in some circumstances. Instead of $10 per kg over 23kgs, it will be $30 per extra item up to 23kgs.

 

[dfcatch]

I'm suprised at a few of the comments over the past few days regarding the FF changes and about the NGCI.

IMO the removal of a priority queue for QC and Silver members is not really a big issue, the majority of silvers (atleast 80%) of them don't even use the priority queues at the moment, this also goes for QC members. They don't generally travel enough to know any better and just join the Y bag drop queue. Also what people have to know, QC is that exactly, a paid membership to access the QANTAS Club, and that's what QF seems to be getting back to. A paid lounge membership and that's it, none of this extra perks, just the QC access.

For the NGCI, i have spoken to alot of people that travel to PER that have come over to MEL for the weekend or day and atleast 96% of them love the new check-in procedures and ask as to why MEL still doesn't have it. They clearly see that it is faster and say it's a simple process once they know what they are doing. This is also including MANY WP's and SG FF'ers, they don't want to wait in a queue to drop off a bag, and don't care if they don't speak to a CSA. They just want to get to their destination/lounge.

1/ I disagree with you on your assumptions of QC members:

As a QC member for the last 10 years, I can tell you that published QC benefits such as priority check in, priority baggage (when it works), and additional baggage allowance are as valuable to me as lounge access. Both on domestic and international trips. In fact, these additional benefits probably kept me as a QC member through a couple of quiet years when I otherwise would have let it lapse. (and probably would have switched my loyalty to DJ, but QC membership kept me loyal to QF, and am now 1000% more loyal as a WP). Take those benefits away from me, and when I fall from status, I probably won't continue my membership (or my loyalty).

2/ Point taken on NGCI being a replacement for domestic priority checkin. Three points on this:

- firstly, the people who "love it", my $50 is on the guess they are frequent flyers and aren't checking bags. They are the types who probably would've just checked in at the lounge or used a quickcheck anyway.

- I'm the type of person who prefers to have the lounge staff sort out seating changes etc, rather than check in staff (lounge staff are usually more helpful I find).

- having used AirNZ's NGCI, I'm still the person who goes to the priority counter when I have bags. I'm happy to use the totem and my ePass when on hand luggage. But with bags, I prefer a person.

- my real gripe here is that NGCI in ALL airports may be a long way off.
I would prefer that the benefit being taken away only occurs once NGCI is up and running in that particular port.

If as you say, people prefer it, then they won't be using the priority checkin anyway (so no need for QF to take away the benefit). This is the key point.

 

[TheInsider]

- firstly, the people who "love it", my $50 is on the guess they are frequent flyers and aren't checking bags. They are the types who probably would've just checked in at the lounge or used a quickcheck anyway.

The QC opinions are mine and mine only, not the company's.

For the people that 'love it', they are generally non-FF'ers or new FF'ers that have joined up recently to the FF program through the EDR (which is pretty easy to tell due to their FF number, and them handing over their EDR card to check in, obviously not all though).

Anyway the airports with out the NGCI built yet, will soon have scanners that will be able to scan the Q bag tags (still at counter though)

 

[codash1099]

Which is what you get on Qantas too, EXCEPT of course the priority check-in is the Next Gen check-in machine not a counter.

To be honest I think the way the program has changed over the years has devalued gold and platinum memberships, so a change to re-balance is long overdue. Silver's still get more than they would if they were bronze, but it finally gives some value back to gold and platinum.

You don't give value back to SG and WP by decreasing NB and PS benefits. You only expand the difference.

I could make PS extremely valuable by making NB's ride on the wing.

 

[drron]

You don't give value back to SG and WP by decreasing NB and PS benefits. You only expand the difference.

I could make PS extremely valuable by making NB's ride on the wing.

Excuse me but we are now NEWTAB's.Not Even Worth Thinking About Bronzes.

 

[harvyk]

IMO the removal of a priority queue for QC and Silver members is not really a big issue, the majority of silvers (atleast 80%) of them don't even use the priority queues at the moment, this also goes for QC members. They don't generally travel enough to know any better and just join the Y bag drop queue. Also what people have to know, QC is that exactly, a paid membership to access the QANTAS Club, and that's what QF seems to be getting back to. A paid lounge membership and that's it, none of this extra perks, just the QC access.

IMO it is a big issue. One of the really nice things was the ability to use the J line when the Y line was much longer, which was about 50% of the times I had an dom-int connection from CBR.

Now if QF come on and say I can still use the J line in CBR if I am doing a dom-int connection, I won't be 100% happy as I still have some dom flights with checked bags, but they are becoming rare. (I like carry on only if I can do it), but until then all I see is me being forced to use a Y line, and my PS being seriously devalued.