Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[Quickstatus]

What happens when there are more premium passengers than no premium passengers. Sure, i understand the premiums get boarded first. But the last premium passenger at back of the premium line starts fuming. He/she assumes that the people in front are not premium (because premium should mean less numbers) but he/she does not actually know. He/she sneaks a peak at a boarding pass and sees economy and the fuming gets worse even though the passenger might be a WP1.

Early Monday and late Friday SYD-MEL MEL-SYD are often oversubscribed with premium passengers. The great unwashed is just the unwashed.

For me boarding last is the way to go. Dont have to queue up at the gate in either the premium or non premium line, and don't have to queue up on the aerobridge.

 

[justinbrett]

What happens when there are more premium passengers than no premium passengers. Sure, i understand the premiums get boarded first. But the last premium passenger at back of the premium line starts fuming. He/she assumes that the people in front are not premium (because premium should mean less numbers) but he/she does not actually know. He/she sneaks a peak at a boarding pass and sees economy and the fuming gets worse even though the passenger might be a WP1.

Early Monday and late Friday SYD-MEL MEL-SYD are often oversubscribed with premium passengers. The great unwashed is just the unwashed.

For me boarding last is the way to go. Dont have to queue up at the gate in either the premium or non premium line, and don't have to queue up on the aerobridge.

Thats when QF brings in boarding groups. As I hope they do.

 

[Quickstatus]

yes
Group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..........
rather than saying chairmans lounge passengers can board now.

and please don't do "PRE-boarding". There is no such thing.

 

[opusman]

For me boarding last is the way to go. Dont have to queue up at the gate in either the premium or non premium line, and don't have to queue up on the aerobridge.

Works well as long as you don't have any carry-on.

 

[Quickstatus]

Works well as long as you don't have any carry-on.

Exactly. IMO carryons should be something that can be stowed under the seat in front. Buklhead or exit row seats wont have them so they will have to join the queues at the gate, on the aerobridge and on the aircraft aisle.

 

[Townsend]

Today qf 1517 Sydney -Canberra had two very distinct lines, one for priority and one for silver, bronze etc. Then they were totally ignored and the priority lane was much slower. Seemed even worse than usual!

 

[Jaded_Elf]

Today qf 1517 Sydney -Canberra had two very distinct lines, one for priority and one for silver, bronze etc. Then they were totally ignored and the priority lane was much slower. Seemed even worse than usual!

That's because it's QantasLink, technically "not Qantas", less staff.

 

[SeatBackForward]

SO seems based on the other feedback so far that QF are pulling in the Premium line first. BUT and a BIG BUT..are they validating that people in the premium line should be there? This is IMO far more significant a factor in the process than passing premium queue to both scanners.

 

[pauly7]

SO seems based on the other feedback so far that QF are pulling in the Premium line first. BUT and a BIG BUT..are they validating that people in the premium line should be there? This is IMO far more significant a factor in the process than passing premium queue to both scanners.

They were on my flight yesterday (data point of 1 though)

 

[SeatBackForward]

They were on my flight yesterday (data point of 1 though)

Was it actually checking, or the cursory "Are you premium?" query walking up the line as fast as possible?

For example, the way CX do it is to have a gate agent physically mark the boarding pass.

 

[justinbrett]

Was it actually checking, or the cursory "Are you premium?" query walking up the line as fast as possible?

For example, the way CX do it is to have a gate agent physically mark the boarding pass.

Another reason why boarding groups are a good idea. Simple, marked on the boarding pass and asking someone “what boarding group are you” is a lot less likely to offend than “are you premium” or having to spell out the different qualifications to be in the premium line.

 

[VPS]

I was on QF691 yesterday MEL ADL. They definitely boarded the premium line first and the well dressed lady at the queue of the other line did not look happy. The couple behind me had bronze on their BP but didn't get stopped. I found it odd they only used one side to scan BP for quite a while and then moved to two.

Watching people with the carry on is always interesting. One lady obviously doesn't know about the wheels in first and made a right balls up of getting her case in. One young lad came on with a backpack, carry on, two bottles of duty free and they all went in the overhead locker.

 

[pauly7]

Was it actually checking, or the cursory "Are you premium?" query walking up the line as fast as possible?

For example, the way CX do it is to have a gate agent physically mark the boarding pass.

They were holding the pass/phone, looking then scanning. Two people ahead of me were sent to the other line.

 

[BD1959]

Another reason why boarding groups are a good idea. Simple, marked on the boarding pass and asking someone “what boarding group are you” is a lot less likely to offend than “are you premium” or having to spell out the different qualifications to be in the premium line.

So I'll have to queue with Mrs BD when we travel together and she is allocated into a "lesser group" than myself?

Regards,

BD

 

[justinbrett]

So I'll have to queue with Mrs BD when we travel together and she is allocated into a "lesser group" than myself?

Regards,

BD

No. AA policy is you can board with other members in your group if you have a higher number. Some rogue agents may argue this but in my experience it’s almost universally allowed.

 

[SeatBackForward]

They were holding the pass/phone, looking then scanning. Two people ahead of me were sent to the other line.

Well that's correct then, but I suspect this is going to be case by case basis.

 

[BD1959]

No. AA policy is you can board with other members in your group if you have a higher number. Some rogue agents may argue this but in my experience it’s almost universally allowed.

LOL ... never yet seen an AA agent argue anything - what they say goes, period !!

Thanks for the clarification.

Regards,

BD

 

[Kangol]

Next in this thread, public shaming and videos of people who chose to use the premium lane and are turned back because they are not entitled to use it!

It's kinda like that Instagram page with videos of people running for the train, only to have the doors close right before them.

 

[BD1959]

It's kinda like that Instagram page with videos of people running for the train, only to have the doors close right before them.

I blame the demise of commercial TV for the viewing habits of many ...


Regards,

BD

 

[Max Samuels]

That's because it's QantasLink, technically "not Qantas", less staff.

fewer staff....