Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[Max Samuels]

I agree that "pre-boarding" isn't/shouldn't be a thing. Sure - if you are in a wheelchair and have to be wheeled into the plane, nobody has a problem with that. But families? Small children? People that need "extra" time? Pleeeeeeeaaaassssseeeeee.... give me a break. Are you a slow walker? Well that's fine because the bridge is packed full of people anyway and moving at a snail's pace, so you won't be left behind! Small children? Who cares. Don't see why that means you get "special" priority. I have always hated the concept that somehow these special attributes of some passengers trump the priority given to FF - priority they have earned through blood sweat and tears!! And tens of thousands of dollars in air travel!!! Just recently, a family of 4 (mum, dad, 2 kids) made use of the "pre-boarding"...... when I got on-board i was to discover that they were in J, and had selfishly taken up pretty much all of the bin space with their cough. To me, it seems that the "special" needs they have is just to beat everyone else for luggage space. Sorry, but it is true.

If we wanted to do proper and "fair" BP, it should be in order of cost of the ticket! Maybe overlayed with status. And wheelchairs, of course

 

[jpp42]

Families with small children may need pre-boarding for a few reasons:
* Prams need to be packed up and checked at the end of the jet bridge, which requires extra attention from the crew
* Flight attendants may need to help with stowing bags or other equipment, and by having the aisles empty they can more easily move around

The problem is that some families do take advantage of this as there's not always a definition of how young the children need to be to use pre-boarding.

Also, people may have disabilities that means they cannot walk or stand for long periods of time, but can still walk enough to move down the aisle. The advantage of pre-boarding is they can go straight to their seat without a delay that might be painful or difficult for them.

 

[drron]

It is not unusual for us to see folks with less mobility problems than us get pre boarding.
Also sick of the misuse of "small kids" as often the children all appear of school age.Plus when 1 baby is in the group so parents,uncles and aunts plus grandparents all get to preboard.

And by the way jpp42 this is a thread about Qantas boarding proceedures-QF FAs are not there to help anyone with stowing bags or equipment.

 

[opusman]

Breeders have always been treated better by our society than those who choose refrain from cluttering up the planet with more unnecessary people, it's just the way it is

 

[amaroo]

AeroMexico have a good system.

 

[RooFlyer]

Breeders have always been treated better by our society than those who choose refrain from cluttering up the planet with more unnecessary people, it's just the way it is

More power to 'em! Someone has to pay taxes to keep up the supply of G&T in my booming retirement.

 

[blackcat20]

Preboarding with the baby gives us a chance to get sorted/settled without holding anyone up in the aisle. Less sttressful for everyone.

 

[UP4014]

I did see a QF staffer trying to turn back non priority people in Sydney on Tuesday. The flight was late, both queues long and in the end the poor bloke was overrun!

I felt for him.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Ex SYD tonight PB was being enforced by a supervisor who walked the priority queue inspecting BPs.

I asked if they were getting much grief about “the great priority boarding crackdown of 2019 (TM)”. “Heaps” he said.

This got me thinking... while the limited number of status pax appreciate the delivery of the published benefit, I wonder how many people in the non-status queue, curse to themselves and vow to fly VA next time?

Of course, they’ll find it no different over there, but that level of rational thought might not occur to them while they grumble and moan about the status pax zipping past them.

If this is the case, the cost to QF is potentially more than just extra staff time required for enforcement and may have been a reason excuse not to act sooner.

 

[Aeolus]

Priority boarding for QF 675 today, 2 counters working, normal queue held back to clear PB line. It does happen in Melbourne!

 

[justinbrett]

Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re over-enforcing the trial so they can stop it because it was too hard.

 

[JessicaTam]

fewer staff....

Now, now. This isn't the grammar thread.

 

[Kangol]

Priority boarding for QF 675 today, 2 counters working, normal queue held back to clear PB line. It does happen in Melbourne!

The only thing better than watching the normal queue being held back would be watching the faces of the entitled in that line.
"If he/she can board now, why can't I?"
Ah, public transport.
You don't see this culture in other countries.
Everyone is equal, but some people are more equal than others!

 

[Tropic]

Airline loyalty schemes...the great social mixing pot leveler... Bruce the FIFO miner flying 4 J flights/ week sitting on LTG and 50000 SC vs Howard the heart surgeon flies dom J 6 times a month and F 3 times a year to medical industry funded attendance at conferences in EU sitting on LTG and 55000 SC...

 

[Deleted member]

As a migrant to this country , one of the first things you notice is the “egalitarian “ nature of society here. “jack’s as good as his master” so to,speak.
So in my opinion and through observation, any action which differentiates between people isn’t always met with enthusiastic agreement or enforcement . So it’s my view that culturally, priority boarding isn’t enforced because no one really cares (except the Premium pax) .

 

[Rich]

Of course, they’ll find it no different over there, but that level of rational thought might not occur to them while they grumble and moan about the status pax zipping past them.

I mentioned earlier in this thread that I think it should be limited to business passengers based on my last trip when half the flight was priority.
The whole priority thing thing seems petty to me and I find this thread hasn't changed my mind. It seems people want to board first just because they're supposed to be able to. I remember when the cool people used to sit back at the gate and board at the last minute thus avoiding queuing on the bridge or spending any time longer than they had to in a plane.

 

[Max Samuels]

Now, now. This isn't the grammar thread.

Yeah I know.... was just for fun. Was recently re-watching all of GOT and there is a "grammar" thread in that too which I didn't notice the first time around..... Stannis constantly corrects Sir Davos, quietly in the background, whenever he uses fewer/less.... quiet subtle and funny

 

[RooFlyer]

It seems people want to board first just because they're supposed to be able to.

Maybe, but I’ll think you’ll find for many its to be able to find an overhead bin for their carry on close to their seat.

I remember when the cool people used to sit back at the gate and board at the last minute thus avoiding queuing on the bridge or spending any time longer than they had to in a plane.

That was the theory of priority boarding. It wasn’t ‘first’ boarding. It would be wonderful to be able to saunter down from the lounge at the last minute and just swan aboard using a dedicated clear lane.

But the overhead bin thing means that, if you hold back, your legroom will be occupied with your stuff.

 

[larrymull]

Maybe, but I’ll think you’ll find for many its to be able to find an overhead bin for their carry on close to their seat.



That was the theory of priority boarding. It wasn’t ‘first’ boarding. It would be wonderful to be able to saunter down from the lounge at the last minute and just swan aboard using a dedicated clear lane.

But the overhead bin thing means that, if you hold back, your legroom will be occupied with your stuff.

This is 100% correct for me, and with some many 737 being flown now and the limited overhead, this is a priority.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

This got me thinking... while the limited number of status pax appreciate the delivery of the published benefit, I wonder how many people in the non-status queue, curse to themselves and vow to fly VA next time?

I take your point however for the people in the non-status queue, "next time" might be next year, or even in two or three years.
Whereas for the people in the status queue, "next time" might be tomorrow.