Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[Max Samuels]

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

Yep. Even if you are seated in row 1, where in theory you should be able to comfortably board last, the anxiety of not having space for your bag (and no seat in front to put it either) is too much for me. Once I had to move around so many bags to make space for my relatively tiny piece of carry-on... and another time on AA my bag had to be CHECKED because I boarded last and there wasn't enough room... even though in J/F in row 1. Now I always choose row 2 now - so that I know I can always use under the seat if I have to.....

 

[moa999]

and just swan aboard using a dedicated clear lane.

...
Into the jetbridge queue.
If you leave it late enough you've always been able to do this anyway.

 

[UP4014]

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) .

Spot on.

 

[RooFlyer]

...
Into the jetbridge queue.
If you leave it late enough you've always been able to do this anyway.

yes, but at the risk of no bin space.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

yes, but at the risk of no bin space.

This is why I avoid 737s like the plague.
I appreciate that this option is not available for those in Hobart and other wide-body-challenged locations.

 

[jakeseven7]

This is why I avoid 737s like the plague.
I appreciate that this option is not available for those in Hobart and other wide-body-challenged locations.

VA's A330's are a very rare sight domestically.

And QF widebodies are mostly trans con and a bit of golden triangle in AM and PM peaks. Too bad if you can't fly those times!

The 737 has unfortunately spread like the plague!

 

[justinbrett]

Yep. Even if you are seated in row 1, where in theory you should be able to comfortably board last, the anxiety of not having space for your bag (and no seat in front to put it either) is too much for me. Once I had to move around so many bags to make space for my relatively tiny piece of carry-on... and another time on AA my bag had to be CHECKED because I boarded last and there wasn't enough room... even though in J/F in row 1. Now I always choose row 2 now - so that I know I can always use under the seat if I have to.....

If you’re flying AA J/F and boarding last you’re doing it wrong - pre departure beverages!

 

[Beano]

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

Brisbane flight to Sydney Thursday 28 Novembre. Priority queing in place, both counters. Barrier accross non priority queue. I was on board early so can't say how the rest of boarding went. Plane left on-time.

 

[27mrpc27]

As I have several MEL-SYD-MEL to run before Xmas I will be keen to see how this goes, however last week's effort was a mixed bag. My 6.30am MEL-SYD on Tuesday was a two queue affair per the "old" system, whereas that evening's 6pm SYD-MEL had Prem Pax called first and loaded first. As previous commentators have mentioned I saw lots of dirty looks from the non Prem queue when this occurred, and several at the front just changed lanes and barged forward to the head of the Prem queue. Sadly this was not called out by staff.

 

[Beano]

Was there a barrier? There was in Brisbane so barging would have been very obvious.

 

[stm1sydney]

I saw lots of dirty looks from the non Prem queue when this occurred, and several at the front just changed lanes and barged forward to the head of the Prem queue. Sadly this was not called out by staff.

Perhaps these were all Premium passengers employing the common strategy of just using the non-prem line, because that is invariably quicker than being at the back of the prem line.

 

[RichardMEL]

back to pre-boards....

I have no issue with these as long as they're reasonable. I absolutely agree sometimes you see the families with small kids thing taken to extremes BUT we do not always know the situation - it may be very reasonable. Say your 8 year old has some sort of issue - ADD or something and they want to get them settled in and comfy before the mass of humanity boards? Like everything these things can be subjective.. and it may appear to be a rott from the outside but sometimes maybe not. Maybe that extra minute or two is gold for a harried parent.

More generally with disabilities you sometimes do not know. And to the comment about a slow walker or someone with a cane would just end up waiting in the jetway anyway. uh sure, but what if they are in row 23 on a 737 and hobble down the aisle blocking up everyone else boarding? I would rather they have that extra time to get in and out of the aisle.

Finally I have a friend who has very poor eyesight (more than mine) and she informs the gate agents when she arrives that she would like assistance.. they pre-board her, take her to her seat as she can't read the row numbers etc. Sure it gives her an advantage (they also put her bag in the overhead!?!!) but that also makes a lot of sense to do something like that.

As with anything the intent is very very good and often small numbers of entitled cough will take advantage and it's annoying for sure, but doesn't invalidate the reasons for it imo.

And finally if I am in row 1 or a bilkhead where I know overhead space is a premium I ALWAYS board as early as I can (but not pre-board lol) because I want to get that space and NOT be moving others stuff around (I never would) or finding a bin 2 rows back for my stuff.

 

[pauly7]

As I have several MEL-SYD-MEL to run before Xmas I will be keen to see how this goes, however last week's effort was a mixed bag. My 6.30am MEL-SYD on Tuesday was a two queue affair per the "old" system, whereas that evening's 6pm SYD-MEL had Prem Pax called first and loaded first. As previous commentators have mentioned I saw lots of dirty looks from the non Prem queue when this occurred, and several at the front just changed lanes and barged forward to the head of the Prem queue. Sadly this was not called out by staff.

I think everytime an AFF member experiences any kind of a PB fail they should report the flight number, day, date and if possible name of staff to QF via the feedback form. It is one sure way to make sure sure added scrutiny occurs...

 

[TheInsider]

I think everytime an AFF member experiences any kind of a PB fail they should report the flight number, day, date and if possible name of staff to QF via the feedback form. It is one sure way to make sure sure added scrutiny occurs...

Just to point out the cabin crew will not send people to to back to the queue as they 'have not been told to do so'. This needs to be passed on to management!

 

[jakeseven7]

Just to point out the cabin crew will not send people to to back to the queue as they 'have not been told to do so'. This needs to be passed on to management!

Some definitely are sending people to the back of the queue.

So either they have been told to, or they are taking the law into their own hands....

 

[JohnPhelan]

Just to point out the cabin crew will not send people to to back to the queue as they 'have not been told to do so'. This needs to be passed on to management!

Is this not just deductive common sense though? They have been directed to board the PB pax first. If someone in the queue is not a bone fide PB pax, then they should not be boarded first.

 

[TheInsider]

Is this not just deductive common sense though? They have been directed to board the PB pax first. If someone in the queue is not a bone fide PB pax, then they should not be boarded first.

Some crew follow everything to the letter. So if it doesn't state send them back, they won't do it.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Some crew follow everything to the letter. So if it doesn't state send them back, they won't do it.

Legacy crew, legacy attitude.

 

[cove]

I don’t really mind as long as the A330 business class overhead bin is not filled with an economy class passengers clobber before I get to my seat.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Some crew follow everything to the letter. So if it doesn't state send them back, they won't do it.

No need to send them to the back.

"Sir, I can scan your boarding pass, but as a Bronze member I'll have to charge you 10,000 points to use priority boarding today".