Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[opusman]

I wonder if we're expecting too much. Qantas set themselves quite a tight window for boarding - 10 minutes isn't really all that long to get everyone onboard. I wouldn't be surprised if internally there's a lot of resistance from the frontline staff to anything which potentially slows the process down.

 

[pagingjoan]

I wonder if we're expecting too much. Qantas set themselves quite a tight window for boarding - 10 minutes isn't really all that long to get everyone onboard. I wouldn't be surprised if internally there's a lot of resistance from the frontline staff to anything which potentially slows the process down.

How could the correct process slow down the boarding?
Same number of pax boarded. Simply a different order.

 

[Tropic]

need to check if the published OW benefit is just to have a priority boarding line, or actually priority boarding...ie you board first.
Have seen some discussion elsewhere that QF is meeting its OW obligations by having a defined line for status pax....
There is still a mentality out there that thinks "...so just because your a platinum (w@nker), dont mean you get treated better or boarded first...this is Oztralia maaaate!" Kinda feel for business class pax who might've paid full price for their ticket out of their own pocket, who have all these QF gold plat and OW corporate funded status holders flying in Y, in front of them...

 

[opusman]

How could the correct process slow down the boarding?
Same number of pax boarded. Simply a different order.

One line at once rather than two at once?

 

[Hvr]

Having done four flights this weekend I experienced priority boarding on every flight, MEL-BNE-ROK-BNE-MEL. The one class Dash-8 was called by status levels rather than class, but just as effective.

 

[jakeseven7]

Another good experience Saturday MEL-BNE. Feedback sent.

Return BNE-MEL was good but they started the pleb line before the premium line was completely exhausted. Feedback sent.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

One line at once rather than two at once?

What people are advocating as "the proper way" is using 2 gate agents to process the priority queue initially.
Then when the premium queue subsides the second switches to exclusively process the economy queue.
The first gate agent continues to be available to process priority PAX but calls PAX from the economy queue over when there are no priority PAX waiting.
There is no reason this should be any slower as both gate agents are processing PAX right from the start, just in a slightly different order.

 

[kermatu]

Perfect execution (alternatively read as just doing what they are supposed to) at gate 10 in MEL domestic this morning. Clear signage and lanes. Clear communication befiore boarding. Let the priority lane empty and still waited at least a couple of minutes before general boarding began. I walked through premium lane when empty while the other lane was still on hold and walked down an empty aerobridge and onto my J seat.

Finally.

 

[onemore]

Manila to Sydney QF20, there were 2 entrances to the gate lounge, 1 with black signage, the other red, once into the black section I noticed there was a cordon seperating the 2.
When boarding commenced the wheelchair brigade were called through first, funny that there were about 10 wheelchairs going on but only 3 in Sydney, another miracle flight offered by Qantas, anyway I digress.
After the wheelchairs the passengers in the black section were invited to board, while the cordon was kept in place until the priority lane was exhausted.

 

[kermatu]

More good execution in SYD, MEL and ADL on several domestic flights this week.

 

[bPeteb]

One line at once rather than two at once?

Two people from the priority line at each of the CSRs would mean just the same as two lines

 

[onemore]

Yesterday, at Melb, Syd, Coolangatta, worked perfectly.

 

[Lone Wolf]

This weekend:
- MEL fail. General boarding pax all lined up in the priority lane.
- SYD worked perfectly.

 

[Cessna 180]

SYD yesterday they were particularly strict. One customer was grumbling because he was not allowed to board yet.
I wandered along to the line just as boarding commenced and the agent was checking people in the premium line were gold, plat, bus etc. Quite a few customers moved across looking sad. ...

Priority boarding does not particularly bother me, but I do not understand why people would line up there when the signage is pretty obvious, to me anyway??

I do agree however as a listed benefit they should make a fair effort to enforce the process, which seems to be happening now.

 

[onemore]

Cessna 180, why they do it when they obviously know they are not entitled, is because the lanes have not been regulated for so long and they have gotten away with it for so long.
The regular travellers know that if they get in the front of the non priority lane then they will be first on anyway.

 

[mrsterryn]

On a flight yesterday Melbourne to Sydney and it looked like it was very much enforced
I was economy in the priority line and she went to say something and then said ahh platinum and I was checked in
There was two of us in priority and bucket loads in non

 

[sudoer]

Fail at DPS on Tuesday night - announcement that priority lane would board first, then 30 seconds both queues boarded simultaneously.

Shared feedback about this and the ever-woeful DPS lounge via post flight survey email. Service once on the plane was excellent.

 

[pauly7]

Fail at DPS on Tuesday night - announcement that priority lane would board first, then 30 seconds both queues boarded simultaneously.

Shared feedback about this and the ever-woeful DPS lounge via post flight survey email. Service once on the plane was excellent.

Good on you for sharing feedback.

AFF members sharing lots of feedback to QF on Australian ops has clearly had a big difference.

 

[justinbrett]

To be fair I think they have bigger issues at the moment than worrying about PB

 

[Franky]

To be fair I think they have bigger issues at the moment than worrying about PB

Your'e certainly right there Justin, but they won't be pulling staff from the boarding area to work in the call centre, so things should be by the book in that regard.