Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[ozbeachbabe]

Oddly enough, when going through BNE recently (last week or two), PB was not enforced. One queue in the PB line, no turnbacks, no announcement, not a care in the world.

Previously, BNE has been the only port where PB was consistently enforced.

FYI was this on a mainline B737 or A330 flight?

I feel for the QLink departure agents who do the boarding on the E190 flights as both F/A's remain onboard. It's chaotic enough just overseeing the departure of a flight never mind have to do all the boarding by yourself too!

I don't envisage there would be too much policing during the boarding process so probably best to he at the gate before boarding starts if you want to do anything that resembles priority boarding.

 

[Berlin]

Oddly enough, when going through BNE recently (last week or two), PB was not enforced. One queue in the PB line, no turnbacks, no announcement, not a care in the world.

Previously, BNE has been the only port where PB was consistently enforced.

My last two or three flights from BNE were the same hot mess as in SYD or MEL. Zero care about PB whatsoever.

So reading here that it sometimes still seem to work is a glimmer of hope, actually!

 

[Kangol]

FYI was this on a mainline B737 or A330 flight?

737.

If there's one FA and they are doing the right thing, they will stand on the general boarding side. That way it is easier for them to hold back the general queue and bring forward the PB line.

The other PB failure when it actually happens is when the PB line is empty and there are 2 FAs boarding, the PB side FA will bring forward a general pax and not hold them back - when they can see you are in the line right at the scanner.
Coincidentally or not, the person they wrongly prioritise tends to be someone who has a *delay* with their BP.

 

[henrus]

After a recent Air NZ flight from Christchurch it makes QF's attempt at priority boarding look good. There are no seperate queues and in a single sentence they welcomed Star Gold/Koru plus rows 17 onwards, in the same breath they then welcomed everyone else.

At least QF has a separate queue in most airports.

 

[nerdag]

After a recent Air NZ flight from Christchurch it makes QF's attempt at priority boarding look good.

Which is one reason why why I'd reckon most Koru *G's are NZ based fliers. Not a care in the world for loyalty because they have no competition.

 

[Doctore1003]

No PB yesterday on my MEL-PER flight. I complained when my boarding pass was being scanned and received the equivalent of a shrug ("It's not my responsibility, I'm a flight attendant, not ground crew").

 

[bladeau1981]

I just walk around the other side if there is a big line, usually get called through and scanned in front of the other line. Even when the signs aren't out properly it works ok.

 

[AIRwin]

Oddly enough, when going through BNE recently (last week or two), PB was not enforced.

Is it also gate dependent like CBR?

 

[MooTime]

QF staff not match fit to uphold PB maybe.

 

[SeatBackForward]

QF staff not match fit to uphold PB maybe.

The ones that were, are probably no longer there. So another generation of ground staff for AFF to teach.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Which is one reason why why I'd reckon most Koru *G's are NZ based fliers. Not a care in the world for loyalty because they have no competition.

Aegean?

 

[Quickstatus]

So July 2022 summary is?: QF still does not do priority boarding

Ok Ill come back July 2023 to check again..

 

[nerdag]

Aegean?

I said most *G in the Koru program are NZ based. I am sure some based in NZ who do lots of continental Europe credit to A3, SQ, and those who fly to North America UA. Doubt the reverse is true.

Now back on topic with QF PB

 

[Princess Fiona]

Had flights out of SYD and MEL in the last week and PB worked fine on both.
Another one out of SYD and ADL this week then SYD T1 next week will report back.
Assume T1 is a given

 

[whughes3]

A few weeks ago, while waiting to board a QF international flight at MEL, I happened to overhear a conversation between the 2 QFers operating the gate. One of them said quite clearly to the other: "I don't know why they even bother with priority boarding these days. It seems almost everyone is special now...". An interesting insight as to how they see the issue!

 

[MooTime]

A few weeks ago, while waiting to board a QF international flight at MEL, I happened to overhear a conversation between the 2 QFers operating the gate. One of them said quite clearly to the other: "I don't know why they even bother with priority boarding these days. It seems almost everyone is special now...". An interesting insight as to how they see the issue!

Exactly..... With QF offering more status matches than QF management getting bonuses, there a lot of special ppl out there, me included!

 

[jakeseven7]

Had flights out of SYD and MEL in the last week and PB worked fine on both.
Another one out of SYD and ADL this week then SYD T1 next week will report back.
Assume T1 is a given

That’s been our experience too it’s actually been well enforced out of SYD and MEL - we have people flying every day from those ports.

Personally I found Adelaide was hit and miss for both Qantas and Virgin PB - the gate set up and traffic flow doesn’t help was my conclusion, but my last two flights out of ADL (QF), PB was well enforced too.

 

[dairyfloss]

A few weeks ago, while waiting to board a QF international flight at MEL, I happened to overhear a conversation between the 2 QFers operating the gate. One of them said quite clearly to the other: "I don't know why they even bother with priority boarding these days. It seems almost everyone is special now...". An interesting insight as to how they see the issue!

It is a big proportion of travellers on the triangle.

Maybe it's time to limit PB to those travelling in J or higher, together with QFF WP and above (plus OW equivalent)... though I think that's not in line with the OW benefits. They could call them in sequential groups I suppose, with SG/OWS boarding second and together with Y+ on INT flights. So long as OWS are called ahead of general boarding, then they would comply with the OW PB rule.

Cheers,
Matt.

p.s. I reserve the right to change my tune after I can no longer maintain WP

 

[nerdag]

It is a big proportion of travellers on the triangle.

Most peak hour flights from 0600-0900 and 1500-1900 on the triangle are full of Golds and WPs. Hence PB being redundant on those flights.

 

[stm1sydney]

My last two or three flights from BNE were the same hot mess as in SYD or MEL. Zero care about PB whatsoever.

So reading here that it sometimes still seem to work is a glimmer of hope, actually!

If a glimmer of hope is what keeps you flying QF, then you are a better person than me, Gunga Din.