Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[Lynda2475]

there was absolutely no priority boarding mentioned or enforced which led to the most chaotic 717 boarding I've seen.

Yep usually they announce boarding will start for those who need assistance, business or status passengers. There was a lady in a wheel chair seated next to the boarding area, who was swamped by a bunch of kids who ran forward to board first. Whilst they have no priority signage they could have made an announcement.

LST is no smaller in terms of flight numbers than ASP or BNK who both manage to have orderly boarding.

 

[flyingfan]

Fail for SYD-OOL just now. The FA called priority boarding, to the left lane, with another FA on the right, in front of the general queue. But then the FA in the left lane didn’t process any priority pax, instead making more announcements, so the priority lane had to awkwardly merge with the general lane on the right and try to get boarded.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Was that flight delayed? I always found OOL got shafted amongst the domestic network first so normally it was an all in to get away as close as possible to on time

 

[flyingfan]

Was that flight delayed? I always found OOL got shafted amongst the domestic network first so normally it was an all in to get away as close as possible to on time

Not delayed. They just didn’t care about following through with PB IMHO

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I stand corrected then. I used to do quite a lot of OOL-MEL vv SYD and OOL was always sacrificed. I always went in with a low expectation though given it’s a leisure heavy route

I’ve not had any issue with PB of late across SYD MEL or BNE doing it at least twice a week.

 

[Traveller X]

QF451 SYD-MEL

PB called first.

General Boarding called in 2 mins, but everyone in General Boarding were directed to enter from the back of the plane through stairs.

I think it is kinda of acceptable?

 

[flyingfan]

I stand corrected then. I used to do quite a lot of OOL-MEL vv SYD and OOL was always sacrificed. I always went in with a low expectation though given it’s a leisure heavy route

I’ve not had any issue with PB of late across SYD MEL or BNE doing it at least twice a week.

Four trips to OOL and about the same MEL/SYD in the last fortnight and I haven’t picked up consistently better or worse implementation, except departing OOL from gate 9 each time priority/assisted boarding from the right lane was well executed. You have a much bigger sample size so maybe I just got lucky, although PB shouldn’t come down to luck - YMMV

QF451 SYD-MEL

PB called first.

General Boarding called in 2 mins, but everyone in General Boarding were directed to enter from the back of the plane through stairs.

I think it is kinda of acceptable?

That’s a new one for me! I don’t think I’d run it that way, but maybe the first half of the aircraft is filled with status on this route? Otherwise if I had no status and was in R5/6 (again unlikely on this route) I wouldn’t be happy about being forced to board from the rear, but how closely do they enforce this?

 

[BD1959]

QF451 SYD-MEL

PB called first.

General Boarding called in 2 mins, but everyone in General Boarding were directed to enter from the back of the plane through stairs.

I think it is kinda of acceptable?

It is ... until QF "rationalise their costs" by cancelling your flight and the one you're rebooked on only has Row 28 so you have to fight with everyone else for o/h bag storage.

Regards,

BD

 

[DejaBrew]

QF592 SYD-OOL

Boarding commenced bang on time - PB called first. Didn’t wait around to hear general boarding call. Was going to say that all pax were boarding via the forward door, but as I sit here typing this out, I can see pax being directed along the apron to the rear door/stairs. Have to say this seems to have been one of the better-managed boardings I’ve experienced in a long while. 10:10 am and CSM Shae is already directing cabin crew to prepare for departure.

 

[DejaBrew]

QF881 OOL-MEL

Pax instructed to form two boarding queues and PB strictly enforced, with ground crew checking boarding passes / FF status and directing people to the “regular“ queue as needed. Pretty certain general boarding didn’t commence until the PB queue had been cleared. Regardless, very well managed so kudos to the crew at OOL.

 

[DejaBrew]

QF157 MEL-AKL

Excepting a frail, elderly passenger who was “pre-boarded” (fair enough!), PB was called first. General Boarding called a few mins later, largely after PB queue had subsided.

3 from 3 today, so Qantas getting it right for my flights. Credit where it’s due.

 

[Traveller X]

Four trips to OOL and about the same MEL/SYD in the last fortnight and I haven’t picked up consistently better or worse implementation, except departing OOL from gate 9 each time priority/assisted boarding from the right lane was well executed. You have a much bigger sample size so maybe I just got lucky, although PB shouldn’t come down to luck - YMMV


That’s a new one for me! I don’t think I’d run it that way, but maybe the first half of the aircraft is filled with status on this route? Otherwise if I had no status and was in R5/6 (again unlikely on this route) I wouldn’t be happy about being forced to board from the rear, but how closely do they enforce this?

Pretty much 100% General Boarding were directed to enter from the rear.
PB were 100% to board from front.

QF592 SYD-OOL

Boarding commenced bang on time - PB called first. Didn’t wait around to hear general boarding call. Was going to say that all pax were boarding via the forward door, but as I sit here typing this out, I can see pax being directed along the apron to the rear door/stairs. Have to say this seems to have been one of the better-managed boardings I’ve experienced in a long while. 10:10 am and CSM Shae is already directing cabin crew to prepare for departure.

Same as my case. We were in the middle of the PB line. So I know that all General Boarding were directed to the board from the back of the plane

 

[DejaBrew]

QF152 AKL->MEL

Managed pretty well with being PB called first and actively being monitored.

QF880 MEL->OOL

Bit of a dog’s breakfast. PB called first, but there’s no way in the world that all in the ”PB queue” were Business/OWS/OWE.

 

[DejaBrew]

QF597 OOL->SYD

I was still in the QP when boarding commenced (as it started about 10mins ahead of schedule) so unsure if PB was called first. However, all PB customers were being immediately attended to as they arrived at the gate. Appears to be another good job by the team at OOL.

Ironically, all the great work completing boarding ahead of schedule seems to have been derailed by a lone inflatable ball that was brought aboard as carry-on. Concerns re: expansion mid-flight have dictated it be relegated to the checked luggage.

 

[AIRwin]

Ironically, all the great work completing boarding ahead of schedule seems to have been derailed by a lone inflatable ball that was broad aboard as carry-on. Concerns re: expansion mid-flight have dictated it be relegated to the checked luggage.

Reminds me of this:

Balls

That's what Aviation Herald called it: Incident: Norwegian Sweden B738 at Gothenburg on Feb 2nd 2023, balls

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[DejaBrew]

Reminds me of this:

Balls

That's what Aviation Herald called it: Incident: Norwegian Sweden B738 at Gothenburg on Feb 2nd 2023, balls

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

There was a bit of confusion on this one as it turns out it was some sort of inflatable toy. General consensus seems to have been that it would likely have been ok, but safer in the hold rather than risking any sort of mid-air-exploding-toy-in-cabin drama.

 

[1022]

I flew BNK - SYD yesterday and a pax had a soccer ball to bring on board. Groundcrew had a valve pin at the ready to deflate it and it went in the overhead locker. I was impressed that it was all done quickly with minimal fuss for the passenger.

Edit to say no PB at BNK most of the time. But boarding half full Dash 8s in Byron is usually a pretty relaxed affair!

 

[Danger]

I flew BNK - SYD yesterday and a pax had a soccer ball to bring on board. Groundcrew had a valve pin at the ready to deflate it and it went in the overhead locker. I was impressed that it was all done quickly with minimal fuss for the passenger.

Edit to say no PB at BNK most of the time. But boarding half full Dash 8s in Byron is usually a pretty relaxed affair!

I don't think Ballina is one of the ports at which Qantas advertises it offers priority boarding, even though there's an alliance-wide priority boarding benefit.

 

[1022]

I don't think Ballina is one of the ports at which Qantas advertises it offers priority boarding, even though there's an alliance-wide priority boarding benefit.

Once or twice the gate agent has called status pax up first but you’re probably right that it isn’t advertised at smaller (predominantly QLink) ports.

Even when QF flew 737s into BNK, PB was very much the exception rather than the rule. There’s also no priority check in for QF, whereas VA do have both priority check in and boarding there which are both well enforced.

 

[Franky]

Once or twice the gate agent has called status pax up first but you’re probably right that it isn’t advertised at smaller (predominantly QLink) ports.

Even when QF flew 737s into BNK, PB was very much the exception rather than the rule. There’s also no priority check in for QF, whereas VA do have both priority check in and boarding there which are both well enforced.

Today QF71 PER-SIN it was in operation, with a number of infiltrators sent to the back of the economy queue. First time back in SIN for almost4 years, and I said to my wife once we were thru, the Singapore Terminal looks it’s a Sunday afternoon, which it was! You could almost call it deserted. Our flight pushed back dead on time, arrived at 1705 which was 15m early, and we were at the cab rank at 1740. I had forgotten about the ridiculous QF insistence with the cutlery rolled up and freezing cold, and serving a hot slice of bread with the butter frozen solid. Just so dumb.