Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

The other observation was 1a and 1c were grandparents and their adult kids and toddler grandkids were back in whY but kept coming up to visit.

FA sent the adults back more than once as were blocking the aisle interfering with meal service and clean up.

Don't understand the need to constantly visit on a short 2hr flight. Sure let toddler sit on grandparents knee for a bit, but why hover and chat. Very needy.
 
QF 157 MEL - AKL was over an hour late boarding last night due to late arriving crew, plane was there on time just no one to operate it.

There was 1 wheelchair passenger and her 2 friends, when I saw them being scanned I moved forward to start a queue on the Business lane (the signage said business not priority), but some non J, non status pax started queuing behind me, even though the economy lane was clearly a separate lane.

20240125_181640.jpg

Gate agent walks over and says no need to queue we will announce by priority and row number. Then she opens sash on J lane, I stepped forward and priority announcement started just as I got to scanner.

No issues I was straight through being in J and WP, put my bag in overhead above my seat.

A minute later I notive this older Chinese couple in whY no status board and head down the back. Next on was my seat neighbour, she said there had been quite a commotion which i didnt noticasas walked swiftly.

Apparently the older couple followed me into J line and when gate agent asked to see their BP and told them they had to wait as current boarding was for priority, they argued in Chinese, pretended to not understand English and pushed ahead anyway. Seems gate agent have up.

FYI both myself and seat mate had heard this couple talk to someone on their mobile earlier in English.

After that J filled up and the front rows, so can only presume they wrangled back some control after that.
 
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Lynda2475 said:
Apparently the older couple followed me into J line and when gate agent asked to see their BP and told them they had to wait as current boarding was for priority, they argued in Chinese, pretended to not understand English and pushed ahead anyway. Seems gate agent have up.

FYI both myself and seat mate had heard this couple talk to someone on their mobile earlier in English.
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Immediately made me think of this… 🤣

 
RichardMEL said:
oooh the entitlement of having kids as being a reason to get things ahead of others. See that a lot.

I get it if you've got under 2's and want a bit more time to get sorted and settled, but sometimes I see, when an boarding call for "those with children or requiring extra time" truly taking the p15S with like 10 year olds and whatever.

Just wait til we reach the levels in the US of the 'fake" pre boarders (aka miracle flights where they require wheelchairs to get on, but seemingly can walk off at the other end jusssttttt fine). and now fake "disability" people (the new ESA dodge).

but I digress :)

So glad the FA was vigilant about J bins. I've seen recently on QF 737's some Y pax shoving their cough in J bins which I find very frustrating.
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It is a new phenomenon with the disabled needing to board first and then scramble to get off first too. Jetbridge Jesus at work.
 
SpudOz said:
It is a new phenomenon with the disabled needing to board first and then scramble to get off first too. Jetbridge Jesus at work.
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Getting on early I can understand but getting off usually means waiting to the end unless you need to have a tight connection.

Last time I travelled with my elderly grandma (90) we did board early with her (we were in J anyways). But disembarking we waited until almost everyone got off. Just easier and less stress not having a horde behind you looking impatiently at you.
 
elanshin said:
Getting on early I can understand but getting off usually means waiting to the end unless you need to have a tight connection.

Last time I travelled with my elderly grandma (90) we did board early with her (we were in J anyways). But disembarking we waited until almost everyone got off. Just easier and less stress not having a horde behind you looking impatiently at you.
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Exactly. I have been travelling with my elderly parents lately. We all have J tickets and that is the experience we have of boarding first and last off. it’s the most efficient way to go but I have seen so many that are boarded at the same time as my parents and then Lo and behold, it’s a miracle and they are suddenly able bodied enough to get down the aerobridge without assistance.
 
SpudOz said:
It is a new phenomenon with the disabled needing to board first and then scramble to get off first too. Jetbridge Jesus at work.
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I had much the same view, but having recently travelled with my partially disabled sister I got a broader perspective on things.

She can walk, unassisted short distances and hanging on to rails etc a bit further.

So, from car park, to checking in, to lounge, and boarding, a wheelchair is used. Our own to check-in, and the airlines to the plane.

At the other end, she is able to / chooses to walk off, then proceeds steadied by the rail in the airbridge until the gate lounge, where her kids are waiting with a wheelchair.

Not always Jetbridge Jesus :)
 
PB done well for QF158 AKL-MEL this morning, J called first, then P1/WP/Emerald, then SG/Sapphire, then Y.

FA kept the J bins closed, only opening when J passengers needed them to stop whY from using them.

PDB sparkling wine, sparkling water, still water or OJ offer before general boarding started.

Boarding is taking a long time though because of excess carry-on in whY this is despite multiple announcements re limited space, asking people to check items for free etc. One guy just walked pass with a small case, duffel bag, man bag and a ukele-crazy.
 
Nor do they care about communication when there are delays. We have been standing in line to board for 45 minutes and not a word as to why there is a delay. Very poor
 
RooFlyer said:
I had much the same view, but having recently travelled with my partially disabled sister I got a broader perspective on things.

She can walk, unassisted short distances and hanging on to rails etc a bit further.

So, from car park, to checking in, to lounge, and boarding, a wheelchair is used. Our own to check-in, and the airlines to the plane.

At the other end, she is able to / chooses to walk off, then proceeds steadied by the rail in the airbridge until the gate lounge, where her kids are waiting with a wheelchair.

Not always Jetbridge Jesus :)
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I dont perceive a problem with that.

However, if those passengers that require assistance to board expect to be first off, that’s a problem. The slow and steady walk through the air bridge will undoubtedly hold up the other passengers.
 
Currently standing in the priority line for QF430 waiting for boarding to open. I'd say the lines are about 60/40 for normal and priority.

Although I'm not sure if everyone joining the end of the priority line realises this is the priority line as it goes quite far back almost to gate 5 waiting area. If you come from in walking up and sees this big line in front of gate 7, you may get confused by it. The regular line is lining up the other way towards gate 9.

Edit: priority boarding enforced, but definitely didn't feel priority. 3/12 J seats filled when I got on (near halfway point of priority boarding line). 2 J pax directly behind me.

Flight is 100% full due to cancellation of next flight (see some priority pax in latter row middle seat). Overhead locker space will be a coughfight. Can already see plenty of full bins but missing a whole row or more of people.
 
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QF503 BNE to SYD this morning (5:25AM). Long line for priority boarding as usual for weekday flights to Sydney. After priority rows 15-30 were called and then 4-15. Flight was probably only half full at best to be honest.
 
Single line to board QF556 tonight even though flight is already running an hour late, with most of my fellow lounge partners turning around to join the queue but others cutting in
 
QF36 16 Feb retimed flight departing 2340 was a “zoo” as no enforcement of any form of PB for security into waiting area even though there were signs for queues. Guess QF does not control that.

Past security things got slightly less chaotic …. There seemed to be some attempt to enforce PB but was still not very clear obvious which queue ….
 

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