Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[justinbrett]

QF just never seems to be able to get things right at first attempt... There's always a later repair job.

It is a trial

 

[dylarr]

Few would have a printed boarding pass as they are near impossible to get on domestic legs these days, what does it look like on the mobile boarding pass? Any clearer?

There’s an example here:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/travel-advice/boarding-trial.html

 

[JohnM]

There’s an example here:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/travel-advice/boarding-trial.html

Still far too small IMO.

 

[RooFlyer]

Still far too small IMO.

Yes, who on earth is going to notice it? Especially when it’s just been introduced, you think it would be prominent somewhere as people got used to it.

 

[JohnM]

It is a trial

Much of what QF does these days is a trial... of the customers' patience and goodwill.

 

[RooFlyer]

It is a trial

So, they are trialling a way not to do it?

 

[Daver6]

Gate 19 is the only gate with this signage:

View attachment 342184

So when boarding group 1, you queue in the premium lane. Are both scanners used for that lane?

When boarding groups 3-6 are they keeping the premium lane free so if a group 1 person rocks up late they can get right to the front and be scanned?

 

[justinbrett]

So, they are trialling a way not to do it?

Do you understand what a trial is? Shall I explain it for you?

 

[RooFlyer]

Do you understand what a trial is? Shall I explain it for you?

No, I think I have it. They are going to introduce a new way of doing things, so they start with a trial which is obviously not optimal from the start, and go from there?

Putting up clear signs and clear design of BPs which would best assist pax in understanding the new system will be done later, because it’s good to confirm pax will be confused otherwise.

 

[justinbrett]

No, I think I have it. They are going to introduce a new way of doing things, so they start with a trial which is obviously not optimal from the start, and go from there?

Putting up clear signs and clear design of BPs which would best assist pax in understanding the new system will be done later, because it’s good to confirm pax will be confused otherwise.

I don't see what's wrong with the signs, seem pretty clear to me. Virtually the same as AA's setup.

QF were printing boarding groups on BPs (for other airlines) before this. If the feedback is the font size is too small, then they will fix it as part of the trial. That's how these things work. If you are perfect you don't need to run trials.

I have a QF BP for HA in front of me that I flew a few months ago (identical to JT's above) - it's not like it's unreadable - it's the same font size as the flight number. The only things on the BP with a larger font is the boarding time and the seat number. Sure, bump the font size up, easy fix. It looks like they've already done it according to their website - https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/travel-advice/boarding-trial.html

If the QF priority boarding complaints have been reduced to complaining about the font size, I think they can take that as a win.

 

[JessicaTam]

So when boarding group 1, you queue in the premium lane. Are both scanners used for that lane?

When boarding groups 3-6 are they keeping the premium lane free so if a group 1 person rocks up late they can get right to the front and be scanned?

Group one was being boarded from both lanes with both scanners. Then group 2 from both lanes and scanners.

There seemed to be people in the priority (group 1&2) lane for most of boarding so I can’t answer your last question.

 

[Beano]

My experience in Frankfurt was that a late group 1 or 2 joined the end of the queue, unless they jumped the queue, but then they would not be turned back as their status already met the boarding criteria. There was no separate 1 & 2 lane after 3 & 4 started.

 

[jakeseven7]

Well I would say that was a solid ‘pass’.

Before boarding the gate agent explained the group system over the PA. When boarding started group 1 was called and another explanation was given. I thought it was a fail as there were so many queuing for group one, including in the economy queue and no one getting sent away. But more on that soon

Group 2 was then called. So even more people being scanned in both queues. After a while I spotted some people being told they were not in the current boarding group and to go and wait till their group was called. I thought the GAs were just being observant, but no! The system rejected anyone not in the current (or preceding) boarding group.

Quite a few people were sent back including a woman with a toddler. The GA asked a colleague if she should override the rejection but was told ‘no’ as the time for pax requiring assistance was only at the beginning of boarding.

One staff member was in civvies and was watching the flight hole process from next to the gate. She spoke to one person who did the walk of shame to find out what group he was in and what o discuss the process. He was a bit annoyed as he didn’t know about the trial and was used to just walking up to the gate (in the priority queue mind you! ). The staff member asked if he had heard any PA announcements and he said there wasn’t one. *sigh*

I took the time to talk to the staff member about the trial and feedback received. She said that the boarding process seemed to be smoother, and a bit quicker on board too. She also commented that people are hanging back a bit more and not clogging the gate aisles up. I told her I liked the auto reject system and good that it could be overridden if need be. She did say “it helped stop WPs walking on with five friends”. It also encouraged pax to either travel on the one booking or ask the service desk to link them. Mind you, I think the latter is unlikely to happen!

Again, that’s a ‘Pass’ from me. Well done QF. Now just keep up the process.

Thanks for taking the time to document for us!

Sounds great. Will calm all the chicken littles down as well with the auto system reject. It will also really help staff and the DYKWIA crowd

 

[Daver6]

Group one was being boarded from both lanes with both scanners. Then group 2 from both lanes and scanners.

There seemed to be people in the priority (group 1&2) lane for most of boarding so I can’t answer your last question.

IMHO this is setting it up to fail. If they're using the priority lanes for groups 3+ later in the boarding process, it becomes a learned behaviour that it's ok to use those lanes. They should be keeping the priority lane clear so any priority pax who arrive after boarding has commenced can use it.

 

[Beano]

So when boarding group 1, you queue in the premium lane. Are both scanners used for that lane?

When boarding groups 3-6 are they keeping the premium lane free so if a group 1 person rocks up late they can get right to the front and be scanned?

Good question. There are always late J, WP and SGs. But then will anyone on this forum linger long enough to find out.

 

[JessicaTam]

IMHO this is setting it up to fail. If they're using the priority lanes for groups 3+ later in the boarding process, it becomes a learned behaviour that it's ok to use those lanes. They should be keeping the priority lane clear so any priority pax who arrive after boarding has commenced can use it.

They were using both lanes for 1 and then 2. Only the economy lane for 3 and up. With 60+ WPs it was always going to be a steady stream.

 

[Mr Bill]

Has the new boarding system stopped pax at the back using overheads at the front ?

 

[Flashback]

Has the new boarding system stopped pax at the back using overheads at the front ?

Yes, the lockers will only open if you wave the appropriate BP in front of them.

 

[Lynda2475]

Has the new boarding system stopped pax at the back using overheads at the front ?

Well those at the back should be boarding by the rear stairs and long after those in J; so J passengers and status pax at front of Y should have guaranteed first dibs on overhead bins above their seats.

If Im in J and see a Y passenger ditch their bag in a J bin I simply remove it and replace with my own.

Still think bin space should be labelled per seat.

 

[milehighclub]

Still think bin space should be labelled per seat.

Another sign that people can ignore. But that aside, there simply isn't enough overhead space to allocate per seat.