Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[milehighclub]

From the investor pack today

 

[mbell1510]

From The Australian:
Qantas is expected to tell investors on Tuesday that a passenger’s boarding “group” will be printed on their boarding pass, and called by cabin crew at the gate. The new system is due to begin in October on domestic flights.

 

[jpp42]

Interesting. This could help solve some problems if they differentiate the status levels - ie, Group 1 - CLPO, group 2- J and WP, group 3 - SG - or something similar.

 

[jakeseven7]

Very interesting..... I wonder if they've seen an opportunity to really own this now VA2 PB has slipped with their new system?

Would help on the early morning business flights especially to segment a bit more (e.g between Plat an Gold) because all the important people fly then

 

[Lynda2475]

I've only experience boarding groups in the USA on domestic flights; and always thought it was organised such that rear seats boarded first - does status trump the seating order?

I know that southwest which doesn't do allocated seating allow you to pay more to board in an early group because of the inevitable bin space shortage.

Rather than boarding groups prefer they just police carry-on allowance (so overhead bin Tetris doesnt delay flights), clear the priority lane (and strictly police who is in priority) first.

With boarding groups there is a risk of all the overhead bin space being taken by bronzes sitting in last 10 roes before a WP sitting in row 6 can even board. Plus number the bins and do not allow breachers to use more than their allocated bin space (plus penalty if they have to check a bag because it doenst fit).

 

[Daver6]

Not sure how boarding groups solve the problem. The problem is enforcing whatever policy in place.

 

[Vic]

I've only experience boarding groups in the USA on domestic flights; and always thought it was organised such that rear seats boarded first - does status trump the seating order?

My experience in the US as qantas platinum in economy has been boarding group 1. Recent experience in Europe, boarding group 1, again platinum. But on a business award with the second leg in economy. So not sure if business on the first flight kicked in or status.
Singapore airlines was interesting being business class and VA platinum, but group 2. When I asked they said 'the group was determined by seat row (18 in my case), but you're business so you board first anyway.'

 

[Ansett]

Qantas changes to boarding process start today

travel.nine.com.au

‘A different business’: Qantas unveils customer service changes, new targets

Qantas has announced an overhaul to its app as well as changes to its boarding process as part of a number of announcements at its first investor day since before the pandemic.

www.theage.com.au

 

[encryptededdy]

My experience in the US as qantas platinum in economy has been boarding group 1.

I think American Airlines puts Oneworld Emerald in Economy in Group 2. Group 1 is American Executive Platinum only.

 

[SeatBackForward]

My experience in the US as qantas platinum in economy has been boarding group 1. Recent experience in Europe, boarding group 1, again platinum. But on a business award with the second leg in economy. So not sure if business on the first flight kicked in or status.
Singapore airlines was interesting being business class and VA platinum, but group 2. When I asked they said 'the group was determined by seat row (18 in my case), but you're business so you board first anyway.'

OWE are usually Boarding Group 2 on AA flights aren't they? Group 1 is usually the military etc..

Post automatically merged: May 30, 2023

Not sure how boarding groups solve the problem. The problem is enforcing whatever policy in place.

Yeah, lets introduce new policies rather than working with one that we already have. Nice one QF!

 

[encryptededdy]

Press release: https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-releases-update-to-long-term-strategy/

This doesn't mention boarding groups specifically, but does mention these;

• Plans for an overhauled Qantas app, launching towards the end of 2023, that will give customers more control over their bookings, introduction of baggage tracking and better integration of Qantas Loyalty.
• Changes to Qantas’ boarding process from October 2023 to improve on-time performance and to better recognise tiered Frequent Flyers, in response to customer feedback.

Hopefully the overhauled app supports Google Pay boarding passes on Android. I wonder if "better recognise tiered Frequent Flyers" means we will see Platinum and Gold seperated in terms of boarding group.

 

[exceladdict]

• Plans to significantly expand the current range of redemption options for Frequent Flyers.

OT, but Simpler and Fairer Mk 2?

 

[encryptededdy]

OT, but Simpler and Fairer Mk 2?

Well at least they only said "expand", not "simplify"

 

[dairyfloss]

My experience in the US as qantas platinum in economy has been boarding group 1. Recent experience in Europe, boarding group 1, again platinum. But on a business award with the second leg in economy. So not sure if business on the first flight kicked in or status.
Singapore airlines was interesting being business class and VA platinum, but group 2. When I asked they said 'the group was determined by seat row (18 in my case), but you're business so you board first anyway.'

Here's the AA groups, and my take [in red] on what the QF equivalent might look like if they were to copy it. For AA, QF WP is Group 2, and they call ConciergeKey (like QF CL) in pre-boarding, with groups that need assistance, families with small children, etc.

Boarding order​

Group	Boarding pass type
ConciergeKey® members	ConciergeKey® [QF Chairmans Lounge members]
Group 1	First [Business] Active duty U.S. military with military I.D. [N/A] AAdvantage Executive Platinum® [QFF Platinum One / +QFF Platinum?] (Business on a 2-class international plane) [Business]
Group 2	AAdvantage Platinum Pro® [QFF Platinum] oneworld® Emerald℠ [non QFF OWE] (Business on a 3-class plane) [Business]
Group 3	AAdvantage Platinum® [QFF Gold] oneworld® Sapphire℠ [non QFF OWS]
Group 4	AAdvantage Gold® [QFF Silver / Qantas Club] oneworld® Ruby℠ [non QFF OWR] AirPass℠ [N/A] Premium Economy [Premium Economy] Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive cardmembers [QF Money Premier Titanium cardmembers / Points Club Plus] Travelers who bought Priority boarding [N/A... and please don't start!] Eligible corporate travelers** [TBC]
Group 5 (Preferred boarding)	Main Cabin Extra (excluding Basic Economy) [premium / paid seating?] AAdvantage® members who earn 15,000 Loyalty Points [N/A] Eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers* [QF Money Premier Platinum / other eligible cards / Points Club]
Group 6	AAdvantage® members [QFF Bronze]
Group 7	Group 7 [others, based on fare bucket]
Group 8	Group 8 [others, based on fare bucket] Basic Economy to / from Europe & South America [others, based on fare bucket]
Group 9	Basic Economy within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico & Caribbean [others, based on fare bucket]

More here: Boarding process − Travel information − American Airlines

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Vic]

Thanks for all the corrections. Not my experience.
2020 LAX-DCA return Economy, very firm memory of boarding group 1.
I'll double check the BPs.

 

[encryptededdy]

Here's the AA groups, and my take [in red] on what the QF equivalent might look like if they were to copy it. For AA, QF WP is Group 2, and they call ConciergeKey (like QF CL) in pre-boarding, with groups that need assistance, families with small children, etc.

I can't imagine Qantas will want to do 9 boarding groups. I suspect it'll be either [CL/P1, Emerald/Dom J, Sapphire, Economy] or maybe like the Japanese carriers where Economy is split into rear of plane (boards first) and front of plane.

 

[dairyfloss]

I can't imagine Qantas will want to do 9 boarding groups. I suspect it'll be either [CL/P1, Emerald/Dom J, Sapphire, Economy] or maybe like the Japanese carriers where Economy is split into rear of plane (boards first) and front of plane.

True - not likely to be as many as AA, but I can see them adding in some of those non-status categories to the priority groups as they are being established. It's much easier to do this when you have a simple number assigned to a boarding pass, then it is calling out for Points Club or Titanium cardholders to step forward

 

[Princess Fiona]

From The Australian:
Qantas is expected to tell investors on Tuesday that a passenger’s boarding “group” will be printed on their boarding pass, and called by cabin crew at the gate. The new system is due to begin in October on domestic flights.

There’s nothing like being an early adopter hey ?

 

[Katie]

I got Group 1 on AA LAX-ATL and ATL-LAX in Y for my flights earlier this month (am QF WP).
Concierge Key was Group 0. I think Military were called before Group 1 in both instances.

Edit to add - I believe I've always gotten Group 1 on AA domestic since becoming QF WP, whether in Y or F.

 

[RooFlyer]

So will the thread title be changed to "Qantas doesn't care about the order of boarding groups" ?
Edit: this post was moved from the 'Qantas doesn’t care about priority boarding' thread

I can't imagine Qantas will want to do 9 boarding groups.

Can you imagine the s*** show that would occur if there was even 5 calls ... wait till they come forward, send back interlopers ... "and now we welcome ... no, not you ..." ... "and now we welcome ... not, not you ... " rinse, repeat.

Two scanners for each group, groups called in series, or 1 scanner for first group, second scanner for second group etc, groups called in parallel?

Do you hold the first scanner exclusively for Group 1s, and all the other groups go sequentially to the other single scanner?

I'm sure Qantas have some highly paid consultants to figure it out