Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[Lynda2475]

I can’t see them every doing that to CLs let alone P1s.

Well CLs and P1 are unlikely to be in whY.

 

[bmcc]

Having seen various permutations across different airlines in different parts of the world, I think that Cathay currently have the best procedure.

Pre-boarding: Wheelchairs, kids.
Then First Class and Cathay DM / Oneworld Emeralds
Then Business Class and Cathay SG / Oneworld Sapphire + Cathay Silver (but not Oneworld Emeralds)
Then everyone else.

Three boarding groups. Three lines. Occasionally at HKIA they'll have a dedicated Premium Economy line also.

But crucially, they have staff going up and down the premium boarding lines checking tickets and directing people back into the appropriate queue.

They can board a 777 in 15 minutes.

 

[Lynda2475]

Pre-boarding: Wheelchairs, kids.

Wheelchairs fair, kids no.

 

[elanshin]

Wheelchairs fair, kids no.

Pre-boarding young kids is fairly common all over the place. The main reason being the parents generally need longer to get everything and settle - thus holding up the boarding line.

In the manner of getting everyone onboard the plane the fastest, it makes perfect sense. We're talking toddlers here not primary+ kids.

 

[sudoer]

Wheelchairs fair, kids no.

What's the difference? Infants and small toddlers can't walk either.

 

[Lynda2475]

What's the difference? Infants and small toddlers can't walk either.

And if it was limited to those under 2 maybe.

Although if one isnt exceeding luggage allowance it would be easy to have your personal item on your shoulder, carry a toddler on your hip and still wheel your carry-on case.

My issue you see people taking the p!$$ and step forward with teenagers or 1 toddler and 8 family members. If your kid is over 2 they can walk on; if you have a toddler 1 parent can take them on, their non status aunts, uncles, grandparents etc don't all need to also board early.

The definition of kids is too way too lax.

Also with wheelchair passenger it should be them and 1 carer, last A380 flight there was one elderly passenger in a wheel char and 12 able bodied extended family members all expecting to board (i suspect as all had excessive hand luggage).

 

[downgraded]

The old system (pre-Covid) for A380 flights worked well when they have 4 groups.

1. F, CL, WP1 and WP
2. J, SG
3. PE PS
4. Y

They also used to have mutliple lines running at once. So they would board group 1 and 2 at the same time with group 1 being smaller obviously.

But Y wasn't/isn't just one group. I've experienced them boarding by row numbers from the back in about 4 blocks

 

[SeatBackForward]

Gate 33 for QF127 today. No groups on boarding passes, signage indicating business in the main walkway and economy along the glass walling. Of course everyone stood in the walkway queue. Staff tried walking along, and even denied people before scanning.

Why is it so hard ???

 

[1022]

I'm happy to concede that despite my scepticism when group boarding was first floated here, that it generally seems to have been implemented fairly well for domestic flights, albeit with room for improvement at some gates where monitors, signage or PA announcements are hard to observe.

However my last two 737 golden triangle flights at evening peak (suit) hour have taken up to 40 minutes to board due to the amounts of carry on still being allowed and the resulting jenga before the crew give up and check the last 15 - 20 roll aboard bags, resulting in another 10 minute wait for them to be loaded in the belly. It's peak U.S. - level stupidity and seems way worse on QF than VA.

If my unsolicited advice was wanted, I'd suggest a domestic "15 minute luggage delivery guarantee" at the carousel to encourage more bags to be checked...with some sort of points compensation if bags take more time than that. Of course hard to implement when baggage handling is outsourced and under-staffed, so pigs might fly. On the other hand, easier to implement with the incoming A321s with containerised luggage.

 

[drron]

JAL limit children to under 2 for pre boarding and they check the passport to make sure they are under 2. Plus also check BPs of those in premium lines.