Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[Beano]

It also leads to the question what happens if you change your seat and move sections. Does the Group number follow the seat number? I also, perforce, have to sit row 10 but will keep Group 1 or 2. A colleague, Silver, is always looking for seats closer to the front. If he moves does his GN change?

Interestingly, with the different groups boarding at different times, there is only one queue for 3-6. If you join what could be a long line, but your GN is not called, it could lead to confusion.

 

[DejaBrew]

I get the image, and the methodology needed....... but what I don't understand is why you would need to introduce this complexity for the customer to understand...... despite those that do understand and those that see no need to understand, there will be many customers with anxiety, eagerness and curiosity etc around when they are to board. I think if the numbering just mimicked the order of boarding, it would be much easier for the customer (i.e 3 is boarding now, I am 4, so I am next, it is time to put my book in my bag and get ready to line up). The system in the background should be able to manage the same outcome, with respect to the plane filling order.

I'm not sure that would work given the potential for gate changes and the fact that this could impact the boarding order. If you consider that groups are detailed on the boarding pass and many of those are printed. In this instance, dynamically updating the boarding groups will be problematic and create confusion for those with a printed BP. At the end of the day, I would think the groups are for the use of the airline and their operational needs rather than the convenience of the passenger.

 

[Beano]

I'm not sure that would work given the potential for gate changes and the fact that this could impact the boarding order. If you consider that groups are detailed on the boarding pass and many of those are printed. In this instance, dynamically updating the boarding groups will be problematic and create confusion for those with a printed BP. At the end of the day, I would think the groups are for the use of the airline and their operational needs rather than the convenience of the passenger.

This seems to answer my question. I hadn't considered printed BPs, but then if you have the ability to change seats on your device, then you would probably have an electronic BP.

 

[p--and--t]

A lot angst about not much. So they have groups now, like many airlines, and some of those don't call in order either, just wait until you are called and chill out.

 

[GrahamBRI]

I'm not sure that would work given the potential for gate changes and the fact that this could impact the boarding order. If you consider that groups are detailed on the boarding pass and many of those are printed. In this instance, dynamically updating the boarding groups will be problematic and create confusion for those with a printed BP. At the end of the day, I would think the groups are for the use of the airline and their operational needs rather than the convenience of the passenger.

Good call. Incorrectly assumed everyone was electronic........
Maybe change to group colours, such that there is no implicit assumption of priority order.

 

[TheInsider]

Good call. Incorrectly assumed everyone was electronic........
Maybe change to group colours, such that there is no implicit assumption of priority order.

Domestically it's probably around 85-90% now. Some check-in staff still insist that passengers have paper boarding passes though, for whatever unknown reason.

 

[Beano]

Good call. Incorrectly assumed everyone was electronic........
Maybe change to group colours, such that there is no implicit assumption of priority order.

That makes sense. Once you are past Group 1 and 2, it "priority" is not an issue.

 

[drron]

Correct - and this has been shared before, but covers it well in an image:

View attachment 430513

Cheers,
Matt.

So why not change 3 to 5 and 5 to 3. then it would be 1 and 2, 3and 4 then 5 and 6. Then the passengers don't get upset when the groups are called out of order as some do. Really a lack of common sense in the committee who set this up.

 

[TheInsider]

So why not change 3 to 5 and 5 to 3. then it would be 1 and 2, 3and 4 then 5 and 6. Then the passengers don't get upset when the groups are called out of order as some do. Really a lack of common sense in the committee who set this up.

Because using dual door operations would affect this.

 

[dairyfloss]

Because using dual door operations would affect this.

Yep - they studied the most effective way to load up where front and rear doors are available (plus looked at how others do it), and all things considered, this was the most efficient process. Priority groups 1 & 2 aside, they start with front and rear access for pax heading to the center sections simultaneously, and then move to front and rear access to sections nearest those points of entry. Limits the hold up from pax trying to pass in the aisle, waiting on people lifting bags, etc.

People [in boarding groups 3-6] just need to get their heads around the fact that the process is efficiency driven, and may not be in numeric order, depending on the flight and gate arrangements.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[JW]

Priority boarding still a mess at MEL a couple of days ago.

 

[TheInsider]

Priority boarding still a mess at MEL a couple of days ago.

Hope you put in some online feedback about it. Otherwise, it'll never get sorted.

 

[gaz0303]

Priority boarding signs installed at Tamworth. Now I can look forward to express my DYKWIA status as I board the Dash8 first and have my premium economy bag loaded first and unloaded last. Not something I think we need in regional centres.

 

[Scooty]

Priority boarding signs installed at Tamworth. Now I can look forward to express my DYKWIA status as I board the Dash8 first and have my premium economy bag loaded first and unloaded last. Not something I think we need in regional centres.View attachment 430984

Good to see the consistency there across the Qantas services. Probably not needed on the Dash 8 services, it will be good to see this implemented on the Embraer 190's into regionals. At least with the premium luggage being last off if the plane doesn't get a bay in SYD and need to catch a bus back to the terminal you will be last on the bus/first off
Tamworth will see a little bit more action in the next couple of days, Armidale runway repairs have run over - still closed as at today and tomorrows flights looking shaky. Believe Qantas is looking at diverting some of those ARM flights to TMW

 

[gaz0303]

Tamworth will see a little bit more action in the next couple of days, Armidale runway repairs have run over - still closed as at today and tomorrow’s flights looking shaky. Believe Qantas is looking at diverting some of those ARM flights to TMW

ARM shut due to pavement failure. The 6:30am from TAM had mechanical issues,but luckily QF had put on extra flights to get us out closer to 11am.

 

[justinbrett]

So why not change 3 to 5 and 5 to 3. then it would be 1 and 2, 3and 4 then 5 and 6. Then the passengers don't get upset when the groups are called out of order as some do. Really a lack of common sense in the committee who set this up.

Because sometimes they board with the forward door only, so either way there’s going to be groups out of order

The original trial had the groups named 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B but it was obviously deemed that 1-6 even if out of order was simpler.