Qantas to shut airport service desks, force customers onto self-service

[Daver6]

There's a lot of people who aren't very tech savvy who get checked in by a family member who sends them a text with a screen shot of the barcode which they can scan at the kiosks if they need to print out a bag tag & scan at the auto bag drop.

Many people wouldn't have a clue what NFC is or where to find it on their smartphones assuming it's even activated.

Some people don't even have a frequent membership or do but have no idea what their ff number is. Even if they are a member & have the app they won't always be signed in never mind remembering their password.

Being able to access your electronic ff barcode is a great workaround when your QR code boarding pass drops out because there's a delay & the flight has been retimed assuming you haven't saved the boarding pass to your Google or Apple Wallet.

Perhaps I'm not making myself clear here. I'm suggest BOTH codes and NFC are available to be used. Im suggesting ADDING new tech without eliminated old tech. I'd also contend that the majority of the population know how to use NFC even if not by name. Ie, the use it to tap and pay for things using their phones and watches.

 

[justinbrett]

I remember the gold old days before the QP scanned your FF card on entry - I used to lend my SG card to my dad who has the same initials as me, so he could get lounge access.

 

[Daver6]

I remember the gold old days before the QP scanned your FF card on entry - I used to lend my SG card to my dad who has the same initials as me, so he could get lounge access.

I remember prior to that where you just showed your boarding pass. If it had the correct status or showed QC for Qantas Club membership that waved you in. No scanning. People would just print their boarding pass at home but some basic editing would add QC to the right part before printing.

 

[Ade]

People would just print their boarding pass at home but some basic editing would add QC to the right part before printing.

Whoa , that's not cool

 

[PineappleSkip]

I remember prior to that where you just showed your boarding pass. If it had the correct status or showed QC for Qantas Club membership that waved you in. No scanning. People would just print their boarding pass at home but some basic editing would add QC to the right part before printing.

Or alternatively just walk past the entrance to Golden Wing (quickly) when entry was really busy, holding out your boarding pass and someone's old membership card. It worked not always but often.

 

[ChrisMars]

I remember the gold old days before the QP scanned your FF card on entry - I used to lend my SG card to my dad who has the same initials as me, so he could get lounge access.

Ahhaaaah! Maybe that's the way LTP is meant to be attained! 5 generations of parents & kids with same initials handing over the precious qff account generations after generations might be able to break the 75k SC barrier.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Does choosing to email the BP to "someone" ie, back to yourself work, as a 2nd measure, apart from downloading the BP to the phone after doing QFd OLCI?
Now that my BNE - ADL QF flight is coming up close, I am just thinking outside the box, as above, 2nd measure, what if the download does not work.
Going to email, and keeping mobile phone data turned on, and keep touching phone screen, to keep it from going to sleep.
I live in ADL, and the trip ADL - BNE is on a Tue, BNE - ADL is back on that Fri.
No access to a printer.

 

[Port Power]

Does choosing to email the BP to "someone" ie, back to yourself work, as a 2nd measure, apart from downloading the BP to the phone after doing QFd OLCI?
Now that my BNE - ADL QF flight is coming up close, I am just thinking outside the box, as above, 2nd measure, what if the download does not work.
Going to email, and keeping mobile phone data turned on, and keep touching phone screen, to keep it from going to sleep.
I live in ADL, and the trip ADL - BNE is on a Tue, BNE - ADL is back on that Fri.
No access to a printer.

Are we beginning to overthink? How many backups are really needed? Boarding pass in wallet or QF app is enough. Make sure phone is fully charged. Pretty easy.

 

[encryptededdy]

Does choosing to email the BP to "someone" ie, back to yourself work, as a 2nd measure, apart from downloading the BP to the phone after doing QFd OLCI?
Now that my BNE - ADL QF flight is coming up close, I am just thinking outside the box, as above, 2nd measure, what if the download does not work.
Going to email, and keeping mobile phone data turned on, and keep touching phone screen, to keep it from going to sleep.
I live in ADL, and the trip ADL - BNE is on a Tue, BNE - ADL is back on that Fri.
No access to a printer.

Just bring a Qantas Frequent Flyer card as your backup. You can board with it.

 

[ethernet]

Cant help to describe this quote when the first service station went 'Self service' .dad said, well son, self service means no service, and you can bet 'cheaper' will mean same price as before. Before we had lead additives, but the new lead free additive is still harmful (mostly to women).
My eyes without glasses are not good. Now these QF no service terminals - I will guess you cannot maginfy the screen. Then there was the Japan problem, when those over 85, never use a mobile.

 

[TheInsider]

Now these QF no service terminals - I will guess you cannot maginfy the screen. Then there was the Japan problem, when those over 85, never use a mobile.

Yeah but a similar terminal has been around for over 11 years.

 

[NM]

I can confirm that check-in assistance is definitely still available at Australian domestic terminals. For anyone who is unable to check-in on-line or at a kiosk, and there are plenty of valid reasons why some people cannot, there are still staffed manual check-in desks operating. My experience (accompanying someone traveling with an assistance dog registered under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dog act) had no delays or issues walking up to the "International Connections" check-in desk to be manually check-in for their domestic flight. They were offered assistance for passing through Security (gratefully accepted) and to the boarding gate (declined as they were using one of my Qantas Club passes and would stop at the Service Animal Relief area before boarding).

When traveling with a registered and accredited service animal, on-line or kiosk check-in is not available, as the check-in process requires validation of the service animal's accreditation, which is a photo ID card showing both the animal and the handler. This passenger's experience has been positive with very little waiting for manual check-in at domestic terminals. The staff have been very supportive, friendly and efficient. The first time they traveled, they were directed to use the International Connections check-in desk, and escorted directly to the desk by ground staff. Perhaps traveling with a very cute, well behaved service animal brings out the best in the staff, but certainly positive all round so far.

 

[BD1959]

Ahhaaaah! Maybe that's the way LTP is meant to be attained! 5 generations of parents & kids with same initials handing over the precious qff account generations after generations might be able to break the 75k SC barrier.

VA-style family pooling "by stealth" ... QF will catch-up at some point!!

Regards,

BD

 

[wandering_fred]

Are we beginning to overthink? How many backups are really needed? Boarding pass in wallet or QF app is enough. Make sure phone is fully charged. Pretty easy.

Keeping track of bits of plastic is hard enough.
Sorry but some of us do not wish to use the mobile phone (or its apps) for financial transactions.
Especially when wandering
Fred

 

[Port Power]

Keeping track of bits of plastic is hard enough.
Sorry but some of us do not wish to use the mobile phone (or its apps) for financial transactions.
Especially when wandering
Fred

No, I definitely do not like using my mobile phone for financial transactions either. But having a boarding pass in the “Apple wallet” to scan at gate is not the same thing at al.

 

[ausfox]

Sorry if this is incorrect but won’t a screen shot work?

 

[Port Power]

Sorry if this is incorrect but won’t a screen shot work?

I’m pretty sure it will.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just bring a Qantas Frequent Flyer card as your backup. You can board with it.

I have nowt except my QTMC!
Don't have any modern day QFF card that have the barcode on the back, only have the first iteration bronze coloured QFF card, that only has my name, QFF number, and member since, in raised black alphanumericals.
And the magnetic strip on the back, with the 13xx_x QFF service centre phone number on the back, plus the NZ one (0800 101 500.
Heh, memories, those were the good old days with QFF.
"This card does not permit entry into the Qantas Club or One World or partner airline lounges..."
Edit:
Conjoined:

Sorry if this is incorrect but won’t a screen shot work?

I have one phone with Telstra, and one with Optus, both in my name, so will play around with the BP after OLCI.
Oh, the fun or crying fit I will have, if I can't download the BP.
Mid of this month, will see how it goes.
Might try to take a pix of the BP on one phone, and save it to gallery!
Who knows though, it might be easy, will have to wait and see.
Ok, thanks for answering my musings.