Snatching victory from defeat - DJ Priority Boarding

[Moopere]

I could have posted this in the QF thread on PB, as a nah nah nah, but I was so impressed I'm making a new thread here.

MEL-PER, DJ 697 this evening, 29th/12

I'm still not used to how DJ makes their boarding calls in the lounge and ended up at the gate a few minutes before boarding actually started. You could feel the tension in the air ... what looked like a full plane of Pax at the gate area bursting to get up and make a line.

Sure enough, the boarding call is made and with a bit of mumble mumble, it seemed that they wanted kids and assistance Pax first, no mention of Priority at this stage - all good, I don't mind that at all. The gate agent was standing on the PB lane, so the assistance pax and kid pax used the PB lane.

Quite a few kids actually, so many in fact that some excitable folks thought this was the real boarding call and a big line materialised moments later.

I laughed and shook my head - oh well ...

After most of the kiddlies had passed through and the PB line was now huge, with a few confused looking people milling around the standard lane, which wasn't staffed, the gate agent knew he had a problem. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but with a bit of arm waving and something said a few folks in the PB lane started to dodge under the tape and move into the standard lane.

The CSR on the mic then obviously knew she had only moments to get out an instruction and did so - PB to the right, standard to the left please everyone. Still only one gate agent, but, amazingly, the entire line in PB moved as one into the standard lane.

I couldn't believe it. With some trepidation let me tell you, I wandered up the PB lane and stood meekly at the right of the GA who was busy with the standard lane. He processed his current passenger then smiled at me, scanned my pass and off I went.

Wow!

No ground rage by other pax, no issues.

This confirms a theory I've had for a while, which QF staff who are struggling with the new QF implementation of PB might like to think about. Its my opinion that for the most part the ground and air staff are rightly viewed by most people as authority figures. All the passengers really need is a bit of clear direction and they will happily do the right thing.

Good job DJ - the priority thing worked 100% for me PER-MEL and MEL-PER again. Everything from Priority checkin to baggage which actually came out of the carousel first on both occasions, in flight was all good too. Top marks

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hell .... A good news story!!

Well done DJ.

 

[cove]

Gee Spruce,here we are status matched and watching !
We still haven't used a point on Virgin and we were thinking of drawing short straws on who in the family goes first.
Then Oneworldplus2 posts interior pictures of the new business class.
Is this a conspiracy to try a 4 hour flight ?
Of course I am joking!

 

[aurora]

The CSR on the mic then obviously knew she had only moments to get out an instruction and did so - PB to the right, standard to the left please everyone. Still only one gate agent, but, amazingly, the entire line in PB moved as one into the standard lane.

now THAT's great use of a PA! from what i've seen i think DJ only have gate agents looking after boarding in the terminal, so likely it was a clued-up ground team member rather than a CSR.

I'm still not used to how DJ makes their boarding calls in the lounge and ended up at the gate a few minutes before boarding actually started.

do you think DJ do this on purpose? i'd much rather they called me from the lounge once boarding had actually started... i know the melbourne lounge is before security so they need to give you more time, but still, it'd be nice to spend those few extra minutes finishing your coffee.

how do you think DJ could fix this? *thinking caps on please*

 

[The Rok]

For generations the human brain has been programmed to respond to directions from authority figures, Doctors, Judges, Teachers, Police, all these figures have some level of authority over us.
When a Doctor tells the patient to do something, 99.9% of the population will do it instinctively worth question, because deep down they know that this person is the authority on the subject they are referring to.

The same comes from this situation. People automatically assume that the crew have total authority over them, piss them off and you aint flying. A crew member can ask each person nicely to move lanes and probably 50% will do it, however, if a crew member were to announce over the PA (as in this case) in a firm, authoritative yet not rude tone that all non priority passengers need to be in the non PB lane then instinctive most will move, and as a few start to move most others will follow.

I think all that is needed is some level of authority from somebody at each gate.

 

[samiam]

I think all that is needed is some level of authority from somebody at each gate.

T-Shirts all round?

 

[Sprucegoose]

Gee Spruce,here we are status matched and watching !
We still haven't used a point on Virgin and we were thinking of drawing short straws on who in the family goes first.
Then Oneworldplus2 posts interior pictures of the new business class.
Is this a conspiracy to try a 4 hour flight ?
Of course I am joking!

Its like diving into the cold pool first!!

You first, you first!

 

[straitman]

Its like diving into the cold pool first!!

You first, you first!

I would much rather fly Virgin than dive into a cold pool :!:

 

[Moopere]

do you think DJ do this on purpose? i'd much rather they called me from the lounge once boarding had actually started... i know the melbourne lounge is before security so they need to give you more time, but still, it'd be nice to spend those few extra minutes finishing your coffee.

how do you think DJ could fix this? *thinking caps on please*

Yes, I've been stung twice now and will be less anxious next time I get the call in the lounge. I think they do it on purpose to get all the pax to the gate early but its annoying to leave whatever you were doing in the lounge only to bump into the gate and find boarding hasn't even started.

At both end of my trip I made the same mistake, wandered directly to the front of the lane, as no-one else was there, and I am usually not paying enough attention, only to find the gate door closed ... then wander back again and wait 5-10 minutes for the boarding to _actually_ begin.

Having the lounge before security in MEL is a problem though, so perhaps its better overall to do it the way they do it. There was a massive massive line in standard security at MEL yesterday evening ... if you had been in the DJ lounge on a Y ticket you'd have needed those 15 minutes to struggle through security after getting the lounge boarding call.

 

[aurora]

Yes, I've been stung twice now and will be less anxious next time I get the call in the lounge. I think they do it on purpose to get all the pax to the gate early but its annoying to leave whatever you were doing in the lounge only to bump into the gate and find boarding hasn't even started.

what if the lounge boarding call let you know how long you had til boarding closed? i think i'd rather be told "DJ x is now boarding... boarding will close in 10 minutes" and then judge for myself how long it would take me to get to the gate (e.g. i'm silver, so would need extra time through melbourne security). thoughts?

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would much rather fly Virgin than dive into a cold pool :!:

Bondi Icebergs :: Home

 

[Moopere]

what if the lounge boarding call let you know how long you had til boarding closed? i think i'd rather be told "DJ x is now boarding... boarding will close in 10 minutes" and then judge for myself how long it would take me to get to the gate (e.g. i'm silver, so would need extra time through melbourne security). thoughts?

They do actually say that, but both at the PER and MEL ends they tell a bit of a fib to get you motivated. Both times I heard the call say, "boarding for flight xx_ has now commenced and will close in 5 minutes", after a slow amble to the gate though, which takes at least 2-3 of those 5 minutes boarding hasn't even started, let alone closed.

 

[medhead]

I'm on the record a number of times to say that qantas fails to control the boarding process, where virgin does control it well. This is the key difference.

how do you think DJ could fix this? *thinking caps on please*

Does virgin need to fix it? When it comes to me boarding early I believe in controlling my destiny, self empowerment. If one wishes to leave the lounge after boarding has commenced what about self-regulation. You know when the flight is scheduled to leave just wait a few minutes after the lounge call, finish your coffee and then leave.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[Reg Reagan]

Yes I found at MEL they exaggerated a little re announcing when boarding will close. I downed my coffee in a hurry, zipped through security (didn't need priority as only 1 person in security line), then proceeded to gate where there was a massive unorganised line. Of course I made full use of priority boarding which worked very well without any pax rage. In hindsight I could've enjoyed a second coffee at the lounge.

 

[dk4]

Does virgin need to fix it?

IMO Yes, announcing (in the lounge) that boarding HAS commenced when it hasn't is WRONG. (IME It occurs in airside lounges too.)

 

[medhead]

IMO Yes, announcing (in the lounge) that boarding HAS commenced when it hasn't is WRONG. (IME It occurs in airside lounges too.)

Oh well, I guess my point about self empowerment and self regulation was lost. Ok then. I guess we can all be victims or we can take control of our own destiny.

 

[Moopere]

IMO Yes, announcing (in the lounge) that boarding HAS commenced when it hasn't is WRONG. (IME It occurs in airside lounges too.)

Yes, I agree. Its misinformation and makes it harder to judge when you really do need to leave the lounge for boarding. If they set a standard for stating that boarding has started when it hasn't then we'll all get to know it and thats fine, but there is always the chance that a wild-card of truth telling will cause a problem.

Why not just tell the truth to begin with? Takes out all the second guessing and mind acrobatics. Boarding will begin at 1510 and will close at 1520. So you know, if you choose to turn up at 1521 theres a chance you could miss your flight.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Had exactly the opposite problem at the Lounge MEL on 24th Dec. First visit there, heard various flights being announced but not ours, checked board and showing flight was boarding, decided to leave then and upon exiting the Lounge received a personal invitation to board
Lounge staff were very apologetic ( they had not made a boarding announcement) called the gate to advise we were on our way.

 

[LiamR]

Has anybody noticed that the Sydney lounge sometimes simply forgets to call flights? I've been sitting in there a few times, glanced up at the board only to see "FINAL CALL" it seems to be an increasing trend.

 

[cavemanzk]

Has anybody noticed that the Sydney lounge sometimes simply forgets to call flights? I've been sitting in there a few times, glanced up at the board only to see "FINAL CALL" it seems to be an increasing trend.

Ive had that at MEL before, by the time I got to the gate they where pagging me and 3 other people that had been in the Lounge.