Snatching victory from defeat - DJ Priority Boarding

[markis10]

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.

Lounge forgetting or is it more a case of the gate not calling the lounge?

 

[chrisjrn]

Has anybody noticed that the Sydney lounge sometimes simply forgets to call flights?

Definitely. I've even had a personal page in the Sydney lounge before the monitors showed that the flight was even boarding. That was embarrassing.

 

[pauly7]

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.

I had that in MEL last week - I'm certain they made no call whatsoever as about 4 of us were 'personally paged' too! Maybe they need to whack in a few more LCD screens to help the staff? One guy who I didn't know made a bit of a scene on the way out with the staff but I didn't hang around to hear what their excuse was.

But ironically on the way back, the SYD lounge called boarding, went on down and they hadn't even started (and didn't start for another 6 minutes).... Mmmm!

If I had to choose between the two VA methods I'd go with the personal page

But seriously, probably needs looking at from a staff training point of view - now when I travel them I'll be keeping a nervous eye on the screens near my boarding time rather than relying on a call.

 

[dfcatch]

Whether you choose to be at the gate before boarding, or timed to be there to waltz through PB at any stage prior to close, is a personal choice.

I'm not going to get up QF or VA for timing of lounge calls.

That said - IF you are going to make Lounge calls, they should be consistent so punters know what to expect.

 

[koonyaflyer]

I have now become increasingly wary of the boards. On several occasions I found that my flight was still not boarding despite the board showing that it was. On 2 separate occasions (Mel & SYD) I have been told that the boards are updated by the Airport and not the airline. I believe the lounge staff do not rely upon them as being accurate, and generally wait for a call from the gate prior to calling the flight. I know on at least one occasion the gate has forgotten to let the lounge know that they are boarding, resulting in a sprint to the gate!

As for personal preference, I like a window seat, and even though I fly PE most of the time prefer to board early and get my carron stowed and in my seat before the crowds descend.

 

[pauly7]

I have now become increasingly wary of the boards. On several occasions I found that my flight was still not boarding despite the board showing that it was. On 2 separate occasions (Mel & SYD) I have been told that the boards are updated by the Airport and not the airline. I believe the lounge staff do not rely upon them as being accurate

If we can't trust the boards who can we trust!!!?

Seriously - but then wouldn't JQ/QF/QFlink have the same problem and they clearly don't?

 

[openseat]

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.

It has happened three times to me in November/December. I've told the gate agent each time, the last time she rolled her eyes and said 'not again!'.

 

[LiamR]

I have been told that the boards are updated by the Airport and not the airline. I believe the lounge staff do not rely upon them as being accurate, and generally wait for a call from the gate prior to calling the flight. I know on at least one occasion the gate has forgotten to let the lounge know that they are boarding, resulting in a sprint to the gate!

They may be updated by the airport, but the airline is the one who has to tell them what's going on! Maybe that's where the problem is!

 

[chrisjrn]

They may be updated by the airport, but the airline is the one who has to tell them what's going on! Maybe that's where the problem is!

I may be wrong here, but I think that at SYD the Virgin Lounge operate their own departures board -- the graphics etc are completely different to the central airport signs (and they only display Virgin flights)

 

[LiamR]

I may be wrong here, but I think that at SYD the Virgin Lounge operate their own departures board -- the graphics etc are completely different to the central airport signs (and they only display Virgin flights)

They are? I've always thought they looked the same. I don' t think they operate their own boards, those things can be set up to only display certain airlines. Ala in the T2 Qantas Club and any of the signs down the Jetstar/QantasLink side of T2.

Just a guess, I could be totally wrong.

 

[notzac]

This happened to me just yesterday - it would seem they clear forgot to announce the flight in the SYD lounge. Quite annoying!

 

[aurora]

meanwhile, it looks like VA have added adelaide to the priority boarding list - Twitter

 

[ozbeachbabe]

FWIW once QF start boarding a flight the gate agent calls the lounges on the radio to tell them the flight is boarding. As there are sometimes multiple flights boarding at the same time, not to mention JQ flights it may take a couple of minutes for lounge staff to do the PA.

I think due to the volume of boarding call PA's made in the lounge pax just tune out after a while as there always be a fail to board QF Club member who insists the lounge never made a call but you know they did as you heard them do it.