Virgin priority boarding fail

[QF WP]

Well I had no trouble with my Wed 6.15 AM BNE/ADL flight, as I arrived from the Lounge just as normal boarding started and they were stopped whilst I had my BP scanned.

No issues for my Wed 8:30PM ADL/DRW flight (because I was last to board )

Last Monday in Darwin airport the whole check in section is under construction. queue a mile long, no signs for nothing. Had to fight my way through to the front where there was an unmarked platinum desk. Filthy looks from all.
Then same thing at boarding, no separate signed line .
Got told off by another status member that i had jumped queue. But it only seemed to be her when I asked along the queue.
Bain transport could not give a s****t.

Completely agree with the DRW issues as was talking to the rest of the people behind me in the Priority Boarding queue for my Thursday 2:30pm DRW/BNE flight. I was the first in line and did listen to them announcing when they opened the line, that general boarding would be opening soon.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

General boarding announced in the same breath as priority boarding in Perth on Thursday. Then general boarding commenced first whilst the scanner for priority boarding was still being set up and configured by the other staff member. The first person in the priority line tried to go across to the working scanner, but was told to get back and wait in line by the staff member. This time some people in the general boarding line were laughing that they were getting on first.

Whilst not the end of the world, it certainly doesn't feel "wonderful". And if the benefit isn't going to be honored properly, it should just be scrapped.

 

[servicerequired]

General boarding announced in the same breath as priority boarding in Perth on Thursday. Then general boarding commenced first whilst the scanner for priority boarding was still being set up and configured by the other staff member. The first person in the priority line tried to go across to the working scanner, but was told to get back and wait in line by the staff member. This time some people in the general boarding line were laughing that they were getting on first.

Whilst not the end of the world, it certainly doesn't feel "wonderful". And if the benefit isn't going to be honored properly, it should just be scrapped.

Spot on - I've seen this happen with both QF and VA in the past ... its not a nice feeling.

First world problem!

But when you spend considerable coin with both airlines, its a feature that they offer - enforce it - don't embarass your most loyal customers.

 

[jase05]

Spot on - I've seen this happen with both QF and VA in the past ... its not a nice feeling.

First world problem!

But when you spend considerable coin with both airlines, its a feature that they offer - enforce it - don't embarass your most loyal customers.

VA slackened off and dropped the ball for a bit and were poor but recently I reckon they have been doing ok with PB and I’ve found it’s worked well nearly every time. YMMV though

 

[MEL_Traveller]

VA slackened off and dropped the ball for a bit and were poor but recently I reckon they have been doing ok with PB and I’ve found it’s worked well nearly every time. YMMV though

What they really have to fix though is the actual boarding process!

Too many times you get through to be stuck on the airbridge or stairs because the cabin crew don’t ask people to ‘not block the aisles’ or to ‘take their seats quickly’.

 

[MooTime]

What they really have to fix though is the actual boarding process!

Too many times you get through to be stuck on the airbridge or stairs because the cabin crew don’t ask people to ‘not block the aisles’ or to ‘take their seats quickly’.

impossible task controlling the unwashed onboard.... oh I need an item in my carry on, better open it right now, completely oblivious to others behind.

 

[Human]

impossible task controlling the unwashed onboard.... oh I need an item in my carry on, better open it right now, completely oblivious to others behind.

I really have no problem with people doing this. It's perfectly reasonable for people to remove their books, iPads, etc from their bags before they are seated. I'm more than willing to wait while others are doing this, and I expect that people should be willing to wait for me while I do it (as quickly as possible) myself.

 

[UP4014]

It would be quicker to let the lowest priority no status on first.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I really have no problem with people doing this. It's perfectly reasonable for people to remove their books, iPads, etc from their bags before they are seated. I'm more than willing to wait while others are doing this, and I expect that people should be willing to wait for me while I do it (as quickly as possible) myself.

Yes, but… rather than stand in the aisle to do this… why not stand in the aisle seat? Why not have the book/ipad/headphones out? Why not move to the seat, take the time to remove coats, take out what’s needed for the flight, then duck out to put the bag overhead?

The issue is that this arranging and rearranging never seems to be quick… the queues to board can be held up for minutes at a time while folk do this. Sometimes the wait is so long even the cabin crew at the boarding door have to look down the aisle to see what the hold up is.

I do think the lack of announcements to take seats quickly, or to not block the aisles, slows down boarding.

Maybe qantas is on to something boarding the middle of the plane first if using both doors, or from the back rows if only using the front door.

 

[pauly7]

Simultaneous priority and general boarding again from Brisbane tonight…. Well technically priority passengers were given 0.5 seconds to board before general boarding commenced…. So technically priority boarding was offered

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Friendly but extremely firm enforcement just now of PB at SYD to BNE. Curiously the most civilised gate area I’ve seen in ages - flight is busy but no queues for either PB or general before boarding announcements started. Even as they made the PB call, most stayed seated, and one of the agents then dutifully checked every pax’s boarding pass to ensure priority and politely turned a few who weren’t away.

 

[alexczarn]

Friendly but extremely firm enforcement just now of PB at SYD to BNE. Curiously the most civilised gate area I’ve seen in ages - flight is busy but no queues for either PB or general before boarding announcements started. Even as they made the PB call, most stayed seated, and one of the agents then dutifully checked every pax’s boarding pass to ensure priority and politely turned a few who weren’t away.

must be a simulation XD

 

[Harrison_133]

Success on 6 out of 6 flights in the last 2 weeks, with general not called until the priority lane was cleared on all sectors.

SYD tonight was particularly stringent, even with a delay, moving one of the bollards in front of the general queue to allow priority to go through both scanners.

 

[dk4]

Success on 6 out of 6 flights in the last 2 weeks, with general not called until the priority lane was cleared on all sectors.

I had a non-delayed flight out of SYD last week. Full general boarding (all rows) called about a minute after priority boarding was called (and still in full swing). There was a manager and two staff at the gate counter, looked like a time and motion study. (There were also SYD airport people in the lounge that day, observing how patrons interacted with the buffet.)

I hope the result (if that is what was going on) once they compare all boarding systems, is that, there is no discernible difference between holding general boarding back until priority has cleared, in terms of aircraft push-back time. (Plus, they find a discernible difference in the value which their best customers place on having all general boarding held back, until priority clears.)

 

[PERLHR]

(There were also SYD airport people in the lounge that day, observing how patrons interacted with the buffet.)

Well I found it hysterical that at Perth the other day for two glasses of sparkling (one for my guest who was sitting down) I was told you can only have one glass at a time. How stupid and pathetic was my own "time an motion study" on that one. I do sometimes laugh generally here in Australia, no booze until gone noon, this was not self pour (iknow some lounges are), oh how I miss the BA lounges sometimes!!

 

[Sprucegoose]

I like it when VA get business over QF (the business airline????)

 

[Mondo]

How are VA these days with enforcing priority boarding? I'm flying with them again later this week from Syd. Hope PB is smooth

 

[simmomelb]

How are VA these days with enforcing priority boarding? I'm flying with them again later this week from Syd. Hope PB is smooth

I've flown 5 times this year and each time they have ensured Priority is provided first. On one occasion a passenger was in front of me which didn't have Priority, and was ever so kindly asked to join the other queue.

 

[PERLHR]

Melbourne to Perth the other week no priority boarding announcement. Scrum with general boarding announcement after pax with assistance. . No pre departure drink either!! (They did apologise for this although reason for why not quite established). So I guess VA lack consistency.

 

[Harrison_133]

Pretty consistent on my flights over the last few months with priority called first and non-priority sent packing. Definitely better than when they were 'experimenting' with simultaneous boarding calls, although the odd staff member still does this.