Priority boarding my cough

[flying_duck]

Your quote 'Nothing like spending 20k a year to be treated like a nobody' sounds like you expected attention, otherwise you would have been happy to be treated as a nobody and you would not have made the comment...

You received access to the PB queue as per your status entitlement. Also, once again, more than half the aircraft could have legal access to the PB queue explaining the 'equal' queue lengths.

A valid reason was provided why VA boarded both queues at the same time. Although it may not be optimal, where does it say in the T&C that VA cannot board both queues at the same time particularly if they believe they are running late? I personally find the best use of the PB queue is when I arrive late at the gate I get my BP scanned straight away.

As explained previously, the picture you provided proves absolutely nothing. Also, who exactly told you that PB was not being enforced?

I shall take your suggestion and ensure I am late for all my flights going forward as then we won’t have to have this conversation again because there won’t be any queue.

 

[Pleb Status]

The manager on board this flight.

So status grants you access to the priority boarding LINE but nothing else? I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect priority boarding is exactly that, priority, as in before something else. Not the ability to stand in a different queue.

How would any VA staff on board the aircraft know what happened at the gate? VA normally use gate agents to board their aircraft so on board they would not have any idea whatsoever if PB was being enforced at the gate or not.

VA gave you a reason why on this occasion why they boarded both queues at the same time, even if you do not believe it. On most occasions, the PB queue is a lot shorter than the general boarding queue. So even if they board both at the same time, it is still better than having no PB queue at all. Also, if they are running late, I would rather them get everyone on board as fast as possible and push back...

 

[JohnK]

I'm not sure why priority boarding is that difficult but I'm glad I have never felt the need to be first on board. I prefer to leave it as late as possible to board.

 

[hossein_au]

As a rule of thumb I find ADL and MEL the best at enforcing VA PB. SYD can be hit and miss and I haven’t been through BNE in a long time so can’t comment.
As a general observation I do still find it better than QF

I have found CBR to be one of the best ones when it comes to enforcing PB (by VA; QF is a universal fail everywhere).

 

[henrus]

VA is generally good with enforcing at priority boarding, however, there are few more things at play here...

Brisbane is very gate restricted and often airlines just get what they're given, in addition, BAC doesn't have to keep Virgin happy (cause it's not as if they'll pack up and leave).

Re SQ using the better gates, NZ and SQ often seem to score gates 80-83 and that comes down to contracts and worth to the airport (remember both operate in the new lounge precinct - the one that cost $16 million to build).

VA is supposed to have gates around 73-77 however as the US-bound departure needs the special screening its trickey as to which gates they can use. The added complication is that some of the gates between 73-76 which can be used for either 2 737's or one 777 so it makes sense to use them for the two aircraft instead of one.

Maybe the new lounge might change things and they'll start using gates closer to their lounge however I suspect this situation will continue on the LAX flights for the foreseeable future.

 

[Marty_]

On balance I find their priority boarding very good. It is seldom skipped and nearly always actively enforced.

I've noticed that they do very occasionally board both queues at the same time if things are behind schedule. I've also known them to skip priority boarding altogether if it's a small plane that's half empty (which happened today, actually. CBR > SYD with about 20 people on board).

Late last year they seemed to really find their mojo regarding enforcement. Before that I often saw people slip through, but this year they've been really strict.

I do a heck of a lot of flying with VA so I reckon my assessment is fair.

 

[Alyopsis]

There’s a story floating around this morning that VA will be giving veterans priority boarding (more in the queue). So how will they enforce that ? Some sort of veteran’s ID as your boarding pass is swiped? Tell the reservation system when you make a booking? Just swan through and say “I’m a veteran” if challenged? It’s a nice gesture but it will only add to the boarding bunfight. Perhaps a more appropriate gesture would be to give veterans heavily subsided lounge access (say $100 p.a.) - something an old digger and his wife on a pension could afford. And free lounge access for serving personal while serving, like United does.

 

[Ausbt]

And free lounge access for serving personal while serving, like United does.

Certain airports in the US actually have dedicated lounges for veterans and military personnel. Tulsa from recollection (I believe their is a base very close by). In fact seeing an F16 land there was a bit of a thrill. Agree this is OTT from VA. Do we want to end up like Delta, whereby there are up to five different groups called to board but it still operates like a shemozzle.

 

[CMA222]

There’s a story floating around this morning that VA will be giving veterans priority boarding (more in the queue). So how will they enforce that ? Some sort of veteran’s ID as your boarding pass is swiped?

This has arisen in relation to the proposed Commonwealth Veteran's Benefits ID card that the PM went on about during the week. In the USA my experience is that serving military personnel in uniform get priority boarding on Delta, and Delta and United have discount fare programs for Veterans. I have seen Veterans in the 'military only lounges' but not sure that they get much more recognition beyond that.

 

[ozjuice]

I only fly VA domestic and have never had an issue with PB.

 

[support]

Having a quiet giggle that posts are censored but thread titles aren’t. Sorry mods.

The censoring is done by software, not by Moderators editing your post. If you know a word is flagged by the censor, don't use it in the future.

There’s a story floating around this morning that VA will be giving veterans priority boarding (more in the queue). So how will they enforce that ?

There is a separate thread on this issue.

 

[samh004]

Nothing like spending 20k a year to be treated like a nobody.

As someone else pointed out, that's hardly a figure that gets you noticed.

Singapore’s has gate 81 secured for an 11;30ish departure, why do they take priority over a local carrier?

The airport is privately run and money talks, I'm sure there's no national pride in that business. I certainly wouldn't expect an airport to save all the good gates for QF/JQ and VA/TT. That said, it could be an even simpler reason that the SQ flight arrived before the VA flight and that was the gate that was free.

I’m not sure what status donkeys have, emotional support animal maybe? Then I really could board before everyone as I would have special needs. You might be onto something here.

I'd still be ahead of you

 

[Jurahn]

Certain airports in the US actually have dedicated lounges for veterans and military personnel. Tulsa from recollection (I believe their is a base very close by).

Tucson has this as well - when you buy anything at the airport shops (or at least that was the case several years ago), they ask you if you want to buy something from a particular range of snacks to donate to the military lounge, which was rather unexpected, and also puts you in a bit of an awkward situation, because you of course feel the obligation to say yes.

 

[openseat]

VA is generally good with enforcing at priority boarding, however, there are few more things at play here...

Brisbane is very gate restricted and often airlines just get what they're given, in addition, BAC doesn't have to keep Virgin happy (cause it's not as if they'll pack up and leave).

Re SQ using the better gates, NZ and SQ often seem to score gates 80-83 and that comes down to contracts and worth to the airport (remember both operate in the new lounge precinct - the one that cost $16 million to build).

VA is supposed to have gates around 73-77 however as the US-bound departure needs the special screening its trickey as to which gates they can use. The added complication is that some of the gates between 73-76 which can be used for either 2 737's or one 777 so it makes sense to use them for the two aircraft instead of one.

Maybe the new lounge might change things and they'll start using gates closer to their lounge however I suspect this situation will continue on the LAX flights for the foreseeable future.

The problem is the narrowness of the walkway down to the gates and the Emirates lounge. It always is congested there even if it's a smaller plane being boarded. I'm not sure why the airport puts the transfer desks in the spot as well making it really congested at times with the nearby toilets as well. If they could somehow expand the walkway and thus the gate areas, it would provide more relief. There's nothing apparently consequential behind to prevent the area being expanded.

 

[Blackswan]

Flying out of Perth recently I've found priority boarding to be a mess on multiple occasions for the A330 services. The priority line turned into the general line. Pointed it out to the gate agent who told me there was nothing she could do.

 

[Blinky]

I’m really surprised about this thread. I currently fly VA weekly to and from every capital city and sometimes regional airports like Cairns, Mackay, Coolangatta, Townsville and Newcastle. I have never once had a problem with PB. Admittedly, I am usual early to board, but even on occasions I board later, I never have problems using the priority queue.

Is it suggested that there are no priority queues, because I haven’t experienced this, or that non-priority passengers use that queue?

 

[drron]

Well PB on my MCY-SYD leg worked well.On the SYD-LST leg a fellow in Richmond colours in the premium line got the red light.By the time that was sorted half the pleb line including me had gone past.

 

[Blinky]

Well PB on my MCY-SYD leg worked well.On the SYD-LST leg a fellow in Richmond colours in the premium line got the red light.By the time that was sorted half the pleb line including me had gone past.

Explains everything.

 

[samh004]

There's nothing apparently consequential behind to prevent the area being expanded.

I think in the master plan that area (a staff carpark) is set to be converted into parking for planes on the other side.

 

[stm1sydney]

In my experience, VA PB works well at least 90% of the time, so I reckon that is a published benefit delivered. (As opposed to QF, where it works less than 10% of the time.)

And, yes, you are not going to get special attention for spending $20k p.a. because that is not "special."

But I do hope you enjoyed your flight.