Priority Boarding Line Etiquitte

[Longrass]

Following on from the other thread of PB, what do people think is respectable when encountering a PB line full of everday punters.

From my last 20 odd flights, I have only seen PB to work 3 times, twice in INTL sectors and once Syd-Bne where a CSA stood at the end of the PB que and checked BP's.

So, when seeing a line of punters who shouldnt be there, is it ok to:

1) Jump the que with a J/F ticket or WP card

2) Walk down the airbridge saying "excuse me, excuse me" like I saw recently (guy was J with WP)

3) Ask the CSA/FA why they are allowing punters that are not entitled to be there, to board and not re-directing them to the other line

4) Cop it on the chin

Look forward to your thoughts.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I do 1,2 and 3.

I've been flying with another airline a lot over the last month and this doesn't seem to ever be a problem, which makes me think a 5th option of 'apply pressure to QF' is needed.

 

[markis10]

How about option 5, fly an airline that trys its best to police the lines!

 

[Longrass]

I do 1,2 and 3.

I've been flying with another airline a lot over the last month and this doesn't seem to ever be a problem, which makes me think a 5th option of 'apply pressure to QF' is needed.

Do you suggest it is fine to push past the punters on the airbridge that have passed through the before you?

The person I saw doing it not only walked to the front of the initial que, but then pushed his way down the airbridge and was in his seat within a minute of having his BP scanned.

 

[straitman]

I'd do options 1 & 3 but not 2.

 

[Febs]

2) Walk down the airbridge saying "excuse me, excuse me" like I saw recently (guy was J with WP)

WTF? The priority boarding privileges end once your BP/Qcard is scanned (in a single aerobridge situation anyway). The queue becomes one at the aerobridge. As a WP, I use the priority boarding queue, then stand in line on the aerobridge with everyone else, including a number of WPs, SGs and J pax. I'd like to see someone try to push past me in that situation!

FWIW, my recent experiences with QF priority boarding queues have been positive - in BNE last week there were ~30 people in the regular queue and 3 in the priority queue. Ditto Int'l departures.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Do you suggest it is fine to push past the punters on the airbridge that have passed through the before you?

The person I saw doing it not only walked to the front of the initial que, but then pushed his way down the airbridge and was in his seat within a minute of having his BP scanned.

No that's just plain rude. What this person is doing is barging past not only people from the general boarding queue but people who have already gone ahead of him/her in the Premium boarding lane!

If he/she has some dire need to be one of the first onboard the aircraft they really should be at the gate at minus 30 so they board when the F/A's arrive at the gate & the flight opens.

This behaviour is textbook DYKWIA material.

 

[TonyHancock]

How about option 5, fly an airline that trys its best to police the lines!

This is my current approach. My only QF domestic flights are international connecting flights and I'm currently on 3 fails out of four for priority boarding this year. 100% success on my five DJ flights.

 

[BAM1748]

I'm not fussed about priority boarding, I try to get on last.

 

[Longrass]

I'm not fussed about priority boarding, I try to get on last.

Thats been my trick of late... Sometimes not on purpose though LOL

 

[markis10]

Thats been my trick of late... Sometimes not on purpose though LOL

Can then present an issue of finding space for carryon!

 

[ajw373]

Indeed pushing past on the bridge is just plain rude. A few months ago I had someone try that on in Bangkok boarding a Singapore Airlines flight. It was a dual bridge but the queue went beyond the business class door for a good 5m. When I say queue it wasn't a queue just a scrum of passengers filling the bridge. The plane was late and they "boarded" well before the a/c was ready so people just naturaly filled the bridge. Anyway I was standing on the left (as I was a business class pax as well) and an English suit type tried to push past, saying I am business class (get out of my way). I wouldn't let him past and said I am f'ing business class too have some manners. Stopped him in his tracks. Standing up to English suits does that, learnt that living in London for 4 years.

As for at the gate, the issue I have with priority passengers forcing their way to the front of the line, is how on earth do they know that those in the line are also not priority passengers? How do you know they are ordinary punters? Doing that makes you look like a tool.

 

[Kefci2000]

It appears to be better handled on international legs (never had an issue), and to be honest how many non J, SG and WP travellers are on the 6.30am MEL-SYD (where the lines appear equal)??

I think it is very CSM specific rather than airline specific (except BA see below).

Even flying F on AA flights in US I found it hit and miss. One leg it would be please come forward, whilst in LAS it was let everyone go ahead until you are called (and to be honest I am not going to try and jump in front of families).

BA however are a different animal.....almost falling over themselves to board you ahead of anyone else (this appears to be a BA directive).

 

[Longrass]

It appears to be better handled on international legs (never had an issue), and to be honest how many non J, SG and WP travellers are on the 6.30am MEL-SYD (where the lines appear equal)??

I think it is very CSM specific rather than airline specific (except BA see below).

Even flying F on AA flights in US I found it hit and miss. One leg it would be please come forward, whilst in LAS it was let everyone go ahead until you are called (and to be honest I am not going to try and jump in front of families).

BA however are a different animal.....almost falling over themselves to board you ahead of anyone else (this appears to be a BA directive).

Flying First with AA recently had me amazed, seated, with wine and nuts served, before they let Y passengers on board.

I was stoked!!!

First class was full and happily watching TV, whilst drinking and eating before the american scrum for Y class began

 

[Kefci2000]

Flying First with AA recently had me amazed, seated, with wine and nuts served, before they let Y passengers on board.

I was stoked!!!

First class was full and happily watching TV, whilst drinking and eating before the american scrum for Y class began

Had a similar exp flying BOS-JFK, short flight but 4 Coronas later including one before take off and 1 (in plastic cup) for landing.......

 

[ozmille]

I have had people try nr 2 on BA once by 2 F pax saying loudly "we are in F let us through" and the lady in front of me turned around and said "so am I" and they just backed of...

 

[rowdy]

Boarding on CX once in HKG the CSA spotted I was WP when I was just getting to the priority lane and then marched me and my companions to the front of the aerobridge and presented us to the attendants at the door of the plane.... that is priority boarding.

 

[Kangol]

Can then present an issue of finding space for carryon!

Solution = don't bring carry-on luggage!
Or, have a small enough bag that will fit under your seat.

 

[tuapekastar]

As for at the gate, the issue I have with priority passengers forcing their way to the front of the line, is how on earth do they know that those in the line are also not priority passengers? How do you know they are ordinary punters? Doing that makes you look like a tool.

Must admit this was the first thing that came to mind for me. While I may think some people most likely shouldn't be in the priority line, how would I actually know? I wouldn't make any assumptions, and if by some chance I did know for some reason, I'd probably just wait in line and when it got to me, have a (polite but exasperated) crack at the staff member who was boarding the pax. Then later on do the same formally to Qantas.

 

[Daggs01]

Never had a problem with VA priority boarding.

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