Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[simongr]

I heard though it was an abject failure on the delayed flight MEL-BNE this morning around 8:30 this morning - a broken PA didn't help.

Conversely my PB was just as it should be on QF409 this morning - straight from the J lounge to the PB lane at gate five.

 

[Pleb Status]

QF 513 BNE-SYD this morning. 763 with 2 FA at the gate. Moving along in the very long PB queue (completely unenforced as normal) when someone who had been moving in the non-PB queue carefully reads the ample PB signage provided at the start of the barrier and then decides to leave the non-PB queue and push into the PB queue directly in front of me. As both queues at this stage were of equal length and moving at about the same speed, I was interested to see why this person had suddenly decided that they had to push into the PB queue and the non-PB queue would not do.

When we got to the gate reader, I was not surprised that the person who pushed into the PB queue was a PS and travelling in row 27 (Y). So he read the signs provided and made the decision to disregard all of the directions provided. This is why strict enforcement is required of the PB queue.

 

[pauly7]

Not sure if reported earlier, but they are trialling automated boarding gates in the premium line at SYD Gate 2. Interesting concept, a little better than the Lufthansa implementation (no turnstile).

So I guess if you can't get your staff to do it right, you install a machine to do it!

I would be very interested if it actually rejects non-priority pax as that would be priceless to watch.

This sounds great! Fingers crossed for a gate 2 departure soon!

Will have to go check it out.

 

[Red Roo]

QF 513 BNE-SYD this morning. 763 with 2 FA at the gate. Moving along in the very long PB queue (completely unenforced as normal) when someone who had been moving in the non-PB queue carefully reads the ample PB signage provided at the start of the barrier and then decides to leave the non-PB queue and push into the PB queue directly in front of me. As both queues at this stage were of equal length and moving at about the same speed, I was interested to see why this person had suddenly decided that they had to push into the PB queue and the non-PB queue would not do.

When we got to the gate reader, I was not surprised that the person who pushed into the PB queue was a PS and travelling in row 27 (Y). So he read the signs provided and made the decision to disregard all of the directions provided. This is why strict enforcement is required of the PB queue.

I share your frustration. Thanks for sharing this; I've passed it on.

 

[Dmac6345]

Your up late Red Roo,
Did you cop the afternoon shift ??

 

[Red Roo]

Your up late Red Roo,
Did you cop the afternoon shift ??

Just catching up.

Thanks for thinking of me. See you again in the morning.

 

[medhead]

Just catching up.

Thanks for thinking of me. See you again in the morning.

I just assumed you had the iPhone app, like me, and get in during your spare moments.

 

[jimmyk]

PB Worked well today. QF545 from Brisbane to Sydney. PB in right lane and general in left no issues. Long line for general boarding with next to no line for PB. Those going to PB had come from business lounge

 

[pauly7]

The only issue I'm having with QF PB is when they have only one FA boarding and pushy non premium pax intimidate the FA into scanning them first. QF need to train their staff to enforce their own rules...

90% of the time it's working well for me now. Pax seen to be getting used to it.

 

[medhead]

After a 5 week break from ADL departures. QF 730 was the usual rubbish on Monday morning 3 June. Passengers just charged the gate, announcement made that was completely pointless, since no one listened to it.

The only issue I'm having with QF PB is when they have only one FA boarding and pushy non premium pax intimidate the FA into scanning them first. QF need to train their staff to enforce their own rules...

90% of the time it's working well for me now. Pax seen to be getting used to it.

In this situation, I just look at the FA and extend my hand holding my platinum card towards them and in front of the passenger in the other line. To be clear I don't even look at the other passenger. One FA boarding has worked well for me so far, only experienced it in SYD.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Yesterday, QF 642, MEL-BNE.

Boarding commenced with one FA, I didn't get there before it started so unsure of the announcement made, non-priority line quite long, one pax in front of me in PB.
FA saw us, scanned out BP's and went back to working the long queue.

Pretty simple, people read the sign, FA does her job and it all works.

And it was a 3p flight, so not the business suit stampede with way too much hand luggage.

Cheers
BF

 

[simongr]

Shocking yesterday on QF446 MEL-SYD. PB queue was 30 people deep with non-eligible pax (based on the fact that I was at the front of people leaving the QP for the gate and walk pretty quickly) and the general boarding queue was empty... My first time out of gate 2 at MEL as well.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The only issue I'm having with QF PB is when they have only one FA boarding and pushy non premium pax intimidate the FA into scanning them first. QF need to train their staff to enforce their own rules...

90% of the time it's working well for me now. Pax seen to be getting used to it.

I feel sorry for the poor F/A who has 2 queues of people in front of her with PB eligible pax in both lanes. CL/WP pax join the general queue where the F/A is standing as they assume no PB is offered on that flight while other WPs go down the PB queue & anticipate being called across so both lanes end up being scanned alternately.

Flight goes late because it takes longer to board everyone as the FA who does the boarding also does the the exit row briefing but has to wait for all pax to sit down first & they also have to close the overhead lockers.

 

[Flying mermaid]

QF704 CBR-SYD today no PB. You have to walk across the Tarmac to the plane so apparently they don't do PB at that gate. Didn't quite understand the reason, but didn't want to hold up the queue asking . So still haven't experienced PB out of Canberra. Another try next month....

 

[JohnPhelan]

QF704 CBR-SYD today no PB. You have to walk across the Tarmac to the plane so apparently they don't do PB at that gate. Didn't quite understand the reason, but didn't want to hold up the queue asking . So still haven't experienced PB out of Canberra. Another try next month....

My understanding was that CBR was not a PB port - presumably because so many of the pax would be eligible for PB it would become self-defeating (the non-PB lane would often be the fastest!)

 

[Flying mermaid]

My understanding was that CBR was not a PB port - presumably because so many of the pax would be eligible for PB it would become self-defeating (the non-PB lane would often be the fastest!)

Canberra became a PB port as of 26 April. I tend to agree with you re length of queue but am interested to try it - mainly to see whether the PB queue is longer than the normal. . My first try last week didn't work, as when the flight was called I exited the business lounge with a number of people, there was no queue, and two people to scan so no time at all we were on the plane. There was a PB sign but hidden, so either no PB or taken down once the majority had boarded. This was my second try. Get another go next month, when we go to Darwin via Sydney

 

[gogo419]

Once we see consistent enforcement of PB. Agents should be instructed that if there are two agents scanning and there is a queue in PB line (all of which are eligible) then both agents should scan them all through.. Before normal queue resumes?

bit off topic. But has anyone witnessed VA staff refusing pax in their PB line that aren't eligible?

gogo

 

[tuapekastar]

Canberra became a PB port as of 26 April.

Well (perhaps unsurprisingly) the QF website has not caught up with this change and does not list CBR (nor ADL for that matter) as domestic PB ports. From the 'Platinum Benefits' section:

Board your flight at your convenience with priority boarding available at selected Domestic terminals* and on selected Qantas international flights§
* Available in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

 

[eastwest101]

bit off topic. But has anyone witnessed VA staff refusing pax in their PB line that aren't eligible?

gogo

Its a very very long thread, but I recall several people reporting that VA did send some ineligble people back to the end of the normal line several months ago, other frequent flyers here have noted that VA may police it a bit more than QF, but not as strict as many of the US carriers that have their own PB. Thats the impression I get from the thread in the last year or so that I have been watching it.

 

[medhead]

The VA boarding process also means they don't nee to police it as much. They have well thought out announcements that involve welcome to flight, boarding soon, yada, yada, priority boarding starts now.
Once the priority boarding line clears following this first "not boarding yet" announcement they then start general boarding.

That process is a major part of their success.