For QF and VA - a LATAM solution to boarding that WORKS!!

[jb747]

We have travelled on several domestic and international LATAM flights in the past few weeks and the system that juddles describes is how it should be done if executed properly. Our experience is that if you do not join the huge queue that forms at least 20 mins before boarding begins, so that you are near the front of the "non-status pax who only have hand luggage" then you have nowhere to put your backpack (smallish) when you get on the plane.

Which would seem to be exactly what I predicted. It 'works' by not actually giving those with hand luggage anywhere to put it. Perhaps it teaches people not to have any. But, I can't see how creating a search and destroy game in the later part of loading could possibly help speed things.

Be interesting the hear what the people with roll ons think of this system.

 

[Pushka]

I know this is not a QF fail thread, but as a comparison to the OP, I had a QF flight yesterday. It was a success only in the sense that we took off and landed on time. QF had a number od delays out of BNE yesterday afternoon, so while they were announcing all the delayed flights in the lounge, they forgot to call the non-delayed CNS flight. I noticed the board change to "boarding now" so made my way to the gate scrum. A lady then had 2 big and heavy carry ons that a male flight attendant struggled to lift into the overhead bins. A total joke for hand luggage limits. Then to complete, all the non-status luggage came out before the "priority" luggage.

I agree with serfty, VA get it right frequently, QF get it right rarely.

I think we were on the same flight! . But different issues.
Delayed last flight to Adelaide. Full plane they said so they were weighing hand luggage. But only one scanning lane open. People from PB were being taken in front of normal lane to get their bags weighed. Then had to get across the surging people or go to the rear and start again - not gonna happen. Scant priority for PB. One scan from normal lane one scan from PB after having been pointed at to go get luggage weighed and get back across the scrum of surging passengers.

Plane wasn’t full. I think the crew were just pee’d off.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think we were on the same flight! .

I was heading to CNS, not ADL ...

 

[Pushka]

I was heading to CNS, not ADL ...

Yeah. It was a joke.

 

[Pleb Status]

Evidence of a well policed PB system in practice with a few ruthlessly executed 'walks of shame' in BNE this afternoon. No complaints or back chat from the perpetrators either.

On VA of course...

 

[Bandicoot]

I was once made to do the walk of shame for using the priority boarding lane with gold status - my objection fell on deaf ears. I am the only person I have witnessed being made to leave the priority boarding lane. But I have seen many proud bronze and silver FF (not flying business) use the priority lane, with impunity.

 

[Mattg]

I flew yesterday with GOL Airlines in Brazil. For boarding, they use exactly the system that @juddles described for LATAM domestic flights, i.e. boarding is done in the following group order:

1. Passengers requiring special assistance
2. Frequent flyers with status and Comfort+ passengers
3. Passengers without carry-on luggage for the overhead bins
4. Passengers with carry-on luggage for the overhead bins

I think the system worked really well! Boarding was completed fairly efficiently and we even departed early.

 

[BrockF]

TAP Portugal has seperate lines for people with wheeled carryon and people with backpacks only. The backpacks only line board first and gate agents proactively move around the boarding gate directing people to the best lane for them, (and removing those in the incorrect lane). Was quite impressive and boarding was done very quickly.