No more flight announcements in the Qantas Club [Repudiated by Red Roo]

[straitman]

It appears that announcements in the Qantas Club have been 'enhanced' out. Not sure when it starts but we are to now rely solely on the screens.

A backward step IMHO, particularly when the boards are so often wrong.

No more lounge announcements.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Disappointing, however it wouldn't be a big deal if the screens were always correct.

 

[Joshua]

For those who travel outside the QF bubble, most places lounges are just that. The constant calls can be annoying. I'm more interested in selling popcorn near the doors during the transition period where many infrequent travellers with QP membership go running for their gate.

 

[anat0l]

I don't mind this, but it means that the departures boards need to be accurate all the time. Also, I'd anticipate that flights which continue to be significantly delayed or cancelled are still announced over the PA.

IME the boards are accurate most of the time (at least 85%), but it only takes a few cases......

Of course, even if the departures boards are accurate, I'd still hope that this means some people will start moving towards the gate at departure time, rather than trying to drag out their lounge time (and their flight's on-time departure) by trying to down another wine or beer or two or three.

Many lounges overseas, even operated by the airline, are indeed boarding-call free. Of course, there are more practical reasons for that, e.g. these lounges see passengers from a lot more flights than that of even the busiest Qantas Club!

For me, I maintain my modus operandi of treating my boarding time as on my BP (or as scheduled) as the true boarding time until it has been confirmed otherwise, and I'll see the service desk myself if no call or change in status has been made at the scheduled boarding time.

I'm more interesting in selling popcorn near the doors during the transition period where many infrequent travellers with QP membership go running for their gate.

You'd make a bigger killing selling vitriolic acid, which is what many pax will be spouting soon directly at Coward Street after they miss their flights which used to be called. Call them the lazy traveller, but......

 

[madrooster]

Many lounges overseas, even operated by the airline, are indeed boarding-call free. Of course, there are more practical reasons for that, e.g. these lounges see passengers from a lot more flights than that of even the busiest Qantas Club!

Imagine boarding calls in Admirals Clubs in places like DFW, ORD, LAX or MIA !!

 

[boomy]

No announcements can work as long as boarding is on time. They should still announce delays IMHO. I really don't want to find myself checking the board every 2 min when my flight is delayed instead of working or relaxing which is the true purpose of the business lounge.

 

[JohnK]

That is a terrible enhancement.

Of course, even if the departures boards are accurate, I'd still hope that this means some people will start moving towards the gate at departure time, rather than trying to drag out their lounge time (and their flight's on-time departure) by trying to down another wine or beer or two or three.

Why would I want to be at the gate at departure time when most of my flights are delayed? The 2 flights on weekend were ~30 minutes and ~40 minutes delayed.

Have accurate departure boards and accurate boarding announcements and boarding won't be disrupted that much.

 

[docjames]

Anticipate the replacement of boarding announcements with a large number of ."if Mr/s xx_x xx_xx_xx is in the lounge could they make their way to gate xx your flight is awaiting immediate departure".

 

[serfty]

...

Have accurate departure boards and ....

That's all that's needed, no need for boarding announcements.

Going back 10+ years I would wait until the monitors indicated final call, but have no done so deliberately for the last decade.

In fact I'll probably notice little change as these days if I am still in the lounge when my flight gets called I would consider I had failed myself.

 

[pauly7]

Anticipate the replacement of boarding announcements with a large number of ."if Mr/s xx_x xx_xx_xx is in the lounge could they make their way to gate xx your flight is awaiting immediate departure".

For a little bit until people get used to it I'm sure.

 

[serfty]

For a little bit until people get used to it I'm sure.

Nah, you still hear that on a regular basis, however it a would increase I agree.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't quite see the relevance to what's done in lounges o/s. I really don't want the QP to be 'harmonised' (down) to (many) o/s non QF lounges!

 

[markis10]

Good move IMHO, mind you I rarely wait for the call anyway if HLO.

 

[danny09]

I also think it will be a good move, same as markis10 im at the gate before they call in the lounge anyways. It will be nice not having the PA going on when your on the phone, or having a conversation in the lounge, unless its delayed then yeah let the pax know whats going on.

 

[simongr]

They were doing calls this morning.

 

[Mal]

BA and AA generally (there are exceptions) don't call flights. Yet the elites somehow manage to get onboard the plane on-time... Are the boarding screens better?

At least it would stop complaints from people who claim that their flight was never called (BTW ... this has happened to me with Qantas previously!)

 

[dairyfloss]

No problem for me. After a few stings at various ports, I'm pretty religious about getting to the gate on time per the BP! I do agree though it would be best if they can continue to announce delays, suitably in advance of published boarding times to save the out and back in again at the lounge for delayed (or worse) departures...

 

[Limewood]

Simple put more screens up for loungers.

 

[significance]

Simple put more screens up for loungers.

More screens, and larger, too, for those of us with imperfect eyesight.

Does anyone know of an iPhone app which will give me a buzz when my flight starts boarding? Or at least show the current boarding time estimates so I won't need to keep getting up out of my seat to look at the screens? Perhaps Qantas could incorporate these features into their app?

 

[TheInsider]

Disappointing, however it wouldn't be a big deal if the screens were always correct.

Majority of Qantas FIDS are controlled by the gate staff, and they change them when it is ready to board. The boarding call procedure for staff is to make the boarding call when they see the flight change to boarding (controlled by the gate staff), and when making that call, it is noted down in the flight history with the time and who made the call (this includes personal pages and finals calls).