Preferred Boarding

[Chucksta]

what's everyone's experience with preferred boarding?

it says that OW saphire and Qantas GOLD card holders are entitled to it.

but i have only heard airport lounges in perth and singapore ask OW emeralds to board. hmmmm... Wonder if GOLD card holders will be denied?

Chucksta

 

[JohnK]

what's everyone's experience with preferred boarding?

Doesn't really bother me. I like to be one of the last on the plane and as I do not have any carry-on with me most of the time this is more convenient.

but i have only heard airport lounges in perth and singapore ask OW emeralds to board. hmmmm... Wonder if GOLD card holders will be denied?

Not sure about QF Gold or OneWorld Sapphire but I have heard specific boarding calls for business passengers and OW Emeralds announced to board at their leisure at gates in BNE and BKK as well.

 

[Soundguy]

i have only heard airport lounges in perth and singapore ask OW emeralds to board. hmmmm... Wonder if GOLD card holders will be denied?

In Singapore the other day on QF to ADL they called for Gold / Plat / Business class to board first, the flight had been slightly delayed. Like John I would prefer to be standing as long as possible before a long haul flight so can't see the benefit in getting on early unless you have a lot of carry on.

PS want a tip? Dont EVER fly international into Adelaide, the Customs there are totally unhinged. Even if it costs a lot more, enter via a busier route elsewhere (eg MEL SYD BNE PER)

 

[serfty]

It is announced more in international terminals; sometimes in Domestic. If you are SG, WP or CL you can generally board at any time once a boarding call is announced (after they have done the pre-boards such as those requiring assistance).

I have noticed that recently there has been extra mention of the preium queses available at international gates.

 

[Philip76]

PS want a tip? Dont EVER fly international into Adelaide, the Customs there are totally unhinged.

Are we going to see you on an upcoming episode of Border Security, having yourself patted down because your bag smelt like smack?

 

[Skyring]

Are we going to see you on an upcoming episode of Border Security, having yourself patted down because your bag smelt like smack?

I love Borderline Security! All the behind the scenes dramas of what not to do for a smooth trip.

I can't help but feel for some of the folk they pull over. Connections missed, holidays ruined, relatives and friends left standing outside waiting and wondering...

Don't look nervous, don't bring in dodgy tucker, don't lend your bags to drug-encrusted mates. And don't get angry.

These guys have heard it all before, and they have ways of getting back at you with a polite and cheerful smile!

About the only time I'm nervous at arrivals is when I've got a tight connection and a terminal change - but in those situations I'm usually not going to be passing through immigration anyway. Except in the US, of course, bless their well-intentioned souls.

Dodgy tucker. Hmmm. Tim Tams for overseas friends, exotic lollies for the kids back home, and dried apricots and rooibos tea to keep me regular on the road. No problems so far, though I remember one TSA goon in SFO looking very carefully at packets of Pop Rocks, which my teenage daughter had told me not to consider coming home without.

And judging by the reaction of the customs guys at LAX, they are used to Aussies exporting significant quantities of Tim Tams. I use them to impress the overseas sheilas - see here.

 

[Mal]

It's a bit of a hit and miss type situation with "Priority Boarding".

Priority Boarding is however a OneWorld benefit if Emerald or Sapphire:

"Preferred boarding.

You'll be invited to board at your convenience.
"

It's a nice perk, but when you think about it, the plane is not going to leave while you're still queued up is it

 

[Soundguy]

Careful bringing tim-tams into Adelaide.

Think I'm joking dontcha? I got fined $110 for bringing in a (fully wrapped) Cadbury chocolate bar. When they say food in ADL they mean ALL / ANY food, not just meat, veg, fruit etc. Bring in an undeclared Tim-tam you will likely be done. I tick about everything now. It has nothing to do with security, only about raising money and justifying jobs through fines. I could go on (lots more) but this is OT....

 

[Skyring]

Careful bringing tim-tams into Adelaide.

Think I'm joking dontcha? I got fined $110 for bringing in a (fully wrapped) Cadbury chocolate bar. When they say food in ADL they mean ALL / ANY food, not just meat, veg, fruit etc. Bring in an undeclared Tim-tam you will likely be done. I tick about everything now. It has nothing to do with security, only about raising money and justifying jobs through fines. I could go on (lots more) but this is OT....

I always declare food on my immigration form, even if it's just the chewing gum I stick in my face for climbs and descents. Nobody's ever bothered me or wanted me to unpack, and *shrug* if they do, they might score a high reading on the chocolate swab, but that's OK.

I don't know all the rules and regulations of every place I visit, so I figure that if I err on the side of caution I might not get any brownie points for honesty, but at least nobody's going to slug me with a fine for it.

Mind you, they could always confiscate my Tim Tams...

 

[dajop]

but i have only heard airport lounges in perth and singapore ask OW emeralds to board. hmmmm... Wonder if GOLD card holders will be denied?
Chucksta

Who's ever there to hear the announcements at commencement of boarding? Seems to me, at least domestically, the version of priority boarding that applies in Aus is that WPs & SGs always have the privilege of boarding last, as they stream down from the QP after having that last beer.... (as opposed to in the LOTFAP where the privilege is definitely boarding first).

Personally I'm disappointed if I'm not in the last 10 or 20 pax to board! Usually O/H luggage space is not a problem for me either, as I either have checked luggage or non-rigid hand luggage (laptop + backpack) that tends to fit into various nooks and crannies alongside the rigid wheelaboards.

 

[bravoecho1]

PS want a tip? Dont EVER fly international into Adelaide, the Customs there are totally unhinged. Even if it costs a lot more, enter via a busier route elsewhere (eg MEL SYD BNE PER)

Soundguy,

this is not the first time I have heard this. You have to wonder why the different tack to the other ports.

 

[Skyring]

Soundguy, this is not the first time I have heard this. You have to wonder why the different tack to the other ports.

Perhaps the immigration and customs folk at Adelaide need to make work to justify their jobs?

Just how many international flights does Adelaide get, anyway?

 

[serfty]

Careful bringing tim-tams into Adelaide.

Think I'm joking dontcha? I got fined $110 for bringing in a (fully wrapped) Cadbury chocolate bar. When they say food in ADL they mean ALL / ANY food, not just meat, veg, fruit etc. Bring in an undeclared Tim-tam you will likely be done. I tick about everything now. It has nothing to do with security, only about raising money and justifying jobs through fines. I could go on (lots more) but this is OT....

Declare those Tim-Tams because:

1) You won't be fined, and
2) Customs will probably let you through with them!

 

[Dave Noble]

Careful bringing tim-tams into Adelaide.

Think I'm joking dontcha? I got fined $110 for bringing in a (fully wrapped) Cadbury chocolate bar. When they say food in ADL they mean ALL / ANY food, not just meat, veg, fruit etc. Bring in an undeclared Tim-tam you will likely be done. I tick about everything now. It has nothing to do with security, only about raising money and justifying jobs through fines. I could go on (lots more) but this is OT....

The form is quite clear that all food needs to be declared, not food exlcuding tim-tams. Declare any food you have. many items ( such as chocolate bars, tim-tams, jaffa cakes et al ) will be allowed in. Customs/Quarantine want to make sure that unwanted items are not brought into the country; requiring that everything be declared is the simplest method for all.

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Adelaide is not unique - all food means all food in other international airports around Australia and NZ.

As for international flights, off the top of my head QF, NZ, MH, SQ, CX - maybe some I've missed.

 

[Soundguy]

Perhaps the immigration and customs folk at Adelaide need to make work to justify their jobs?

Just how many international flights does Adelaide get, anyway?

You put your finger on it. The Customs in Adelaide are embarrasingly over-staffed considering the paltry few international flights that come here direct. So you will have perhaps 20 or more agents sorting through everyone and it takes ages, the fastest I have even been processed was one hour. They search just about all the luggage from what I have seen, this means they can then prove statistically how many 'busts' they had with minor irrelevant items (and perhaps an occasional genuine wrongful import) to prove why they need so many staff in ADL. It truly is a backward place.... I have not met quite the likes in any other city or country.

 

[Dave Noble]

They search just about all the luggage from what I have seen, this means they can then prove statistically how many 'busts' they had with minor irrelevant items (and perhaps an occasional genuine wrongful import) to prove why they need so many staff in ADL. It truly is a backward place.... I have not met quite the likes in any other city or country.

What is irrelevent? If they find breaches of quarantine, that is a good thing. It is no different to Melbourne and Sydney in the checking of most luggage at Customs

Dave

 

[Skyring]

What is irrelevent? If they find breaches of quarantine, that is a good thing. It is no different to Melbourne and Sydney in the checking of most luggage at Customs

I agree on the main point, but fining somebody $110 for bringing in a sealed block of Cadburys and failing to declare it as food?

We're scraping the very bottom of the relevance bin here!

 

[Dave Noble]

I agree on the main point, but fining somebody $110 for bringing in a sealed block of Cadburys and failing to declare it as food?

We're scraping the very bottom of the relevance bin here!

Not at all. The relevence isnt whether it is a bar of chocolate, it is the committing an offence by providing false information of a legal declaration

The immigration form is very explicit in stating all food, not some food or most foods or foods that you might think are worth declaring. With such a simple clear statement, there is no excuse for the false declaration

Dave

 

[Soundguy]

I agree on the main point, but fining somebody $110 for bringing in a sealed block of Cadburys and failing to declare it as food?

We're scraping the very bottom of the relevance bin here!

The problem was that I had been travelling for about 22 hours by that point, it was about 5.30am and I had forgotten all about it. Then to rub it in you have to pay the fine right there and then on the spot before you can leave the terminal. If you are unwilling or unable to pay the fine right there you will be taken to court.

I disagree with Dave that the food requirement it clear as both the form and the Qantas announcement talks about meat, fruit etc which is misleading. They should state 'any food / consumable items of all types' rather than suggest certain types.

I now tell them that I have leather shoes, belt and wallet (animal products). Sadly I'm being serious!