Priority Boarding Fail at SYD

[a1ring23]

Never had any issues with PB. I usually board fairly late and most of the time there isn't anyone left in the PB lane so can walk straight through. Normal boarding always paused and served straight away.

Definitely one of the better perks of VA Gold/Platinum...

 

[pauly7]

MEL recently - PB called in one lane, general boarding commenced in the other lane about 10 seconds later and processed faster than the PB lane.

Similar happened to me in SYD though on Saturday. Only one gate agent again - I wonder if this is a permanent change??

 

[Pleb Status]

MEL recently - PB called in one lane, general boarding commenced in the other lane about 10 seconds later and processed faster than the PB lane.

Similar happened to me in SYD though on Saturday. Only one gate agent again - I wonder if this is a permanent change??

If there is only one gate agent for a particular flight, I have NEVER seen that gate agent process pax in the general boarding lane ahead of pax in the PB lane.

For example, last weekend in BNE, the gate agent processing my flight stopped mid family in the general boarding lane to process my boarding pass immediately upon my arrival in the PB lane....

 

[Strategic Aviation]

In MEL the agent called PB in the outer lane where the second agent commenced scanning BPs. Instead of inviting PB pax forward into the empty inner lane to clear the PB queue first, the agent called general boarding and zapped them through faster than the PB lane.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Similar happened to me in SYD though on Saturday. Only one gate agent again - I wonder if this is a permanent change??

Unfortunately it is. There’s always a floater loitering about if a gate needs an extra hand, but most of the time it will be just one gate staff member.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well, they don't know it is a negative change until they hear about it. Let the feedback floodgates open, I say! (not that I expect it to make much difference, but at least it might deter from further changes of this nature). Expecting one agent to board a flight is pretty harsh considering if you get one BP (or other) issue, it can hold everyone up rather unnecessarily.

 

[pauly7]

Unfortunately it is. There’s always a floater loitering about if a gate needs an extra hand, but most of the time it will be just one gate staff member.

No offence intended at all but that is a big change - where have you heard that this is a permanent change?

 

[flying_duck]

Never had any issues with PB. I usually board fairly late and most of the time there isn't anyone left in the PB lane so can walk straight through. Normal boarding always paused and served straight away.

Definitely one of the better perks of VA Gold/Platinum...

When it works, which it often doesn't. Which is the point of this thread.

 

[flying_duck]

In MEL the agent called PB in the outer lane where the second agent commenced scanning BPs. Instead of inviting PB pax forward into the empty inner lane to clear the PB queue first, the agent called general boarding and zapped them through faster than the PB lane.

This is happening far too often, and needs to stop.

 

[Must...Fly!]

No offence intended at all but that is a big change - where have you heard that this is a permanent change?

I think the venerable member would know, they fly enough

 

[AviatorInsight]

No offence intended at all but that is a big change - where have you heard that this is a permanent change?

None taken, but was through a company issued directive some time ago.

I’ve mentioned before in another thread that gate staff used to wait until we pushed back before leaving the bridge. Now they’re gone before we’ve even gotten our push back clearance. Can get messy if we need to disembark again as there is no one at the gate, they’ve already moved onto their next flight.

 

[jpp42]

I logged in here for the first time in a while to complain about the lack of priority boarding at both SYD and MEL last week and today. I hadn't flown VA domestic in 18 months (but still have gold due to "soft fall" from earning WP in 2016), so was curious to see how things had changed. They start the priority boarding with one check-in computer, and about 30 seconds later open the regular queue. Why not send the priority queue to both check-in computers, finish the priority line, and then onto regular!? Isn't it how it's supposed to work? I could have boarded in the regular queue and would have gotten well ahead of the back of the priority queue. Really now, what is the point of pissing off their frequent flyers this way. But it seems to be policy, all four of my recent flights (2x SYD/MEL return) were this way.

 

[pauly7]

None taken, but was through a company issued directive some time ago.

I’ve mentioned before in another thread that gate staff used to wait until we pushed back before leaving the bridge. Now they’re gone before we’ve even gotten our push back clearance. Can get messy if we need to disembark again as there is no one at the gate, they’ve already moved onto their next flight.

Thanks for clarifying and the insight!
That is a disappointing change.

 

[JohnK]

Yeah even qantas has started using some jetstar tactics, ieshow flight as boarding before plane offloads incoming passengers (not seen used with QF yet), as soon as ready to board start final call, even when there is an angry herd queued back two gates worth. They tricked me last in BKK, I ignored the boarding call (obvious feint) but I left when they announced final call, by the time I got to the gate from the lounge they weren't even boarding...

Had a funny sutuation in BNE Friday evening. Flight delayed over 2 hours due to fog that morning and in the business lounge heard first and final call for QF563. Got my things together and was walking out through Qantas lounge and while still in the lounge received a "Are you joining us?" call.

The lounge must have left the boarding call very late.

 

[rikkitikkitavi]

Had a funny sutuation in BNE Friday evening. Flight delayed over 2 hours due to fog that morning and in the business lounge heard first and final call for QF563. Got my things together and was walking out through Qantas lounge and while still in the lounge received a "Are you joining us?" call.

The lounge must have left the boarding call very late.

Hahahaha I'd prefer that so long as I don't have to run. I was at MEL DJ once very very tired, somehow missed the loungue announcements and first phone call, second call we got told to run like the wind!

 

[jakeseven7]

I logged in here for the first time in a while to complain about the lack of priority boarding at both SYD and MEL last week and today. I hadn't flown VA domestic in 18 months (but still have gold due to "soft fall" from earning WP in 2016), so was curious to see how things had changed. They start the priority boarding with one check-in computer, and about 30 seconds later open the regular queue. Why not send the priority queue to both check-in computers, finish the priority line, and then onto regular!? Isn't it how it's supposed to work? I could have boarded in the regular queue and would have gotten well ahead of the back of the priority queue. Really now, what is the point of pissing off their frequent flyers this way. But it seems to be policy, all four of my recent flights (2x SYD/MEL return) were this way.

I too have logged in for the first time in ages to see if anyone else had noticed this.... last 2 weeks priority boarding on VA has gone downhill and fast. Such a bloody pity was really one area they usually did better than QF. Such stupid cost cutting and putting pressure on their staff, probably without training and who now are getting scared infront of masses of non priority people and processing them first!

 

[Pleb Status]

I too have logged in for the first time in ages to see if anyone else had noticed this.... last 2 weeks priority boarding on VA has gone downhill and fast. Such a bloody pity was really one area they usually did better than QF. Such stupid cost cutting and putting pressure on their staff, probably without training and who now are getting scared infront of masses of non priority people and processing them first!

Even with the 'perceived' changes to the VA PB process noted above, at least VA still have an operating PB system. Unlike the 'opposition', who IME have never operated an effective PB system on domestic flights and sporadically at best on international flights.

 

[jpp42]

I rarely fly domestically but fly at least twice a month for QF (WP easily, but not quite to P1 territory). I can assure you that priority boarding works perfectly fine on most international departures from SYD, and BNE where I regularly depart, and definitely fine at overseas locations like HKG, NRT, HND, JNB. I think SIN was maybe the only location where it wasn't really working quite right, but that is a bit understandable given their layout. It's a whole lot better than sporadically. Only time I fly domestically on QF is to connect with QF 61 at BNE, sorry that I don't recall what it was like last time there.

 

[flying_duck]

I rarely fly domestically but fly at least twice a month for QF (WP easily, but not quite to P1 territory). I can assure you that priority boarding works perfectly fine on most international departures from SYD, and BNE where I regularly depart, and definitely fine at overseas locations like HKG, NRT, HND, JNB. I think SIN was maybe the only location where it wasn't really working quite right, but that is a bit understandable given their layout. It's a whole lot better than sporadically. Only time I fly domestically on QF is to connect with QF 61 at BNE, sorry that I don't recall what it was like last time there.

Thanks for the assurance. Except this is in the velocity forum, specifically about VA priority boarding.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Another ATR flight where boarding was called by row, with no mention of PB.