Priority Boarding Line Etiquitte

[pagingjoan]

...I know Virgin do it well with one F/A however I don't think they have as many pax entitled to use the PB as QF do, primarily because they haven't been around as long so it's not the same as comparing AN & TN. If QF (when boarding a 734 with one F/A) were to halt the general boarding queue & board Premium pax there's too many so the general boarding queue wouldn't move for a while & would result in too much bogan agro "this is (adjective) BS" ie a recipe for ground rage.

For QF PB to be a success they need 2 people to board pax regardless of aircraft type. If there is no paxing F/A on the 734 who can act as the second boarder they need to source a ground staff member like a CSA, Supervisor etc for 15 minutes to help out. If there are cries of 'no resources' ie don't want to spend the money for an extra staff member then that person should feel free to come and assist.

A pertinent point about the relative numbers of passengers with PB eligibility. Certainly makes DJ's job easier.

But what if QF did PB first, if there is only one FA available? When they reach the end if the PB queue, they could call non PB passengers. Wouldn't boarding be just as fast? If the PB pax are not around for the first call, then they would be joining in later, a little more like the DJ system.

Or is there practical problem with that system that I've overlooked? I don't pretend to be an expert! Just someone with Frequent Airport Queuing experience, like all of us here.

 

[dfcatch]

A pertinent point about the relative numbers of passengers with PB eligibility. Certainly makes DJ's job easier.

But what if QF did PB first, if there is only one FA available? When they reach the end if the PB queue, they could call non PB passengers. Wouldn't boarding be just as fast? If the PB pax are not around for the first call, then they would be joining in later, a little more like the DJ system.

Or is there practical problem with that system that I've overlooked? I don't pretend to be an expert! Just someone with Frequent Airport Queuing experience, like all of us here.

You are absolutely correct - and it can be done fine.

Just too difficult for QF though

 

[ozmille]

If QF (when boarding a 734 with one F/A) were to halt the general boarding queue & board Premium pax there's too many so the general boarding queue wouldn't move for a while & would result in too much bogan agro "this is (adjective) BS" ie a recipe for ground rage.

But if QF would make a call saying "we now start Priority Boarding for Business Class passengers, Platinum Frequent Flyers and OW equivalents, a general boarding call will be made later" then the other non eligible pax can just stay seated until the general boarding call is made. This would work if not everybody would be so worried that the plane is going to leave without them offcourse.

just dreaming

 

[kempvet]

You are absolutely correct - and it can be done fine.

Just too difficult for QF though

Agree as well, if there is only one staff to check the tickets, call the PB first, when obvious that there are no more PBs in view, call for general boarding, even calling sometimes for PB's in the general line to come to the front of the queue is not without reason, as likely to be the odd straggler, rather than dozens at a time.

Maybe if status on these QFs was taken more seriously by the staff, then those without status would get used to the idea, but you can't blame the general public, if they are getting confusing messages about status all the time.

I know with AA the staff phsycially enforce status by placing their arm out as a message to the Y pax to wait, doubt that QF staff would be this assertive about enforcing status.

Getting back to the military PB issue in the US, get the feeling that their is a lot of tokenism about this issue, my daughter was born there on memorial day weekend, so I am usually in the US at this time of year, to be honest, apart from a few news items, you wouldn't know that it was MD weekend - has a completely different feel to ANZAC day, get the feeling that the US is trying to play catch up on this issue about recognition of the military.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I learned my lesson soon after checked bag fees came in - was tardy to the gate and had to have my carry on checked.

Perhaps i've noticed it a lot more since then

I learned my lesson when I boarded late (SFO/SEA on AS) & couldn't fit rollaboard in overhead so went under the seat in front. That wasn't the only thing to go under the seat as when I grabbed my camera out of my handbag to take a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge the camera strap flicked my passport out of my handbag which was underneath my legs, onto the floor under my seat so whilst I got off in SEA my passport continued on to DFW. :shock:

The situation is like a glass of water approaching capacity, when the water starts to spill over the top, people wonder where the water comes from and I assume that the new baggage rules are causing this situation. Talking recently to many of the AA FAs what was a manageable problem (although still a pain) now needs more aggressive management (hence the dimensions police at boarding) and endless carry on announcements at boarding. The problem is worse on the older MD80's.

Older MD80's? Is there such thing as a young MD80 in the AA fleet?

A pertinent point about the relative numbers of passengers with PB eligibility. Certainly makes DJ's job easier.

But what if QF did PB first, if there is only one FA available? When they reach the end if the PB queue, they could call non PB passengers. Wouldn't boarding be just as fast? If the PB pax are not around for the first call, then they would be joining in later, a little more like the DJ system.

I suppose they could which would solve boarding the initial group of PB pax at the gate however the issue would resurface once the lounges had done the boarding calls & the next wave of PB pax came down.

But if QF would make a call saying "we now start Priority Boarding for Business Class passengers, Platinum Frequent Flyers and OW equivalents, a general boarding call will be made later" then the other non eligible pax can just stay seated until the general boarding call is made. This would work if not everybody would be so worried that the plane is going to leave without them offcourse.

just dreaming

While I see merit in this, it is still inconsistent as PB who got their own preboarding call (while whY were asked to stay seated) this time on a 734 might be on a 738 next & think "how come they didn't do a pre-boarding call like last time".

Time for local management at each port to step up to the plate & be the 2nd boarder (ie zero cost to company) & then QF might then be on their way to being consistently consistent which is what the customers want & expect.

 

[pagingjoan]

....I suppose they could which would solve boarding the initial group of PB pax at the gate however the issue would resurface once the lounges had done the boarding calls & the next wave of PB pax came down.

While I see merit in this, it is still inconsistent as PB who got their own preboarding call (while whY were asked to stay seated) this time on a 734 might be on a 738 next & think "how come they didn't do a pre-boarding call like last tim

You do a great job of educating us, ozbeachbabe, so could I follow up with another couple of questions?

Why would there have to be different procedures for different aircraft? (That is, other than the number of staff available for the boarding process - but that can vary for a number of reasons, as has been discussed.)

Either there are two staff available, and a PB queue and General queue operating simultaneously, or one staff member doing PB first, then General, but with the second lane open for PB latecomers, as with the DJ second lane. Wouldn't that work - better than the current system, at least?

PB-eligible pax who are really keen to be on board first could take advantage of the early call. Those not so eager will still have priority when they arrive at the gate. Seems to work for other carriers around the world. And, of course, increasingly, there is the option of scanning your own BP at the gate for boarding in many places.

 

[AVC]

To say they take all things Military seriously would be an understatement. I noticed last year when in Hawaii some licence plates on cars had 'Combat Veteran' on them....overkill perhaps?

My neighbour, who is an older guy and a Vietnam vet (and pretty much a w**ker, BTW), has a sticker on the back of his car, which is a 30cm x 6cm versoin of his medal ribbons. AYFKM?

This classic "Older Guy DYKWIA" syndrome.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

You do a great job of educating us, ozbeachbabe, so could I follow up with another couple of questions?

Why would there have to be different procedures for different aircraft? (That is, other than the number of staff available for the boarding process - but that can vary for a number of reasons, as has been discussed.)

Either there are two staff available, and a PB queue and General queue operating simultaneously, or one staff member doing PB first, then General, but with the second lane open for PB latecomers, as with the DJ second lane. Wouldn't that work - better than the current system, at least?

PB-eligible pax who are really keen to be on board first could take advantage of the early call. Those not so eager will still have priority when they arrive at the gate. Seems to work for other carriers around the world. And, of course, increasingly, there is the option of scanning your own BP at the gate for boarding in many places.

I think it would be a good idea to call the Premium pax first like they do for AA on all flights, not just the 734, then do a general call still leaving the PB lane open for WPs etc to PB board at their leisure. Whatever they option they choose it should be the same for every flight at every port & be enforced.

If there is only one F/A to board the 734 IMO it's a bit useless doing a PB call saying "J, WP, OWE" use the premium boarding lane to the right where the computer is. Other pax are hardly going to line up in the left hand queue where there is no flight attendant, they will automatically go to wherever th F/A is standing so unless premium pax arrive at the gate at the start of boarding it will be a complete mess.

I understand from what others have said that for QF intl flights the Premium lane is on the left but at some ports domestic flights also use the left lane for PB. I think it would work best if they just kept with the left lane being PB for intl flights & leave the right lane for PB on domestic flights. It may be that they need to move the computer from the left hand side to the right but so be it.

 

[dfcatch]

If the signage is placed correctly - and if the little sign matches the lane that the big sign points to - then half the battle is already won.

 

[pagingjoan]

If the signage is placed correctly - and if the little sign matches the lane that the big sign points to - then half the battle is already won.

Indeed!
And if practice then actually matches the signage....

 

[kempvet]

If the signage is placed correctly - and if the little sign matches the lane that the big sign points to - then half the battle is already won.

agree, signage is a BIG issue, half the battle for the general public is squinting from thirty meters to know where to be, two simple words, one in red PRIORITY and the other in blue NORMAL that people can see from a distance and two lanes at least to the air bridge, I think that AA even have somewhat of a red carpet in the PRIORITY lane to reinforce the issue. Towards the end of boarding for AA there was often only one attendant at the gate, like I said, with PB go the red lane, the attendant sees you, out comes the arm to Y to wait, they take your pass and a swipe it on the computer that they are using to board the Ys.

In addition AA call the Ys in groups (GROUP 1, GROUP 2 etc printed on the BP is large letters) according to the seating, not seat rows, it is a big difference to AUS that seems to aid boarding

 

[tuapekastar]

If the signage is placed correctly - and if the little sign matches the lane that the big sign points to - then half the battle is already won.

Sure is.

The signage is the front line in this battle! Needs to be prominent, well placed and logical. And all aspects (signage, announcements, lanes and policing) need to complement each other and not be contradictory or in any way send conflicting messages. It is a boarding process rather than a series of independent events.

 

[kempvet]

Older MD80's? Is there such thing as a young MD80 in the AA fleet?

Good point, I know that it is OT, but has anyone else noticed the aging of many of the planes in the US, sort of like the infrastructure of the place, questions is, do they have the capital to modernise their fleets, such as AA. I have flown S7 a few times, all new planes, didn't expect this in E Europe.

 

[MichaelD]

If there is only one F/A to board the 734 IMO it's a bit useless doing a PB call saying "J, WP, OWE" use the premium boarding lane to the right where the computer is. Other pax are hardly going to line up in the left hand queue where there is no flight attendant, they will automatically go to wherever th F/A is standing so unless premium pax arrive at the gate at the start of boarding it will be a complete mess.

I have not found this to be the case - whenever there is 1 FA then there is 1 queue, with the PB line empty so I can stroll up to the front of the line, get my BP scanned, and get on.

 

[kempvet]

I have not found this to be the case - whenever there is 1 FA then there is 1 queue, with the PB line empty so I can stroll up to the front of the line, get my BP scanned, and get on.

same here, I have never been ignored when getting to the head of the empty PB lane or front of the queue, just think that AA do it better than QF, quicker, more assertive, and don't seem to worry as much about the Y pax.

Now pushing my way down the air bridge is where I feel uncomfortable, seeing that I have already skipped a few pax that PB has enabled me to do, my thinking is that I have missed this right by not being there when asked at the first boarding call.

 

[dfcatch]

There is no need to push through on the airbridge - PB is about priority at the scanner IMHO.

 

[NM]

When I approached the queue for boarding my flight from BNE to SYD last week (a 738, so PB in operation), I headed for the shorter of the two lines. When I was able to actually read the sign, I found I was in the general boarding line and the premium line was at least twice as long. Needless to say, I remained in the "wrong" line and boarded much faster than those entering the premium line at the same time as I arrived at the end of the shorter queue.

 

[ozmille]

When I approached the queue for boarding my flight from BNE to SYD last week (a 738, so PB in operation), I headed for the shorter of the two lines. When I was able to actually read the sign, I found I was in the general boarding line and the premium line was at least twice as long. Needless to say, I remained in the "wrong" line and boarded much faster than those entering the premium line at the same time as I arrived at the end of the shorter queue.

Things might have changed in BRU now as well but when I used to do the boarding for SN flights we did the priority line first untill that one was done then the non priority line and if someone came in the priority line we would do them before continuing with the non priority line... For me that is what a priority line is for, to do first

 

[MichaelD]

When I was able to actually read the sign, I found I was in the general boarding line and the premium line was at least twice as long.

This proves that you are not a DYKWIAer, where being seen to enter the Priority Boarding line is actually more important than boarding quicker.

I have seen this on occasion as well in the Priority Line for security screening and cannot fathom why DKYWIAers would rather queue than walk straight up to empty security lanes.