Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[connieguy]

Otherwise, where's the priority? It certainly isn't found in "board at convenience".

"Board at Convenience" means walk to the head of the boarding queue, scan your QF Card / BP and walk onto the plane. Can't get much more boarding priority than that.

 

[Danger]

"Board at Convenience" means walk to the head of the boarding queue, scan your QF Card / BP and walk onto the plane. Can't get much more boarding priority than that.

If that's what "board at convenience means", I'd be very surprised. As others have posted, I'd find it very difficult to push to the front of the queue. Among other problems that requires 'everyday' passengers to have an understanding of the procedures. That is, if someone pushes in front of them at the gate, there's not an automatic assumption that that person is being rude and arogant. What's more, there was a post or two here in the past few days about the lack of manners shown by some people in the lounge who push in at the buffet. I just don't see priority boarding working this way.Anyway, I've just boarded QF583 SYD-PER. The first announcement was for those requiring assistance then a few second later "Business Class passengers, QFF Platinum and Gold, and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members to board at this time".

 

[MatF]

I agree - walking to the head of the queue won't work. It needs to be a separate queue (a la Virgin)

 

[pshepvic]

I agree - walking to the head of the queue won't work. It needs to be a separate queue (a la Virgin)

Definitely. I mean, it would be embarrassing if a SG walked to the front wanting priority and they push past a WP trying to board politely in the queue!

Its good to be able to say "it should be like VA priority boarding" so now we don't have to say "Priority AAccess" every 3 posts! (we know how much that annoys Liam )

 

[connieguy]

I agree - walking to the head of the queue won't work. It needs to be a separate queue (a la Virgin)

Ok I said that badly. No queue jumping is required. You just approach the BP scanning person, holding out your Platinum / Gold / OWe / OWs card / BP to be scanned, they take it, scan it and then they say "Welcome on board Mr XX".

At Adelaide there are 2 BP scanners. One on each side of the walkway. More than enough room for 2 queues. I have never seen a QF boarding gate with just 1 person there, so there can't be any issue with not enough staff. QF make nice Priority WP/SG/OW check-in signs. Can't see why it is a problem to have a one by the BP scanner? I suspect, for some reason, QF management do not want for this to happen as it would be easy to do.

QF's reps have been reading these negative Priority Boarding comments for years and have never, a far as I can see, responded. Why not is a mystery to me? What do they have against providing what all other OW carriers provide to their OWe / OWs FFers? The ability to "Board at your Convenience".

Red Roo, now is the time to "Make It So".

 

[connieguy]

Definitely. I mean, it would be embarrassing if a SG walked to the front wanting priority and they push past a WP trying to board politely in the queue!

As for the WP waiting politely in the queue, well we all do that. But why? We ALL need to be vocal and get this fixed via PMing Red Roo with the following:

1) Update the Gold and Platinum benefits with the words "Board at Convenience" for Domestic and International flights so those benefits align with the stated OW Emerald and OW Sapphire benefits.

2) Change the boarding PA to say "QF Business, Platinums, Golds, OW Emeralds and Sapphires can board at their convenience via the Priority Boarding Channel" and ensure the ground staff repeat it 4 - 5 times during the boarding process.

3) Make more of the moveable "Priority" stands (as used land side) so they can stand to one side of the BP scanning station.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

.

3) Make more of the moveable "Priority" stands (as used land side) so they can stand to one side of the BP scanning station.

It needs to he heavily policed to make it work. I'm not talking priority security type policing, I mean actual hard denials for the entire boating process for those who have not paid their dues in the air

 

[medhead]

If Virgin can get it right EVERY TIME after fully implementing it only in the last couple of months, how hard is it for the world's oldest continuously operating airline?? (that's what they keep telling us isn't it?)

Actually, Virgin have had board first priority since the end of last year, if not longer. It works well, because they control the boarding process with the annoucements. The first announcement is not DJxx_ is now boarding, instead it is DJxx_ will be boarding in a few minutes. Now, I've heard this once from QF in SYD, where the announcement was "QFxx_ boarding soon, so you can all just sit down again". DJ then does a PE, Gold board first call. Basically, DJ customers have been trained. QF needs to do the same, they need to take control of the boarding process. As it stands it is a joke - without even considering the farce around priority boarding. I'd just love QF to actually get some control happening, because I'm sick to death of being trampled underfoot.

oops: bit of a rant at the end - not directed at anyone in particular)

 

[pshepvic]

Actually, Virgin have had board first priority since the end of last year, if not longer. It works well, because they control the boarding process with the annoucements. The first announcement is not DJxx_ is now boarding, instead it is DJxx_ will be boarding in a few minutes. Now, I've heard this once from QF in SYD, where the announcement was "QFxx_ boarding soon, so you can all just sit down again". DJ then does a PE, Gold board first call. Basically, DJ customers have been trained. QF needs to do the same, they need to take control of the boarding process. As it stands it is a joke - without even considering the farce around priority boarding. I'd just love QF to actually get some control happening, because I'm sick to death of being trampled underfoot.

oops: bit of a rant at the end - not directed at anyone in particular)

Oh yes I do realise that they've done priority boarding since last year, but up until the last couple of months it was only an unpublished benefit (maybe somewhat of a trial for what they knew was coming?) I found that in the beginning it wasn't done on all flights, and also was only at the beginning of boarding (you couldn't just walk up half way through and get priority).

In my post I was just referring to the "official" introduction as a benefit which happened recently, and the fact that they've managed to fully implement the lanes and get all staff to manage it in a pretty short timeframe, whereas QF have published the benefit for years and still can't get it right.

In any case QF definitely need to do something or they'll have no-one left that is entitled to priority boarding! (or maybe that's their goal??)

 

[JohnK]

In Perth this morning, they did "Rows 20 - 29" and then "everyone else". What the???

Don't show statistics show that boarding from back to front means quicker boarding?

Everyone seems to value this priority boarding quite highly.

What I value is the ability to stay in the lounge until final boarding is called, walk to the gate and straight onto the plane at the last possible minute.

Not everyone.

I am not afraid of checking in luggage and would rather be the last to board all flights. I have to admit though I did get excited a few years ago when I started flying business class on AY and was one of the first to board a few times. That excitement has long since been extinguished....

 

[connieguy]

Hi Red Roo,

Why is doing this

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....y-boarding-lane-photo-2011-06-18-20.29.11.jpg

too hard for the oldest continually operating and the only investment quality (AJ's words) airline in the world to do? Red Roo your Platinum, Gold, OW Emerald and OW Sapphire FFers are eagerly waiting to understand why Virgin Australia can do what Qantas can not or for some unstated reason will not do?

Please explain when this will happen? This post has been PMed to Red Roo to ensure it is not missed and for comment. I will not stop until either QF and OW stops saying they (Qantas) provide Priority Boarding or they do what they say they do and provide "Boarding at Convenience" as OW claims is my WP and PG benefit.

As far as I'm concerned I have a contact with QF. I pay them a lot of money, fly a lot of butt in the seat miles with QF and other OW carriers and they provide me the stated benefits in return. If they fail to provide the stated benefits they I have every right to call them out and ask them to provide the stated benefits.

As I see it, either OW AND QF modify their web site to totally remove any mention of "Priority Boarding" and "Boarding at Convenience" for QF Platinums, QF Golds, OW Emeralds and OW Sapphires or QF provide what OW says we are entitled to.

 

[Robert K]

You're preaching to the choir. Send a registered snail mail to qantas. Maybe they'll take it more seriously

 

[Simo]

Boarding in SYD yesterday and saw some one walk down the side and gave there bp to the fa and she took it...This was just in front of me...I am a Plat and he was a SG...Some plat members might get a bit s@@@Ty with this happening...The FA apologized to me when she realized I was plat.

 

[pshepvic]

Boarding in SYD yesterday and saw some one walk down the side and gave there bp to the fa and she took it...This was just in front of me...I am a Plat and he was a SG...Some plat members might get a bit s@@@Ty with this happening...The FA apologized to me when she realized I was plat.

Yeah I thought this could end up happening if some people just waltz in and others join the queue - hence the need for separate lanes!

 

[nlagalle]

Well I experienced JQ's priority boarding on JQ35 and I was impressed. there was a big queue an i waltzed up to the priority boarding (wasn't flying * class) and went straight through (much to the disgust of the other pax!) I felt like Ryan Bingham at the hotel when the women cracks it at him!

 

[dfcatch]

Well I experienced JQ's priority boarding on JQ35 and I was impressed. there was a big queue an i waltzed up to the priority boarding (wasn't flying * class) and went straight through (much to the disgust of the other pax!) I felt like Ryan Bingham at the hotel when the women cracks it at him!

So you did a Lawlass??

 

[nlagalle]

So you did a Lawlass??

No I didn't give myself an OP-UP!!

 

[connieguy]

Boarding in SYD yesterday and saw some one walk down the side and gave there bp to the fa and she took it...This was just in front of me...I am a Plat and he was a SG...Some plat members might get a bit s@@@Ty with this happening...The FA apologized to me when she realized I was plat.

When I fly to Mel or Syd to connect to a international flight going to the other hemisphere, summer here, winter there, I have my computer bag, max size overhead bag and a long, warm and thick coat. To get that all in the overhead bin, I try to get on the aircraft early and do the walk to the head of the queue bit. Normally no issues but I have been told to get to the back of the queue. When that happened, I did get a bit upset, did not go to the end of the queue but instead sat down in the seat nearest the BP scanning station until the flight was ready to leave. Finally the girl talked to another ground staff, came to me and said I had to board or miss the flight. I told her I was QF Platinum and OW Emerald and had the right to board the aircraft at my convenience. I told her my convenience was just before they closed the aircraft door and not a minute sooner and would she please let me know when that was to happen. A few minutes later another ground staff came to me and asked me why I was not boarding the aircraft. I told her the above story and she apologized but said there is no boarding at convenience for WP or OW Emeralds on domestic QF flights. I showed her the OW web page on my phone, which she took and showed to a few other people. She again returned and again apologized but said they, the ground staff, have never seen that OW web page before and only go on what QF tells them. She then said the door would be closing in 1 minute and if I wanted to fly I needed to board the aircraft, which I did.

When I boarded, the CSM saw what I was carrying, knew what had occurred at the BP station, and said all the Y overhead bins were VERY full. They then took my overcoat, laptop and bag and stowed them in the J overhead bins while I walked to the exit row seat I had booked and sat down. Later the champs and massage in the FLounge was very welcome and helped me to settle down.

QF needs to get this sorted as I had every right to do what I did and QF had no right to deny me access and further to tell me to get to the end of the queue, like I was some naughty school boy cutting the queue. So I will continue PMing Red Roo until I get what every other OW airline gives their OW Emeralds.

 

[pshepvic]

Well I experienced JQ's priority boarding on JQ35 and I was impressed. there was a big queue an i waltzed up to the priority boarding (wasn't flying * class) and went straight through (much to the disgust of the other pax!) I felt like Ryan Bingham at the hotel when the women cracks it at him!

Had you paid the $4 priority boarding fee? Or were you hoping for the best with WP status? Just curious...

Slightly O/T - When I did JQ30/35 back at Easter, I was about last on to maximise Flounge time (and had very little carry-on luggage). But at check-in, the Melbourne staff allowed us to use Starclass check in with WP status, but in Sydney they wouldn't. The Sydney JQ staff were not the most pleasant I've encountered though.

 

[nlagalle]

Had you paid the $4 priority boarding fee? Or were you hoping for the best with WP status? Just curious...

Slightly O/T - When I did JQ30/35 back at Easter, I was about last on to maximise Flounge time (and had very little carry-on luggage). But at check-in, the Melbourne staff allowed us to use Starclass check in with WP status, but in Sydney they wouldn't. The Sydney JQ staff were not the most pleasant I've encountered though.

I had a plus fare which included it for $0.

I've found the SYD staff to be like that before. Although yesterday JQ27 was still checking in and I went to check in. THe girl was happy to but the snotty supervisor was cracking it (it must have been an effort to find the D stickers!). She waved him off and checked me in.