Priority boarding on QF domestic - what is the story?

[drron]

Of course I would just have used my lifetime platinum retort.

 

[Canny man]

Premium boarding worked ok at BNE gate 23 on Sunday all of the passengers in the premium lane appeared meet the criteria. But one funny thing happened, the passenger in front of me turned around and out of the blue said to be "This is the premium lane you need to line up in the other line!". I guess she thought I looked like I didn't belong in the premium lane. With a smile I said 'That's ok, I'm Platinum One' and I flashed by BP, she stood there with a confused look, didn't say anything further and just turned around again. Although I admire her gumption, her execution leaves a bit of room for improvement.

Also on the subject of premium security lanes. At MEL on Friday at 5pm there were two(!) Qantas staff members guarding the premium lane. Maybe some of the reports from this thread have made it back to Qantas.

I can't help play 'are they-aren't they' when viewing fellow pax.
It's the counter of 'please not next to me' when the 160kg monster starts the walk up the aisle toward you.....

 

[TheInsider]

Also on the subject of premium security lanes. At MEL on Friday at 5pm there were two(!) Qantas staff members guarding the premium lane. Maybe some of the reports from this thread have made it back to Qantas.

This would only be due to another staff member coming over to 'talk', would never roster 2 staff on there at the same time

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My response:

'oh really? I was just about to say the same to you'

 

[tuapekastar]

I think I would have winked, moved my face close to hers and whispered conspiratorially, "yeah I know, but I usually get away with it"

 

[pshepvic]

Loving the responses! I was thinking I'd say "oh, can I see your staff ID just to make sure you to have the right to say that to me?"


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[simongr]

coughola last night QF458 from gate 11 - no policing, lots of people in the priority queue that shouldn't be (QP members). I know that there were the storms - it just seems be a bit hit and miss.

 

[beardoc]

Of course I would just have used my lifetime platinum retort.

The irony of this would have been that Lifetime AA Platinum doesn't entitle you to Priority Boarding on QF - but she may not have known the difference!

Moral of the story is: If you want to accuse someone of doing something wrong, you need to know for sure. Far better to enquire rather than accuse.

 

[Moopere]

Funny as this has all been, in fact it should be a huge red warning signal to QF that their on-the-ground people management skills are failing to the extent that the customers, some at least, feel compelled to get involved on their behalf.

Almost certainly the tale is of a premium boarding passenger frustrated by the lack of service delivery in this respect.

 

[N860CR]

Had a fairly poor PB experience in SYD on Thursday. Boarding QF540 through gate 4. Both the Premium and normal lines were huge and anyone was using any line they wanted. Staff didn't seem all that interested.

 

[ejb]

Flying SYD-ADL today PB was a dream. Long queues at gate 13 but I wandered straight past on the left and boarded within seconds.

ejb

 

[Hvr]

Worked well in BNE yesterday and today. Nothing in TSV but I got there at the right time and was second on board.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Worked will in SYD/BNE over the weekend, although now l'm a lowly QF Gold, l was almost last to board in SYD on Sat morning.

Call went out for families/pax that needed assistance first, que formed, then a PB call for J/OWE, then rows 30-.....I was in 25 (l think). By the time other rows got called, plane (767) was pretty much full.

Judging from my last few flights, l think that QF has got the message and that PB is now a benefit for domestic flights (needs a bit of polishing, but generally speaking, PB has been achieved) and this thread should be closed/put on hold.

 

[Sifor]

Flew J SYD-BNE on the 17th. After missing the boarding call in the J lounge I headed to the gate as time ticked over and found boarding to be well underway. I simply walked down the left lane, much to one pax's anger "why does HE get to jump ahead", and was on board in no time.

Also the priority security screening at 4pm Friday was working well too. A lady was guarding the entrance and checked everyone which was good.

 

[beardoc]

I am now getting it working consistently in SYD and BNE. I haven't seen any evidence of Priority Boarding in TSV but I'll test that out again this week.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Funny as this has all been, in fact it should be a huge red warning signal to QF that their on-the-ground people management skills are failing to the extent that the customers, some at least, feel compelled to get involved on their behalf.

Almost certainly the tale is of a premium boarding passenger frustrated by the lack of service delivery in this respect.

If you're referring to the incident whereby a pax in the Premium Boarding Lane accused a WP1 pax of being in the wrong lane - I don't see how this could be construed as a failure of on-the-ground people management as both pax were entitled to use that queue.

It was the assumption of one pax that another pax shouldn't have been there that was the problem.

 

[Simo]

Going to test it out this morning going to Melb from BNE.

Last time i used it the FA said sorry not doing PB because the the other FA hasn't arrived yet.

 

[samh004]

In BNE yesterday all the signs seemed to be on the right hand side where I was looking, either way, sister and I are waiting near the gate as boarding is due to start soon. As staff open the doors to the aerobridge everyone gets up and forms two lines. Can’t remember if they announced PB but I sent my sister down the left as she isn’t entitled, while the right line looked much more crowded and I’m sure was just regular Y-no status pax.

To be honest, it looked like a bit of a fail, but once she was down the bridge, one of the first too I might add, I was off to the carpark.

 

[Danger]

I don't believe priority boarding is working.

As I've mentioned before, it's all well and good to have the fancy, expensive banners and even to make a priority boarding announcement and invite people to use a dedicated lane. But, just like a promised tax cut at election time, it only matters if it actually occurs in practice.

I travel on my AA Sapphire membership meaning "Sapphire" is printed on the boarding pass. Not once have I been stopped from using the priority boarding lane because I'm not eligible.

I put this 'benefit' in the Qantas lip service basket.

Fail.

 

[simongr]

Thanks Danger so glad you're flying with the rest of us.

Not sure if it was working this morning SYD-MEL as there were only four people in each queue...