Priority check-in - Flexi needs to go

[leemin]

Checking-in for my flight the other day I realised that the purple sign indicates anyone traveling on a Flexi fare can use priority check-in. It seems that more people are now DJ FFers with status and that this line is getting increasingly long. While I don't expect to walk straight up to the counter all the time, the priority line is sometimes not much quicker than the ordinary line. Has anyone else observed this? Is it time DJ gave Flexi's the flick from the priority line and restrict it to status flyers?

 

[ChrisCunard]

I couldn't stand the queue even in priority compared to QF's self check in.



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[wallacej]

I must say that I have never had this problem. I either leave the lounge and get into the priority line midway through boarding and get straight through, or other times I am there at the start of boarding and again, not battling the crowds at all.

This is based on maybe 20 domestic flights in the past few months...I will pay a littlre more attention, I really enjoy the priority line though, and was a little annoyed when taking a qantas flight recently that this service was not available ex cbr....well done virgin I say

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[Must...Fly!]

I couldn't stand the queue even in priority compared to QF's self check in.

To be honest, everything else seems a chore at the airport to me these days, since NGCI came in.

 

[Moopere]

I couldn't stand the queue even in priority compared to QF's self check in.

I hate NGCI with a passion. Give me a human any day.

 

[wallacej]

NGCI? Sorry, what kind of check in is that.

sent from the place closest to the airport I just arrived at.

 

[here2go]

I love NGCI. I find I arrive at the airport either wanting coffee before I converse with humans, which makes NGCI pleasant, especially with the chip card and RFID Bag Tag. Tap card, tap card at bag drop, drop bag, move on. In the afternoon, same deal, except I'm chasing beer. It annoys me DRW doesn't have a bag drop. I guess that will come with airport expansion.


I wish Virgin did the same using the same standards as Qantas. Maybe next year's "Sabre" rattling will trigger this.

 

[leemin]

I must say that I have never had this problem. I either leave the lounge and get into the priority line midway through boarding...

You're talking about priority boarding there, wallacej, which I agree works great. With only J, Plat and Gold flyers able to use it.
My question related to the priority check-in line, which is open to Flexi, J, Silver, Gold and Plat flyers.

 

[pat25d]

I guess VA need to keep more differentiation between flexi and saver to justify the price difference between them.

 

[wallacej]

Thanks jlm.. I must say I typically carry on... Mrs w would attest to that matter also

I noticed Tuesday morning at MEL that the priority check in line had more bodies than normal.

Anything that keeps the line short for frequent travellers works for me. Now, if the would police the priority screening line, that would make me happier.

sent from the place closest to the airport I just arrived at.

 

[markis10]

I hate NGCI with a passion. Give me a human any day.

I agree totally. As for DJ priority checkin, never really had a long wait anywhere.

 

[penegal]

If the queue for priority check in is really *that* bad, why don't you just check in at the lounge? (assuming you have hand carry only, which I always do, unless flying with skis or golf clubs)


I don't fly Virgin Australia that much, but when I do (usually weekends), the priority queue is often 1 person or empty. I often see the two agents talking to each other while awaiting my arrival. Meanwhile there is a snaking line for the plebs.

 

[SilverShadow]

Seen this numerous times at both Sydney and Melbourne. I've actually gone to the non-priority line on one occasion as I often will have check in bags. I'd be happy with getting rid of flexi on the priority check-in.

Speaking of boarding though, I did notice something that happened on a flight this week when some non-gold, platinum or business flyers walked straight through the priority boarding line, got told they shouldn't do it but were allowed to go through anyway, meanwhile the non-priority board line was 10-15 people deep.

Anyway, keen to see other peoples thoughts on this.

 

[leemin]

If the queue for priority check in is really *that* bad, why don't you just check in at the lounge? (assuming you have hand carry only, which I always do, unless flying with skis or golf clubs)

Referring to when I've got luggage, otherwise, yes I head straight for the lounge

Seen this numerous times at both Sydney and Melbourne. I've actually gone to the non-priority line on one occasion as I often will have check in bags. I'd be happy with getting rid of flexi on the priority check-in.

Glad I'm not the only one! Was starting to think I must have a curse, or was just becoming a complete and utter DYKWIA.

some non-gold, platinum or business flyers walked straight through the priority boarding line, got told they shouldn't do it but were allowed to go through anyway, meanwhile the non-priority board line was 10-15 people deep.

That's wrong and they should have been sent to the back of the normal line, IMHO. I do recall DJ doing what I've described in the past, based on previous posts on this forum. Hopefully what you observed was a one-off.

 

[Jama]

I guess VA need to keep more differentiation between flexi and saver to justify the price difference between them.

And there's the catch. Justification of the pricing.

Last time I got on at OOL the priority queue was 3 times the length of the general queue. If I wasn't at the front of the queue I wouldn't have bothered with priority. What was really interesting is that from what I could see, including myself, there were no more than half a dozen flexi's (based on meals handed out). This seems to indicate half the plane had status.

This is just one flight. Maybe it was a quirk.

 

[drewbles]

If the queue for priority check in is really *that* bad, why don't you just check in at the lounge? (assuming you have hand carry only, which I always do, unless flying with skis or golf clubs)


I don't fly Virgin Australia that much, but when I do (usually weekends), the priority queue is often 1 person or empty. I often see the two agents talking to each other while awaiting my arrival. Meanwhile there is a snaking line for the plebs.

That's what I do. Straight down the escalators, to the left, into the lounge 'hi i'm off to xx_, can I have my boarding pass please?' and it's done.

The 2-3 times i've ever used the priority queue, there was no one in it. Both agents were busy one time, but the others I just walked straight up (and this was peak hour, the regular queue was snaked outside the barriers).

 

[docjames]

Never been worse than third in the queue for DJ Priority checkin. And typically straight away or 1st in queue.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I was first in the priority queue in ROK once (in fact the only one in the priority queue) and the solo priority check-in guy was busily and madly tapping away at his computer. I was finally served by the non-priority check-in chick.........after she served all the non-priority clients first :shock: (only 3 groups but it certainly made me feel diseased or something).

It didn't really bother me, but it did make me wonder why have a priority check-in if it doesn't get priority service. whatever priority check-in guy was doing on the computer, it wasn't happening for him and he had no intention whatsoever of putting that to one side to serve me!

 

[bullerdude]

Never been worse than third in the queue for DJ Priority checkin. And typically straight away or 1st in queue.

Of the 10 times I have used the Priority queue in Mel/Syd/Brisbane there has never been more than 3-4 people waiting. I guess there is just the Odd occasion where it can get quite bad.

 

[leemin]

Clearly I must just be cursed by the priority line gods!