Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[Kangol]

I hope the people running into issues in Canberra are reporting it and not just venting on here to absolutely zero effect. I have a template email I've created if people want! It will be quicker to email Qantas than write on here

You should post both the good and bad PB templates.

If anything the bad ones should have more detail. Not just a FA's name and description, but a detailed description of the process timing, what they did to both PB and non-PB pax and their attitude when questioned.

 

[bablong]

Couple of data points: MEL-BNE-MEL yesterday.

Happy to report both MEL and BNE executed textbook premium boarding. I have sent positive feedback to Qantas via the form for both flights separately and taking the lead from others I named names of gate staff who did it well.

MEL seem to be the stand out in terms of compliance with the new system.

I hope the people running into issues in Canberra are reporting it and not just venting on here to absolutely zero effect. I have a template email I've created if people want! It will be quicker to email Qantas than write on here

Would you be able to send me that template?

 

[kookaburra75]

QF826 Melbourne to Canberra. Priority Boarding worked as it should. Clear announcements, processing of "Premiums" etc. Will send in feedback.

 

[Daver6]

QF584 PER - ADL yesterday evening. A first and final boarding announcement was made in the J lounge about 5 minutes after boarding was scheduled to commence. Walked out to gate 12. Priority line had one group being processed and the normal line didn't seem all that long. Clearly boarding had commenced 5 minutes prior. So was processed quickly and then got to stand in a long line on the air bridge. Had to squeeze in some overhead locker space.

So as far as I'm concerned, this was a fail.

 

[Kangol]

Yesterday in MEL I was a little late and they had started boarding, when I arrived I heard the "everyone else can now board on the left".
The right priority lane was clear and the FA on the right side was not scanning the normal left hand line.
Amazing. Exactly how it should be.
Full flight boarded on time.
I will give my feedback at:

Customer care feedback form | Qantas AU

Use this form to give Qantas feedback on your experience with Flights, Baggage, Check-in, Before you travel, Qantas Frequent Flyer and more.

www.qantas.com

 

[Basaka]

QF409 0700 SYD-MEL on the 23rd:

Clear announcement, started boarding the BP line with both scanners. Didn't check to see whether anyone was jumping the line as the line was really short so I just went ahead and boarded instead.

 

[opusman]

I don’t know about MEL, but they don’t in BNE. The QLK gates only have one scanner. Pretty sure the new PB procedure only applies to mainline.

If they did it properly (really properly) one scanner wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Dazz70]

QF624 MEL-BNE at 3:10pm on 31 Dec - no priority boarding lane open at all !

 

[RooFlyer]

I sent feedback re the failed PB at MEL mentioned above. Just a straightforward expression of disappointment that the PB didn't work.

Got a voice mail yesterday saying that they were calling re my feedback, and will call back! Anyone else got a reaction to their feedback?

 

[JessicaTam]

Flew out of MEL yesterday and got to see first hand how the 'all new' PB worked. I chose to get to the gate early and watch from afar when boarding started. The first announcement was "We would now like to ask our premium passengers to commence boarding" or the like. Both scanners were used for the PB line.

The interesting things was that the regular queue was empty. Everyone (bar PB pax) stayed seated at the gate when boarding started. The staff appeared to be checking BPs for eligibility as everyone got a welcome by name, too. I boarded before regular boarding was called, so was not able to check if everyone was just asleep!

Well done MEL. Let's see how ADL goes tomorrow.

 

[RooFlyer]

I sent feedback re the failed PB at MEL mentioned above. Just a straightforward expression of disappointment that the PB didn't work.

Got a voice mail yesterday saying that they were calling re my feedback, and will call back! Anyone else got a reaction to their feedback?

They called back, but I missed the call again. I called the Cust Care number they left (Hobart Call Centre) and thanked them for following up, - they said all these feedbacks are sent onto the relevant Airport ops managers.

Keep up the positive and negative feedback on PB!

 

[pauly7]

Two more data points:

Another seamless ex Mel departure to Perth. FA’s visibility checking eligibility to be standing in the line and two people turned away to join the other queue.

Ex Sydney today, almost perfect but a confused FA called the general boarding queue forward about halfway through boarding the premium queue... instead of waiting to clear it completely.

And yes I have sent two feedback emails one good one constructive off to Qantas to pass onto airport ops. Got names of all involved too and included.

 

[Lynda2475]

I havent taken a domestic flight since they announced they would enforce the boarding rules, but from an international POV (this is first time ive been Gold and flown PE so first time Ive taken note):

26 Dec QF127 SYD-HKG - called First, Business, PE and Platinum/Gold to board first from priority lane (although no one policing it) and used all scanners before starting to board Economy. They also called for people travelling with children under 3 (not the usual small children announcement) and sent people with older kids back to the regualr line - why people with teenagers think they need to board early is beyond me.

31 Dec QF128 HKG -SYD - there were 3 lines - First, Priority (Business, PE and Gold/Platinum) and Economy. Staff were policing the Priority queue and sending the cheaters to the back of long economy line. First boarded, using both scanners, once that line was empty they proceeded to board priority line, I didnt stick around to see what happened after that.

 

[jpp42]

Hey Lynda, this has been the practice on international flights for some time, so this thread was all about applying those same reasonable policies to domestic flights.

 

[svstrider]

I sent this email to QF
"31 Dec Cool - Syd flight NO priority boarding lane at all. No mention of priority bparding at all.
On 31 Dec Syd _ADL priority boarding lane was not done first and no one checked BP's. The same happened on return flights 3 Jan ADL - SYD and SYD - COOL flights .

Not much point in being a priority passenger IMO. I don't think FA's want the aggression."

 

[Danger]

I sent this email to QF
"31 Dec Cool - Syd flight NO priority boarding lane at all. No mention of priority bparding at all.
On 31 Dec Syd _ADL priority boarding lane was not done first and no one checked BP's. The same happened on return flights 3 Jan ADL - SYD and SYD - COOL flights .

Not much point in being a priority passenger IMO. I don't think FA's want the aggression."

Unlike the other oneworld airlines that seem to have a handle on the oneworld benefits, Qantas doesn't even attempt to offer priority boarding anywhere (domestically) other than seven odd ports. Coolangatta is not one of the chosen.

 

[Franky]

I sent this email to QF
"31 Dec Cool - Syd flight NO priority boarding lane at all. No mention of priority bparding at all.
On 31 Dec Syd _ADL priority boarding lane was not done first and no one checked BP's. The same happened on return flights 3 Jan ADL - SYD and SYD - COOL flights .

Not much point in being a priority passenger IMO. I don't think FA's want the aggression."

Has anyone actually seen any aggression since they started enforcing the priority boarding routine? I believe that this was suggested as a reason the gate staff were reluctant to enforce the rule, but has this been evident?

 

[justinbrett]

My first domestic mainline flight since the policy was introduced - QF533 BNE-SYD. Aircraft was in position but crew were late so 20 minute delay. Started boarding premium line (main line closed) but no policing of the line - initially. After about 5 people scanned another FA went through the line and checked every single BP.

Very impressed. I expected a late crew would not care about this in order to get the aircraft away but I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[doublecatered]

I'd be surprised if it was a flight attendant checking all the boarding passes in the queue. It was hopefully ground staff as it is their turf really (and they wear the same uniform so it's probably hard to tell)

 

[justinbrett]

I'd be surprised if it was a flight attendant checking all the boarding passes in the queue. It was hopefully ground staff as it is their turf really (and they wear the same uniform so it's probably hard to tell)

You’re probably right, she did come from the desk and now I think about it she was there when they said they were waiting on the crew.