Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[elanshin]

They were policing the priority security line at SYD this evening, checking your boarding pass and weighing carry-on.

Must've missed that. I went in at 17:00 and no-one there.

 

[Lynda2475]

Must've missed that. I went in at 17:00 and no-one there.

I arrived about 17:45, not at all busy.

 

[elanshin]

I arrived about 17:45, not at all busy.

Yeh wasn't busy either.

Fun note, you would've seen my flight boarding as we were at gate 5 in front of security/lounge if you turned that way.

 

[Franky]

They were policing the priority security line at SYD this evening, checking your boarding pass and weighing carry-on.

Same with us yesterday flying SYD-PER in J, and it carried on to the flight with the crew publicly announcing after boarding that those travelling in Y that their toilets were at the rear of the aircraft, and then publicly balled out a couple of women who broke the rules during the flight. They were also offering many fly aheads as the weather forecast was dodgy and they wanted as many people on flights as they could get. We were 2 flights ahead of our original booking, and managed to keep our upgrade as well.

 

[MooTime]

Qantas weighing bags. Thought that was reserved for budget airliner Jetstar... I guess more and more similar of late!

 

[drron]

Again today at about 0920 checking BPs and carry on weights. Fortunately 14Kg across 2 bags and mine weighed 14.01 kg. Mrsdrron was perfect at 6.92.
Now the actual boarding was mostly conducted as it should be with the agents processing the priority line from the 2 machines. Problem was the priority line was 60+ and a further 50 -60 were NSW firies,police an SES workers. They waited until near the end to board. most had no carryon.
There were 7 in the General line.
The other problem was the super entitled who just joined the line anywhere. One young guy i noticed walking to the gate and then he walked down the queue to the BP check. He ended up 2 in front of us. As I put the 2 carry ons in the overhead noticed him keep on walking to ~ row 9 or10 and was still walking. So doubt he was WP or WP1.

And that gets me to my point. QF's priority line is just too big. Golds should be removed from it. It would be much better to do as it us in many other places in several groups where none are too large. Even BA at SIN were able to get this right at SIN on Sunday for BA 16.
Just to really rile the elites I would suggest group 1 domestically is Business class +/- WP! and CL. Then down through the OW levels with QP going with the OWR group.

Now in October last year there was a trial of Group boarding. I can't find any mentions of the results. has there been any movement?

 

[Traveller X]

Again today at about 0920 checking BPs and carry on weights. Fortunately 14Kg across 2 bags and mine weighed 14.01 kg. Mrsdrron was perfect at 6.92.
Now the actual boarding was mostly conducted as it should be with the agents processing the priority line from the 2 machines. Problem was the priority line was 60+ and a further 50 -60 were NSW firies,police an SES workers. They waited until near the end to board. most had no carryon.
There were 7 in the General line.
The other problem was the super entitled who just joined the line anywhere. One young guy i noticed walking to the gate and then he walked down the queue to the BP check. He ended up 2 in front of us. As I put the 2 carry ons in the overhead noticed him keep on walking to ~ row 9 or10 and was still walking. So doubt he was WP or WP1.

And that gets me to my point. QF's priority line is just too big. Golds should be removed from it. It would be much better to do as it us in many other places in several groups where none are too large. Even BA at SIN were able to get this right at SIN on Sunday for BA 16.
Just to really rile the elites I would suggest group 1 domestically is Business class +/- WP! and CL. Then down through the OW levels with QP going with the OWR group.

Now in October last year there was a trial of Group boarding. I can't find any mentions of the results. has there been any movement?

I thought Gold is in PB due to one world alliance rule?

Speaking of PB in other airlines, I flew in CX 3 weeks ago. They even include Silver in business class lane. Therefore the lane is soooo long. Even longer than the premium economy Line.

Thank god they have a separate line for first/diamond/emerald for me to avoid the crowd.

 

[elanshin]

The other problem was the super entitled who just joined the line anywhere. One young guy i noticed walking to the gate and then he walked down the queue to the BP check. He ended up 2 in front of us. As I put the 2 carry ons in the overhead noticed him keep on walking to ~ row 9 or10 and was still walking. So doubt he was WP or WP1.

To be fair, row 13/14 (exit row) is probably the next rows people go for after 4 if you're clued in. out of the 12 seats, I'd say at least 8 were taking by priority pax on my flight (including myself).

 

[justinbrett]

I imagine the Boarding Group trial was suspended over the Christmas break. It would make sense to implement on all flights sometime in Feb/Mar when pax numbers are at their lowest.

The silly season isn't over until Australia Day so maybe we'll start seeing some progress soon. No way in hell would you be implementing boarding groups over the summer, that's just asking for trouble.

 

[Lynda2475]

Qantas weighing bags. Thought that was reserved for budget airliner Jetstar... I guess more and more similar of late!

Well the benefit was no problem with bin space onboard because the oversized and over weight bags had to be checked pre-security.

As one who doesn't flout the allowance I'm fine with it.

 

[ThatMrBlake]

I imagine the Boarding Group trial was suspended over the Christmas break. It would make sense to implement on all flights sometime in Feb/Mar when pax numbers are at their lowest.

The silly season isn't over until Australia Day so maybe we'll start seeing some progress soon. No way in hell would you be implementing boarding groups over the summer, that's just asking for trouble.

My understanding is no further trials have taken place since October. Wonder if the idea has been scrapped for the time being.

 

[MooTime]

Well the benefit was no problem with bin space onboard because the oversized and over weight bags had to be checked pre-security.

As one who doesn't flout the allowance I'm fine with it.

Checking them for security is one thing, but each & every bag isn't weighed and calculated if they'd all fit in overhead.

 

[sww199]

I don't understand the obsession of higher tier fliers with getting on the plane first, so they can wait the longest in a place less pleasant than the lounge. Yes, carry on space may be more limited, sure, but unless one has lots of carry on you should be fine.

He ended up 2 in front of us. As I put the 2 carry ons in the overhead noticed him keep on walking to ~ row 9 or10 and was still walking. So doubt he was WP or WP1.

Pure conjecture, and frankly condescending to assume anyone who is a "young guy" cannot hold higher tier status. Could well be a gold/platinum or higher tier whose flight has been cancelled (regular occurrence) and got stuck on your flight with whatever seat was left, or a last minute booking once the front seats were already snatched up post-T-80.

 

[sudoer]

I don't understand the obsession of higher tier fliers with getting on the plane first

It makes a big difference on domestic trunk routes where nearly everyone is HLO and overhead locker space has likely disappeared if you are the last on the plane.

 

[Lynda2475]

Checking them for security is one thing, but each & every bag isn't weighed and calculated if they'd all fit in overhead.

Well at the time I entered Qantas staff were checking weight, number of items and size, and sending those who were over to check-in the excess items which isn't an issue since all Qantas tix come with min of 23kg checked luggage.

For it to work needs to be done consistently, but other airlines do it post security like jetstar then charge you to gate check.

Wrt boarding yesterday, I left lounge when it said go to gate, I arrived at gate as soon they had finished loading a wheelchair passenger and then called for priority boarding so I was able to walk straight on. The crew were constantly announcing larger item in bin wheels to back and smaller item under seat except for row 1 emergency exit rows.

It was a full flight except for the left had side rows 4-6 all had B shadows, as did 4f and I witnessed no bag tetris which was refreshing.

Maybe it was a coincidence buti like to think the pre security checks helped. Ymmv.

 

[Lynda2475]

Pure conjecture, and frankly condescending to assume anyone who is a "young guy" cannot hold higher tier status. Could well be a gold/platinum or higher tier whose flight has been cancelled (regular occurrence) and got stuck on your flight with whatever seat was left, or a last minute booking once the front seats were already snatched up post-T-80.

Agree, I've ended up near the back on last minute bookings, or flex fares where I've had to change flight time due to a meeting running late or finishing early or flying forward when then is weather.

 

[drron]

Checking them for security is one thing, but each & every bag isn't weighed and calculated if they'd all fit in overhead.

though when we went through the premium security they were weighing every bag. problem obviously is those checks were obviously only for a set period. after that the usual free for all. A couple on our plane had 4 bags each.
And it is important unfortunately to board early. We were the 4th and 5th into the business class cabin but at least 20 Y pax preceded us. After we got our bags in the overhead there was space for only one other normal sized carrry ons in the bins in J. And the J cabin went out full. The fellow in 1A was lucky as he got the last spot. of the other 6 only 2 bags that would have gone in the bins. the woman across from me had a largish duffle bag so was able to put in under the seat but meant left with no leg space but her legs were rather short luckily.

 

[Lynda2475]

Consistency is key, check pre security for everyone and recheck item numbers at gate less someone exit and re-enter with more items or goes overboard shopping in the terminal.

 

[FishFood]

My recent AKL-BNE flight had hand luggage weighed, first time I've had it happen for QF but I put it down to being an international flight

 

[elanshin]

My recent AKL-BNE flight had hand luggage weighed, first time I've had it happen for QF but I put it down to being an international flight

Was it full? My MEL- ALK (Qantas' misspelling) overnight flight had 5 spare seats. Overhead locker was jammed to the max. J pax did not have enough space for their own luggage as well as everyone decided to bring 2 carryon and there is a life raft.

I don't understand the obsession of higher tier fliers with getting on the plane first, so they can wait the longest in a place less pleasant than the lounge. Yes, carry on space may be more limited, sure, but unless one has lots of carry on you should be fine.

Full flights can become a coughshow in trying to get wheelie bags up and in the worst case, you end up having to gatecheck. Also if you do get on board, you can plonk yourself in, and just either rest or check your phone feeds until you start pushing back.

In the case of my overnight MEL - ALK, that meant my partner got in a 25 min nap by the time we were pushing back.