Qantas doesn't care about priority boarding

[Lynda2475]

I'm flying mel-akl tonight in j, I have a small carry-on case and a handbag and iplan to board as early as possible to ensure my bag in in a J bin.

It's less of an issue on larger planes with dedicated j bin per seat, but the 737 is essential to board early ime.

Quite happy to nap or browse aff whilst waiting, I will have had over 3 hours in the F lounge beforehand anyway.

 

[jase05]

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.

You have never been in the QF SYD DOM J lounge have you

 

[FishFood]

Was it full?

I was in J on the A330, so didn't get a good idea of the economy loading but business was relatively full

 

[RichardMEL]

I am not "obsessed" with getting on the earliest - most specially when flying international in a widebody like a 787 or 380 in a premium cabin, but definitely for domestic 737's then yes, I will aim to get on earlier. As others have mentioned, if I have a larger carry on (and by that I mean a proper carry on size/weight, but more than the usual backpack I travel with that goes under the seat in front) then I will want the chance to put that up top. The other reason though is actually to make boarding just a tad faster - because I usually sit in a window seat as my preference, I prefer to get on and in it before the aisle comes along (in J usually) for obvious reasons. I pop my bag usually under the seat in front (as I prefer access to my stuff), and I can get settled and boarding goes on around me and I'm not in the way of anyone.

(and if I'm in a bulkhead then I want on to secure overhead space - it's as simple as that).

 

[justinbrett]

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.

And not just that, getting space between your row and the front door. If you have to go more than a few rows back to stow it, you'll be swimming upstream to get your bag and be one of the last off.

 

[Lynda2475]

Epic fail on PB just now at OOL, after boarding two elderly assistance passengers they called for priority boarding for J, P1, WP and Emerald; but then failed to hold back NBs with kids.

The P1 J passenger next to me on the ramp commented how they needed to better enforce PB given a full flight, I agreed and this psycho NB (yes I saw her BP scan red, as did her husband and kids) with an obvious guilty conscience (and excess bags) starts yelling and swearing at him saying kids have priority. I just rolled my eyes and calmly requested she stop agressively shouting at those doing the right thing.

Having kids doesn't give you any priority on domestic flights, certainly not ahead of J or Status pax. On international they sometimes call for those travelling with small children to board after priority and before general, but never heard this on domestic.

On the plus side FA was monitoring J bins and prevented a few Y pax from putting their bags up front.

 

[RichardMEL]

oooh the entitlement of having kids as being a reason to get things ahead of others. See that a lot.

I get it if you've got under 2's and want a bit more time to get sorted and settled, but sometimes I see, when an boarding call for "those with children or requiring extra time" truly taking the p15S with like 10 year olds and whatever.

Just wait til we reach the levels in the US of the 'fake" pre boarders (aka miracle flights where they require wheelchairs to get on, but seemingly can walk off at the other end jusssttttt fine). and now fake "disability" people (the new ESA dodge).

but I digress

So glad the FA was vigilant about J bins. I've seen recently on QF 737's some Y pax shoving their cough in J bins which I find very frustrating.

 

[blackcat20]

Yeah having little kids does actually give you pre-boarding quite often. I've asked politely and never been knocked back.

 

[drron]

And not just that, getting space between your row and the front door. If you have to go more than a few rows back to stow it, you'll be swimming upstream to get your bag and be one of the last off.

Which is when you hope there is a less entitled person sitting somewhere behind you. yeasterday mr 1A could only use the bin over Row3. fortunately his bag was closest to the front of that bin so i was able to reach it and hand it over to him before i got my bag out. Just common decency.

Post automatically merged: Jan 25, 2024

Yeah having little kids does actually give you pre-boarding quite often. I've asked politely and never been knocked back.

though the 4 JAL flights I have had recently they do say accompanying child 2 or younger and they do police it. Personally i am happy with that.

 

[DejaBrew]

Yeah having little kids does actually give you pre-boarding quite often. I've asked politely and never been knocked back.

That’s fair enough, but as you say, you asked first which is very different to just barging on with assumed priority. I’ve certainly been on flights where pax with little kids were invited to board early, but it was always at the discretion of ground staff / airline policy.

 

[RichardMEL]

Those in row 1 in 737s are always at a disadvantage for overhead space due to row 1 bins either having equipment or divided into a half bin space, and no ither option. One of a few reasons I avoid it.

At least with R4 bulkheads, they still allow storage under R3 and have normal bins.

 

[Lynda2475]

Well the entitled queue jumpers kids would have been 10 and 12 so not babies or toddlers that need to be settled.

Last trip to DFW I saw one family step forward when they called for those with small children, and the kids were bigger than the parents 16yo at least, now that is just taking the mick.

 

[elanshin]

Honestly this is where boarding groups would work well.

You wouldn't even need to call it, its already information that QF has - if you're travelling with an infant.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yes it is a shame they didn't complete the boarding group roll-out, every domestic BP I have electronic or paper has a space for it and its always blank

 

[MooTime]

I have 2 little boys, 2 & 4 and very very conscious to be courteous, low key and just play our role in boarding at our appropriate time n place. We never actually wanted priority, have to learn your place in this world / airports. In general others quite considerate to parents with young children & help out if required as long as they do the right fair thing I've found.
Pushing barging thru anywhere a big no no.

Imo don't see a need for any children to board early, they'd be more comfortable in openness of the terminal than the metal tube. Then again under 2yo's do need milk bottle's, certain foods, dummies, few toy / book distractions etc and parents need bit of time onboard to organise this absolutely.
Ah hellova experience those baby years onboard.

 

[drron]

Well the entitled queue jumpers kids would have been 10 and 12 so not babies or toddlers that need to be settled.

Last trip to DFW I saw one family step forward when they called for those with small children, and the kids were bigger than the parents 16yo at least, now that is just taking the mick.

This is one thing that really CMO.
As well as 1 infant or 1 person in a wheelchair accompanied by 10 adults.

 

[dairyfloss]

Well the entitled queue jumpers kids would have been 10 and 12 so not babies or toddlers that need to be settled.

Last trip to DFW I saw one family step forward when they called for those with small children, and the kids were bigger than the parents 16yo at least, now that is just taking the mick.

Yes - if kid(s) are old enough to get seated & do up their own belt, they are past the point of needing to head down the aerobridge with pax needing assistance. Thankfully for my young lad (now 7), he's only ever flown J, and has had SG status for some time, so he'll always be 'entitled' (and yes - I proudly set a terrible example, for my own comfort)

 

[dk4]

Which is when you hope there is a less entitled person sitting somewhere behind you. yeasterday mr 1A could only use the bin over Row3. fortunately his bag was closest to the front of that bin so i was able to reach it and hand it over to him before i got my bag out. Just common decency.

Post automatically merged: Jan 25, 2024

though the 4 JAL flights I have had recently they do say accompanying child 2 or younger and they do police it. Personally i am happy with that.

IMO this is a major point of dissatisfaction flying J on a QF 737. Too often the overhead bins directly above row 1 are full of service equipment, reducing capacity for customer stowage, meaning bags going up behind you, and that downstream swim on disembarkation while everyone else moves upstream.

Love the way VA deal with this though (aside from not stowing technical gear above row 1, except on some of the silly ex-silkair planes), during disembarkation a VA FA stands in the aisle between the last row of J and first row of Y, to ensure everyone in J can easily get their bags down. (I actually had a flight the other week, where I was in 1A and my bag behind me over row 2, and that FA got it out and passed it to me.)

Aside from the giant coasters attached to their carry-ons, you can tell the Qantas regulars travelling VA J, they stand in the aisle and clog it as soon as landing, trained in the "QF stampede system", while all the VA regulars remain in their seats, or get their bags and sit back down again, and wait until the door opens. But, even if you do have to back stream to get your bag, you just wait till row 2 exits and then get them - much more civilised!

 

[sudoer]

Honestly this is where boarding groups would work well.

You wouldn't even need to call it, its already information that QF has - if you're travelling with an infant.

Pre-boarding is also for less mobile folk - disabled, injured, elderly, pregnant, etc. Those couldn't all be captured in the same way with the current Qantas booking & OLCI process. I recently flew on Qantas with my pregnant wife and at no stage of the booking or OLCI process were we asked for that information, they didn't know until we rocked up at the check-in counter.

Compare that with JAL who had a checkbox in the the booking engine which led to questions like the due date, at check-in she was given a 'maternity mark' badge which allowed her to pre-board, and they even offered a selection of JAL branded kids toys, sunglasses and gloves in-flight. You'll bet I now have a shelf of little JAL A350 models...

 

[Franky]

I have 2 little boys, 2 & 4 and very very conscious to be courteous, low key and just play our role in boarding at our appropriate time n place. We never actually wanted priority, have to learn your place in this world / airports. In general others quite considerate to parents with young children & help out if required as long as they do the right fair thing I've found.
Pushing barging thru anywhere a big no no.

Imo don't see a need for any children to board early, they'd be more comfortable in openness of the terminal than the metal tube. Then again under 2yo's do need milk bottle's, certain foods, dummies, few toy / book distractions etc and parents need bit of time onboard to organise this absolutely.
Ah hellova experience those baby years onboard.

After watching that scenario in my recent flight SYD-PER in J, I can only agree. The babe in arms was under a year old, but fortunately her Nana flew with the mother and child, and they were in the last of the J seats to fill. Out came all of those items you mentioned. It is definitely an evolution to get it all together.