Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[Beano]

For couples or groups, the group number is dictated by the highest status, if all bookings are made together under the same booking number.

 

[justinbrett]

I’ll need to see it in practice but the boarding groups seem a bit confusing (the actual groups, not the process) why not name them 1-6? (Priority, then 1, then 2a/b seems complicated).

Agree with PB & Group 1 (should be groups 1 & 2).

I understand why they did 2a/b & 3a/b, as that designates fwd & rear doors.

Rear boarding available - it will go 2a/3a then 2b/3b
Rear boarding not available it will 2 then 3

If they numbered 2-5 (or 3-6), it would get confusing in one of those situations.

 

[JohnM]

For couples or groups, the group number is dictated by the highest status, if all bookings are made together under the same booking number.

Which logic dictates.

When PJM (NB) and I travel, I am the travel organiser, we are both on the same PNR, I online check us both in and both BPs are on my phone for scanning as we board.

 

[Beano]

Which logic dictates.

When PJM (NB) and I travel, I am the travel organiser, we are both on the same PNR, I online check us both in and both BPs are on my phone for scanning as we board.

That's just like Mrs Beano and me. I had both BPs on my phone. Same for train tickets in Europe. Just a swipe away!

 

[Clayton]

Which logic dictates.

When PJM (NB) and I travel, I am the travel organiser, we are both on the same PNR, I online check us both in and both BPs are on my phone for scanning as we board.

Yep, it stops the random groups forming at the gate and attempting to priority board together, even though they are on separate PNRs.

 

[Le Clair]

There are going to be a lot of people who are going to get very excited that they have been "upgraded" when they see 2A and 2B and 3A and 3B on their boarding passes only to discover that there are no B seats in Business and that is a boarding group and not a seat number.
It's going to happen.

 

[Flashback]

When BA first really had a crack at it, often the gate agent would still call up Groups 1-3 (J, OWE, OWS, OWR essentially) in 1 hit. It worked OK, but made the call to a much larger group of people. These days, they have upped it to 9 groups and they do call only 1 at a time, works rather well. But then again, I haven't been outside Group 1 for as long as I can remember!

Even with this having been in place for at least 7 years or so, people still crowd and you need to push your way through....... some things never change!

 

[BAM1748]

Yeah, lets introduce new policies rather than working with one that we already have. Nice one QF!

That’s it isn’t it, the one in place doesn’t work all the time so let’s have some continuous improvement.

 

[BAM1748]

Love how AFFers complain about QF priority boarding and then complain again when QF tries something else.

Personally I’m not fussed about it. Just board two lines and the sooner you start the sooner you finish.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Love how AFFers complain about QF priority boarding and then complain again when QF tries something else.

Personally I’m not fussed about it. Just board two lines and the sooner you start the sooner you finish.

Then don't publish it as a benefit. There easy. And far easier to implement then whatever next scheme they want to try.

 

[Lynnelanne]

So does Qantas Club get priority boarding now? (yes lazy, can't be bothered scrolling through eleven pages).

I also wonder what will happen to people with a disability. Sadly, I am often confined to a wheelchair these days and they often board us first (it's win/lose because we always debark last). An article said that Qantas staff will no longer have control as the machine will reject those who try to board earlier....but staff must have the capacity to over ride in wheelchair situations.

 

[jase05]

Yep, it stops the random groups forming at the gate and attempting to priority board together, even though they are on separate PNRs.

Data point with VA in ADL last week where we were travelling in a group of 12 and Mrs Jase and I had PB and the gate staff told our friends who were at the back of the pleb line to jump into our line as our guests. I’m guessing under the new QF system that wouldn’t be possible now when it’s implemented across the network

 

[DrJohn]

Totally agree with the need to improve priority boarding for business and higher status flyers - and this approach seems like a good start in the right direction. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

PS A related issue is carry on - seems people are being allowed to take on bigger & bigger suitcases these days which of course causes the overheads to fill very quickly and is part of the reason boarding has become slower & slower over time - in the last 5/10 years of flying, I've only ever seen 1 or 2 cases checked at the gate - and surprise surprise, the bags ended up being too big/heavy. Maybe it's time there were scales at security so that when a bag is xrayed, it's also checked for size and weight.

 

[Chef]

So what happens when my wife is travelling with me but is only on the lowest tier but i have gold does the scanner reject her ticket but let me on ?

 

[Mr Bill]

Not much interest in what other airlines are doing.....this is a QF variation on a theme. My question is will those boarding for the rear of the aircraft be "discouraged " from putting their carryon in the forward overhead bins ?

 

[dairyfloss]

So does Qantas Club get priority boarding now? (yes lazy, can't be bothered scrolling through eleven pages).

I also wonder what will happen to people with a disability. Sadly, I am often confined to a wheelchair these days and they often board us first (it's win/lose because we always debark last). An article said that Qantas staff will no longer have control as the machine will reject those who try to board earlier....but staff must have the capacity to over ride in wheelchair situations.

This is from the AFF article that was linked up thread - no PB for QC or Silver members. If you are in a wheelchair or otherwise need assistance, then I expect you would board before these groups, as per usual.

There will be six boarding groups in total for domestic flights. These are:

• Priority Boarding: For Business Class passengers and Qantas Platinum, Platinum One and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers
• Group 1: Qantas Gold and Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers
• Group 2A/2B: Passengers sitting in the back half of Economy
• Group 3A/3B: Passengers sitting in the front half of Economy

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[bmatth]

Coincidentally I just finished watching @noelphillips on YT, boarding a full Air Do 767
(windows - middle - aisles) in 10 min flat ... sheesh !

 

[Pradip Parghi]

Qantas Group Boarding proposal: It has been justified in the name of increased efficiency. But what about passengers who cannot or find difficult to climb the stairs and are sitting in group 3A/3B (rear half of the economy class)? Such passengers (like me) need to board from the bridge & not the stairs.
Pradip Parghi

 

[oz_mark]

Qantas Group Boarding proposal: It has been justified in the name of increased efficiency. But what about passengers who cannot or find difficult to climb the stairs and are sitting in group 3A/3B (rear half of the economy class)? Such passengers (like me) need to board from the bridge & not the stairs.
Pradip Parghi

They generally make allowances for these situations (at least at airports where there is a bridge)

 

[Fifi2207]

For couples or groups, the group number is dictated by the highest status, if all bookings are made together under the same booking number

So what happens when my wife is travelling with me but is only on the lowest tier but i have gold does the scanner reject her ticket but let me on ?

My fear too! I travel with a WP husband and I don’t a beep and rejection. We dont always get booked on the same booking reference but he always moves me to sit with him.
I asked him his thoughts- he said see you on the plane