Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[Daver6]

For the first time in ages I checked a bag for a domestic flight. The whole bag tracking is so pointless and hidden. The only two events you get is one telling you the time you checked your bag (well duh) and the second is just before it lands on the conveyor belt at your destination. All seems entirely pointless!

At least with AA you are notified when its loaded on an aircraft (and made a connecting flight too).

 

[Berlin]

For the first time in ages I checked a bag for a domestic flight. The whole bag tracking is so pointless and hidden. The only two events you get is one telling you the time you checked your bag (well duh) and the second is just before it lands on the conveyor belt at your destination. All seems entirely pointless!

At least with AA you are notified when its loaded on an aircraft (and made a connecting flight too).

That’s where Air tags are a godsend! Not that any airline will listen to you if you tell them where to find your “lost” bag but at least you always know.

It’s very reassuring when you see your bag making its way from the bowels of the airport to just outside your gate when you’re about to board…

 

[SYD]

Hmm, I don’t recall seeing either alert on Thu! But my bag was in the Top 5 on the conveyor despite what my AirTag suggested*


*Yes, it shortly showed much closer as I approached the belt.

 

[RichardMEL]

For the first time in ages I checked a bag for a domestic flight. The whole bag tracking is so pointless and hidden. The only two events you get is one telling you the time you checked your bag (well duh) and the second is just before it lands on the conveyor belt at your destination. All seems entirely pointless!

At least with AA you are notified when its loaded on an aircraft (and made a connecting flight too).

Totally. AA is so far ahead in this regard it's not funny. UA has an ok tracking iirc, but AA is the best I've seen/used.

One time, for reasons, my bag went ahead. The tracking showed when staff removed it and stored it in the bag office to collect so I knew right where to go when I landed. Really impressive.

 

[elanshin]

Totally. AA is so far ahead in this regard it's not funny. UA has an ok tracking iirc, but AA is the best I've seen/used.

One time, for reasons, my bag went ahead. The tracking showed when staff removed it and stored it in the bag office to collect so I knew right where to go when I landed. Really impressive.

Just curious, did they also prompt you or did you just go straight to the baggage office?

 

[RichardMEL]

Just curious, did they also prompt you or did you just go straight to the baggage office?

There were no pop ups or specific notifications that I recall, but it was laid out very clearly in the app that the bag had been removed from the belt and available at the AA baggage service office.

The situation wound up that I was tracking bag updates while in the air on the next flight (via AA app with free access via wifi) so I was looking at that constantly.

I really appreciated btw that either someone noticed the bag wasn't collected, or more likely baggage services were notufied that this nag and owner were separated and so they did puck it up. I had realy fears of bag endlessly going round til some thief decided they might want my tees and unmentionables... so I was stoked when the bag track message was very specific about where it was so I could relax and order another adult beverage

 

[Boeyn]

Any updates on how the trial is going? I noticed the QF webpage with information now has a 404 error:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/travel-advice/boarding-trial.html#:~:text=Introducing%20the%20group%20boarding%20trial,provide%20a%20smoother%20boarding%20experience.

 

[milehighclub]

Any updates on how the trial is going? I noticed the QF webpage with information now has a 404 error:

Going live in June from BNE (3rd), MEL (11th), PER (17th), SYD (24th)

 

[RichardMEL]

Going live in June from BNE (3rd), MEL (11th), PER (17th), SYD (24th)

Awesome. I fly out of MEL on 11th. What can possibly go wrong

 

[TheInsider]

Awesome. I fly out of MEL on 11th. What can possibly go wrong

It been pushed out it looks like. From the email staff get:
Group boarding will be implemented progressively, starting with Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney.

• Monday 03 June 2024 – Brisbane
• Monday 10 June 2024 – Perth
• Monday 17 June 2024 – Melbourne
• Tuesday 25 June 2024 - Sydney

 

[Scooty]

Not flying anywhere this week (BNE based), interested to see how this all plays out tomorrow morning with the new boarding. I reckon at least half the bugs will be ironed out for me next Monday morning

 

[puchu]

Sorry I may have missed it, but is this domestic only?

 

[dairyfloss]

Sorry I may have missed it, but is this domestic only?

Yes - only domestic, at this point for numbered boarding groups. The process for international tends to be somewhat (?) better managed, already. I'd be happy to see it there as well, though!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[fletty]

From ET's article:

... the boarding pass scanner will only permit travellers to board once their group has been invited, so there’ll be no jumping the queue.

Sounds like it'll at least be enforced by design.

 

[SeatBackForward]

From ET's article:

Sounds like it'll at least be enforced by design.

I'm not holding my breath that the crew don't override it or something, rather than making that person step away from the boarding line.

 

[flyingfan]

I can’t remember reading if travelling groups on the same PNR will automatically get the priority of the highest status pax? And if you’re travelling with someone in a different group and different PNR, you’ll either have to board separately or at the time of the lowest priority?

 

[TheInsider]

I can’t remember reading if travelling groups on the same PNR will automatically get the priority of the highest status pax? And if you’re travelling with someone in a different group and different PNR, you’ll either have to board separately or at the time of the lowest priority?

Correct. If linked up then all will get the priority. If not, then no.

 

[Berlin]

I'm not holding my breath that the crew don't override it or something, rather than making that person step away from the boarding line.

Totally. And of course then there will be the typical drama people who somehow think the boarding group on the boarding pass is incorrect or only half the group has it right and whatever else. So you can’t even blame staff to very quickly find out how to “overrride”.

It always amazes me, on bigger international planes usually, how many people annoy staff with last minute requests at the boarding gate- same thing (yes, I know there are good reasons but those are far and few between, definitely doesn’t explain why every second passenger must rock up there). There’s always plenty of those…

 

[dairyfloss]

Correct. If linked up then all will get the priority. If not, then no.

I saw somewhere (I think a Fb group) that there was now an ability to link (TCP) via the app? Any truth to that, that you know of? I don't see it anywhere obvious when looking at any bookings I have.

It would certainly make things easier, in light of this more enforced boarding process, and hopefully keep the call volumes down some more at the contact centre, as well. The only thing I can think of as to why it wouldn't be allowed is the question the agents ask about the other booking owner, and that you have their permission to link the bookings... but the same could be achieved via response / checkbox in the app.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Flying Fox]

Qantas rolls out US-style ‘group boarding’

Qantas wants passengers to board domestic flights by groups: here’s what you need to know.

www.executivetraveller.com

According to this article -

Announcements will be made at the gate when it is time for each group to board, and the boarding pass scanner will only permit travellers to board once their group has been invited, so there’ll be no jumping the queue.

This is an interesting development. So if I'm WP and Mrs Flying Fox is NB and we are both in Y, we will be boarding seperately.