Qantas to Introduce Group Boarding and Bag Tracking

[Volando]

I must say that I never never seen anyone asked to wait because they were in the wrong group. Recently at SYD INT boarding line for a flight to WLG, when they announced which line applied to which group, one PAX made to move out of the Group 1 line. He was invited to stay put by a Qantas staff member and they let him board with Group 1..

That’s a bit surprising. I haven’t seen group boarding in action on Intl flights yet, but on domestic, the scanners deny boarding and the staff point to the red light and tell people to step aside until their group is called.

 

[Beano]

That’s a bit surprising. I haven’t seen group boarding in action on Intl flights yet, but on domestic, the scanners deny boarding and the staff point to the red light and tell people to step aside until their group is called.

At one time on a SYD-DXB flight on EK, I missed the group number calls and arrived after the main body of PAX's had started boarding. There was no separate priority queue and had to join the general boarding.

 

[elanshin]

At one time on a SYD-DXB flight on EK, I missed the group number calls and arrived after the main body of PAX's had started boarding. There was no separate priority queue and had to join the general boarding.

I think that depends on the Airline, the setup as well as the specific gate. QF these days often still has a separate entrance for Group 1/2 even after they start boarding 3-6. Although at some places it's a bit chaotic regardless of having these separate lines.

 

[Beano]

I think that depends on the Airline, the setup as well as the specific gate. QF these days often still has a separate entrance for Group 1/2 even after they start boarding 3-6. Although at some places it's a bit chaotic regardless of having these separate lines.

I've seen Group 3+ PAX's use the the Group 1/2 check-in point, but only from the front of their line when there are no G1/2 Pax's baording. (Another late arrival on my part with essentially empty G 1/2 line).

 

[kgreenuq]

Group boarding seemed to work well on QF flights last week PER-LHR (QF 9?) and QF 2 LHR-SYD. Staff checked boarding group numbers on boarding passes at the gate.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Flew out of MEL yesterday, 737, 6 spare seats maybe? Boarding by front and rear stairs. Boarding completed in under 15 mins. So they system works really well when it works!

Even had passengers asking if they could ‘get past’ those standing and fiddling about in the aisles.

Cf VA… takes forever to board, long queues at front and rear doors, and no announcements by crew for pax not to block the aisles.

 

[PERLHR]

Certainly a free for all on the flights of Qantas and Virgin Aus yesterday late afternoon from Kalgoorlie. No priority announcement by any...scramble at gates. Hope the QF flight was better than the VA one...rubbish crew, rubbish service. It was pathetic.

 

[Falcs]

Flew out of MEL yesterday, 737, 6 spare seats maybe? Boarding by front and rear stairs. Boarding completed in under 15 mins. So they system works really well when it works!

Even had passengers asking if they could ‘get past’ those standing and fiddling about in the aisles.

Cf VA… takes forever to board, long queues at front and rear doors, and no announcements by crew for pax not to block the aisles.

Sounds like the usual behaviour of gate lice in their natural environment

 

[Daver6]

After some recent flights, I feel this new group boarding is already falling apart. I write this as a WP who usually is in whY.

Domestically, they seem to board group 1 and 2 at the same time these days. So the benefit over the previous system for WPs and J pax on domestic flights has disappeared. Add to the fact by the time you've walked from the lounge to the gate after boarding is call, you're generally at the back of a longish line or just land up standing in a line on the airbridge.

Flying on QF12 out of LAX, they now board F pax before group 1. Pretty sure a OWE benefit is boarding with F pax. Group 1 seems to consist of WPs and J pax. The line was ridiculously long for a A380 flight.

</grumble>

 

[Chrizztofa]

After some recent flights, I feel this new group boarding is already falling apart. I write this as a WP who usually is in whY.

Domestically, they seem to board group 1 and 2 at the same time these days. So the benefit over the previous system for WPs and J pax on domestic flights has disappeared. Add to the fact by the time you've walked from the lounge to the gate after boarding is call, you're generally at the back of a longish line or just land up standing in a line on the airbridge.

Flying on QF12 out of LAX, they now board F pax before group 1. Pretty sure a OWE benefit is boarding with F pax. Group 1 seems to consist of WPs and J pax. The line was ridiculously long for a A380 flight.

</grumble>

Domestically I've seen both - where Group 1 is called on its own, and where both Groups 1 and 2 are called simultaneously. Perhaps it's dependent on loads (or if they're running late) - if there are only a few P1/WP flying Y they might call Group 2 at the same time to speed up boarding?

Internationally, QF have created a Priority Group 1ST (First) for F pax, so that the priority group orders go:
- 1ST (First) - For F pax only
- Priority Group 1 - For J pax and P1/WP/OWE
- Priority Group 2 - For SG/OWS
See: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/boarding.html ("Will Priority Boarding still be Available?")
(Not confusing at all!)

While priority boarding is a OWE benefit I don't think that means necessarily boarding with F pax. While BA and CX do, AA don't - they put OWE in group 2 (behind ConciergeKey, First, Business, Families and AA Executive Platinum).

 

[fletty]

Yes you remind me, when we boarded QF1 we were flying F and they specifically called out for F travellers only before boarding anyone else.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Who is in group 2? I’ve had group 2 twice in the last couple months, both times when seated at a bulkhead or in an exit. First time there were only lime 4 pax that boarded in group 2, so i thought it was just for bulkhead/exits? The second time around 20-30 pax boarded when they called group 2! So it’s gold as well?

 

[Daver6]

Domestically I've seen both - where Group 1 is called on its own, and where both Groups 1 and 2 are called simultaneously. Perhaps it's dependent on loads (or if they're running late) - if there are only a few P1/WP flying Y they might call Group 2 at the same time to speed up boarding?

Internationally, QF have created a Priority Group 1ST (First) for F pax, so that the priority group orders go:
- 1ST (First) - For F pax only
- Priority Group 1 - For J pax and P1/WP/OWE
- Priority Group 2 - For SG/OWS
See: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/boarding.html ("Will Priority Boarding still be Available?")
(Not confusing at all!)

While priority boarding is a OWE benefit I don't think that means necessarily boarding with F pax. While BA and CX do, AA don't - they put OWE in group 2 (behind ConciergeKey, First, Business, Families and AA Executive Platinum).

Some valid points.

I don't agree that boarding at once speeds anything up. They're not processing any faster at the gate.

I just flew AA domestically. They actually now board F first, then group 1, followed by group 2 etc

Domestically I've seen both - where Group 1 is called on its own, and where both Groups 1 and 2 are called simultaneously. Perhaps it's dependent on loads (or if they're running late) - if there are only a few P1/WP flying Y they might call Group 2 at the same time to speed up boarding?

Internationally, QF have created a Priority Group 1ST (First) for F pax, so that the priority group orders go:
- 1ST (First) - For F pax only
- Priority Group 1 - For J pax and P1/WP/OWE
- Priority Group 2 - For SG/OWS
See: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/boarding.html ("Will Priority Boarding still be Available?")
(Not confusing at all!)

While priority boarding is a OWE benefit I don't think that means necessarily boarding with F pax. While BA and CX do, AA don't - they put OWE in group 2 (behind ConciergeKey, First, Business, Families and AA Executive Platinum).

Some valid points.

I don't agree that boarding at once speeds anything up. They're not processing any faster at the gate.

I just flew AA domestically. They actually now board F first, then group 1, followed by group 2 etc

 

[Falcs]

Bit of a grey area I guess. In British Airways they implemented a Group 0 for Premier/GGL (equivalent to Chairmans Lounge/ P1) that boards before first class

 

[SJF211]

Who is in group 2? I’ve had group 2 twice in the last couple months, both times when seated at a bulkhead or in an exit. First time there were only lime 4 pax that boarded in group 2, so i thought it was just for bulkhead/exits? The second time around 20-30 pax boarded when they called group 2! So it’s gold as well?

Group 2 is for QF Gold/OWS and premium economy where fitted.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Group 2 is for QF Gold/OWS and premium economy where fitted.

Oh!

And emergency exit/bulkead, ie seats where cabin baggage must go in the overhead locker!

 

[SJF211]

Oh!

And emergency exit/bulkead, ie seats where cabin baggage must go in the overhead locker!

I was not aware that emergency exits/bulkheads revived priority boarding at this stage but happy to be corrected as have always been group 1/2 from status since it was introduced. I assume they definitely will when “economy plus,” is introduced and are sold as such however.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was not aware that emergency exits/bulkheads revived priority boarding at this stage but happy to be corrected as have always been group 1/2 from status since it was introduced. I assume they definitely will when “economy plus,” is introduced and are sold as such however.

This is going back to last year… at least October 2025? I was surprised to get Group 2 one day, seated at a bulkhead for domestic economy (a330). Then I got it again last week, when seated in an exit row.

Otherwise I’ve been group 3 or 6 when flying in the main cabin!

 

[milehighclub]

I was not aware that emergency exits/bulkheads revived priority boarding at this stage but happy to be corrected as have always been group 1/2 from status since it was introduced.

Exit rows got moved to a higher group to ensure there was room for bags since all bags have to go in the overhead locker.

 

[justinbrett]

Some valid points.

I don't agree that boarding at once speeds anything up. They're not processing any faster at the gate.

I just flew AA domestically. They actually now board F first, then group 1, followed by group 2 etc


Some valid points.

I don't agree that boarding at once speeds anything up. They're not processing any faster at the gate.

I just flew AA domestically. They actually now board F first, then group 1, followed by group 2 etc

The main difference between AA and QF boarding is the latter has a culture of staying in the lounge until called, and then walking to the gate. There hasn’t historically been a concern for overhead space as we tend to pack lighter than the yanks (and weight limited unlike AA).

With AA, flights aren’t called, F/Group 1/2 etc are at the gate ready to board the minute it opens. A lot of elites don’t even have lounge access for domestic flights. There is a motivation for a lot of pax to board early to ensure overhead space.

I think if you want the AA experience then we give up staying in the lounge until the last minute and collectively all be at the gate the minute boarding commences. You can’t rely on gate phone calls to the lounge.