QF no more paper based BP!

[RooFlyer]

It's a great initiative in its own right and worth supporting! It's sad to see how perfectly fine recyclable material goes to mixed waste these days so any step in avoiding waste and processing it better is welcomed.
I would assume many of the items will be 'on request only' basis: you could request to get a membership card, you could request a paper BP, etc, but by default you'll be offered the digital version first.

How do you go recycling the electronic device you'll be using now? I suggest it will leave a nastier environmental legacy than 1,000 paper BPs.

Not to mention the environmental footprint of aircraft engines running longer on the ground because of delayed boardings ...

 

[OATEK]

I seem to remember some horror stories about BPs dropping off the phone after scheduled departure when there have been major flight delays, and pax with effectively no BP when needed.

 

[leadman]

Working in part of the recycling industry, which is extremely profitable, i dislike seeing a lot of these articles when it's all about making money, not conserving the environment.

It comes down to intrinsic value of the product being recycled and the "gather, carry & dump" costs are huge factor in whether you recycle an article or not. If i was to analyse it from a waste view; the BP is given to customers so its not a QF problem, the customer takes care of that, but, savings are; no paper to buy, save on printers/maintenance, change customer check-in methods so less staff. Close counters down as not needed, floor space more open, new shops etc, etc,.

Would not be surprised if their $/T to dump is well north of $200, so back of the envelope calc i'd think they would be chasing a $10 - 20 million saving (i once did a project where it was very profitable to do it in one state, but a loss in another simply because of the cost of disposing of the residue)

Same with cards; cost of card, cost of letter, postage, packing, lost cards, etc, verse a single app. That one is a no-brainer from the "Qantas Boiled Frog Appreciation Society".

 

[Danger]

It seems to be a bold and ambitious project but I applaud it. Certainly if Qantas is dressing it up as an environmental initiative when in fact it might be a cost-saving measure than that's poor. But at the end of the day, the environment wins and that's what counts.

 

[OATEK]

Working in part of the recycling industry, which is extremely profitable, i dislike seeing a lot of these articles when it's all about making money, not conserving the environment.

It comes down to intrinsic value of the product being recycled and the "gather, carry & dump" costs are huge factor in whether you recycle an article or not. If i was to analyse it from a waste view; the BP is given to customers so its not a QF problem, the customer takes care of that, but, savings are; no paper to buy, save on printers/maintenance, change customer check-in methods so less staff. Close counters down as not needed, floor space more open, new shops etc, etc,.

Would not be surprised if their $/T to dump is well north of $200, so back of the envelope calc i'd think they would be chasing a $10 - 20 million saving (i once did a project where it was very profitable to do it in one state, but a loss in another simply because of the cost of disposing of the residue)

Same with cards; cost of card, cost of letter, postage, packing, lost cards, etc, verse a single app. That one is a no-brainer from the "Qantas Boiled Frog Appreciation Society".

Far too many people seem to think Recyclable = Resource Recoverable. But anyone who has had involvement any where long the recycle chain knows that is is not the case. And smallish paper objects are the classic example.

 

[mviy]

I seem to remember some horror stories about BPs dropping off the phone after scheduled departure when there have been major flight delays, and pax with effectively no BP when needed.

If that happens they should be able to see you've checked in and print the boarding pass if you provide suitable ID.

With iPhones you can add your Boarding Passes to the Apple Wallet though I suspect many wouldn't bother to do that.

 

[opusman]

Will be interesting to see if they plan to get rid of the printed boarding receipt for mobile check-in. If they did, having to check everyone's phone a second time would slow down boarding a lot. Maybe time for the second boarding check to go?

 

[AIRwin]

Will be interesting to see if they plan to get rid of the printed boarding receipt for mobile check-in.

I thought that has already been the case (at least for my flight on 15 February)...

 

[samh004]

How do you go recycling the electronic device you'll be using now? I suggest it will leave a nastier environmental legacy than 1,000 paper BPs.

I know Apple is fairly good on recycling their devices, unsure about others.

 

[codash1099]

If that happens they should be able to see you've checked in and print the boarding pass if you provide suitable ID.

Doesn't seem to be the case, judging by the number of times I'm asked to email a copy of the BP when claiming missing points.

And can we look forward to meal shortages when this is in effect?

"The company said it also aimed to cut down on the volume of items airlines were required by law to dispose of permanently, such as quarantined food on international flights and hazardous materials."

 

[RooFlyer]

I know Apple is fairly good on recycling their devices, unsure about others.

Sure, if the devices are taken to Apple for recycling. Just like paper BPs could be perfectly recycled if disposed of appropriately.

I suppose at some time I might take the 5 old phones and tablets I have lying around to their respective optimal recycling places.

 

[justinbrett]

I thought that has already been the case (at least for my flight on 15 February)...

Yes for mobile boarding passes. You still get a receipt if you use your FF card.

 

[leadman]

I know Apple is fairly good on recycling their devices, unsure about others.

You have to read it carefully "Daisy has the "potential" to recycle ......." They are a long way from it. The report has a lot of fluff and guff in it like, lets locate aluminum smelters near hydro. That's where they have been going of late. They dont mention in their report on what a great job their industry did on the recycling of CRT screens. A lot of the world doesn't know/understand about a lot of the material that just goes to the dump. Again it comes back to that "intrinsic value". For example we hear about rare earths and their value, but how many people know they are in those magnets that close you phone cover or jewellery container you throw away! A lost commodity mankind will never get back.

Big colourful (note the overuse of green) photos in big reports on things we all do now like solar panels just don't do it for me. And don't get me started on the recycling of Li batteries.......

 

[tdimdad]

How do you go recycling the electronic device you'll be using now? I suggest it will leave a nastier environmental legacy than 1,000 paper BPs.
Not to mention the environmental footprint of aircraft engines running longer on the ground because of delayed boardings ...

But if I already have a phone and also 1,000 paper BP's, surely the reduction of BP's from the lifecycle is a win in itself (and if QF saves money along the way, so be it). The old mobiles I've ferried to MobileMuster and have been geeky enough - just because you can - to open old electronics (e.g. stereo sets, deskjet printers) to get them recycled (plastics & metal in the domestic recycling and e-waste waits for the next trip to the local tip for collection there).
I'm also confident that if the bean counters do their job well, they'll be chasing faster turn-arounds, meaning optimisation of the boarding process even if it means selectively issuing FF cards or paper BP's (or urge people to print home). Though, that would mean Finance talks with the business, such a novel idea...

 

[juddles]

BP's are an absolutely trivial item in the airline industry. I fly on a 747 from SYD to SCL, the plane burns a 100 tonnes of fuel, and they think saving about 5 kilos of pax BP paper is worth even thinking about??

I am all for the battle to reduce waste / save resources etc etc etc. But let's forget the trivial issues.

For the record, as per trippin - I do actually like having a physical record of memorable flights and trips

And I am NOT one of the "10%" who opt in for the carbon offset. I just plant trees instead.

 

[Renato1]

Well, that's what this article says.
Qantas, Jetstar to go digital with boarding passes | The New Daily

I think it's ridiculous.

Who wants to carry a charged phone around just just to board a flight?

We aren't all addicted to Smart Phones.
Some people don't have them.
And will whichever app is put out for this purpose work on all versions of Android?
My wife leaves her phone home when we go overseas, but now she'll have to take it - and not lose it.
What happens to people who lose their phones overseas or have them stolen?

Any thoughts?
Regards,
Renato

 

[kermatu]

A paper BP is so much easier at the gate and at the aircraft door. Not to mention the ability to keep it in case of problems. Going to be pretty annoyed if they are actually phased out.

In all the surveys and questions QF ask pax has this idea ever been floated? I don't recall it. Hope there's a campaign against it (although sounds like it would be too late).

A lot of the other ideas seem sensible though.

 

[mrsterryn]

Sad Emoji

Cardboard boarding passes may clutter to my life - but they spark joy!

Also good for mega give away thingies when we can win wonderful amenity kits lol

 

[Captain Halliday]

With iPhones you can add your Boarding Passes to the Apple Wallet though I suspect many wouldn't bother to do that.

I’ve flown six sectors this month and there’s been no paper stub issues to people using their phone.

As noted above, those using their FF card still received a paper stub - but they’re going so the point is moot.

Will be interesting to see if they plan to get rid of the printed boarding receipt for mobile check-in. If they did, having to check everyone's phone a second time would slow down boarding a lot. Maybe time for the second boarding check to go?

On one of my flights last week the pax ahead of me tried to scan a screenshot on his phone and the scanner wouldn’t have it. He was told to open the app.

The same was repeated at the aircraft door.

All up it was 2x30 second delays.

Do that a dozen or more times on international flights with large aircraft and the delays will cost more than a few flimsy pieces of cardboard.

Meantime, I don’t do global roaming when I’m overseas. If I’m required to present a BP on the app, it will rule me out of flying QF internationally. That will also cost QF significantly more than a few flimsy cardboard boarding passes.

 

[bPeteb]

I'm in the minority. Great idea.