QF priority boarding at LHR

[defurax]

This is a mini-rant because I HATE being treated like a child...

So the last time I boarded QF2 at LHR there was an announcement that boarding would begin soon, so a large number of PAX flying J and F and QF SG and WP (inlcuding myself) started forming queues for boarding in their respective lane. Then suddenly they announced that only people travelling in the J and F cabin could board (I was flying Y). The problem with this is that I was already almost at the front of the queue with no easy way to step aside when an agent saw my BP and said "this is only for First class cabin", I pointed to the fact I'm a WP and she said loudly "wait until we board economy". So is this the new way to board at LHR? Or is this just BA or contracted employees who have no clue? If QF changed the way to board flights at LHR I would have appreciated some sort of communication from QF saying that WPs are not allowed to used the F boarding until specifically told they could...

So was this an isolated incident? Or is this the new boarding protocol at LHR? I have another flight next week, so I just want to know if I should stay in the lounge until final call and not bother with PB:evil:

 

[RooFlyer]

At a random guess (sorry, not helpful to you) I'd say it was couldn't-give-a-stuff contract staff at LHR.


Please contact Qantas WP line and tell them. Won't get fixed else (assuming it was a mistake) and/or when Red Roo re-appears here, let them know too.

 

[defurax]

At a random guess (sorry, not helpful to you) I'd say it was couldn't-give-a-stuff contract staff at LHR.

Most likely. Maybe some AFFers have recent experience at LHR. I think I've heard that BA changed their boarding sequence, so that's what made me think these agents were maybe employees used to working for BA.

 

[SpudOz]

This is a mini-rant because I HATE being treated like a child...

So the last time I boarded QF2 at LHR there was an announcement that boarding would begin soon, so a large number of PAX flying J and F and QF SG and WP (inlcuding myself) started forming queues for boarding in their respective lane. Then suddenly they announced that only people travelling in the J and F cabin could board (I was flying Y). The problem with this is that I was already almost at the front of the queue with no easy way to step aside when an agent saw my BP and said "this is only for First class cabin", I pointed to the fact I'm a WP and she said loudly "wait until we board economy". So is this the new way to board at LHR? Or is this just BA or contracted employees who have no clue? If QF changed the way to board flights at LHR I would have appreciated some sort of communication from QF saying that WPs are not allowed to used the F boarding until specifically told they could...

So was this an isolated incident? Or is this the new boarding protocol at LHR? I have another flight next week, so I just want to know if I should stay in the lounge until final call and not bother with PB:evil:

How embarrassing for you. Poor form at LHR

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Most likely. Maybe some AFFers have recent experience at LHR. I think I've heard that BA changed their boarding sequence, so that's what made me think these agents were maybe employees used to working for BA.

There's lots of complaints about BA boarding at T3 on FlyerTalk. Without going back to check the thread (not checking the facts, perhaps I should work for News Corp?) I believe BA has changed its boarding sequence and 'scrum' is a polite description of the general boarding process at T3 nowadays.

But I do hope what you experienced was a one-off. The last time I departed T3 was on CX and that ran very smoothly.

 

[vantage03]

BA boarding anywhere at LHR is just dreadful. "Scrum" is the correct term to describe it. I'll personally avoid it at all costs, it's just so stressful and unpleasant. Nobody needs to go through that before a 13 or 24 hour flight..!

 

[defurax]

So I'm happy to report that the boarding process at LHR T3 Gate 1 last Sunday was done as expected e.g F, J, WP and SG PAX were allowed to board at their convenience. None of that F and J cabin boarding before status PAX nonsense.