Virgin Priority Boarding FAIL - sort of.

[Reggie]

I was flying PER - BNE this morning. As per usual, the Kwinana Freeway was a carpark, Perth drivers can't merge, won't keep left, and are inconsiderate @rseholes. Other than the preflight experience was great. No queue for security, managed to avoid the explosives trace test, into the lounge and onto a computer.

Boarding was due to start but hadn't been called, but thought I would wander up and have a look at the gate area. Anyway on the way I take a call, and whe I get up to the gate the flight is boarding, so I waited around to finish the call. Then walked up through the priority boarding lane and stood and waited to be served by the sole gate attendant. She looked at me and continued to board the economy pax. At one stage, she looked at me and said I'll be with you shortly sir. She then proceeded to finish boarding all econnomy pax, then moved across to me.

By this time I was a little perplexed, and politely asked, do Virgin no longer offer priority boarding for their Business Class pasangers, to which the gate attendant very politely said
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I'm not sure sir best you try at the next gate over, this is a Tiger Flight.

At which stage I shrunk 10 inches and went to the actual gate boarding my flight, which had pretty much finished boarding.

 

[leemin]

By this time I was a little perplexed, and politely asked, do Virgin no longer offer priority boarding for their Business Class pasangers, to which the gate attendant very politely said

I'm not sure sir best you try at the next gate over, this is a Tiger Flight.

At which stage I shrunk 10 inches and went to the actual gate boarding my flight, which had pretty much finished boarding.

LOL:!:

I have tried checking in at the wrong hotel before. Embarrassing! Oddly, someone else with my (quite rare) surname was staying there that night.

 

[samh004]

I'm not sure sir best you try at the next gate over, this is a Tiger Flight.

Nicely done

 

[Bolthead]

I was flying PER - BNE this morning. As per usual, the Kwinana Freeway was a carpark, Perth drivers can't merge, won't keep left, and are inconsiderate @rseholes. Other than the preflight experience was great. No queue for security, managed to avoid the explosives trace test, into the lounge and onto a computer.

Boarding was due to start but hadn't been called, but thought I would wander up and have a look at the gate area. Anyway on the way I take a call, and whe I get up to the gate the flight is boarding, so I waited around to finish the call. Then walked up through the priority boarding lane and stood and waited to be served by the sole gate attendant. She looked at me and continued to board the economy pax. At one stage, she looked at me and said I'll be with you shortly sir. She then proceeded to finish boarding all econnomy pax, then moved across to me.

By this time I was a little perplexed, and politely asked, do Virgin no longer offer priority boarding for their Business Class pasangers, to which the gate attendant very politely said
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I'm not sure sir best you try at the next gate over, this is a Tiger Flight.

At which stage I shrunk 10 inches and went to the actual gate boarding my flight, which had pretty much finished boarding.

Good one .... I was expecting something else. Perhaps I should be like my wife and go straight to the last few pages of a book and read them first Good story and top points for being honest. I'm not sure I would tell this story.... However a similar thing happened with me with 2 x Novotels in Melbourne. I won't elaborate, it's too embarrassing.

 

[yo yo ma]

Thanks for the laugh!

 

[bossreggie]

Make sure you get me to walk with you to the restaurant in AKL for the bossreggie lunch!!

Don't want you waiting for us all in the restaurant next door.

Boss

 

[dfcatch]

I was flying PER - BNE this morning. As per usual, the Kwinana Freeway was a carpark, Perth drivers can't merge, won't keep left, and are inconsiderate @rseholes. Other than the preflight experience was great. No queue for security, managed to avoid the explosives trace test, into the lounge and onto a computer.

Boarding was due to start but hadn't been called, but thought I would wander up and have a look at the gate area. Anyway on the way I take a call, and whe I get up to the gate the flight is boarding, so I waited around to finish the call. Then walked up through the priority boarding lane and stood and waited to be served by the sole gate attendant. She looked at me and continued to board the economy pax. At one stage, she looked at me and said I'll be with you shortly sir. She then proceeded to finish boarding all econnomy pax, then moved across to me.

By this time I was a little perplexed, and politely asked, do Virgin no longer offer priority boarding for their Business Class pasangers, to which the gate attendant very politely said
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I'm not sure sir best you try at the next gate over, this is a Tiger Flight.

At which stage I shrunk 10 inches and went to the actual gate boarding my flight, which had pretty much finished boarding.

Would have been worse if she DID PB you and you boarded to discover a TT aircraft

 

[pauly7]

I observed something last week and I'm not sure what Virgins policy is...

A plat member was boarding with two non members and they all lined up in the PB queue.

When they reached the start the plat member said 'they are with me' and all 3 were processed...

I thought PB was for the cardholder - not guests?? Could be wrong....

 

[MarkD]

As long as they are travelling together no worries, have done it several times and I'm only gold

 

[Justinf]

Lulzas! What a hoot.

 

[samh004]

I observed something last week and I'm not sure what Virgins policy is...

A plat member was boarding with two non members and they all lined up in the PB queue.

When they reached the start the plat member said 'they are with me' and all 3 were processed...

I thought PB was for the cardholder - not guests?? Could be wrong....

Would suck for your family if you were booked and travelling together but only you had status… I’ve always through priority check-in and boarding applied to those travelling with you (usually on the same booking). Admittedly, excess baggage doesn’t also apply to companions, but have never thought lining up would only apply to the cardholder.

 

[aurora]

By this time I was a little perplexed, and politely asked, do Virgin no longer offer priority boarding for their Business Class pasangers, to which the gate attendant very politely said
.
.
.
I'm not sure sir best you try at the next gate over, this is a Tiger Flight.

this made my day! (which, come to think of it, is a pretty sad reflection on my day...)

As long as they are travelling together no worries, have done it several times and I'm only gold

yep, VA's confirmed this before - Priority Boarding/Check-in with Family

 

[Reggie]

Make sure you get me to walk with you to the restaurant in AKL for the bossreggie lunch!!

Don't want you waiting for us all in the restaurant next door.

Boss

No fear of that. I think you will have a conga line behind you for fear of missing out.

Junior

To the rest of you, I am pleased I gave you a good laugh. I am so happy I didn't a a DYKWIA moment, that would have been far worse.

 

[pshepvic]

Brilliant story! (I only read the post because I was thinking "hang on, I haven't really ever seen a complete fail of DJ PB, wonder what it could be?"!!!)


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Hvr]

<snip>
I'm not sure sir best you try at the next gate over, this is a Tiger Flight.

Love it, thanks for sharing.

Also, well done to the lady on the Tiger gate for handling it well. A simple explanation which told you everything you needed to know and wasn't abusive or derogatory towards you.

 

[moa999]

Well I had a true fail.
737-800 from SYD. Gate 41 - written on the printed Boarding Pass as Gate A41B ??
To make things tougher when you come out of the Virgin Lounge the signs don't say 41 at all - it says 32 to 40 to the left - I figured it was at the end of the Virgin pier and was correct - everyone boards via the stairs.

Got there just as the Boarding Call was announced including Priority Boarding, only .....


Only one scanner to the left of the rope (which is both red and purple) -- so nor priority at this gate! Nonetheless I was first on board.

 

[koonyaflyer]

This is a temporary gate in place whilst the Sydney Airport renovations are in place. I used it last week, and I think they will be challenged to offer priority boarding due to the very small gate area.

 

[I hate Alan]

Classic blunder OP, something I could do I reckon, thanks for sharing a great story.