Qantas Frequent Flyer - Priority boarding for OW Elites?

I have seen signs near gates for priority boarding for OW Emerald only and not for OW Sapphire members. Does QF allow priority boarding for other OW elites besides OWE?

I know BA allows OWE and OWS members to board "at leisure" and AA has priority boarding for all OW elites in their priority access lanes, but was unclear what QF's boarding policies were.

QF restricts domestic boarding to Plat/OWE only as otherwise on some flights there would be more with priority boarding than without. As it is, it is fairly inconsistently done with limited policing and signs often in the wrong place.

Internationally it is also offered to Gold/OWS

I see. I suppose on routes like SYD-MEL, there would be a lot of elites. However since some flights board from both the front and rear of the plane, it seems like priority boarding is not a major benefit. As a OWE on a domestic business ticket, I was asked to wait to board once because they were only boarding passengers from the rear door initially.

I see. I suppose on routes like SYD-MEL, there would be a lot of elites. However since some flights board from both the front and rear of the plane, it seems like priority boarding is not a major benefit. As a OWE on a domestic business ticket, I was asked to wait to board once because they were only boarding passengers from the rear door initially.
I have never seen QF jet flights board from anything other than the front door at SYD or MEL. If you were on DJ or JQ or reading other incorrect information, then this is different.

If you want priority boarding, get to the gate early.

I have seen signs near gates for priority boarding for OW Emerald only and not for OW Sapphire members. Does QF allow priority boarding for other OW elites besides OWE?

I know BA allows OWE and OWS members to board "at leisure" and AA has priority boarding for all OW elites in their priority access lanes, but was unclear what QF's boarding policies were.

I would be interested to know what percentage of elites are on board an average QF flight vs an average AA flight - my suspicion is very high % on QF and very low on AA. I've always enjoyed (as PS) the priority boarding on AA, and it's always seemed to me like a small queue of people. On QF, as PS I don't get it, and it's usually an enormous queue - sometimes it seems like more than half the plane is priority boarding.

Time traveller: I see you are from the USA. In Aust, for many, priority boarding means boarding last, spending more minutes in the QF club and not crammed in some small metal tube. Aust is not like the USofA

I would be interested to know what percentage of elites are on board an average QF flight vs an average AA flight - my suspicion is very high % on QF and very low on AA. I've always enjoyed (as PS) the priority boarding on AA, and it's always seemed to me like a small queue of people. On QF, as PS I don't get it, and it's usually an enormous queue - sometimes it seems like more than half the plane is priority boarding.

I think it all depends on the route. If you are looking at SYD-MEL, there are probably a lot of elites. The same goes for ORD-LGA.

However if you look at SYD-AYQ, I assume most are leisure passengers with few elites. On my AYQ flight, I was only 1 of 2 passengers in business class. They boarded and disembarked from both the front and back of the plane at AYQ. Too bad they don't have a QF Club at AYQ, since I wouldn't have minded boarding last :)

I think it all depends on the route.......
However if you look at SYD-AYQ, I assume most are leisure passengers with few elites. On my AYQ flight .......

Had you mentioned AYQ in earlier posts, you would have got a different response.

I would be interested to know what percentage of elites are on board an average QF flight vs an average AA flight - my suspicion is very high % on QF and very low on AA.

No idea for AA, but with UA it's not uncommon for over half the plane to be elites on popular routes - to the extent that UA now have 4 groups of "priority" boarding before they get to the plebs.

On other routes the number of elites can be as low as about 10 out of over 100, or even less...

(It's relatively easy to tell roughly how many elites based as the size of the First class upgrade list, which is available on their website)

In Aust, for many, priority boarding means boarding last, spending more minutes in the QF club and not crammed in some small metal tube.And, despite boarding last and minimising the uncomfortable time on board the aircraft, still having a reasonable chance of finding space to stow one's cabin baggage.

In Aust, for many, priority boarding means boarding last, spending more minutes in the QF club and not crammed in some small metal tube.And, despite boarding last and minimizing the uncomfortable time on board the aircraft, still having a reasonable chance of finding space to stow one's cabin baggage.I am usually in the last 10 to board and have been last many times. :cool:

I am usually in the last 10 to board and have been last many times. :cool:
Several decades ago, I was late for checking in for an AR domestic flight (a 727) at AEP. After check-in, I was told that although the gate had closed, I could still go out to the plane (a remote stand) by crawling through the bag converyor and then running to get on before the steps were pulled away. The door was closed behind me and I got seat 1C (all Y seating). Ahhh- the days before paranoid levels of security!

Whilst I understand why QF does not offer priority boarding for oneworld Sapphire on domestic flights, they are technically going against oneworld policy; http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/oneworld-benefits/

I have a suspicion that the full meaning of the oneworld rules may be that Sapphires from other airlines should be offered whatever priority boarding the airline offers its own Sapphire-level members - ie QF couldn't give QF Golds priority boarding but refuse other Sapphires. If QF restricts priority boarding to QF Platinums and other Emeralds, it might well be that that's consistent with the oneworld rules, even if that chart isn't explicit about the detail.

Whilst I understand why QF does not offer priority boarding for oneworld Sapphire on domestic flights, they are technically going against oneworld policy; http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/oneworld-benefits/
Is it any different to AA denying its Saphire (Platinum) and Emerald (Executive Platinum) members access to their lounges on domestic flights? No.
So why does QF deny priority boarding to OW Saphires - bescuase it is all to confusing and will delay boarding as the gate agents explain why the QF Golds cannot priority board domestic flights but OW Saphires, except QF SG, can.;)

Is it any different to AA denying its Saphire (Platinum) and Emerald (Executive Platinum) members access to their lounges on domestic flights? No.


The oneworld lounge access rules specifically state that AA members do not get AA domestic lounge access though.

The oneworld lounge access rules specifically state that AA members do not get AA domestic lounge access though.
I was using it as an example, so QF if they so desired can do the same and state on the ow rules, that QF Gold members do not get domestic priority boarding which will allow ow non-QF Saphires access to domestic priority boarding.

I was using it as an example, so QF if they so desired can do the same and state on the ow rules, that QF Gold members do not get domestic priority boarding which will allow ow non-QF Saphires access to domestic priority boarding.

The boarding scrum isn't quite the same as the entrance to the AC though. Much easier for an AA elite to be denied entry than for the QF gate agent to read the boarding pass, see OW Sapphire, look at which program it is from and then send the pax out of the line. I can't see that working at all.

The boarding scrum isn't quite the same as the entrance to the AC though. Much easier for an AA elite to be denied entry than for the QF gate agent to read the boarding pass, see OW Sapphire, look at which program it is from and then send the pax out of the line. I can't see that working at all.
Which is not that different from now really. How long would the SG take to understand that they cannot use domestic priority boarding? Number of months and year at the most?
ATM it is irrelevant form me, besides being WP I also do not fly QF domestic that often and when I do I am amongst the last to board as I leave the lounge at the last moment.

besides being WP I also do not fly QF domestic that often and when I do I am amongst the last to board as I leave the lounge at the last moment.

Exactly, I'm with you. Why are we even discussing priority boarding on QF?

Which is not that different from now really. How long would the SG take to understand that they cannot use domestic priority boarding? Number of months and year at the most?
ATM it is irrelevant form me, besides being WP I also do not fly QF domestic that often and when I do I am amongst the last to board as I leave the lounge at the last moment. Are you special enough that you get the specialised, personalised boarding call? :D

Dave

Are you special enough that you get the specialised, personalised boarding call? :D


Everyone is special when they get the personalised boarding call. More so if they have a checked bag so staff go that extra length to make sure the special person boards that exact plance instead of the next available.

The was a rumour a decade or so ago in the era of ANother airline where a business person consistently checked in an empty bag on his flight so he always got that personalised boarding call.

Are you special enough that you get the specialised, personalised boarding call? :D

Dave
Some people call it the wak of shame. Others do it so they cannot be known as DYKWIA:p

It obviously depends on the distance from the QP to the particular gate but often simply waiting in the QP for the "first and final" call and then walking leisurely to the gate will mean you are among the last to board anyway.

I see. I suppose on routes like SYD-MEL, there would be a lot of elites.

It does depend heavily on the route. For example on the PER-PBO or PBO-PER route there is no priority boarding. This is partially due to the airport configurations but also due to the fact that those flights are usually something like 35% QF Plat, 50% QF Gold, 10% QF Silver and 5% Bronze/no status.

Some people call it the wak of shame. Others do it so they cannot be known as DYKWIA:p

A few AGMs back we had a very significant number of us get this special attention as our F lounge visit in SYD was used to maximise the experience while QF was trying to get the BNE-SYD flight off the ground.

A few AGMs back we had a very significant number of us get this special attention as our F lounge visit in SYD was used to maximise the experience while QF was trying to get the BNE-SYD flight off the ground. I do believe it was a SYD-BNE flight.

Dave

I do believe it was a SYD-BNE flight.

Dave

Indeed. Hazy memory. The F lounge at BNE wouldn't have been much fun.

I do believe it was a SYD-BNE flight.

Dave

How did you access the F lounge on a dom flight? The only one I know of is on the int'l side.

Exactly, I'm with you. Why are we even discussing priority boarding on QF?

Because a Yank started the thread. And in America, being allowed to spend an extra half an hour sitting in a metal tube while two hundred people brush past you in an attempt to stick full-size suitcases into overhead lockers the size of a chicken's cloaca is seen as a huge benefit.

How did you access the F lounge on a dom flight? The only one I know of is on the int'l side.


There is a flight that goes SYD-BNE-MNL, once a week, I think it is a Thursday that leaves from SYD international. Therefore you can access the F lounge.

You have to carry ID but it is a great flight to take to get to BNE. I've never done it but a friend of mine avails himself of it as often as possible.

Duf, thedocta,
Was an F Lounge run to MEL
About 20 of us dallied in the far end of the lounge to watch an SQ A380 bird takeoff
Then had the long walk/jog out to the 50s pier.

Duf, thedocta,
Was an F Lounge run to MEL
About 20 of us dallied in the far end of the lounge to watch an SQ A380 bird takeoff
Then had the long walk/jog out to the 50s pier. Definitely a flight to BNE, it was back in the days when BNE-LAX wasn't daily, so they had to operate a positioning flight from SYD.

Dave

Definitely a flight to BNE, it was back in the days when BNE-LAX wasn't daily, so they had to operate a positioning flight from SYD.

Dave

Was it not a bunch of FT people travelling up to BNE for an AGM a few years ago?

Was it not a bunch of FT people travelling up to BNE for an AGM a few years ago?

Indeed it was! First AGM for me. It may be that this flight and the one moa999 recalls were two completely different occasions, but on this occasion about 16 FTers converged on the SYD F lounge for breakfast then, with a little coaxing and personalised invitations over the PA, eventually boarded QFwhatever (19?) for the flight to BNE. ;)

It was QF175 a tag flight SYD-BNE. 20 Fters flew it to BNE after a champagne breakfast.

The SQ380 was one of less than f4 (IIRC) operating at the time - QF were yet to receive Nancy Bird.

More here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qantas-frequent-flyer/721801-6th-annual-ft-agm-bne-qp-saturday-23-feb-2008-a.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/9234300-post384.html