Do DM get to jump the priority queue?
Dec 25, 2014 | 7:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Australia
Programs: SPG Gold, CX MPC Gold, Hilton Hhonors Gold
Posts: 234
Do DM get to jump the priority queue?
Was on KA from a Mainland port to HK about 2 weeks ago, and was waiting at the very front of the priority line since I had quite a bit of carry-on.
The priority line itself had 30+ people (which I guess is the norm nowadays, not sure how many were in J and how many MP members).
Anyway, 2 gentlemen decided to approach one of the ground staff at the counter and demanded that they are allowed to the front of the queue, saying that it is a DM benefit. This was about 3 to 5 minutes before boarding started.
This poor ground staff (in KA uniform) explained (and really did try, given that they were not communicating in her mother tounge) that she is not aware of this benefit and asked these 2 gentlemen to take a seat and wait. The DM (not sure whether the other was a DM) wasn't too happy and asked why they are to take a seat, the ground staff explained that the priority line is for all J passengers and MP members, including DM.
The DM asked the ground staff to call her supervisor and ask, for which she did with her walkie. The response from her supervisor was that they are to queue like the rest of us. The DM ended up writing her name down on a bit of paper and advised her that he will be in touch with MP club regarding this issue. The ground staff held her name badge up politely ^ so that he can clearly read it.
For completeness, boarding then commenced and I was walking down the bridge when these 2 gentlemen were standing next to the counter.
My questions are:
1 - Do DMs get to jump the priority queue?
2 - Are people really that desperate to get onto a plane, given that he has/they have spent many hours on planes to achieve DM? (they were travelling light and didn't have much carry on so wasn't in a fight for space in the overhead lockers, maybe they wanted their choice of newspaper
)
The priority line itself had 30+ people (which I guess is the norm nowadays, not sure how many were in J and how many MP members).
Anyway, 2 gentlemen decided to approach one of the ground staff at the counter and demanded that they are allowed to the front of the queue, saying that it is a DM benefit. This was about 3 to 5 minutes before boarding started.
This poor ground staff (in KA uniform) explained (and really did try, given that they were not communicating in her mother tounge) that she is not aware of this benefit and asked these 2 gentlemen to take a seat and wait. The DM (not sure whether the other was a DM) wasn't too happy and asked why they are to take a seat, the ground staff explained that the priority line is for all J passengers and MP members, including DM.
The DM asked the ground staff to call her supervisor and ask, for which she did with her walkie. The response from her supervisor was that they are to queue like the rest of us. The DM ended up writing her name down on a bit of paper and advised her that he will be in touch with MP club regarding this issue. The ground staff held her name badge up politely ^ so that he can clearly read it.
For completeness, boarding then commenced and I was walking down the bridge when these 2 gentlemen were standing next to the counter.
My questions are:
1 - Do DMs get to jump the priority queue?
2 - Are people really that desperate to get onto a plane, given that he has/they have spent many hours on planes to achieve DM? (they were travelling light and didn't have much carry on so wasn't in a fight for space in the overhead lockers, maybe they wanted their choice of newspaper
)
Dec 25, 2014 | 9:30 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: HK
Programs: CX DM, SPG PLT, Accor PLT, IHG PLT AMB, Hyatt DM, HH DM
Posts: 76
DM certainly does not have that priority (though I am also a DM
) & need to queue up like other MPC members, One world elites and business class passengers
The KA ground staff did a great job
) & need to queue up like other MPC members, One world elites and business class passengersThe KA ground staff did a great job
Dec 25, 2014 | 9:44 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Japan
Programs: NH Diamond, JL JGC Diamond, BA Gold Guest List(Gold for life), CX Diamond
Posts: 1,580
No written privilege.
However, at HKG and some airports, when an aircraft has a first class, gate agents occasionally make 3rd queue for F and DM(and OWE?), then check statuses of passengers in J queue and move passengers of F and DM to the 3rd queue. Passengers in the 3rd queue board first.
Rumors say this operation is also applied when J queue is longer than Y queue
However, at HKG and some airports, when an aircraft has a first class, gate agents occasionally make 3rd queue for F and DM(and OWE?), then check statuses of passengers in J queue and move passengers of F and DM to the 3rd queue. Passengers in the 3rd queue board first.
Rumors say this operation is also applied when J queue is longer than Y queue
Dec 25, 2014 | 10:47 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: LH SEN/AS Gold/BA Silver/SAS Gold/Hyatt Globalist/HH Diamond/Marriott Plat
Posts: 481
My experience reflects that of Wasabi Tofu's (that is, flights with F have a third line also incorporating DM/OWE members).
Was on HKG-HND in J earlier this week with my CX GO# on my BP. The agent checking BPs actually noted my AA EXP bag tag and directed me & family to the F line.
Was on HKG-HND in J earlier this week with my CX GO# on my BP. The agent checking BPs actually noted my AA EXP bag tag and directed me & family to the F line.
Dec 25, 2014 | 5:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Just as the other members said, it is not a DM benefit - neither published nor unpublished. If there is a separate F queue, then DMs can queue up there. Otherwise, DMs should stay in the J queue.
Years ago when there were only a F/J queue and a Y queue, the gate staff will sometimes lead F passengers and DMs traveling in J to the head of the F/J queue, but that was only "by invitation only".
Years ago when there were only a F/J queue and a Y queue, the gate staff will sometimes lead F passengers and DMs traveling in J to the head of the F/J queue, but that was only "by invitation only".
Dec 25, 2014 | 5:32 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
They might also be new DMs. They might see passengers in separate queues when they were GOs, and misunderstood that is a DM benefit.
Dec 28, 2014 | 2:54 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: MH(Plat), BA(Silver), QF LTS, CX, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,771
Dec 28, 2014 | 3:31 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,184
Just as the other members said, it is not a DM benefit - neither published nor unpublished. If there is a separate F queue, then DMs can queue up there. Otherwise, DMs should stay in the J queue.
Years ago when there were only a F/J queue and a Y queue, the gate staff will sometimes lead F passengers and DMs traveling in J to the head of the F/J queue, but that was only "by invitation only".
Years ago when there were only a F/J queue and a Y queue, the gate staff will sometimes lead F passengers and DMs traveling in J to the head of the F/J queue, but that was only "by invitation only".
As CXfan1960 so rightly put it, his description was of an "invitation only" scenario. It is up to CX to run their own business and of course those who do not like it don;t need to fly with them. It is totally different for others who feel "entitled" because they are DM or whatever and make demands and make a scene. That is stupid and wrong.
Dec 28, 2014 | 4:59 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QFF SG, VA SL, MR Plat, SPG Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 445
My HKG - SYD last week had the J line marked OWE/DM, there was then a OWS/GO line behind this roped off to hold back the 'inferior' elites. I hadn't seen this before but it makes sense.
Either way if you are at the gate prior to boarding then you can pretty much guarantee boarding before anyone in Y as they clear these lines first before general boarding which is nice.
Have never seen anyone so brazenly try to cut the line based on status but have certainly stopped others from cutting in front, people will try anything on and it's always nice to see CX rules firmly applied to cut these fools down to size.
Either way if you are at the gate prior to boarding then you can pretty much guarantee boarding before anyone in Y as they clear these lines first before general boarding which is nice.
Have never seen anyone so brazenly try to cut the line based on status but have certainly stopped others from cutting in front, people will try anything on and it's always nice to see CX rules firmly applied to cut these fools down to size.
Dec 28, 2014 | 6:11 am
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
No DM has no such benefit. Just a couple of clowns. However, I've usually seen people with F/J tickets cut in front of the line and the staff, after seeing their BP, don't bother to correct them but just check them in. And I frequently hear people with F/J tickets complain to ground staff why they have to get in line behind people with Y tickets but with status.
Dec 28, 2014 | 7:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
Posts: 545
No DM has no such benefit. Just a couple of clowns. However, I've usually seen people with F/J tickets cut in front of the line and the staff, after seeing their BP, don't bother to correct them but just check them in. And I frequently hear people with F/J tickets complain to ground staff why they have to get in line behind people with Y tickets but with status.
Well, DM in lots of Y is another story
Dec 28, 2014 | 10:28 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 1,799
My HKG - SYD last week had the J line marked OWE/DM, there was then a OWS/GO line behind this roped off to hold back the 'inferior' elites. I hadn't seen this before but it makes sense.
Either way if you are at the gate prior to boarding then you can pretty much guarantee boarding before anyone in Y as they clear these lines first before general boarding which is nice.
Have never seen anyone so brazenly try to cut the line based on status but have certainly stopped others from cutting in front, people will try anything on and it's always nice to see CX rules firmly applied to cut these fools down to size.
Either way if you are at the gate prior to boarding then you can pretty much guarantee boarding before anyone in Y as they clear these lines first before general boarding which is nice.
Have never seen anyone so brazenly try to cut the line based on status but have certainly stopped others from cutting in front, people will try anything on and it's always nice to see CX rules firmly applied to cut these fools down to size.
Dec 29, 2014 | 9:18 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Unless all CX KA boarding gates enforce a 4-line approach regardless of how many products are offered on board this problem will never resolve
But if a 4-line approach is in full force, I think DM can use F queue, GO can use J queue, GR can use PEY queue, but can't tell should SL be allowed to use J or not...
But if a 4-line approach is in full force, I think DM can use F queue, GO can use J queue, GR can use PEY queue, but can't tell should SL be allowed to use J or not...