Streams of packets are dynamically switched among dedicated and shared queues. For example, when a packet stream is in a maintenance mode (such as to keep a tunnel or packet stream associated with a server active) all packet traffic received over a packet stream is directed into the shared queue while the packet stream is not associated with one of the dedicated queues. In response to a detected change in the packet activity status of packet traffic (e.g., the establishment of a call or an increase in packet traffic, especially desirous of individualized quality of service) over a particular packet stream of the packet streams, the particular packet stream is associated with a particular group of dedicated queues such that at least non-control data traffic received over the particular packet stream is subsequently directed into the particular group of dedicated queues while the particular packet stream remains associated with the particular group of dedicated queues.