Originally Posted by
canadiancow
I was really amazed. They called priority boaridng, and I got in what I thought was the priority boarding lineup, and someone else asked me "are you in priority?" (she was not being obnoxious, just looking for the right line), but it was ridiculous.
Has happened to my wife. However in that case, the person actually assumed she did not belong in the priority line. Next, of course, he saw her sitting in front, while moving to the back.
A lot of people attribute it to the lack of overhead space, but I'm not convinced that the VBITs in back are aware of any potential space issues. They just see one person line up, and then they line up, etc.
May well be a bit of both. With all these fees for extra luggage for nonstatus flyers, the number and size of bags brought on board has definitely gone up. Many priority boarders flying in Y do their best to board early precisely to make sure there is room for their luggage.
And when you have half the economy passengers lined up before priority boarding starts, it makes it that much harder to do the priority boarding.
If they line up on the non-priority side, should not be a problem. But then people under stree get clueless pretty quick.
But a recent experience (222 on the 12th) brought up another issue: crew (flying as passengers) with their AC-sized bag. On this YVR-YYC flight, not many people upgrade so the J cabin fill up with crew folks. That day there were at least four in j, plus others in Y.
First, to my surprise, they boarded with priority. At least, not before, but together. I thought by the AC rule, they were supposed to wait until the end.
Then a couple of uniformed FAs very carelessly threw their AC-supplied bags sideways in the E90 bins, even though they fit perfectly in length. (I felt the way they behaved was not really appropriate especially since in uniform.) A fourth one, woman of Asian descent, did put her bag properly in a bin, and she behaved in a proper, more restrained manner. Eventually, a non-uniformed SD who was with them went and moved the bags in the right position. Still, at that point, there was no bin space for J passengers who came late. (I had only a small backpack and I had boarded earlier.)