Programs: Air Canada S100K, Asiamiles Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 56
Cattle Priority Pre-Boarding
Is D50-52 boarding at YVR the biggest clusterfook ever? In the past two weeks I have done 034 and 008 and the priority has been a near cattle stampede process, with last night's being the worst. A 20 minute delay in beginning boarding meant it was a near stampede when the gate announced that they would be doing economy only priority boarding (issues with executive class passenger needing extra assistance).
Once they began, standing back and waiting for exec class call was eye opening. These must have been 40+ 'priority' economy class passengers.
I am sure it has been like this in the past, but I usually try and show up when boarding has already begun. Anyone else seen messes like this?
Is D50-52 boarding at YVR the biggest clusterfook ever? In the past two weeks I have done 034 and 008 and the priority has been a near cattle stampede process, with last night's being the worst. A 20 minute delay in beginning boarding meant it was a near stampede when the gate announced that they would be doing economy only priority boarding (issues with executive class passenger needing extra assistance).
Once they began, standing back and waiting for exec class call was eye opening. These must have been 40+ 'priority' economy class passengers.
I am sure it has been like this in the past, but I usually try and show up when boarding has already begun. Anyone else seen messes like this?
Clear signage and enforcement of the priority boarding rules will help.
Never saw this gong in Europe, they are soo organized!
Living in Switzerland, I can assure you that at least here it is all elbows and shoulders to board. Priority is only occasionally enforced. I have become used to it and just relax.
Clear signage and enforcement of the priority boarding rules will help.
Never saw this gong in Europe, they are soo organized!
The biggest rugby scrums you'll experience are boarding LHR- Canada bound flights on BA leaving from the T5 A10 bus gate. It's a pitched battle right up the stairs to the aircraft even.
Programs: AC SE; AAdvantage Gold; Platinum Royal Ambassador
Posts: 1,052
My experience has been that the AC priority boarding procedures have been poorly enforced, particularly in domestic flights. Maybe partially the AC boarding agents at gate do not feel like being harsh to cattle class passengers, by pushing them back. cattle class passengers attempting to get to the frontline, already tired or paranoid or not fan of "inequality", do not respond well to the boarding agent's instructions.
Nevertheless, I still prefer United's group boarding procedure and overall enforcement.
Lufthansa's self boarding procedure has been a true stampede, as I experienced many time, and I hate the stampede experience, though I live in the cowtown.
__________________ might have to fly more in 2013......
Rugby scrums aside (and I do like that term) yes, having 40+ economy pax with priority boarding on a YVR-YYZ flight is not entirely unusual. Same for YYC-YYZ. They call boarding for J class, elite and super elites .... and 50 people head for the gate. It's always a complete gong show.
I agree with previous poster's comment re United and its zone boarding. That seems to work better at screening out the non-priority people. But as long as half the plane is Elite, it won't matter.
Clear signage and enforcement of the priority boarding rules will help.
Never saw this gong in Europe, they are soo organized!
saw this on LH471, will post photos later.....
Folks think about it, you have 42 J seats on the 77W/77L. Followed by 2-3-5 rows of Economy that may be Elite, Super Elite sitting in bulkhead rows, front seats etc..... Each row is approx 7-9 people per row.......which is another 10-40 people....
So 50 people cramming into priority boarding isnt unusual
I bought an LMU YYZ-SFO earlier this year (May I think), and was the first time since I was roughly 7 that I'd had priority boarding (but that will change soon!).
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.
I don't see the term "gate lice" used in here nearly as much as in the UA forum, but that term is definitely growing on me.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.)
We all have been 'gate lice' once in our lifetime especially when seated in Y. I don't mind being a gate lice as I have seen on some planes the amount and size of carry on luggage, so in order to ensure you get the space you need you will have no choice but to go ahead of the space hogs!!!
__________________ I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
Clear signage and enforcement of the priority boarding rules will help.
Never saw this gong in Europe, they are soo organized!
I find that almost always the staffing levels are way lower at YVR. For eaample. . . for ac 854 YVR most often has 2 or 3 agents whereas ac 855 at LHR (including the usually two passport/ID checkers ) there are up to 8 (that's eight !) and sometime more - I always notice this because it seems like expensive overhead.
The difficulty the agents face at YVR seems to be that they are carrying out several "actions" at once (a) dealing with counter enquiries including upgrade issues (b) boaring announcements (c) checking passports / id documents (d) recording boarding on the seat chart . After all that there is the policing of the various paasenger lines - no wonder there is often organized mayhem
