US Airways Dividend Miles - Boarding Chaos - Will Anything Be Done?

I'm a US CP and lately I've found it is getting increasingly difficult to board without running the gantlet.

It has been my recent experience that many gate agents now call First Class, CP, *G, US Silver and US DM credit card holders all at once. It creates an absolute stampede, particularly as those who don't know better and those who do crunch to the front to make sure they get to board early, too.

Coming back from Puerto Rico two weeks ago, this was compounded by large groups of old folks (cruise passengers) who feigned not understanding English to just come to the front of the line and board as they pleased.

Seems to me that FC and CP should board first - there should be a small pause to give a chance for us to board and get situated - then there should be some orderly progression down the pecking order. The way United has a separate set of ropes for their highest elites is downright civilized and seems to me to be an industry best practice.

I know it has been discussed before, but it is particularly galling to have people who paid $89 for a US credit card pushing to come to the front. I spent $50k+ with US last year and would appreciate having 2 minutes to put my bags up without being run over.

What ever happened to having more than 4 boarding zones to bring some order this chaos?

What is it going to take to get some control over the boarding process? Is anyone from US listening?

Yes I am finding it more frequent and it is very frustrating. I don't push my way to the front of the crowd before boarding -- I shouldn't have to in FC, or even if in the back, as a CP.

But I cannot stand when they do waht you said -- they mention every possible category to cover 90% of the people on the flight. It happened to me a couple times this week alone.

What I don't understand is why they do this. Isn't it easier for a GA to deal with smaller groups at once, rather than mobs of people pushing to get through??

What is it going to take to get some control over the boarding process? Is anyone from US listening?

Have you reported it to US? there are some US employees who participate on this forum but none, that I know of, in an official capacity. This is a training issue, and my take on it is some GA's don't enforce the rules because they're less likely to get screamed at that way--- and I have seen GA's be shouted at when requesting someone to wait for their proper boarding zone.

But US can't fix it if they don't know it's broken. So, OP, if you've not reported it to US yet, I'd recommend you do so.

I really like the way UA boards as well. Premium Cabins/1K first, *G second, then their equivalent of silver, which in US's case would also include credit card members.

I would be happy if US would board this way and I would be very happy if there was also a dedicated lane for preferred and premium class passengers.

Caused by 2 issues - 1st at times there's no pause between FC and zone 1, and 2nd because people who are in zone 1 (which I guess also includes credit card holders :td:) crowd into the FC line and the GA doesn't say anything. I laugh sometimes when they do announce correctly FC only, 40 people line up, and they don't say anything. Even with the new math 40 people don't fit in 12 FC seats!!

It also bugs me that since ppl want to save $20 for baggage they bring 2 massive carry-ons and try to jam them into the overheads. Is it just me or does it create chaos in the aisles and make the boarding process take way longer then it should. Some people just don't get it.

If US cared about customer loyalty, there are many things it could do which could increase that loyalty without spending money, delaying departures or otherwsie making operations more difficult.

Charging for checked luggage has turned early boarding into a nightmare when GA don't enforce it. Becs. overhead space is more and more valuable, early boarding has a greater demand (if I had no carry-on which needed overhead storage I would board last!) Thus, people not entitled to some form of priority boarding rush the gate and GA under pressure for ontime departure, won't control it. Of course, the boarding disarray actually makes it take longer and flights are delayed anyway.

Solution is for all BP to be numbered from Zone 1 to Zone whatever. No special designations for F, GS, 1K (or whatever premium designations there are for the carrier). If the carrier wants F to board first, F boarding passes get a "1." Then, enforce, enforce and enforce. It will cause a bit of pain at first, but in the end more flights will leave on time and US will actually gain some customer loyalty.

if they waited longer between zones there would be less of a bull rush. it's hard to keep zone3, 4 or 5 folk from bombarding the path tho. just crank some ludacris: "move b****, get out the way"

It also bugs me that since ppl want to save $20 for baggage they bring 2 massive carry-ons and try to jam them into the overheads. Is it just me or does it create chaos in the aisles and make the boarding process take way longer then it should. Some people just don't get it.

We have had baggage issues well before we started charging for luggage. We may get a few more gate checked bags. People will take only what they can for free. So instead of having two 50lbs checked bags and 2 packed to the gills carryons they bring the 2 carryons. I can remember us having weight restrictions and having to remove passengers on certain flights just because we had 150 bags in the cargo bin and the overheads completely full with 10 or so gate checked bags. Now we have 30 bags in the cargo bin and maybe 10 to 15 gate checked bags.

Regardless of what an airline does the inexperienced traveler will always hold up boarding.

If US cared about customer loyalty, there are many things it could do which could increase that loyalty without spending money, delaying departures or otherwsie making operations more difficult.

Charging for checked luggage has turned early boarding into a nightmare when GA don't enforce it. Becs. overhead space is more and more valuable, early boarding has a greater demand (if I had no carry-on which needed overhead storage I would board last!) Thus, people not entitled to some form of priority boarding rush the gate and GA under pressure for ontime departure, won't control it. Of course, the boarding disarray actually makes it take longer and flights are delayed anyway.

Solution is for all BP to be numbered from Zone 1 to Zone whatever. No special designations for F, GS, 1K (or whatever premium designations there are for the carrier). If the carrier wants F to board first, F boarding passes get a "1." Then, enforce, enforce and enforce. It will cause a bit of pain at first, but in the end more flights will leave on time and US will actually gain some customer loyalty.

The Zone system is exactly like what you describe. Pre boarding for elderly and families with kids under 5 then Zone 1 is for F, CP, G, *G, some exit rows and bulkhead. Zone 2 is S, CC holders, and the other exit rows. Zone 3 is Web Check-in and Zones 4 and 5 are for everyone else. As dcpatti said it is up to the GA to make the correct announcement and enforce the policy.

A big problem that I have been seeing is elites and club members staying in the club until a few minutes before final call and then getting there at the last second and board with no space available. I had a CP rip me a new one two days ago because I didn't save him space. Like I know who you are and what your status is (BTW express doesn't get this info before the flight and rarely after the flight has closed). I try to hold the first two bins for the bulkhead but I can't hold it for the whole boarding since there are DYKWIA's elsewhere in the cabin.

I have also been on flights where the whole plane was Zone 1 and 2. It happens quite often out of DCA.

Coming back from Puerto Rico two weeks ago, this was compounded by large groups of old folks (cruise passengers) who feigned not understanding English to just come to the front of the line and board as they pleased.



I was one of those cruise ship passengers last Sunday. :D (I'm not old, though.)

I found SJU to be absolutely dreadful -- 6,000 cruise ship passengers all trying to get onto the afternoon flights with not enough seating capacity in the gate area -- and the lack of any form of priority boarding lane makes the experience that much more unbearable.

I LOVE CO's boarding procedure:

1) Active military traveling in uniform.
2) First Class/Business First
3) Elite Access
4) Special needs/families with children under 5.
5) Everyone else, from the back to the front.

There is a blue carpet on the left for Elite Access, and once Elite Access is called, you may board at your leisure. If you get to the gate while the masses are boarding, you can use the blue carpet and bypass the long line.

UA's boarding procedure works just fine if you are in F or a 1K. But for all other elites, it basically sucks.

4) Special needs/families with children under 5.


I think this one is what I'd like to see on US. These folks come first right now, and while I believe that's a nice courtesy, it does interject some confusion b/c the F PAX and elites are mostly on their feet, having arrived at the gate just moments before the cattle call, which leaves no place for them to stand but semi-adjacent the podium. Meanwhile all of the families and folks who need assistance are seated and need to make their way thru the jungle of elites. If they went ahead and called F and then elites, the standing room only crowd would be out of the way, and the people needing assistance could actually get to the gate without having to weave thru a jungle of humanity.

A red/blue carpet lane would help too b/c I'd be less worried about getting to the gate before Zone 2 was called, at which point all is lost as far as overhead space is concerned on most of my flights.

I think they should load up the wheelchair pax followed by boarding First Class, skipping the family & "special needs" preboarding nonsense. That would speed up the boarding process while giving First Class a chance to settle in first. Even WN makes the families wait until all the Group A pax have boarded the plane.

A big problem that I have been seeing is elites and club members staying in the club until a few minutes before final call and then getting there at the last second and board with no space available. I had a CP rip me a new one two days ago because I didn't save him space. Like I know who you are and what your status is (BTW express doesn't get this info before the flight and rarely after the flight has closed). I try to hold the first two bins for the bulkhead but I can't hold it for the whole boarding since there are DYKWIA's elsewhere in the cabin.

This isn't the BIG problem....

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just follow the zones and gives us a chance to get inline. That's the problem.

Seriously, you never know when they will announce FC, CP, etc or if it will be all at once. I spend in excess of $60K a year as well, and would like a bit of space just to check in and find a home on the aircraft.

US Air is just allowing EVERYONE is stand around near the gate and I literally need to elbow and fight my way to the gate when FC is called.

So Frustrating.

I LOVE CO's boarding procedure:

1) Active military traveling in uniform.
2) First class/Business first
3) Elite access
4) Special needs/families with children under 5.
5) Everyone else, from the back to the front.

There is a blue carpet on the left for Elite Access, and once Elite Access is called, you may board at your leisure. If you get to the gate while the masses are boarding, you can use the blue carpet and bypass the long line.



Combine 1 + 2 and this obviously is the smart way to board. Too bad there is seemingly no way to communicate this to US.

Combine 1 + 2 and this obviously is the smart way to board. Too bad there is seemingly no way to communicate this to US.

You forgot me. I am the old guy shuffling down the tunnel on a cane hugging the right side while you other passengers rush past.

We, the lame and infirm really do need the advaNCED TIME!


ralph

You forgot me. I am the old guy shuffling down the tunnel on a cane hugging the right side while you other passengers rush past.

We, the lame and infirm really do need the advaNCED TIME!


ralph

I don´t have any problem pre boarding you Ralph, or anyone else who needs extra time.........on one condition.......when we land, all those that needed extra time to board, can patiently wait in their seat until every else deplanes, and then take that same extra time to get off of the plan. does that seem reasonable??

+1 on the SJU gate lice comments. We were there last weekend and there were zone 5 people rushing to get ahead of us (2 CPs). Then there was the guy behind me asking us "are you going to go or not?" and they haven't even called zone 1 yet. So he passed right by us and proceeded aboard and into his seat back with the kettles.

You forgot me. I am the old guy shuffling down the tunnel on a cane hugging the right side while you other passengers rush past.

We, the lame and infirm really do need the advaNCED TIME!


ralph

No problem at all. The FC and elites are very efficient in getting into their seats so most of them can enjoy their drinks and power up their electronics while the door is still open. You will have nearly unimpeded access to the rest of the a/c before the kettles try to run you over!

You forgot me. I am the old guy shuffling down the tunnel on a cane hugging the right side while you other passengers rush past,

If that's happening, then you're not making the best use of that cane! :D

I don´t have any problem pre boarding you Ralph, or anyone else who needs extra time.........on one condition.......when we land, all those that needed extra time to board, can patiently wait in their seat until every else deplanes, and then take that same extra time to get off of the plan. does that seem reasonable??

I do just that. I am usually the last passenger off the plane. Just prior to the steward(ess).

ralph

No problem at all. The FC and elites are very efficient in getting into their seats so most of them can enjoy their drinks and power up their electronics while the door is still open. You will have nearly unimpeded access to the rest of the a/c before the kettles try to run you over!

I have one of those grey cards (with letters and numbers). Usually with a boarding pass/seat designated up front in the bird.

ralph

Why does US even bother with Zone numbers? Let's be honest, after FC and Elites, pretty much everybody boards whenever they want to. I'm currently SP and regularly see Zone 4 and 5 people board in front of me in line without even so much as a second glance by the GA. US has to want to fix the problem before it will ever be fixed (read: train the GA's to say "no" to someone that wants to board before their zone).

I asked a US employee to look it up to give the real answer, the boarding process for mainline (not express/not shuttle) is supposed to be:
Pre-Boarding
First Class
Zone 1 (includes all preferred except Silver)
Zone 2 (includes silver, credit card people, choice seats, exit rows)
Zone 3 (folks in back of plane)
Zone 4 (folks in back/middle of plane)
Zone 5 (folks in middle/front of plane)
Zone 6 (widebody only, folks in front of plane)
There is supposed to be a pause between each group

If agents are not boarding properly, we need to write to US to let them know...with specific flight/date/city info, so they can address the issue. Posting here on FlyerTalk doesn't help to truly get the situation remedied. I'm finding, out of PHX, this process is generally followed by the agents, and have seen several times when folks have been asked to step aside as their zone has not yet been called.

I almost got into an argument a couple of weeks ago at LGA. Boarding was not yet called for a Republic E175 flight to PIT. I walked down to gate 16 from the Club, with about 5 minutes to spare before they announced pre-boarding. I made my way towards the front of the mob of 60 or so people already in line, when some guy told me, "the line's back there." I politely told him that I'm a Chairman in Zone 1. He repeated, "the line is behind me." I chose to ignore his comment, and just played on my iPhone - I saw his boarding pass BTW - Zone 2 Silver. He proceeded to pick up his duffel bag, and move to stand in front of me. I asked him if he felt better, then boarded with Zone 1, and took my super extra leg room seat 2C. He was actually turned away by the GA for trying to board with Zone 1. Oh, he wanted to be in front of me so bad!! I was so pi**ed.

I do just that. I am usually the last passenger off the plane. Just prior to the steward(ess).

ralph

Fantastic. if everyone did as you do while boarding and exiting, we wouldn´t need to have this this thread.

I asked a US employee...

I'm finding, out of PHX, this process is generally followed by the agents, and have seen several times when folks have been asked to step aside as their zone has not yet been called.

First of all, thanks for posting all of that. I hope that attitude will work from PHX outward. I haven't ever seen anyone turned away from trying to board before their zone. Granted, most of my mainline flights are out of PHL, so I never expect too much there, but even at destinations, I don't think I've ever seen it happen.

Flying out of IPT, they regularly lump SP's (me) in with Zone 1. Granted, they only fly a few Dash 8's out of there everyday, but it makes me wonder how much mgmt tolerates.

Flying out of IPT, they regularly lump SP's (me) in with Zone 1. Granted, they only fly a few Dash 8's out of there everyday, but it makes me wonder how much mgmt tolerates.

I have had some Dash flights where they just say "Now boarding all zones," and forget about zone boarding altogether. :td: Usually since I am anticipating the call for Zone 1, I am ready to go, and end up as one of the first few pax to board. Early boarding on the Dash is not as important to me, because all of the rollaboards get left in the jetway or on the tarmac.

I don´t have any problem pre boarding you Ralph, or anyone else who needs extra time.........on one condition.......when we land, all those that needed extra time to board, can patiently wait in their seat until every else deplanes, and then take that same extra time to get off of the plan. does that seem reasonable??

Um...that's exactly what does happen. Are you kidding? I have never once seen a wheelchair or special needs pax deboarded before everyone else.

Fantastic. if everyone did as you do while boarding and exiting, we wouldn´t need to have this this thread.

I'm getting a whiff of DYKWIA. This thread is not about what people do while exiting the plane, it's about boarding practices. I'd really love to hear your travel stories of having to sit and wait while pax with special needs or wheelchairs are deboarded ahead of you. I have a feeling those stories won't come, because this truly never happens. Heaven forbid you ever get injured or aged enough to need special assistance, if yours is an example of the empathy levels out there.

I have a feeling those stories won't come, because this truly never happens.

The miracle healings? It's pretty much a standing joke going to S. Fla - 10 people need wheelchairs for boarding and 2 for deplaning.

Jim

The miracle healings? It's pretty much a standing joke going to S. Fla - 10 people need wheelchairs for boarding and 2 for deplaning.

Jim

I had an agent use the PA once. "If you came on in a wheelchair and had a miracle on the way here and can now walk off the plane please let me know at the podium so I know how many assistants I need to page" 20 came on and only 4 went off...

this isn't anything new, and just from my observations is, the GA wants the plane boarded ASAP to get that on time departure. I would hope that the airline would look at certain cities and board sooner then others. case in point, cruise cities, in which you have older flyer who might need more time to board.

I have also seen the dirt looks between GA and FA since the communication between them can be lets say troublesome at times.

BTW, all airlines have this problem, you should see the problems at MIA that AA has.


I'm a US CP and lately I've found it is getting increasingly difficult to board without running the gantlet.

It has been my recent experience that many gate agents now call First Class, CP, *G, US Silver and US DM credit card holders all at once. It creates an absolute stampede, particularly as those who don't know better and those who do crunch to the front to make sure they get to board early, too.

Coming back from Puerto Rico two weeks ago, this was compounded by large groups of old folks (cruise passengers) who feigned not understanding English to just come to the front of the line and board as they pleased.

Seems to me that FC and CP should board first - there should be a small pause to give a chance for us to board and get situated - then there should be some orderly progression down the pecking order. The way United has a separate set of ropes for their highest elites is downright civilized and seems to me to be an industry best practice.

I know it has been discussed before, but it is particularly galling to have people who paid $89 for a US credit card pushing to come to the front. I spent $50k+ with US last year and would appreciate having 2 minutes to put my bags up without being run over.

What ever happened to having more than 4 boarding zones to bring some order this chaos?

What is it going to take to get some control over the boarding process? Is anyone from US listening?

I'm getting a whiff of DYKWIA. This thread is not about what people do while exiting the plane, it's about boarding practices. I'd really love to hear your travel stories of having to sit and wait while pax with special needs or wheelchairs are deboarded ahead of you. I have a feeling those stories won't come, because this truly never happens. Heaven forbid you ever get injured or aged enough to need special assistance, if yours is an example of the empathy levels out there.

Read post 31...they only use the wheelchairs one way. that is why you don´t notice them

I post this almost evry time this thread re-invents itself, (and yes, I have written to US to suggest it). Why not board FC last? Keep all the FC OH bins closed to protect the space and let us come on at the very last. If there still isn't enough OH space, they already provide gate valet for FC anyway.

How nice would it be to walk right on, put your bags overhead and then depart the gate? Not to mention a few extra minutes to enjoy the club, have a sandwich, etc. Why wouldn't this work?

The miracle healings? It's pretty much a standing joke going to S. Fla - 10 people need wheelchairs for boarding and 2 for deplaning.

Jim

see this a lot....

this isn't anything new, and just from my observations is, the GA wants the plane boarded ASAP to get that on time departure. I would hope that the airline would look at certain cities and board sooner then others. case in point, cruise cities, in which you have older flyer who might need more time to board.

I have also seen the dirt looks between GA and FA since the communication between them can be lets say troublesome at times.

BTW, all airlines have this problem, you should see the problems at MIA that AA has.

MIA and SJU are both HORRIBLE.....

I post this almost evry time this thread re-invents itself, (and yes, I have written to US to suggest it). Why not board FC last? Keep all the FC OH bins closed to protect the space and let us come on at the very last. If there still isn't enough OH space, they already provide gate valet for FC anyway.

How nice would it be to walk right on, put your bags overhead and then depart the gate? Not to mention a few extra minutes to enjoy the club, have a sandwich, etc. Why wouldn't this work?

I like settling into my seat ASAP. Especially if there's a PDB.

I like this idea, but the problem i see is not everybody who flys FC has access into the club. Unless the airlines change the rules for club access. To something like, Those who pay for a FC ticket are allow access to the club day of departure. If the airlines do not allow this, then what good is it to stand around the gate being the last on board. But I also see this being maybe a quicker way to board the plane (unless its a 757,767,A321 or A330) once the FC pax are on board last, this might speed up PDB service so the FA is not getting in the way of the boarding paxs.

I post this almost evry time this thread re-invents itself, (and yes, I have written to US to suggest it). Why not board FC last? Keep all the FC OH bins closed to protect the space and let us come on at the very last. If there still isn't enough OH space, they already provide gate valet for FC anyway.

How nice would it be to walk right on, put your bags overhead and then depart the gate? Not to mention a few extra minutes to enjoy the club, have a sandwich, etc. Why wouldn't this work?

I post this almost evry time this thread re-invents itself, (and yes, I have written to US to suggest it). Why not board FC last? Keep all the FC OH bins closed to protect the space and let us come on at the very last. If there still isn't enough OH space, they already provide gate valet for FC anyway.



If US did this, their on time performance ranking would plummet from all of the time wasted kicking seat-poachers out of F.

Plus, if F pax boarded last, they would not have any time to enjoy their pre-flight beverages. :D

I post this almost evry time this thread re-invents itself, (and yes, I have written to US to suggest it). Why not board FC last? Keep all the FC OH bins closed to protect the space and let us come on at the very last. If there still isn't enough OH space, they already provide gate valet for FC anyway.

How nice would it be to walk right on, put your bags overhead and then depart the gate? Not to mention a few extra minutes to enjoy the club, have a sandwich, etc. Why wouldn't this work?

This is EXACTLY how OZ, TG, and LX boarded F pax when I took my award trip last summer. F pax were not expected to board the plane until every other passenger boarded first. We hung out in the lounges until we were called.

That said, this won't work well with US since, as FlightNurse notes, not all US F pax have lounge access.

I post this almost evry time this thread re-invents itself...Why not board FC last? ...Why wouldn't this work?

I have to say, I really like this idea in theory. I certainly don't ride in F all that much, but I would love to stay in the terminal (even if not in the Club) for a little while longer and not have to worry about overhead space. The flight attendant for F would have to make sure there were no overhead space poachers though.

I'm disappointed that we would think that we are so important that we need to be boarded in front of people with infants, toddlers and people with disabilities. Take a look at those people maneuvering their strollers, sippy cups, infant seats, wheelchairs, canes, and fussy toddlers and be thankful for your extra legroom and the gin and tonic 2 minutes later:rolleyes:.

That being said, it would be nice if the GA's asked those who were not in the zone currently boarding, to step away from the gate area. The gate lice swarm so tight and so fast, that I am unable to board for FC sometimes at all, I am behind them (while they ignore me) saying, excuse me, excuse me, are you FC, I need to board now. I don't like to hover at the gate, but prefer to sit down until they call FC, and should be able to, without running a gauntlet of gate lice. Hmm, wonder if I should write an email or something?

For most of my flights the GA's have boarded in this order:
Preboarding-FC-Zone1-2-3-etc unless they are behind in schedule at which point they seem to rush them all together.

I regard the gate lice issue as more serious than the lack of glassware. Can I get a +1 on this?

I regard the gate lice issue as more serious than the lack of glassware. Can I get a +1 on this?

+1

:D

I regard the gate lice issue as more serious than the lack of glassware. Can I get a +1 on this?

Amen. As mentioned before, I have no problem with a flight attendant being able to pour half a bottle of wine into my BIG PLASTIC CUP. I do however think it sucks to not be able to board FC when it's called because Zone 5 is already at the podium.

I've stated this many times: The issue is not the boarding sequence itself but rather the inconsistent boarding announcements and proceedures that follow. Even those of us who are on US flights all the time almost never find the process consistant.

IMO they should never make the "In a few moments we will begin boarding flight 1234 to ..." announcement. That doesn't help anyone and only gets half the plane up on their feet inching toward the gate. Start with "Only those passengers in wheelchairs or with infant children are now invited to board flight 1234 to..." Then follow with the EXACT same announcement for First Class. Then follow with the EXACT same announcement for Zone 1, then 2, and so forth.

And I might be in the minority but they should eliminate any mention of Silver, Gold, Plat, Chairmans, Star Gold, Star Silver etc etc etc. If I am a Preferred member I already know it. And I don't need a GA to make me feel good by thanking me at the time of boarding. My Preferred status is on my BP along with the correct boarding zone number. The only thing the always-inconsistent mentioning of Preferred (blah blah blah blah) does is confuse those who are NOT Preferred and get them up and moving to clog the gate area.

Most of the times when I see gate area chaos, it's started by the elites. The guy who's starting his own line by plopping his carry-on bags, newspaper and coat in the middle of the floor, right outside the door, the minute the inbound craft lands, well, he's usually an elite. Then two or three more come line up behind him, and because nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd, half the boarding area follows suit. And that guy who was so hell-bent on being first in line is the last one who will get out of the way for the wheelchair lady and her oxygen tank.

I'm not saying the casual traveler is never part of the problem, or that a stronger enforcement of boarding zones by the GA is not needed, only that the Elites contribute heavily to this problem too. This means YOU, Missy 1F from my LGA-DCA the other day. Going behind the podium to beat everyone to the door only gives the signal to the less experienced that, hey, we have two lines now! :td:

Most of the times when I see gate area chaos, it's started by the elites. The guy who's starting his own line by plopping his carry-on bags, newspaper and coat in the middle of the floor, right outside the door, the minute the inbound craft lands, well, he's usually an elite. Then two or three more come line up behind him, and because nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd, half the boarding area follows suit. And that guy who was so hell-bent on being first in line is the last one who will get out of the way for the wheelchair lady and her oxygen tank.

I'm not saying the casual traveler is never part of the problem, or that a stronger enforcement of boarding zones by the GA is not needed, only that the Elites contribute heavily to this problem too. This means YOU, Missy 1F from my LGA-DCA the other day. Going behind the podium to beat everyone to the door only gives the signal to the less experienced that, hey, we have two lines now! :td:

I don't think the Elites are the root cause of the chaos. Yes they will get up into "boarding position" when they announce the initial extra assistance boarding, but that makes sense if you're in FC and know you're next to board. But on a domestic flight there are at most 16 of those people. And they usually board pretty efficiently.

IMHO the root cause is a) the hoards with zone 1 from a credit card who don't know the difference between FC and zone 1 and b) the other zone nervous hoards who are in mortal fear of not having overhead space for their bags. They sort of mill and semi-line up and then of course, as you know, once a line forms everyone must get in it chop chop.

And it is something that could easily be fixed with some simple consistency in announcing. I disagree with the poster who said discontinue the "will board soon" announcement but the format of that announcement tell people the order: pre-boarding (and note its purpose), first class only (and note this doesn't mean zone 1), and then zones. Sometimes you get a GA who does this and the improvement when they do is obvious.

"Start with "Only those passengers in wheelchairs or with infant children are now invited to board flight 1234 to..."

Wheelchairs don't determine who has a disability.

I don;t think there's a single root cause but I do think when those 16 F passengers form a big ol' line at the boarding door, everyone else follows. They figure "if everyone's getting in line, then something must be ready to happen, and I don't want to miss it!"

By the time you've got half the boarding area on their feet, the damage is done. 2 GA's won't be able to get 75 people to sit back down.

Credit card holders get Zone 2, not Zone 1, but the sheer number of them does not make things easier.

This means YOU, Missy 1F from my LGA-DCA the other day. Going behind the podium to beat everyone to the door only gives the signal to the less experienced that, hey, we have two lines now! :td:

Seriously?! Behind the podium?!

Disappointing.

"Start with "Only those passengers in wheelchairs or with infant children are now invited to board flight 1234 to..."

Wheelchairs don't determine who has a disability.

I wish more people would realize this. My girlfriend could easily qualify for a preboard, but she has no obvious, visible disability and she very quickly got tired of stares, jeers, and even a couple jerks that flat out asked her "where her disability was." As a result, unless she has been traveling a lot in a short period of time, she never seeks to preboard anymore.

Seriously?! Behind the podium?!

Disappointing.

Yep and it causes big problems because people just follow the crowd. I was boarding at MCO a few weeks ago and, due to a mix of language barrier and massive gate lice knot in front of the door, a family with 2 or 3 very little kids and a tiny old lady (who I think really did need to pre-board, one strong breeze and Gramma would have flown halfway across the terminal) went behind the podium. I guess they thought it was the logical place to go, seeing as how you couldn't get through the linebackers clogging the gate area. Anyway, the GA tried to redirect the family but the language barrier prevented that, and all the other pre-boarders streamed into this newly created line. Then some of the other passengers started trying to line up there, and there were two full-on lines and one GA to try and sort out the whole thing.

The LGA 1F lady was just being a Me Me Gimme Mine. She was also flashing her boarding pass (Gold) so she knows the routine but chose not to follow it. And people will follow wherever the line goes. If you line 'em all up and march them past Auntie Annies and down to another gate before coming back to board, they'll follow, just because people want to guard their space in line, not let anyone else in, etc etc.

So if the elites are assuming the "boarding position" it's no surprise that others follow. And if anyone (elite or otherwise) is blocking the logical path to the door, pre-boarders will find an alternate route and we end up with a mess.

I think US should have a separate priority line for boarding (like UA) where the FC pax can line up to board without getting in the way. This way the F pax can board and the riff raff aren't clogging the line.

The problem is all the people who hang out around the door; you never know whether they are Zone 19 and just waiting to be called or whether they are actually in line. Lots of people are able to keep it ambiguous so you have to ask or the people just pile. Second is that gate agents rarely call anyone out if they board out of order. Case in point, a couple of Zone 4's boarded with Zone 1's the other day. They were old and could have boarded with people requiring extra assistance but, I'm sorry, if you didn't take the opportunity, you miss it. Lastly, people just don't want to call each other now; people get incredibly upset or defensive if you tell them they aren't doing something right. I asked, politely, a couple of guys whether they were in line or just hanging out by the door and they got all pissy with me. So then, the next time, when someone was in the First Class priority line in front of me, and was not supposed to be there, I just didn't bother mentioning it.

I'm disappointed that we would think that we are so important that we need to be boarded in front of people with infants, toddlers and people with disabilities. Take a look at those people maneuvering their strollers, sippy cups, infant seats, wheelchairs, canes, and fussy toddlers and be thankful for your extra legroom and the gin and tonic 2 minutes later:rolleyes:.


I agree 50% and disagree 50%.

People with disabilities should certainly board before F pax because people with disabilities should be expected to stand for the least amount of time at the gate. Even if a disabled person is in a wheelchair, he will have to be escorted to his seat -- and the faster he can do that, the better for him.

However, families with small kids are not "handicapped" in any way and I don't understand why they should be given the privilege of boarding before F; the parents of these kids chose to have children, including all the little inconveniences those kids can bring. No need to board the kids before F pax, although boarding kids immediately after F to speed up the Y boarding process makes perfect sense.

I hate when I'm upgraded to row 1 of F and people in othe other rows have to jump ahead of me and put their stuff in the overhead just above my seat. Seems like every time, someone in row 2 has to jump ahead of me, put their stuff above me, and then I have to put my backpack (no underseat for row 1) further back.

Almost as if there should be a separate zone for row 1 of F.

However, families with small kids are not "handicapped" in any way and I don't understand why they should be given the privilege of boarding before F; the parents of these kids chose to have children, including all the little inconveniences those kids can bring. No need to board the kids before F pax, although boarding kids immediately after F to speed up the Y boarding process makes perfect sense.

^

I agree that family pre-boarding is getting out of hand, especially when it applies to groups with kids as old as 5! It's annoying having to stand near them in line while they're whining and coughing all over the place.

Wheelchair passengers don't cause any delays because they are usually preboarded before the T-30 min mark.

Those of you saying that families with small children do not need extra time to board have obviously forgotten what it's like to be a parent traveling with one or more infants or toddlers. Having that extra time can mean the time you need to secure safety seats or CARES correctly, set up supplies for the flight, bottle feed, pump breastmilk or nurse your child. Most importantly you have a chance to tell the kids about the plane in a calm way before it is full of people shoving pushing and being loud. A better boarding experience for them means a better experience for the rest of the passengers. I really feel sad reading this thread.

Those of you saying that families with small children do not need extra time to board have obviously forgotten what it's like to be a parent traveling with one or more infants or toddlers. Having that extra time can mean the time you need to secure safety seats or CARES correctly, set up supplies for the flight, bottle feed, pump breastmilk or nurse your child. Most importantly you have a chance to tell the kids about the plane in a calm way before it is full of people shoving pushing and being loud. A better boarding experience for them means a better experience for the rest of the passengers. I really feel sad reading this thread.

I fully agree. If those that are complaining are in the FC cabin then they won't have to wait or be bothered by families anyway. PreBoarding any disability and families gives the F/A's time to go over procedures and rules with them. Many new parents don't know what car seats are approved and which arent (its up to us to check too), how many people can be on each side of the plane, do they need anything to make bottles, where the changing tables are. Finding out what passenger with disabilities need and explaining where the exits are and how to use the emergency equipment.
Those little things that go a long way to making all passengers experience better. I have two under five and its a whole lot easier on everyone when we preboard.

I hate when I'm upgraded to row 1 of F and people in othe other rows have to jump ahead of me and put their stuff in the overhead just above my seat. Seems like every time, someone in row 2 has to jump ahead of me, put their stuff above me, and then I have to put my backpack (no underseat for row 1) further back.

Almost as if there should be a separate zone for row 1 of F.

Amen. What bothers me even more is when the FA's have taken the bin over row 1 for their luggage!

Having a separate elite lane, as CO, UA, and DL do, really does not fix the problem of the masses that crowd the boarding area, you still have to fight through the masses to get to the blue or red carpet.

As unpopular as this is among most legacy elite flyers, Southwest has things right in this regard, they assign an exact boarding position, and while there are some complaints it's not as rigidly enforced as it should be, in my experience it's pretty well enforced and it makes the boarding process is much more orderly than that used by any other airline I've been on.

US needs a carpet/lane like AA, CO, DL and UA have really badly.

It's probably not worth starting a new thread, but the latest issue of the employee newsletter says that US will start selling exit row seats at check-in. Implementation date is forecast to be August. It doesn't say but I hope that this isn't like the choice seats where even elites have to pay unless computer assigned to them.

Jim

Maybe not in MCI but here in PHX it is. The GA well send you away if you are trying to board out of order. I like how WN does theirs too, I just wish people could read and listen to simple instruction, that would make boarding much quicker.

Having a separate elite lane, as CO, UA, and DL do, really does not fix the problem of the masses that crowd the boarding area, you still have to fight through the masses to get to the blue or red carpet.

As unpopular as this is among most legacy elite flyers, Southwest has things right in this regard, they assign an exact boarding position, and while there are some complaints it's not as rigidly enforced as it should be, in my experience it's pretty well enforced and it makes the boarding process is much more orderly than that used by any other airline I've been on.

Those of you saying that families with small children do not need extra time to board have obviously forgotten what it's like to be a parent traveling with one or more infants or toddlers. Having that extra time can mean the time you need to secure safety seats or CARES correctly, set up supplies for the flight, bottle feed, pump breastmilk or nurse your child. Most importantly you have a chance to tell the kids about the plane in a calm way before it is full of people shoving pushing and being loud. A better boarding experience for them means a better experience for the rest of the passengers. I really feel sad reading this thread.

Sorry you feel so sad, but you should re-read what I wrote. I agree that small kids need more time. That's why I wrote that families with small kids should certainly board before the rest of the Y pax do -- but not before F.

It's probably not worth starting a new thread, but the latest issue of the employee newsletter says that US will start selling exit row seats at check-in. Implementation date is forecast to be August. It doesn't say but I hope that this isn't like the choice seats where even elites have to pay unless computer assigned to them.

Jim

That would be awful if we can't reserve. One of the few perks left

That would be awful if we can't reserve. One of the few perks left

If I can´t reserve exit rows, as diluted they are now with all the free silvers, I will be seriously checkin´ out AA´s status match.

That would be awful if we can't reserve. One of the few perks left

My guess is that US will not be taking exit rows away from Preferreds. Rather, US will likely not allow non-Preferreds to book within 24 hours of departure anymore. US will then sell any open exit-row seats at the gate, similarly to how US sells open F seats at the gate.

If this is the new plan, it benefits Preferreds who Move Up or make last minute flight plans.

It's never made sense to me that they board families with children at the same time they board the disabled. I've seen some folks with disabilities hit and knocked over by out of control kids running down the jetway.

This is the blurb that announced it:

Sale of exit rows - Selling exit seats at check-in time will add over $10M to ancillary revenues. (August)

I don't know why they would want to limit booking to at least 24 hours before departure for anyone - it basically would eliminate day of departure purchase - unless you mean seat selection. Are Choice seats available to be purchased through OLCI or earlier? If so I assume that exit row seats would be available for purchase anytime within 24 hours of departure if OLCI is used.

Jim

This is the blurb that announced it:

Sale of exit rows - Selling exit seats at check-in time will add over $10M to ancillary revenues. (August)

...
Jim

I haven't considered all of the angles yet but this could be a good thing. I usually book two exit row seats. Then hopefully we get upgraded at the window and release these exit row seats for someone to buy. win-win-win. CP wins with an upgrade; Coach person wins with an exit seat; US wins with additional cash.

I haven't considered all of the angles yet but this could be a good thing. I usually book two exit row seats. Then hopefully we get upgraded at the window and release these exit row seats for someone to buy. win-win-win. CP wins with an upgrade; Coach person wins with an exit seat; US wins with additional cash.

Agreed, as long as US does not restrict elites from booking these in advance with no charge, this isn't a really bad thing. Also I'd imagine a non-elite who paid an upcharge for an exit row would be happier than one who paid an upcharge for a choice seat, since there's really not anything special about the choice seats. However, the exit row on the 319 will be a bad experience for some; imagine paying extra for Row 10 aisle, thinking it would have extra leg-room as an exit row. At least the choice seat marketing is a little more clear to explain there's no extra leg room there.

If I can´t reserve exit rows, as diluted they are now with all the free silvers, I will be seriously checkin´ out AA´s status match.

Same here, but it will be United for me if I can't reserve exit row. As SP, exit row selection is one of my big perks, as I rarely get upgraded.

Same here, but it will be United for me if I can't reserve exit row. As SP, exit row selection is one of my big perks, as I rarely get upgraded.

Remember, exit row guarantee was supposedly the softener to the blow all the preferreds took when they enacted the "Choice seat" program.

It's never made sense to me that they board families with children at the same time they board the disabled. I've seen some folks with disabilities hit and knocked over by out of control kids running down the jetway.

For the first time I did see them separate the two groups. PHL-RSW last week, at least 6 persons in WC and dozens of strollers all crowded around the boarding area for 20 min prior to the incoming flight even arrived. Deplaning passengers had to maneuver a serious gauntlet of wheeled devices along with the usual elite and overanxious gate lice.

They smartly boarded the WC group first, then others needing extra time. Between the snow birds and their families going to visit granny and grandpa, the boarding area was about clear when FC was finally called.

Saw another first returning RSW-CLT yesterday. Incoming was 25 min late. Ground staff was determined to get everyone to their CLT connections. ^ They announced "the moment the last person deplanes we'll begin boarding row 21 and higher." No pre-board, no FC. Next announcement was row 21 and higher and FC. Not sure what they did after I was on but the hustling by the ground crew and FA's was impressive. As mine was the tightest connection in CLT, and me and my checked golf clubs made it all the way home, I'm happy the staff at RSW was creative. While the zones are supposed to work better than back-to-front, I think it was the (rarely seen) hustle that saved the day.

Excellent.

Glad to see you and your golf clubs arrive home safely! ;-)

While the zones are supposed to work better than back-to-front, I think it was the (rarely seen) hustle that saved the day.

From the study by the professor that came up with the zone boarding, it works best when followed completely - basically back to front with window before aisle. So you'd board the last couple of rows and window seats a few rows in front of those, and that pattern would continue all the way to the front.

By giving so many coach passengers zone 2 boarding, US gives up a lot of the efficiency that zone boarding is supposed to provide.

Jim

I have seen several threads like this on different program forums and I have yet to see this suggestion. So here goes...

US definately needs the two lane system... but

Why not have the scanner programmed to enforce the boarding order? It could be in open mode to allow the preboarding, then set to accept only the Zones announced. The GA could advance the zone to the next with a button or key push. No beep -- no board.

Pavlov works. Thoughts?

I have seen several threads like this on different program forums and I have yet to see this suggestion. So here goes...

US definately needs the two lane system... but

Why not have the scanner programmed to enforce the boarding order? It could be in open mode to allow the preboarding, then set to accept only the Zones announced. The GA could advance the zone to the next with a button or key push. No beep -- no board.

Pavlov works. Thoughts?

I think this is worth a try. It takes the "challenge the passenger" away from the GA and puts it on the electronics, which is a good thing.

...No beep -- no board.

I like it! "No Beep, No Board" makes a catchy boarding slogan too :)

I have seen several threads like this on different program forums and I have yet to see this suggestion. So here goes...

US definately needs the two lane system... but

Why not have the scanner programmed to enforce the boarding order? It could be in open mode to allow the preboarding, then set to accept only the Zones announced. The GA could advance the zone to the next with a button or key push. No beep -- no board.

Pavlov works. Thoughts?

i thought about this too, and also why it wasn't already programmed like this.

then i realized that every US flight would be late departing due to idiots on EVERY flight never following the rules or code of conduct/ethics/moral

i thought about this too, and also why it wasn't already programmed like this.

then i realized that every US flight would be late departing due to idiots on EVERY flight never following the rules or code of conduct/ethics/moral

There definitely needs to be a bit more public embarassment of people who do not follow the procedure.

I flew a long trip on United recently, and I may be changing my thoughts on boarding lanes or carpets. I used to see them as bragging a little: I really don't like standing in a special area with a special red carpet treatment for all others to see that "look at me, I'm in first class, suckers!" I don't think I'm better than others for sitting in First, or being CP, whatever, so I don't want to draw that extra attention. I liked being able to sit in my seat until my area was called then walk right onto the plane.

But the idea hit me, two lines, one for odd zones, and one for even zones. Then, don't name the zones, just call them by their number. First class and Star Gold is always Zone 1. Star Silver, credit cards, and people in the very back of the plane are always Zone 2. Then middle of plane and front window seats are Zone 3, and front of coach is Zone 4.

Zone 1 people can get in the odd line whenever they feel like it. And here's the trick: so can Zone 2 people in the even line. As long as they get in their right line, they won't block the people who are intended to board ahead of them. The ticket reader could be placed between the two lines, so when the first line is loading, no one from the second line is loading. When the first line is finished, start the second line, and reload the first with the next higher zone.

When Zone 1 is finished loading, Zone 3 people can get in the odd line, where they will be held up until the Zone 2 people in the even line are fully served. Again, when the Zone 2 people are done, Zone 3 people start, and Zone 4 people can start queuing in the even line.

Latecomers get in the line they were intended to, even or odd.

I think this system could work. It would spare modest people some embarassment, it would prevent inflating the egos of DYKWIA's, it would keep the lines from blocking people who should be boarding prior, and it wouldn't take up a whole lot of space.

Any thoughts?

I like the idea, but how would you keep say, Zone 5 from trying to board with Zone 1? They'd both be in the "odd" line and crossover could still happen. You'd still run into the issue of the GA having to call someone out, which I have never seen happen.

SAT is the only location that I know of where the boarding process is consistently excellent:

F is very first to board with boarding beginning 35 minutes prior to departure, not the typical 30. Then there is a delay and the folks needing "extra time" to board are called followed by the rest of zones 1-5. This gives the FA's enough time to serve drinks and allows F passengers to store luggage...a nice process.

If only the rest of the US locations followed that protocol.....


I like the idea, but how would you keep say, Zone 5 from trying to board with Zone 1? They'd both be in the "odd" line and crossover could still happen. You'd still run into the issue of the GA having to call someone out, which I have never seen happen.

I agree with ProudDad4A (prior poster) that having the boarding pass reader check the boarding zone will cut down on some of the "mob scene" now prevalent at USAIR boarding gates. Of course some of the time the reader isn't working properly but then the gate attendant can deal with it. Telling a few people get the "gong" from the boarding pass reader and then told that it isn't their turn to board with certainly serve as an influence to others further back who may be thinking about cutting into the line. Yes it will make the GA more involved in the process and in the eyes of the offending party as the source of their problem but hey something needs to be done if a boarding zone policy is to be truly used and to eliminate the mob scene at the gate.

SAS

I like the idea, but how would you keep say, Zone 5 from trying to board with Zone 1? They'd both be in the "odd" line and crossover could still happen. You'd still run into the issue of the GA having to call someone out, which I have never seen happen.

I think it would be easier "morally" to call out someone who was so very obviously jumping the gun as to try to board 4 zones ahead of when you were called. Yes, this will still require some Gate Agent gumption, but I think significantly less so than is currently required. We're not telling Zone 2 types to go back and wait until the end of Zone 1. We're telling people that are now 4 zones too early.

It all depends on the city.

When I was flying PHX-STL-PHX the GA's in STL really didn't enforce the zones that much, after zone 2.

PHX all depends on what is happening, if the flight is running late, again after zone 2 its lets get'r on board and close the door.

SAN they aer VERY strick on boarding order, which I like.

I have observed in other cities while waiting for my flights that some GA just will not work with the FA's as well as FA's not willing to work with the GA's. But work dynamics is a wonderfully frustrating issue. I don't think there is a once quick fix for it.

I have seen several threads like this on different program forums and I have yet to see this suggestion. So here goes...

US definately needs the two lane system... but

Why not have the scanner programmed to enforce the boarding order? It could be in open mode to allow the preboarding, then set to accept only the Zones announced. The GA could advance the zone to the next with a button or key push. No beep -- no board.

Pavlov works. Thoughts?

WN GA's do this in PHX, I get a good laugh at it, but coming from a customer service stand point, "calling" people on thier behavior doesn't always work, the people who do this do for a reason. I could see someone writing to WN or US and say, I was publically embarressed by your GA in PHX. I miss heard what he said. They make the airlines look bad and of course the airlines do not what to make waves, and will reward this behavior with flight Certificates.

In todays market, its all about the customer and thier preceptions....

I think it would be easier "morally" to call out someone who was so very obviously jumping the gun as to try to board 4 zones ahead of when you were called. Yes, this will still require some Gate Agent gumption, but I think significantly less so than is currently required. We're not telling Zone 2 types to go back and wait until the end of Zone 1. We're telling people that are now 4 zones too early.

WN GA's do this in PHX, I get a good laugh at it, but coming from a customer service stand point, "calling" people on thier behavior doesn't always work, the people who do this do for a reason. I could see someone writing to WN or US and say, I was publically embarressed by your GA in PHX. I miss heard what he said. They make the airlines look bad and of course the airlines do not what to make waves, and will reward this behavior with flight Certificates.

In todays market, its all about the customer and thier preceptions....

I didn't say humiliate the guy... :) (Though some people certainly may deserve it.) But GA's have to turn away people who are boarding out of turn. Remind them that they are cutting in line when they board out of turn. Americans have an instinct to not cut in lines that needs to be exploited.

I have certainly seen from time to time (I think even on US once) a GA say "I'm sorry, your zone has not been called. Please step to the side for a minute until your zone is called."

I have also noticed that if you're particularly funny about it as opposed to insulting, people are willing to endure a bit of mild embarassment. Coming back through customs last week, a jolly woman with attitude told people waiting in line that this line was "all about me, and all about you making me happy, and what would make me happy right now is everyone leaving their cell phones, ipods, iphones, pagers, etc. in your pockets. Like the sign says. Again, it's all about me." Then when people inevitably pulled out their phones (I mean, seriously, who can go 3 minutes without checking his iPhone?), she called them out in a sing-song voice "you sir, are not making me happy! Put that phone away." People laughed, the perpertrators had a mild rebuke, but no one got angry.

F is very first to board with boarding beginning 35 minutes prior to departure, not the typical 30.

I don't know about the West side, but East FA's have boarding 30 prior to departure time in their contract (widebodies are different). I have no idea what will be in the joint contract whenever it's finished.

Jim

I don't know about the West side, but East FA's have boarding 30 prior to departure time in their contract (widebodies are different). I have no idea what will be in the joint contract whenever it's finished.

Jim

2025.....right after the pilot´s deal

Maybe I missed it in this long thread, but if US would have the boarding pass scanner beep with "wrong zone" folks, what about a 5 who is in the same party as a 2? The 5 gets to board with the 2, so that might be a mess, yes? The GAs always announce that if you are traveling in a party that all in that party can board with the lowest number zone.

Just sayin'.

If they are not on the same PNR then they board with thier own zone.


Maybe I missed it in this long thread, but if US would have the boarding pass scanner beep with "wrong zone" folks, what about a 5 who is in the same party as a 2? The 5 gets to board with the 2, so that might be a mess, yes? The GAs always announce that if you are traveling in a party that all in that party can board with the lowest number zone.

Just sayin'.

As a chairman, I admit that I would HATE to not be able to grant my family the access to the boarding line at the same time I take advantage of it. Often, I'm travelling for work, while they're coming along with me for pleasure, so different PNRs.

I like the idea of military getting primary access, followed by row 1 FC, followed by FC, specials (extra help/children under 5), and then the remainder. I think this would help with the stampede.

I will say..boarding and security checkpoints are my two moments of angst when traveling. I am a CP.

I am also elite on CO.

There is such a remarked difference in the boarding on CO it's truly a moment of zen when i travel on CO.

First of all a couple must haves, points, suggestions...

FC and elites prior to anyone else makes complete sense. We are very familiar with the boarding process and get on quick and without feeling bad about saying this, if I take 120+ segments and/or 100k miles....I feel like I've paid my dues and believe I should get the opportunity to make my airport experience better.

When you board the extra time/assistance....unfortunately everyone tries to board and the other pax seeing the start of a line feel like they have to get in it.

We do need a a separate carpet, boarding lane period. I don't feel like I need to elaborate and for those who say it doesn't work, it is simply better than not having it plain and simple.

When a GA announces we will now board our FC...then 10 seconds later says we will now board.....? Why note clearly state you are boarding only first class...then instead of zone one, say if your boarding pass does not have chairmans, platinum, gold etc...please step aside....

sorry for my semi rant...but I'm sick and tired of dealing with this


why is it when I fly CO, it is such a good experience....


A while back someone on a board said US was considering or close to elite boarding lanes... please do this...

Last thing, I truly realize that certain people DO need extra time and assistance. I am so tired of people who are just OLD jumping in on that parade. You walked form downstairs at the ticket counter to the gate.......? Really? A family of 4 with 2 15 year olds gets to board early? why?

And employees....Management....apparently you have no idea what we go through at the gate....

The only real benefit to boarding priority is overhead space. If carriers dealt with the 3-carryon pax, the guy with the roller board which can through a feat of engineering be wedged into the overhead sideways and the like, I would be thrilled to be the last person to board. But, since they haven't dealt with the problem and have made both the TSA checkpoint and boarding by increasing the incentive to overstuff carryon's by charging checked bag fees, we are where we are.

Boarding priority can be enforced and it works on carriers which do enforce it. It only takes one person being turned away at the gate for the others seeking to game the system to realize it won't work for them.

The only real benefit to boarding priority is overhead space. If carriers dealt with the 3-carryon pax, the guy with the roller board which can through a feat of engineering be wedged into the overhead sideways and the like, I would be thrilled to be the last person to board. But, since they haven't dealt with the problem and have made both the TSA checkpoint and boarding by increasing the incentive to overstuff carryon's by charging checked bag fees, we are where we are.

Boarding priority can be enforced and it works on carriers which do enforce it. It only takes one person being turned away at the gate for the others seeking to game the system to realize it won't work for them.

^^^^^^^

Enforcing the carry on rules IS the solution

As a chairman, I admit that I would HATE to not be able to grant my family the access to the boarding line at the same time I take advantage of it. Often, I'm travelling for work, while they're coming along with me for pleasure, so different PNRs.

I like the idea of military getting primary access, followed by row 1 FC, followed by FC, specials (extra help/children under 5), and then the remainder. I think this would help with the stampede.

I don't see why military should get primary access. I flew Continental the other day and preferred the way boarding was done: elites first, people needing extra time (actually someone who needed a lot of extra time went before everyone), then according to row or zone.

Last thing, I truly realize that certain people DO need extra time and assistance. I am so tired of people who are just OLD jumping in on that parade. You walked form downstairs at the ticket counter to the gate.......? Really? A family of 4 with 2 15 year olds gets to board early? why?

And employees....Management....apparently you have no idea what we go through at the gate....

Yes, CO was a dream.

Yes, if you notice the families that need extra time, it's usually because mom and dad are using their kids as a proxy for getting around the two carry-on bag rule.

Maybe I missed it in this long thread, but if US would have the boarding pass scanner beep with "wrong zone" folks, what about a 5 who is in the same party as a 2? The 5 gets to board with the 2, so that might be a mess, yes? The GAs always announce that if you are traveling in a party that all in that party can board with the lowest number zone.

Just sayin'.

I like this idea. It takes some of the burden off gate agents and makes it a bit easier for them to turn folks away.

The only real benefit to boarding priority is overhead space.

And preventing your seat from being poached.

To the solution I would add faster, more reliable checked baggage claim. As an elite there are times when I would prefer to check a bag if it didn't take so long to retrieve it on the other end. This would at least free up a bit of OH space and take some burden off stuffing one's IATA regulation carry-on with a week's worth of clothes.

And speaking of CO...I had a jaw-dropping experience traveling w/ a colleague based in NYC who dropped his tiny carry-on at the CO ticket desk and strolled casually through the blue carpeted priority lanes with just his laptop in hand. :eek: Security can be A LOT more pleasant without bags/coats/liquids/etc.

When queried as to his bizarre behavior, he said "why would I want to carry my bag on the plane if I can just pick it up a baggage claim? It's always there before I am." Shocking. :eek:

To the solution I would add faster, more reliable checked baggage claim. As an elite there are times when I would prefer to check a bag if it didn't take so long to retrieve it on the other end. This would at least free up a bit of OH space and take some burden off stuffing one's IATA regulation carry-on with a week's worth of clothes.

When queried as to his bizarre behavior, he said "why would I want to carry my bag on the plane if I can just pick it up a baggage claim? It's always there before I am." Shocking. :eek:

I would love to check baggage if it arrived at claim before I did! The ONE time I checked my bag I regretted it. Apparently, if there is any lightning at all bags cannot be offloaded for 30 minutes. My plane touched down at 1140PM or so in a storm, due to the intermittent lightning USAir did not unload bags until almost 3AM. All shops/restaurants etc in the airport were closed down and I ended up sleeping on the concrete floor with my USAir inflatable pillow and blankie, no lounge. USAir refused to deliver to my hotel, because of course weather is not their fault. The most amusing thing was that every other airline was still offloading luggage. Since I had to be at work at 730AM wearing the clothes in my bag I didn't have much choice but to wait. Had I carried my bag on I would have been asleep, in my hotel just after midnight instead of getting three hours of sleep.

I don't mind checking on the way home, but no way am I checking the clothes and toiletries I depend on to be at work the next morning at 730.

I hate when I'm upgraded to row 1 of F and people in othe other rows have to jump ahead of me and put their stuff in the overhead just above my seat.

Ah yes, one of my pet peeves. Every time I get an email notice of an upgrade I can't get to a browser fast enough, I'm almost always dropped into row 1 and I've learned that I never seem to get luggage space. I always go for 4A, which might not recline as much but I always get space, even if I have to go back a row into coach, it's not far away.

My other major peeve is when some guy jams his luggage in the FC overheads and then heading back to his seat at 32B.

Years ago I boarded in FC and someone had done that for the 100th time - taking the last space in the FC overheads and then heading to the back of the plane. I pulled their luggage down and put it on the floor and put mine above my seat.

After a little while everyone had found their seats and the overheads were all jammed and his bag was still sitting on the floor. The FA came up, looked at it and said to everyone in FC, "who's bag is this?". Everyone in FC just stared blankly at her. She just sort of shrugged, picked it up and handed it to a GA who took it away. Don't know where it went after that.

Sure, it was a total jerk move on my part and I'd never do it again, but half the people in FC winked or smiled at me after she took the bag off the plane, one even said "I always wanted to do that but never dared..."

Ah yes, one of my pet peeves. Every time I get an email notice of an upgrade I can't get to a browser fast enough, I'm almost always dropped into row 1 and I've learned that I never seem to get luggage space. I always go for 4A, which might not recline as much but I always get space, even if I have to go back a row into coach, it's not far away.

My other major peeve is when some guy jams his luggage in the FC overheads and then heading back to his seat at 32B.

Years ago I boarded in FC and someone had done that for the 100th time - taking the last space in the FC overheads and then heading to the back of the plane. I pulled their luggage down and put it on the floor and put mine above my seat.

After a little while everyone had found their seats and the overheads were all jammed and his bag was still sitting on the floor. The FA came up, looked at it and said to everyone in FC, "who's bag is this?". Everyone in FC just stared blankly at her. She just sort of shrugged, picked it up and handed it to a GA who took it away. Don't know where it went after that.

Sure, it was a total jerk move on my part and I'd never do it again, but half the people in FC winked or smiled at me after she took the bag off the plane, one even said "I always wanted to do that but never dared..."

My only question is............why wouldn´t you do it again:D

My only question is............why wouldn´t you do it again:D

Just make sure it's not the FA's bag. They get REALLY upset when you do that :D

She just sort of shrugged, picked it up and handed it to a GA who took it away. Don't know where it went after that.

LOL, well at my gates, when a GA hands me a bag, it gets tagged to baggage claim at the next destination of that aircraft.

All new step in ridiculous boarding for US. Just boarded in PBI for full flight. GA call pre board for those traveling with children, needing extra time, first class, and all those in zone 1. They need to get a grip.

Should have added...not consecutively, but all those groups at the same time. Felt bad for the people needing assistance who got trampled.

All new step in ridiculous boarding for US. Just boarded in PBI for full flight. GA call pre board for those traveling with children, needing extra time, first class, and all those in zone 1. They need to get a grip.

Should have added...not consecutively, but all those groups at the same time. Felt bad for the people needing assistance who got trampled.

That's not a new step, it's the agent not doing their job right.

All new step in ridiculous boarding for US. Just boarded in PBI for full flight. GA call pre board for those traveling with children, needing extra time, first class, and all those in zone 1. They need to get a grip.

Should have added...not consecutively, but all those groups at the same time. Felt bad for the people needing assistance who got trampled.

...which at PBI is usually an entire zone to themselves. I once passed 25...yes 25...wheelchairs lined up at the Southwest gate to ISP. Nothing against it....but it's a sign that I'm home :D

What I've never really understood is the rush to board the CRJs. At GSO this week, where people are usually a bit more relaxed, there was nearly a trampling in zone 1 to board first for an Air Wisconsin CRJ. I do not understand this. Everyone was gate checking rollaboards. The overhead bins were maybe 25% full. CRJ seats are miserable. Why do these people want to sit in them for 10-15 minutes more than needed?

I usually board with zone 1 as I have something to go in the overhead bins - on other aircraft types. But on the CRJ, with small seats, poor legroom (even in exit row 8), often a poor olfactory experience, hot cabins in the summer when the APUs are dead, and no first class so no chance at a motivated FA giving predeparture libations to mute the experience, I board as late as possible, as my small bag fits under any seat and my rollaboard gets gate checked. Why on earth would I want to board first and "enjoy" this for 10-15 minutes more? It's not like you can't board later if you're in zone 1 or 2.

There is one advantage of early boarding on a CRJ (although more common on a Dash-8)

If your flight becomes weight restricted - they generally ask the last person to board to leave the flight. IDB compensation isn't guaranteed due to the size of the plane.

To the solution I would add faster, more reliable checked baggage claim. As an elite there are times when I would prefer to check a bag if it didn't take so long to retrieve it on the other end. This would at least free up a bit of OH space and take some burden off stuffing one's IATA regulation carry-on with a week's worth of clothes.

And speaking of CO...I had a jaw-dropping experience traveling w/ a colleague based in NYC who dropped his tiny carry-on at the CO ticket desk and strolled casually through the blue carpeted priority lanes with just his laptop in hand. :eek: Security can be A LOT more pleasant without bags/coats/liquids/etc.

When queried as to his bizarre behavior, he said "why would I want to carry my bag on the plane if I can just pick it up a baggage claim? It's always there before I am." Shocking. :eek:

My job requires me to carry around samples of liquids that exceed 3oz so I'm stuck checking bags. I cannot get around it.

This is a HUGE gripe with me and I always note the time it takes so I can forward the wait times to Customer Service. Of course the standard apology is always sent back to me via e-mail but nothing ever get done to improve it. I don't know what US Airways considers a "respectable" time to wait for checked bags but while the amount of checked bags must have reduced significantly since the bag fee was imposed, the wait times have increasingly gotten worse!

Here is a quick rundown of my trips the last couple of months and the time it took to get my bag from baggage claim on US Airways. These times are from the time I arrived at baggage claim until the time the bags started to roll off the belt...

ATL --- 52 minutes
TPA --- 48 minutes
MCO --- 50 minutes

CLT --- 46 minutes (really!!! their own hub and it takes this long! How many bags actually terminate here anyway!)

ORD --- 42 minutes
BNA --- 50 minutes

Some airports due it much better than others. These airports actually had my bag on the belt before I arrived at baggage claim.
CLE
CVG
CAK
BUF

Another big GRIPE I have is that some stations actually unload arriving bags then load departing bags BEFORE sending arriving bags down to baggage claim because they have reduced staffing at the ramp or only have one "truck" to pull the carts around the ramp. I HATE THIS. Unfortunately this is the SOP at my home airport.


One thing I will say is that I have noticed the Priority Tagged luggage actually getting off before non Priority Tagged luggage this year but the wait times are still too long.

I don't know what US Airways considers a "respectable" time to wait for checked bags but while the amount of checked bags must have reduced significantly since the bag fee was imposed, the wait times have increasingly gotten worse!

The wait times vary according to when you arrive as well. When I'm on the last flight of the night into RIC, the bags come really fast.

Add PHX to the list.... The last three time I checked bags it was pretty slow.. Anywhere between 40-50 minutes, and this was from a 50 minute flight! Pretty sad..


My job requires me to carry around samples of liquids that exceed 3oz so I'm stuck checking bags. I cannot get around it.

This is a HUGE gripe with me and I always note the time it takes so I can forward the wait times to Customer Service. Of course the standard apology is always sent back to me via e-mail but nothing ever get done to improve it. I don't know what US Airways considers a "respectable" time to wait for checked bags but while the amount of checked bags must have reduced significantly since the bag fee was imposed, the wait times have increasingly gotten worse!

Here is a quick rundown of my trips the last couple of months and the time it took to get my bag from baggage claim on US Airways. These times are from the time I arrived at baggage claim until the time the bags started to roll off the belt...

ATL --- 52 minutes
TPA --- 48 minutes
MCO --- 50 minutes

CLT --- 46 minutes (really!!! their own hub and it takes this long! How many bags actually terminate here anyway!)

ORD --- 42 minutes
BNA --- 50 minutes

Some airports due it much better than others. These airports actually had my bag on the belt before I arrived at baggage claim.
CLE
CVG
CAK
BUF

Another big GRIPE I have is that some stations actually unload arriving bags then load departing bags BEFORE sending arriving bags down to baggage claim because they have reduced staffing at the ramp or only have one "truck" to pull the carts around the ramp. I HATE THIS. Unfortunately this is the SOP at my home airport.


One thing I will say is that I have noticed the Priority Tagged luggage actually getting off before non Priority Tagged luggage this year but the wait times are still too long.

Ah yes, one of my pet peeves. Every time I get an email notice of an upgrade I can't get to a browser fast enough, I'm almost always dropped into row 1 and I've learned that I never seem to get luggage space. I always go for 4A, which might not recline as much but I always get space, even if I have to go back a row into coach, it's not far away.

My other major peeve is when some guy jams his luggage in the FC overheads and then heading back to his seat at 32B.

Years ago I boarded in FC and someone had done that for the 100th time - taking the last space in the FC overheads and then heading to the back of the plane. I pulled their luggage down and put it on the floor and put mine above my seat.

After a little while everyone had found their seats and the overheads were all jammed and his bag was still sitting on the floor. The FA came up, looked at it and said to everyone in FC, "who's bag is this?". Everyone in FC just stared blankly at her. She just sort of shrugged, picked it up and handed it to a GA who took it away. Don't know where it went after that.

Sure, it was a total jerk move on my part and I'd never do it again, but half the people in FC winked or smiled at me after she took the bag off the plane, one even said "I always wanted to do that but never dared..."

^^ I always wanted to do that too, especially when I see more than one coach passenger puts his oversized bags overhead.

There is one advantage of early boarding on a CRJ (although more common on a Dash-8)

If your flight becomes weight restricted - they generally ask the last person to board to leave the flight. IDB compensation isn't guaranteed due to the size of the plane.

True, but they do seem to discriminate against no-status passengers if that person is unwilling, at least in my experience with the CRJs. To be clear, I'm not one who prefers to be absolutely last on board, I just don't need to part of the pushy preferred herd except when I have good cause to be.

I don't fly the DH8 much, but my limited experience with them on short routes like LGA-PHL and CLT-GSO/AVL is that they seem to know most of the time before boarding how many they can really take and deal with it then.

As an aside, one of the other reasons I "like" exit row 8 on the CRJ is that you're less likely to get moved from a row up from to the back due to weight & balance issues.

There is one advantage of early boarding on a CRJ (although more common on a Dash-8)

If your flight becomes weight restricted - they generally ask the last person to board to leave the flight. IDB compensation isn't guaranteed due to the size of the plane.

Hadn't thought of that! Good point.

I flew SFO-CLT-RDU today and I have to say at both SFO and CLT (and this is CLT on a Monday morning no less) there was no boarding chaos. There was the expected amount of gate lice but the GAs called boarding in the proper order and people followed directions. I was pleasantly surprised.

Combine 1 + 2 and this obviously is the smart way to board. Too bad there is seemingly no way to communicate this to US.

Of course, there are ways to communicate this to US. There is email, snail mail, calling the Executive Offices, etc. I would urge all Elites to write immediately. If they get a lot of letters on the same topic at the same time, it makes it look like an urgent matter. :-:

What I've never really understood is the rush to board the CRJs. At GSO this week, where people are usually a bit more relaxed, there was nearly a trampling in zone 1 to board first for an Air Wisconsin CRJ. I do not understand this. Everyone was gate checking rollaboards. The overhead bins were maybe 25% full. CRJ seats are miserable. Why do these people want to sit in them for 10-15 minutes more than needed?

Same thing yesterday AM (Mon) PIT-DCA. "Assistance and extra time" = no one, "Zone 1" > 60% rushed the gate. Not all that surprising on this route but on a CRJ? Ugh, what for? Because of the very small OH bins anything that doesn't fit above will certainly fit under the seat in front of you. Not everyone was bulkhead!?

Sorry, OT rant: This flight has been $500 each way for quite a few months now regardless of when you purchase. For a lousy 40 minute flight, no bev service, on horribly cramped, worn out CRJ seats. For the same price return was on an E175 where row 2 bulkhead (no row one on the left side) felt like international first class by comparison. US still fills these flights with people flying at a specific time and at an inflated price because we HAVE TO, so how about at least giving us all Embraers both ways? Even better, throw in the occasional E190. Please.

The only real benefit to boarding priority is overhead space.

It's not just the space, though, it's the location of that space. I rarely have a major problem in F unless I'm in the bulkhead -- but on express flights with only Y, if you're not one of the first folks on the plane, the available overhead space is almost guaranteed to be behind row 8 or so.

Since Zone 1/2 passengers are the ones in priority seats, and priority seats are at the front of the plane, if procedures aren't followed US' "best customers" end up swimming upstream to collect their carry-on bags. Not a good situation. I ended up in this mess on Sunday -- gate agent had called Zone 3 by the time I managed to get through the crowd to the gate, and so I ended up with my rollaboard 6 rows behind me.

It would be nice if US would adopt priority lane boarding like, oh, everyone else in the industry. But barring that, it'd be great if they'd just follow their own procedures to the letter: start boarding at the time listed on the boarding pass, and wait for each zone to clear completely (with a pause to see if anyone's trying to navigate the crowd) before calling the next. Not so complicated, really.

Same thing yesterday AM (Mon) PIT-DCA. "Assistance and extra time" = no one, "Zone 1" > 60% rushed the gate. Not all that surprising on this route but on a CRJ? Ugh, what for? Because of the very small OH bins anything that doesn't fit above will certainly fit under the seat in front of you. Not everyone was bulkhead!?

Sorry, OT rant: This flight has been $500 each way for quite a few months now regardless of when you purchase. For a lousy 40 minute flight, no bev service, on horribly cramped, worn out CRJ seats. For the same price return was on an E175 where row 2 bulkhead (no row one on the left side) felt like international first class by comparison. US still fills these flights with people flying at a specific time and at an inflated price because we HAVE TO, so how about at least giving us all Embraers both ways? Even better, throw in the occasional E190. Please.

Don't feel bad. I take the PHL to YYZ RT route all the time and generally the best I can do is $900. I have just become accustomed to the small plane. :)

Don't feel bad. I take the PHL to YYZ RT route all the time and generally the best I can do is $900. I have just become accustomed to the small plane. :)

I have a coworker flying YYZ-PHL and it's ~$1000+/- every week. It's not just the small plane, the price is outrageous.

The wait times vary according to when you arrive as well. When I'm on the last flight of the night into RIC, the bags come really fast.

Can't say I agree with you. Seems my US flight at the end of the day always arrive about the same time as DL & AA. Bags take forever to get if I check them. It usually takes forever for someone to come and work the jetway when arriving at RIC.

US still fills these flights with people flying at a specific time and at an inflated price because we HAVE TO, so how about at least giving us all Embraers both ways? Even better, throw in the occasional E190. Please.

Don't forget the commuters. All those senior people that live in the PIT area and now fly out of PHL.

Jim

I have to give the agents working in the vicinity of A-13 (PHX) on Sunday some credit. Two adjacent flights (one to CMH, the other to DFW) with posted dep times within 10 minutes of each other were both in an oversell situation. The DFW flight pushed back early and CMH on time or within 5 minutes. I never noticed any chaos in the boarding area, though it was crowded.

I have a coworker flying YYZ-PHL and it's ~$1000+/- every week. It's not just the small plane, the price is outrageous.

I booked a few weeks ago OAK-PHX-CLT-YYZ for 4/4. Total was less than $800.

From a UA member (who flies US frequently) they simply the must stop the madness.

This credit card member early zone thing is insane. I have learned that when booking US and flying in Y one must book a seat at the BACK of the cabin to ensure a Zone 3 boarding pass or there is no way in hell your rollaboard will fit after Extra Assistance + F + Elites + Credit Card people get on (literally 50% of the plane in my experience).

US people--make them change their ways. The airline is bad enough without this boarding nonsense.

I would encourage you to write, however--as an elite on AA I complained about boarding procedures not being following by the GA via e-mail and was given an nice apology and a 1K miles for my trouble.

This credit card member early zone thing is insane.
Agreed. Should be Zone 3. A card doesn't mean one is an actual regular FF. I as an employee have a FF visa. Big deal. I've yet to purchase a ticket and have over 30k miles.

US people--make them change their ways. The airline is bad enough without this boarding nonsense.
Always a dig from you people. You can never just get to the point without a useless comment.

I have a coworker flying YYZ-PHL and it's ~$1000+/- every week. It's not just the small plane, the price is outrageous.

And its not as if US has a monopoly on this route. It's shared with AC. Price fixing?

US people--make them change their ways. The airline is bad enough without this boarding nonsense.
Always a dig from you people. You can never just get to the point without a useless comment.

There's nothing useless about the truth. US is pretty bad compared to many others because US has become a bare-bones service operation. I just flew UA Y for the first time in years this past weekend. While no 5-star operation, UA definitely gets the nod over US in terms of service.

US people--make them change their ways. The airline is bad enough without this boarding nonsense.
Always a dig from you people. You can never just get to the point without a useless comment.

Yes, the digs serve no real purpose but .....ing makes people feel better when they receive what they perceive is lousy service, and moreso if they feel like their complaints fall on deaf ears.

For better or worse, the industry has created an expectation of perks and superior service for the most frequent fliers, and US has a poor track record in that respect. So they pay for it in reputation points, and when problems crop up, people dig and ...... If you don't like it, so be it. If US doesn't like it, they can impact it. It will just take a looooong time because that's the nature of business brands.

That aside, my boarding experiences on US of late have been very good. Clear announcements, firm reinforcement on parameters for early boarding, 1st class /= Zone 1, etc.

Always a dig from you people. You can never just get to the point without a useless comment.

Give me a break. It's not a dig, it's an honest assessment. US Air provides generally worse service, has a FF program that makes it incredibly difficult to redeem rewards, and charges more fees than most any (if not all) other mainline carriers. These are not my opinions--these are observed truths documented by travel websites and magazines. The theme and sense of my comments are shared by the travel saavy people on this board, a review of many postings will reveal.

The attitude is, however, typical of what can be found with folks manning US Airways gates in airports accross the country. Perhaps "you people" at the airline should consider the comments that are made by your most frequent (and lucrative) customers instead of dismissing feedback as "useless."

And its not as if US has a monopoly on this route. It's shared with AC. Price fixing?

I fly AVP-PHL-YYZ a few times a year and normally pay about $350 booked two weeks out.

You forgot me. I am the old guy shuffling down the tunnel on a cane hugging the right side while you other passengers rush past.

We, the lame and infirm really do need the advaNCED TIME!


ralph

No offense at all meant, but I think those who need more time should board last so as not to hold up the boarding process.

I sent the following email to the compliments/complaints dept at usairways.com after a particularly bad boarding process yesterday on Flight 482 (DEN-PHL):

You may have gotten similar suggestions before from Chairman's Dividend members: The boarding process for those seating in 1st class has to improve. Quite often the boarding area is swamped with general passengers and 1st class passengers are not able to board before "general" zone 1-4 seating. Is there any plan to have a separate boarding lane for 1st class passengers in the future as your competitors do? Why are those passengers who need "special attention or extra time" given boarding preference over 1st class passengers?

Do you think I am "pissing" into a very strong wind?

Those of you saying that families with small children do not need extra time to board have obviously forgotten what it's like to be a parent traveling with one or more infants or toddlers. Having that extra time can mean the time you need to secure safety seats or CARES correctly, set up supplies for the flight, bottle feed, pump breastmilk or nurse your child. Most importantly you have a chance to tell the kids about the plane in a calm way before it is full of people shoving pushing and being loud. A better boarding experience for them means a better experience for the rest of the passengers. I really feel sad reading this thread.

I never had a problem traveling with my kids. But I am organized and prepared to a fault...fully 90% of the people traveling with kids are completed disorganized. That's why it takes them so long to get their arses in their seats.

If the GA's would simply send anyone back who does not have a bp within the called order, life would be fine. However, they just take 'em and scan 'em without looking most of the time. Even worse at WN.

I don't see why military should get primary access. I flew Continental the other day and preferred the way boarding was done: elites first, people needing extra time (actually someone who needed a lot of extra time went before everyone), then according to row or zone.

:rolleyes:

No offense at all meant, but I think those who need more time should board last so as not to hold up the boarding process.

This will make it worse, not better. Someone who needs extra time, and is not seated in First, can make their way slowly down the length of the plane while First begins boarding. Basically two things are happening at the same time. If you wait till the end to board folks who need extra time, they can't even start till everyone else is done, so everyone will be slowed down, plus the circus of getting the rest of the row up and out if the person does not have an aisle, and the extra drama of having to find space for their bags... not a good process.

This will make it worse, not better. Someone who needs extra time, and is not seated in First, can make their way slowly down the length of the plane while First begins boarding. Basically two things are happening at the same time. If you wait till the end to board folks who need extra time, they can't even start till everyone else is done, so everyone will be slowed down, plus the circus of getting the rest of the row up and out if the person does not have an aisle, and the extra drama of having to find space for their bags... not a good process.

Yeah, let's not be mean here. Old people and families should get extra time before others board. The drama of the bags with the families is reason enough and old people would risk tripping over peoples feet in the aisles.

Why on earth do able bodied elites + F need to get on before these people anyway? We just want to get our BIS so fast we can't give Grandpa 5 minutes?

My only complaints are the credit card people should not get any sort of priority boarding, and GAs should be diligent in implementing the process as it has been designed.

I agree with this, but lets ask another question.

When the GA makes the announcement for people who need extra time, and they start boarding, why does the GA not wait 2-3 minutes before starting boarding for FC and elites? I have seen the GA board people who need extra time, and 30 seconds later, FC and elite are called... Then everybody is stuck in the jet way because the family of 6 can't get little Johnny and Julie to behave. Or the elderly couple wants to make sure they wont fall walking down the jet way so they are taking alittle longer...

I beleive there are many reasons why the GA do this, but if trully they care about customer service then the GAs would allow people trully extra time to board the plane before others are started.


Yeah, let's not be mean here. Old people and families should get extra time before others board. The drama of the bags with the families is reason enough and old people would risk tripping over peoples feet in the aisles.

Why on earth do able bodied elites + F need to get on before these people anyway? We just want to get our BIS so fast we can't give Grandpa 5 minutes?

My only complaints are the credit card people should not get any sort of priority boarding, and GAs should be diligent in implementing the process as it has been designed.

Boarding chaos is a symptom, not a problem. Charging for checked bags has placed a premium on overhead space, and people will climb all over each other to get it.

Charge people to carry-on bags, and check them for free. Revenue neutral, problem solved. You're welcome/

Just got to my seat on a CLT-MCO flight. GA boarded special assistance and FC at the same time, then called Z1 and Z2 at the same time.

I was the first person to board on the Z1/Z2 call (sitting at 22F) and observed a large number of passengers boarding on the FC/SA call. As I made my way back to my seat, I noticed nine people already in the coach cabin, none with small children or any obvious special needs.

Been Silver for about three years, and have still never seen a GA turn someone away for trying to board on the wrong zone.

It would be much more effective if everyone who shares a Boarding Chaos story here, sends the same in a complaint to US. I know a few posters have noted that they've done so but I'd imagine many of these complaints are going no further than this thread.

As with any company, things are "fixed" in a priority order, with priority (usually) given to those things that customers are complaining the most about. Don't take that to include revenue-generators like the Choice seats. But for things that break down to basically a training issue, the training budget (both time and money) will be spent on the things that get the most complaints.

US may lurk on this forum but they've never officially stated that complaints made here would actually be acted on. So if you're annoyed enough to post here, send it to US as well, because then something might actually be done about it.

This discussion can be divided in two separate topics:

1. Why boarding rules are not enforced?
2. Boarding rules need to be changed.


Second topic is nothing more than the battle for limited resources. Majority of posts related to that topic can be easily summarized:
“I (and the group I belong to) deserve my “privilege” and more, everybody else – not”

Very nice reflection of the society we live in.
:eek:

I never had a problem traveling with my kids. But I am organized and prepared to a fault...fully 90% of the people traveling with kids are completed disorganized. That's why it takes them so long to get their arses in their seats.

I think there are a large number of people traveling w/o kids that are also disorganized, at least what I've seen going through security. How can anyone not know to remove metal objects before going through security is beyond me. That security rule has been around for a long time.

Not to mention the lady (30-40ish) who got off a plane without her purse and had to have a FA or GA to retrieve it. It wasn't as if she had any other bags with her. I'm guessing it was one too many drinks or meds.

:rolleyes:

Because you don't like Continental?

Boarding chaos is a symptom, not a problem. Charging for checked bags has placed a premium on overhead space, and people will climb all over each other to get it.

Charge people to carry-on bags, and check them for free. Revenue neutral, problem solved. You're welcome/

I disagree. The fee to check bags is there to discourage people from doing so, in part because the infrastructure required to support checked bags is expensive. Technology, tracking equipment, baggage offices, financial implications when bags misconnect, and baggage handlers all are a significant expense to the company. When the number of checked bags drops, as it has since the 1st checked bag fee went into place, the company's costs go down.

When the number of checked bags drops, as it has since the 1st checked bag fee went into place, the company's costs go down.

Agreed. And with fewer bags checked they receive fewer complaints which then gets spun by the MadMen as "improving performance" or similar.

I disagree. The fee to check bags is there to discourage people from doing so, in part because the infrastructure required to support checked bags is expensive. Technology, tracking equipment, baggage offices, financial implications when bags misconnect, and baggage handlers all are a significant expense to the company. When the number of checked bags drops, as it has since the 1st checked bag fee went into place, the company's costs go down.

I have no idea how significant the incremental baggage handling costs are in the overall scheme of things, but there are also hard and soft costs on the other side of the ledger.

It's just speculation (but hey, what else are message boards for!) but I would imagine it's tough to get as many turns/flights with the added boarding times caused by the added carry-ons.

There is also the jetway-check kiosks, the stand-by baggage handlers and flight attendants to deal with the baggage that has to be checked at flight time due to lack of space, and on the 'soft' side the degraded customer experience due to people jockeying for overhead space.

I would imagine it's tough to get as many turns/flights with the added boarding times caused by the added carry-ons.

Actually our boarding times are still the same as they were before we started charging bags -- 30 Min for 737, 319, 320 and 35 for 321 and 757; sorry, don't deal with the 767's or 3xx's here in PHX :(

Sometimes if we have a nice crew they might let us board early, I once had a crew let me board a 319 50 min before dep cause they had a nice overnight and wanted to get there early to start enjoying it. Thankfully no one dilly-dallied getting to the gate, we got everyone and pushed 25 min early! oh the good old pre-merger days... (now we can't push more than -10 cause sabre/decs won't let us send our pax count to the cockpit before then :td:) Sux too cause I have had flights I could have pushed earlier than that many times....

I generally travel as a party of two CPs. Tomorrow, we are three (two CPs and 1 wood). When printing the BPs today I was surprised that we are all in zone 1 in coach seats - even the MIL who is non-preferred. One year ago when we flew with her, the two CPs were zone 1 and the non-preferred MIL was zone 5. I am glad that they fixed the system to reflect the proper zoning.

I generally travel as a party of two CPs. Tomorrow, we are three (two CPs and 1 wood). When printing the BPs today I was surprised that we are all in zone 1 in coach seats - even the MIL who is non-preferred. One year ago when we flew with her, the two CPs were zone 1 and the non-preferred MIL was zone 5. I am glad that they fixed the system to reflect the proper zoning.

I don't think they have actually. Is she in an exit row or bulkhead ? Those seem to the be trick to getting a zone 1 if not elite. Recently I flew with my wife (same PNR) who is a silver and her pass only had zone 2 on it.

Yes - exit row. You are correct. Evidently the zoning is not fixed.

Yes - exit row. You are correct. Evidently the zoning is not fixed.

I'm not sure that the zoning is one of the Elite benefits that is supposed to extend to others in the same reservation with the Preferred member. Preferred seat selection and bags do, but not sure on this one. Otherwise, why would they make the announcement every single flight "If you're travelling in a group, feel free to board when the lower zone is called"?

...Otherwise, why would they make the announcement every single flight "If you're travelling in a group, feel free to board when the lower zone is called"?

I actually haven't noticed that being said lately. But maybe I just tune it out. I will pay attention tomorrow.

Heard it Sunday and today, but not on two midweek flights. Seems at the discretion of the GA.

[QUOTE=apeortdz;16223139]Yes - exit row. You are correct. Evidently the zoning is not fixed./QUOTE]

Zone 1 was correct for all of you. All bulkhead seats and most exit-rows seats always get Zone 1 because there is no seat in front to put bags under. So US allows those passengers plenty of time to find overhead space by giving them Zone 1.

The only thing that makes sense if you want an ontime departure is to board:

1. First Class
2. Frequent Flyers by status
3. Everyone else by zone
4. Wheelchairs

Why? Its simple. Board those who can get aboard and be seated the fastest first.

Another thing... Board planes from the middle door or both the front and middle.

The only thing that makes sense if you want an ontime departure is to board:

1. First Class
2. Frequent Flyers by status
3. Everyone else by zone
4. Wheelchairs

Why? Its simple. Board those who can get aboard and be seated the fastest first.

Another thing... Board planes from the middle door or both the front and middle.

No offense, but as a gate agent, I cant tell you that First Class and Frequent Flyers take longer than ANY other group boarding to sit down and get out of the way. Much longer than just about any person using a wheelchair to preboard. And to make it better, you're all sitting up front. We appreciate your business, which is why you all get to board first, but we'd be done boarding 20 minutes before departure EVERY flight if we boarded you all last :) Just saying.

No offense, but as a gate agent, I cant tell you that First Class and Frequent Flyers take longer than ANY other group boarding to sit down and get out of the way. Much longer than just about any person using a wheelchair to preboard. And to make it better, you're all sitting up front. We appreciate your business, which is why you all get to board first, but we'd be done boarding 20 minutes before departure EVERY flight if we boarded you all last :) Just saying.

^

As long as it's orderly I doubt that changing the order of which group boards when makes much difference on the single-aisle planes where everyone turns right upon entering. FF's 1st or last, "those needing extra time" 1st or 3rd, whatever. The key is to make it orderly, which starts and ends with the agent boarding the flight.

Jim

Sorry, but the elites have "earned" the privilege, and, as per the boarding rules "deserve" to get on first and not have to deal with the nutty zone 5 pax who fly 3 times a year jumping in line ahead of us. That's one of the reasons that we are loyal, it's not a huge deal, but it is a big deal to many of us. I like not having to worry about my carry on bag (knowing I'll have room for it), it's just one more thing that I don't have to stress about when flying.

Is it a reflection on society? Yes, it certainly is; there are too many people and not enough resources for all of us. However, airline boarding is probably one of the most benign of all the issues, look at the people starving in Africa if you want to really see a "reflection on society". We have overpopulated this planet, this is just one tiny reflection of this fact.

This discussion can be divided in two separate topics:

1. Why boarding rules are not enforced?
2. Boarding rules need to be changed.


Second topic is nothing more than the battle for limited resources. Majority of posts related to that topic can be easily summarized:
“I (and the group I belong to) deserve my “privilege” and more, everybody else – not”

Very nice reflection of the society we live in.
:eek:

CLT-DCA, GA announces that they'll board in about 10 minutes but expect the overheads to fill up and will offer a free bag check and early boarding to anyone who will gate check a bag. Not sure if they had any success with that, but they did manage to get everyone nervous enough about bin space so the wall of gate lice was a solid 5 deep. Then he announced pre-boarding only, and as is my habit I started getting ready to board. 10 seconds later he says FC was also welcome to board, and then by the time I got there said Zone 1 also. I had a hard time but made it through the wall of people to get on, and all was well for me - I was happy with my PDB when they announced that the bins in the rear were full and bags would need to be gate checked. So of course everyone scrambles for any bin space including the space in FC. And then a few minutes later my FC seatmate turns up; he'd been unable to penetrate the gate lice and now there's no room for his one small carry-on. The FA managed to do some re-arranging to fix it. But had she not, he'd have been screwed by the full bin warnings and the shoddy boarding announcement.

CLT-DCA, GA announces that they'll board in about 10 minutes but expect the overheads to fill up and will offer a free bag check and early boarding to anyone who will gate check a bag. Not sure if they had any success with that, but they did manage to get everyone nervous enough about bin space so the wall of gate lice was a solid 5 deep. Then he announced pre-boarding only, and as is my habit I started getting ready to board. 10 seconds later he says FC was also welcome to board, and then by the time I got there said Zone 1 also. I had a hard time but made it through the wall of people to get on, and all was well for me - I was happy with my PDB when they announced that the bins in the rear were full and bags would need to be gate checked. So of course everyone scrambles for any bin space including the space in FC. And then a few minutes later my FC seatmate turns up; he'd been unable to penetrate the gate lice and now there's no room for his one small carry-on. The FA managed to do some re-arranging to fix it. But had she not, he'd have been screwed by the full bin warnings and the shoddy boarding announcement.

The inconsistency is what annoys me. Sometimes there is a gap of, it seems, tenminutes between zones, other times it is like you say, 30 seconds for each zone!

Sorry, but the elites have "earned" the privilege, and, as per the boarding rules "deserve" to get on first and not have to deal with the nutty zone 5 pax who fly 3 times a year jumping in line ahead of us. That's one of the reasons that we are loyal, it's not a huge deal, but it is a big deal to many of us. I like not having to worry about my carry on bag (knowing I'll have room for it), it's just one more thing that I don't have to stress about when flying.

Elites have not “earned” anything. Those “privileges” were provided by air companies based strictly on business reason. If company thinks that based on business model wheelchairs should go first (or, for example, cash tickets first and free upgrades – last) then elites have nothing to complain about.
It is not something "earned", it is a dole!


However, airline boarding is probably one of the most benign of all the issues.

Absolutely agree, but judging by many comments on FT one can make a conclusion that couple economy pax (and they are as nutty as elites are DYKWIA) cutting a line or GA not bowing to CP are the biggest atrocities on the earth.

Elites have not “earned” anything. Those “privileges” were provided by air companies based strictly on business reason. If company thinks that based on business model wheelchairs should go first (or, for example, cash tickets first and free upgrades – last) then elites have nothing to complain about.
It is not something "earned", it is a dole!




Absolutely agree, but judging by many comments on FT one can make a conclusion that couple economy pax (and they are as nutty as elites are DYKWIA) cutting a line or GA not bowing to CP are the biggest atrocities on the earth.


It certainly is earned, by definition of the word, and in fact USAir says quite specifically to achieve Preferred "you'll need to earn a certain number of Preferred-qualifying* miles"

IMHO there are 3 niceties to early boarding:
1) you get to get settled in more quickly assuming you like that (I do, and especially in FC when you can enjoy a beverage in a relatively comfy seat while you'd otherwise be standing in a boarding line).
2) you get to ensure bin space which is a big deal if you like most FFs have packed light not to avoid a fee but to avoid the wait for a checked bag and potential for a lost bag (this is also quite important to me)
3) you get the snob appeal of being first (I could care less, but snob appeal has tremendous value to some and it its good business sense for the airline to be able to provide it)

Letting families with small kids and people who have physical issues that slow up boarding go first makes good sense to me. But when its abused it impacts 1) and 3) and regardless of whether a specific elite flyer cares, since the airline has made a perk of it they should.

No offense, but as a gate agent, I cant tell you that First Class and Frequent Flyers take longer than ANY other group boarding to sit down and get out of the way. Much longer than just about any person using a wheelchair to preboard. And to make it better, you're all sitting up front. We appreciate your business, which is why you all get to board first, but we'd be done boarding 20 minutes before departure EVERY flight if we boarded you all last :) Just saying.

Sadly, I've long felt the same way :(