America West FlightFund (Pre-2005 US Airways merger) - Gate and Boarding Issues

I believe there is a system-wide problem with boarding and HP. My last 8 trips this past week proved that something is wrong.

In every case, the gate agent opens the door, makes no announcement or one that cannot be heard in the boarding area, takes a wheelchair or two down, comes back up and props the door open and mass boarding begins. People with group 2,7,5,4,etc. just pile right in. The problem is the worst at PHX and slightly better in Vegas.

Has anyone else noticed this? It is very annoying having people breathe down your neck when you are trying to place items above and you are in FC, especially if you have the bulkhead and need to move your items back...which is another whole thread all together.

I hope my next flight tomorrow has the proper boarding procedure.....blah

Hi,

I'll have to disagree here. I have found the boarding procedures to be quite clear. Always time for those in wheelchairs, the oldsters, kids, and elites to board prior to everyone else.

What I would like to see is a method of having elites cut to the front of the "everybody" line. There are some situations where I am late for the elite boarding period. I'd like a method of cutting ahead of the masses (without appearing to be a line-jumping jerk).

Later,
Tim in Hollywood

Are you thinking about a WN-like system where there are physical lines for each group? So in HP's case their would be Pre-board, First, Elite, and General Boarding lines.

I have not seen this problem at all. Every so often there's a SWest-style frenzy but that's usually attributable to a larger-than-normal number of elites, many of whom believe they, personally, deserve to be on first so they can fill up the first class bins their three huge carry ons.

Interesting. I guess it has been part of my flying jinx.

While on the subject, I'd love to see "clearly marked" lines or boarding areas.

Line 1: Pre-board Old, disabled and parents with children UNDER 7 (maybe 5). I see people cart 10+ yr olds to the front all the time!

Line 2: First Class. Period!

When those two lines clear, Line 2 becomes the elite and line one begins the boarding number line. This way, as someone else wrote, if you were a late FC or elite, you can go right to line 2.

I think the gate agents need to be more assertive in their annoucements and police the LUGGAGE being brought on board. I understand that the wait for luggage is just outragous sometimes but the trouble of fitting it on board and violating others personal space far outweighs it.

Sometimes I wish I had an extra 120K laying around for a NetJet card or something.

Ugh.....