IAH, Gate E4 Boarding Process
Jun 8, 2010, 12:14 pm
#1
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IAH, Gate E4 Boarding Process
Anyone used the new gate set up at E4? Looks a lot like the self boarding gates that LH has in FRA.
Jun 8, 2010, 12:39 pm
#2
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Jun 8, 2010, 12:53 pm
#3
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One with a turnstile-like control that opens when you swipe your own BP. Basically you scan, it verifies and then opens the gate to let you on the plane. A couple of those plus a regular gate to let a GA handle folks who need help is what LH has in FRA at some gates. My last flight home from FRA no one pulled my BP; I scanned it myself and walked on to the plane.
Jun 8, 2010, 1:20 pm
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One with a turnstile-like control that opens when you swipe your own BP. Basically you scan, it verifies and then opens the gate to let you on the plane. A couple of those plus a regular gate to let a GA handle folks who need help is what LH has in FRA at some gates. My last flight home from FRA no one pulled my BP; I scanned it myself and walked on to the plane.
Jun 8, 2010, 1:46 pm
#5
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Well they don't necessarily have to use it for international departures. In Germany you clear into the transit by getting stamped out by immigration or you're flying Schengen so that isn't an issue. Plus there is the part where you'd be caught as not on the plane during the final count so the fact that the airline is holding the form and knows that you didn't actually leave would likely be an issue. Given what I experienced with CBP last Thursday in SFO heading to SYD I doubt that this sort of thing will work on international departures in the near term but CO does operate quite a few domestic flights from IAH too so I'm guessing they'll have ample opportunities to try it out.
Jun 8, 2010, 2:37 pm
#6
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We had these in FRA on LH going to FCO. They worked very well! For me, as long as the computers enforce the priority boarding, I'm all for it! However, the computers cannot enforce the carry-on requirements, so I think that needs to be addressed somewhere.
Jun 8, 2010, 2:47 pm
#7
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Does anyone have a picture of these?
Jun 8, 2010, 2:59 pm
#8
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Jun 8, 2010, 3:23 pm
#10
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I used something similar flying SK out of OSL (it scanned fingerprints too). I haven't seen the machines in IAH yet, but I have no problem with them as long as they work.
Jun 8, 2010, 3:50 pm
#11
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This is an interesting development. I know CO tried something similiar in another part of the system but it didn't work. I would think that it would be a good process to a degree. I fear that they would go to less than 2 agents for any large flight as when there are issues, one agent can not handle the concerns of such a flight.
Jun 8, 2010, 4:09 pm
#12
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We look forward to testing this set-up over the summer, and in a number of different configurations. Although I don't have any photos to share, I'm sure it won't be long before someone posts some!
Jun 8, 2010, 7:35 pm
#13
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The gates being used are the next generation of the ones in the photo above. They look a little bit like this, according to a little birdie I know:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...united-states/
No word on whether the gates will enforce boarding zones/rows/elite levels/military IDs/handicap status.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...united-states/
No word on whether the gates will enforce boarding zones/rows/elite levels/military IDs/handicap status.
Jun 8, 2010, 8:44 pm
#14
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The gates being used are the next generation of the ones in the photo above. They look a little bit like this, according to a little birdie I know:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...united-states/
No word on whether the gates will enforce boarding zones/rows/elite levels/military IDs/handicap status.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...united-states/
No word on whether the gates will enforce boarding zones/rows/elite levels/military IDs/handicap status.
Jun 8, 2010, 9:09 pm
#15
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I think that the most interesting thing about this is the fact that there are standard ropes to the left of the check in gates that could easily be circumvented unlike the LH ones that have a hard wall attached to the outside gate. I assume that will have to change in the future.
