Boarding Lanes Test at ATL Gate B7 Today
Mar 17, 2015, 3:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: Delta DM Hyatt Diamond Marriott Gold EmeraldClubExec
Posts: 13
Boarding Lanes Test at ATL Gate B7 Today
This was a new one to me - DL was testing roped off boarding lanes at ATL gate B7 today. Premium, Sky, and Zone 1 had designated areas to line up prior to boarding. They had reconfigured the seating and put these lanes perpendicular to the jetway, close to the wall. Big signs and arrows identifying the lanes. There was also a pre-board staging area where the SkyPriority/General Boarding sign used to be.
The GA did a good job of letting people know what was going on and the process seemed to be working. I know other airlines do (or have done) this program and it seems like it could ease some of the gate lice and zone crashing problems.
The GA did a good job of letting people know what was going on and the process seemed to be working. I know other airlines do (or have done) this program and it seems like it could ease some of the gate lice and zone crashing problems.
Mar 17, 2015, 3:45 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: Delta DM; *A FO. UG since(1/1/15): 11/14
Posts: 683
Mar 17, 2015, 4:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
At a lot of the gates it seems like the priority boarding area easily gets blocked up by the scrum of unclean masses. The three feet of rope at the beginning of the line doesn't do much to help things.
If it was up to me all the mainline planes would have a full door at 2L and a separate jet way for F.
Obviously that's not economically feasible for DL.
If it was up to me all the mainline planes would have a full door at 2L and a separate jet way for F.
Obviously that's not economically feasible for DL.
Mar 17, 2015, 4:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
Well, In this case I'd say it's a good thing. I flew southwest for the first time a month or so ago and while I wasn't a huge fan of a lot of things, the boarding was a lot smoother. This may not be the best option out there but the current one clearly isn't working
Mar 17, 2015, 4:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG,SDF,LEX
Programs: Delta DM MM
Posts: 772
I agree that the current system is awful. CVG-LAS a week ago the GA called FC, DMs AND PMs to board which resulted in about a third of the plane making a mad rush for the door. I am up for trying anything that will add a sense of order to the process.
Mar 17, 2015, 4:48 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
A simpler solution would be to color-code the boarding passes. Blue paper = Premium, yellow = Sky, green = Zone 1. White paper for everyone else. No excuse for not knowing your zone.
Mar 17, 2015, 5:03 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Mar 17, 2015, 5:20 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,269
They were seemingly running another boarding test at a different gate in ATL B today. This one involved the GA keeping the general boarding lane roped off for the entire boarding process and boarding everybody through the SP lane. 