SteveinA2

Have I been asleep? I noticed Delta's new four zone roped off boarding (Black Premium, Red Sky. Zone 1 and Zone 2/3)

It was great. The pilot walked through a clear path to gate, no mass group of folks blocking everything. What a pleasant change from the normal ATL zoo.

My sense is this is something Delta executed very well

huskerchad

Really all they ever needed to do was enforce the zones they have and tell people to stay seated until their zone is called. Hopefully this will make it more automatic.

CJKatl

Were you in ATL at one of the low numbered Concourse B gates? If so, it's a "test" that's been running for years. Yes, it works better than anything else DL has tried, but there seems to be no movement towards expanding it to other gates.

NOLAnwGOLD

The virgin Australia purple premium zones that are very distinctly separate from the regular boarding is great, keeps the gate mob much more organized and out of the way. In JNB, the delta gate agents line up each category, Biz/Premium, Sky Priority, each zone so it's very organized at boarding

SteveinA2

Yep in B2 or something, but definitely adjusted not been going on for two years as signs didn't have First Class but Delta's relatively new "Premium" labelled.

CJKatl

They may have expanded it to B2, but previously it's been limited to, IIRC, B5 and B7, which have used monitors rather than fixed signs. The GAs seem to like that set-up, and often give out biz cards with an address, begging passengers to go online to let DL know how much they like the system.

davetravels

Whatever system they end up with, I hope they get the training right, unlike the MASSIVE debacle with the SkyPriority carpets . . . .

I was shocked to find a boarding anomaly a couple of weeks ago, and I can't remember for sure, but I think it was at SEA (I was on 11 planes in 9 days!)

I walked up to the gate and boarding was already underway. The SkyPriority line was roped CLOSED!

I stood at the head of the line briefly, and a contract wheel chair guy told me <> that line had already closed, and I'd hafto use the REGULAR line. It was HUGE! I stood there watching the GA boarding people from the regular line, and she wouldn't even look at me! I finally spoke up and asked her nicely what I should do! She said . . . .

We close that now, since people of ALL ZONES get in that line, even though they shouldn't.

I told her that, closing the line off defeats the purpose of even HAVING THE LINE!! We like to stay in the SkyClub til the last minute, and board late!

She opened the rope, and sure enough, several people followed me!

indufan

Yes, you have been asleep. Not new. And I don't think the ATL has the space required to pull it off properly. Classic difference of opinion, I didn't care for it at all.

carljanderson

It'd be simple if they didn't place Zone 1 or 2 on the boarding passes. Many, many people who don't travel much simply assume Zone 1 is the first group. I have heard musings similar to "I thought zone 1 was first, I guess I was wrong"

Then, have the GA's announce to the passengers to please sit until your zone is called.

Prem, Sky, 3, 4, 5..

caliform

They did do this, and people just don't listen. It's no use. Actual proper zone roping works much better.

huskerchad

I have hardly ever heard a GA actually instruct people about the zones. They do announce that they will board certain zones but it's rare that I hear a GA telling people to remain seated, stop blocking the gate, etc. The rare GAs who are proactive about all of this have a very noticeable effect.

As for calling it zone 3 instead of zone 1, that would give the appearance of devaluing the credit card benefit.

Efrem

The GA at BOS A7 earlier today, DL 1209 to ATL dep 1215p, did. It helped. However, the fact that half the aircraft (or so it seemed) was Sky Priority or better didn't.

miraclebear2003

That would have set me off - usually calm but sometimes.

I had a different malfunction in Atlanta last weeked. Was connecting and they had started boarding early (which is great) and as we were walking up we heard Zone 1 being called. Figured great, we could just walk up and through the priority lane. No way since the horde of Zone 1 was completely blocking the priority lane because that was being used. We sort of pushed our way slightly to get there and fortunately no one said anything.

We couldn't stop to say anything, but I have contacted DL to ask if they had changed anything (knowing they hadn't) and haven't heard back yet.

pvn

Apparently not, if you were trying to board while there were still people in line.

flyerCO

I've been at numerous gates lately that the GA instructs Zone 1 to line up in the SP lanr, zone 2/3 in the regular lane.