t325

I was on DTW-YYZ yesterday afternoon, and I felt like I was one of only a dozen pax who knew what a boarding group was. We were delayed by about an hour and had a gate change, but when boarding started, there was a mad rush to the door. I did see the GA kick people out of line for trying to board early which was good, but people were just completely oblivious. I know with one lady ahead of me, it was a language barrier issue. GA told her in English she isn't in this boarding group, and the pax didn't understand. GA told her in Spanish, pax didn't understand, so I don't know what language she spoke. The GA just eventually pointed to a group of people outside the line and told her to wait there.

HWGeeks

I was on a JFK to SDQ flight a month ago] they called people who needed special assistance to board, then they called people with children under two years of age.

By the time 1st class was called to board, 50% of the plane was full.

Another time same flight I was again in 1st, they called people who needed assistance, people with children under two. There was just 1 family with a child under two, apparently, they just went to the rest room, GA waited for I kid (pun intended) you not 15 minutes for them to return. She did not let any other zones load. I got the feeling they were family the way she was treating them, and the entire family was in C+ The flight closed the doors 30 minutes late. Oh and another thing that ground my gears on this flight was, that very same family loaded up all their luggage in the last two 1st class bins.

StayingHomeIsBetter

I have often been amazed by the size of the entourage that some special assistance pax tow along behind them.

HWGeeks

I can understand families boarding together, but there should be a rule +1 only. Unless there is a child then the kid can come along.

But on the SDQ flights and I am pretty sure other frequent fliers to SDQ can attest to this. Mind you SJU is the same way. There are often 5+ with wheelchairs and each of those has 2+ people in their party. And the children situation just as bad if not worst, multiple families with 1 child under 2 and up to 5 more kids and other relatives with them.

Again I can understand the need for this, my mom uses a wheelchair when flying Jetblue (even though they almost sent her to the wrong city once) but some people well not some a lot of people abuse it.

My sister is a wheelchair abuser. She can walk fine, but she always gets in a wheelchair to board first. I do not fly with her for that. just an fyi people she loves to fly that really cheap airline that isn't spirit from CLT to Trento.

StayingHomeIsBetter

I originally had in my post that sometimes the large entourage comes along so that they can witness the inflight miracle. But, anticipating the grief that I would receive (there is a generally low ability here for folks to recognize satire), I chickened out.

HWGeeks

If you're not a politician no reason to chicken out!

SDQBound

My last flight to SDQ about a month ago had 10 wheelchairs, I counted them. The flight was already delayed (I don't think I've ever had a departure on DL497 on time) so this added some extra time to the boarding process. Then the family parade followed the wheelchair parade, to the point where the GA had to stop and specify that only adults with children under 2 years old or traveling in a car seat were welcomed to board.

By the time I boarded the airplane in zone PRE, 30% of the plane had not only boarded, but filled out several Business Class bins.

Fast forward, deplaning at SDQ, the same amount of wheelchairs awaiting for passengers, but it seemed that most of the passengers walked to the baggage claim area, as there were less than 5 wheelchair passengers waiting for bags and the rest were just standing in the crowd.

rwm818

90% of my travel is long-haul Int'l - always with luggage, so I have no need to try and get overhead space. I go onboard with a lightweight/medium size backpack. And with an aisle seat (90% of the time)...so as a result, I have no need to battle the gate lice.

I'm generally one of the last 5-10 to board - once all the chaos has subsided.
And only on very rare occasions do I not find spot for my backpack. In the rare case it happens, then I "suffer" with it under the seat

The only other issue that happens is someone thinks "oh look at this nice aisle seat that is going unused"...and I have to slide them over to their middle

I know it doesn't work for everyone, but worth it to me to not have to engage in "boarding wars"

Miesque

I was on a flight recently (I think it was JFK-ORD or RIC-ORD) and around 8 wheelchairs and then when then called families with small children this group of about 12 people go together to board (there were 2 children) and this is on CRJ 700 so thats a big chunk of the passenger. That process took forever so long in fact before they called premium they made the announcement that there would be no ground service (aka PDBs) in First Class since they were running low on time

pvn

Do you really think they are unaware of this? The much, much more likely explanation is that they like the system just fine the way it is, even if it bugs you.

FSUnole03

Yeah, just as the OP was able to identify ALL of his fellow PM's to exchange glances with, OP was also able to see the zone of EVERY person boarding when PREM was called.

The amount of kook aid some of you people drink when defending posts is absurd. Try applying a little common sense

NoleATL

I was on a DL flight in June or July (DC or MSP?) where the gate area had the new posts/lanes for boarding priority. It worked VERY well. I think DL needs to install them in every gate area that has the room.

StayingHomeIsBetter

I'm not trying to defend any particular post. I have no skin in the game with respect to your debate with the OP.

I was merely providing commentary on the increasing amounts of gratuitous snark that seems to be infiltrating the forum.

Crossinator

The upgrade list was less than 10 people. I also overheard people saying:
"wait, they're boarding first class only!"
"oh it's okay just push through"

mnredfox

Why doesn’t DL implement what UA does which is have the BP scanners beep for those boarding out of order? Then again it doesn’t matter if it isn’t policed though, saw three zone 4 folks board my last flight in zone 2...