Surprised at the size of Zone 1 boarding
Mar 13, 2006, 1:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Surprised at the size of Zone 1 boarding
Today is my second trip on US this year (as I've said, it's EXP first this year.) and I'm SHOCKED at the number of people in zone 1 boarding as well as at the absolute CRUSH of people at the gate. Ex-PHL, AA boarding is usually quite orderly and the F/EXP/PLT group (about the same as US' Zone 1 from what I gather) is much smaller, even on the Monday AM flights.
My flight today is a PHL-RDU afternoon flight (the first mainline of the day) and Zone 1 must have been 25 people deep. How many "pseudo-elites" did the summer promo's generate? Seems like everyone was a US2 from what I could see.
Also, as a side note, how is it that WN can keep adding 73's PHL-RDU and filling them while US shrinks to nearly all RJs?
My flight today is a PHL-RDU afternoon flight (the first mainline of the day) and Zone 1 must have been 25 people deep. How many "pseudo-elites" did the summer promo's generate? Seems like everyone was a US2 from what I could see.
Also, as a side note, how is it that WN can keep adding 73's PHL-RDU and filling them while US shrinks to nearly all RJs?
Mar 13, 2006, 2:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: AA Gold,DL Gold
Posts: 858
The zone boarding will be redone to HP's style. I dont know what the diference is but I know there are differences.
Mar 13, 2006, 2:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, Flying Blue-Silver
Posts: 727
Originally Posted by McFlyPHL
Today is my second trip on US this year (as I've said, it's EXP first this year.) and I'm SHOCKED at the number of people in zone 1 boarding as well as at the absolute CRUSH of people at the gate. Ex-PHL, AA boarding is usually quite orderly and the F/EXP/PLT group (about the same as US' Zone 1 from what I gather) is much smaller, even on the Monday AM flights.
My flight today is a PHL-RDU afternoon flight (the first mainline of the day) and Zone 1 must have been 25 people deep. How many "pseudo-elites" did the summer promo's generate? Seems like everyone was a US2 from what I could see.
Also, as a side note, how is it that WN can keep adding 73's PHL-RDU and filling them while US shrinks to nearly all RJs?
My flight today is a PHL-RDU afternoon flight (the first mainline of the day) and Zone 1 must have been 25 people deep. How many "pseudo-elites" did the summer promo's generate? Seems like everyone was a US2 from what I could see.
Also, as a side note, how is it that WN can keep adding 73's PHL-RDU and filling them while US shrinks to nearly all RJs?
Mar 13, 2006, 3:40 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,250
For starters, HP boards First class first then Preferred members.
Mar 13, 2006, 4:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP 1 MM, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 192
I had a flight PHL-DEN this morning and no less than 40 people boarded in Zone 1. Since I'm not a pushy person by nature, I patiently waited my turn and ended up being the second to the last person in F, so I had to do some careful maneuvering to get my bag in the overhead. It was seriously one of the most disorganized boaring processes that I've ever seen.
Mar 13, 2006, 5:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA GLD (1MM), DL GLD, Marriott Plat, RCL D+, X Elite
Posts: 3,229
I've noticed a lot of "boarding Zones 1 and 2" lately. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Visa Signature from B of A and the new World MasterCard get Zone 2 boarding as well? I can't help but think that that's made a big difference in crowding.
If I'm not mistaken, HP boards First, Top Tiers and then everyone else by zones which are divided up by windows first then middles then aisles working it's way from back to front?
If I'm not mistaken, HP boards First, Top Tiers and then everyone else by zones which are divided up by windows first then middles then aisles working it's way from back to front?
Mar 13, 2006, 6:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ketchikan, Alaska
Programs: GSA City-Pair; emeritus AS MVPG/UA 1K/US Plat, etc.
Posts: 2,635
Supposedly the boarding and "group number" (HP's term) system on US East will be changed to conform with America West's current practice.
Mar 13, 2006, 8:45 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 782
Boarding w/ Zone 2 wife...
What's the rule if your companion is Zone 2 and you are Zone 1? Can he/she board w/ you? The crush and the fight for overhead space has me pulling her along w/ Zone 1 but I sometimes get dirty looks from the GA.
Mar 13, 2006, 8:49 pm
#9
Original Poster
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I looked around and pretty much everyone *HAD* a legitimate zone 1 - the GAs were pretty rigid about zones and carry-ons. Even still, it was more like controlled chaos.
One other thing - there were definitely preferreds in the back and the GAs just filled the 2 misconnected(?) F seats with off duty FAs in uniform. Lazy. Pure and simple.
One other thing - there were definitely preferreds in the back and the GAs just filled the 2 misconnected(?) F seats with off duty FAs in uniform. Lazy. Pure and simple.
Mar 13, 2006, 8:57 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern California
Programs: US Airways,Hilton HHonors, Marriott, National
Posts: 1,341
I have to say HP's style of Group 1 stinks... it will soon be *GOLD, *SILVER and all DM/FF elite/prefered members. I think having Group 2 as Silver would be a plus.. but HP knows best.
I do like that F class goes first... (along with those needed extra time)
I do like that F class goes first... (along with those needed extra time)
Mar 14, 2006, 4:34 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
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Originally Posted by USFlyerUS
For starters, HP boards First class first then Preferred members.
So does UA. It makes a huge difference.
Of course, any system is only as effective as its enforcement.
Mar 14, 2006, 5:03 am
#12
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Originally Posted by EnvoyBoy
AMEN!
So does UA. It makes a huge difference.
Of course, any system is only as effective as its enforcement.
So does UA. It makes a huge difference.
Of course, any system is only as effective as its enforcement.
Mar 14, 2006, 6:53 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Programs: UA, US, IB. Low man on the totem pole again.
Posts: 511
Originally Posted by PittDoc
What's the rule if your companion is Zone 2 and you are Zone 1? Can he/she board w/ you? The crush and the fight for overhead space has me pulling her along w/ Zone 1 but I sometimes get dirty looks from the GA.
Mar 14, 2006, 6:55 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Programs: UA, US, IB. Low man on the totem pole again.
Posts: 511
Originally Posted by McFlyPHL
Doesn't matter - the observation I had was that about 1/3rd of the plane was *G or higher. If that's true on a Monday afternoon flight, it is likely worse on Monday AM and Thursday PM. Even the UA system would buckle. You can't effectively board 1/3rd of the plane at a time. An insanely high number of manufactured preferreds takes an already bad problem (US boarding) and makes it worse.
Mar 14, 2006, 7:55 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, Flying Blue-Silver
Posts: 727
Originally Posted by EnvoyBoy
AMEN!
So does UA. It makes a huge difference.
Of course, any system is only as effective as its enforcement.
So does UA. It makes a huge difference.
Of course, any system is only as effective as its enforcement.
If US is adopting the HP pre-board for "F" then kudos to US. I agree 100% with EnvoyBoy, however, that the system will only be effective if the policy is enforced.