I've had 7 flights this month (all in CE or F). Here's what I've observed:
* PHX-LHR. New process followed as specified (need assistance), then first class. No idea what happened after that.
* LHR-DUB. Was given a tag on my small bag. Needs assistance a few minutes before CE and gold/owe. Seemed to be enforced.
* DUB-LCY. Needs assistance. Then CE. Seemed to be enforced.
* LHR-BGO. Needs assistance. Then CE and gold/owe. Seemed to be enforced, but flight was incredibly empty (2 or 3 in CE, maybe 30% full in Y).
* BGO-LHR. Got to the gate and boarding had not been announced, but someone was being boarded. Asked if it was time to board, and that started the boarding. Flight was incredibly empty (2 or 3 in CE, maybe 30% full in Y). Best shorthaul service on any flight in memory (gave our a golden ticket)
* LHR-STR. Needs assistance. Then CE/gold/owe. Seemed to be enforced. Very empty early Sunday am flight. Flight was incredibly empty (2 or 3 in CE, maybe 50% full in Y).
* MUC-LHR. Boarding already commenced when I arrived at the gate from the lounge at T-30. Was the only passenger in CE. Y was maybe 30% full.
* LHR-DUB. Flight was rammed full (10 rows of CE). Was challenged at the gate over both of my bags. Priority seemed to be all priority options. Showed that both of my bags fit. Was asked for the third time by the same person to put one bag under my seat. All three times I answered that it's not possible in row 1. The time for him to verify my bag size led me to put my bags over row 4 instead of row 1.
* DUB-LHR. Flight was rammed full again (many rows of CE). Priority call was made for CE/gold/owe, but many with silver and bronze ahead of me boarded without being told to wait. Had the same CE flight attendant as the LHR-DUB flight the night before, she was amused that I was stuck in 1D instead of 1C this morning.
A few observations overall:
* Flights did seem fully boarded well before ATC would let us leave
* Only one flight required significant reshuffling of overhead bags
* None of these flights resulted in bags being put in the hold by the flight crew (not sure how proactive they were in the boarding area for each flight)