We experienced a variation on this theme on our last BA short haul flight (CE LHR-DUB). They managed to annoy Business and Gold carders by priority boarding not just the infirm and infant carrying (which I have no problem with), but also the hand bag fare folk. They did this by the usual declaration of something along the lines of "due to BA cost-cutting reaching obscene levels, and the resulting squeezing in new rows and decreasing seat pitch throughout the cabins, this aircraft is woefully underequipped with storage space. We ask any passengers willing to check their hand baggage in to proceed to the deskand to board first"

When travelling on the last leg of a CW/CE journey from the Far East this is not the kind of welcome you expect or value. The result was BA giving preference to those purchasing their cheapest of the cheap fares. Many passengers did volunteer, checked in one of their 2 and then proceeded to board with their second item and start sticking them in the overhead lockers.

Grrr

It has been said many times before, and it is truly sad that the day has come that we must now look to American Airlines to see how to handle this, but the way AA board people on their flights works wonderfully. Anyone in a genuine physical condition that they need extra time boards first, followed by first(business) class, then OWE, and so on through a very clear, ordered and controlled system. The result being that when flying first, business or as a BA GCH with them you do feel valued.