Just reporting the facts of my first couple of official experiences this week:

EDI (SH) - only 1 pre-board needing assistance, stern announcement saying strict boarding by group numbers, Group 0 called, long enough pause for me and my kids to walk from the back of the scrum to the gate, and for a large number of comments which I will generously classify as expressing “surprise” to be made and heard. The lady running the gate had done our passport checks at check-in so she knew she was waiting for us. No other Group 0 passengers. We were in row 1, arrived with empty overheads and stored all of our luggage securely above at a civilised pace. Very pleasant and well worth it IMHO.

LHR T3 (LH) - Gate 32 so no BP check into the area, more traditional boarding. A few wheelchairs brought on first and then similar stern announcement about group boarding followed by a clear call for Group 0 alone. Similarly, I was at the back of the crowd but a polite “excuse me” worked well and they left enough time for my group and the other Group 0 couple to get to the Gate. CW on an A350 so to be honest there wasn’t a great need for it but appreciated nonetheless.

With the experience at the Gates I had half expected someone to come up to me on board to ask me what I had done to earn Group 0 and so I had prepared my answer: “my rank within the Church of Scientology has afforded certain privileges.”

My boys were absolutely insistent that I wasn’t going up to the gate beforehand to remind anyone about Group 0, so that was quite good actually because it’s led to a more realistic/unbiased observation.