Originally Posted by
Davvidd
Since I normally fly out of YYZ in BR and it is probably the last flight out, they may have it easier than AC but their boarding process everywhere I have flown with them is the same. They have more staff and each one stands with a board that has your Zone on it. Then they come and check your boarding card to see what zone number. If you are in the wrong queue they send you to the correct queue. With AC it is a free for all. One stands up and everyone stands up.
Sometimes I wonder if all the passengers on the flight are either Zone 1 or Zone 2 because everyone seems to be in the same queue.
One of the biggest issues does seem to be staffing. AC in Canada has people who hide behind desks. Other airlines and other jurisdictions have more staff and/or some who venture out into the waiting area or deploy them better. Recent flight out of GCM which wasn't AC they called Z1 a total of 3 times over 5 mins: checked boarding passes and put them in their own paddock. Then they called Zone 2. While Z2 came ahead and lined up, they boarded Z1 through with no fuss and then started checking and letting Z2 pass through and told Z3 to line up... prechecking every zone. Incredibly orderly. Not rocket science and not revolutionary. Just common sense and good training. Z1 was left open so if you arrived late, someone came to you. Z2 and late, too bad I guess but you can't pander to everyone. Z1 generally has an expectation of being pandered to which I think is part of the package you have paid for by fare or Loyalty status. FWIW we weren't Z1.