This is a great move by Delta.
Originally Posted by
Bonzz
I definitely like this idea, as I seem to always be spending just a bit too long in the CRC.^
This is my problem too, not because I'm trying to get in one last drink, but because I'm usually trying to recharge my laptop and/or download my email to my laptop or otherwise using the internet. I try to leave the CRC just as or just before boarding starts so I arrive at the gate shortly after it starts, so I don't have to wait in line at the gate or on the jetway. This will hopefully make it much easier.
Originally Posted by
mersk862
The way they announced it this morning during boarding was they would do Zones 1, 2 and 3 which were the First Class, Medallion and Elite customers, and then if any of those customers did not board at that time, they could use the Breezeway to cut the line in general boarding. Not a bad way to do it; no need for it during Zones 1-3; it'll only save time in Zones 4-9.
Originally Posted by
Mill Creek Don
Of course, those who would need it (and qualify) in zones 4-9 weren't there when they made that first announcement. Or was this repeated again during the boarding process? If the latter, then a big ^! CO and NW don't do mid-boarding explanations, in my experience.
This is definitely a potential problem, which caught me last night. We (2.5-year old son, his nanny, and I) waited at the CRC for our delayed ATL-TPA flight to get further delayed then finally start boarding before we headed out. When we got to gate A29 last night and saw the Breezeway mat and everybody neatly lined up on the other side, we went straight to the front of the Breezeway area. The GA didn't stop other passengers but took our boarding passes when I looked toward him and reached my arm his way.
Then when we boarded the plane, I noticed that there were only about 5 coach passengers on board and FC still had several empty seats. As I took my FC seat, I noticed that the man that I had "cut" in front of was seated behind me.
After reading this thread, I now understand what happened. They must have made an announcement as
mersk862 describes above (that Breezeway isn't used for zones 1, 2, and 3), then I arrived after the announcement and inadvertently cut in front of other medallions and FC passengers.
I suppose at gates where there are scanners on both sides of the door, things will be a bit easier.
So here's my public apology to all of those passengers who I cut off last night.
In my defense, I truly thought that we were arriving at the gate later in the boarding process that we did - I assumed that we were well into the zones. On the other hand, I could have easily looked up at the screen to see what zone was boarding. again
-Michael