SparseFlyer

Same for me when I was there.

I was so happy I even told the GA about it!

That's when he told me "well, no, it's probably going to end soon, everyone's complaining".

my face when ->

yyznomad

I just want the protocol, as per Andrew Y, to be adhered to.

That is all.

As per 24L, even the zone signs do not exist at NRT, it was executed almost flawlessly. There was a couple in PE in front of me and they weren't sure which line they should be in until they asked an agent who then pointed them to the unmarked Zone 2 lane. Someone with an iPad was holding up Zone 2. In the end, there was order and the boarding process was done properly.

I never have a concern with NRT or HND AC staff.

Adam Smith

Enforce the policy consistently and people will get used to it. The split of Zone 1/2 is quite reasonable and consistent with what US airlines are doing. If Zone 2s are unhappy they're no longer Zone 1, they should fly more to make SE or get into J. Frankly, it's ridiculous that people who pay a $129 annual CC fee (or less) get any priority boarding at all, and in my experience, those are more likely to be the ones complaining than anyone else. (E75Ks like SAP know their place )

If protocol is Zone 1, then Zone 2, then wheelchairs, then 3, then 4, then 5, and they board wheelchairs before zone 1, damned right I'll complain. If they want to put wheelchairs first, change the protocol.

And with wheelchairs, it should be one companion only. I've never seen an abuse this flagrant on AC, but on a UA flight recently, a 15-person extended family (mostly able-bodied adults and teens) all boarded before everyone else because granny was in a wheelchair. Again, I'll complain about that.

Exactly.

For my part, my last few flights on AC, all in April (from YYC to YYZ and YVR, from YTZ to YUL and from YUL to YYC) all did zone boarding correctly. I think that in YYC down the switch gate pier (where they board most of the widebodies) they even had separate zone signs, whereas over in the C pier it's 1-2 and 3-5.

superangrypenguin

Agreed. (to the wheelchair abuse)

Oh I know my place. Zone pleeb.

However, wheelchairs are zone 0 though as a FYI. They preboard before eveyone else

yvr76

Wheelchairs are pre-boarded before zone 1. Families board after zone 2. I think having wheelchairs pre-board makes sense, but agree that should be limited to 1 companion.

I've politely reminded staff regarding zoned boarding protocol when it's been completely disregarded and in most cases just get a shrug. Really by the time it gets to that point it's pretty obvious that the staff is apathetic. 3/4 times it's a UA station.

I wrote in once re: SJU as it was a complete mess (along with priority check-in being non-existent, lack of priority bag handling and zero priority boarding). But I don't really have the inclination to do this each time it's not handled properly, nor should I.

I think that AC has a bit more work to do on this front until it's more consistent across the system, both at AC and non-AC stations.

Adam Smith

Sorry, got my thinking garbled in my original post, I was lumping wheelchairs together with people needing extra time and families with small children, which isn't correct. Wheelchairs first, obviously.

Kieron

Oddly, I found myself holding a Zone 2 boarding pass a couple days ago for a domestic award, in Y, booked using UA miles. I don't currently hold status on AC, UA, or any *A airline.

I certainly wasn't going to complain, but I'm not sure how that happened.

canadiancow

Okay, frequent flyers are the problem.

Currently waiting to board the MegaDo flight, and there's licing like I've never seen.

SparseFlyer

Hey, I called that since day 1!

"Frequent flyers pissing off other frequent flyers by not respecting the rules!"

But about SMD6, do you event know who they are?

canopus27

Agreed ... and this applies to passengers, and GA's.

I was boarding in CLT last week, and the GA correctly announced (read) the pre-boarding announcement ("we're boarding by zones, etc, etc"), and it was all looking hopeful.

Then she started the actual boarding with the announcement, "Now boarding zone 1, only zone 1, that's super-elites and elites" ... and chaos ensued. I think her intent was good - but she confused it by trying to explain the zones, rather than just stick to the numbers.

I'd give her an A for effort, D for execution.

ansix12

Licing is noticeably worse. Wonder if this is because of zone boarding or because of the luggage charge where everyone is trying to get on asap to have room for carry ons.

Enforcement of zone boarding is improving but still spotty. Have seen no checking at all during a recent flight out of YHZ. Then again, have also seen SE75s playing dumb when caught in YOW trying to board during zone 1 by saying "isn't this priority boarding?'

Academic

My apologies, because I'm sure the answer is on one of these 122 pages. I'm just not sure which one.

I'm flying tomorrow with my non-status spouse and we're on different PNRs. I have Zone 1 she has Zone 4/5. What are the GAs doing under these circumstances?

yyznomad

In my handful of experiences traveling with Zone 956 peons, I simply tell the GA they are with me and they're cool with it.

canadiancow

YVR boarding for AC 1848 right now.

An automated message said something like "This flight has priority boarding. Passengers in zone 1 and 2 are now welcome to board."

WHY DOES THAT MESSAGE EXIST?????

yyznomad

Either the message is wrong, or Andrew Y is wrong.

We really need clarification here on what the deal is. It seems so inconsistently muddled that we have no idea what to expect.