jasdou

And where were they supposed to stand if not in the line designated by the sign for their zone?

CZAMFlyer

Two wrongs do not make a right: a lesson we (should have) learned when at daycare age. Rather than cut the line, invite somebody to board before you, with a gracious smile. You'll likely better someone's day, and will all arrive at SFO at the exact same time.

The term 'gate lice' refers to anybody, regardless of assigned zone, who mills about and occupies floor space prior to any boarding announcements being made. Lice tend to impede general ease of movement in the gate area and adjacent paths. They are generally incapable of sitting in the departure area or remaining in the lounge, lest anybody board ahead of them and threaten their intent to place both enormous 'carry-on' bags within an overhead bin.

In my observations, most licetypes tend to hold priority zone boarding passes.

canadiancow

I'm pretty sure I mentioned this exact issue as being one of the fundamental problems with AC's zoned boarding in the past week.

So zone 2 boards. Then 3, then 4, then 5... and then I have to gate check my bag? No.

When I notice the front of the 1/2 line is zone 2 and not moving, I'm going around them.

And you're completely describing these people. Lining up 30 minutes before boarding starts, even though there are plenty of seats. When zone 1 is called, they impede movement, blocking the lane.

I stood up from my seat when zone 1 was called, as is typical if I happen to be at the gate before boarding begins.

ffsim

I’ll stand where AC tells me to stand as a zone 2er. If that’s in the same line as zone 1ers, I’ll be happy to facilitate them going around me ahead of zone 2 being called. I certainly wouldn’t consider any zone 1 pax going around me as “cutting” the line, and I also wouldn’t want to be called anything as derogatory as “gate lice” for standing exactly where I’m supposed to be standing.

I think any Z1 pax doing what Cow described is doing exactly the right thing considering the constraints given by the airline.

Bartolo

I love it when I’m positive a person is not Z1 and I politely ask. Typically, they ignore me. On a recent flight exactly this happened. Sure he heard my question. He got to the GA taking boarding passes and she told him he wasn’t Z1 and to move aside! Very well done on GA’s part. I thanked her.

Yhztraveller

Lots of talk here about Z1 & Z2 being called at the same time. Most of the time its not a big deal, but can be annoying when the Z2 person in front of me has a spouse and 4 bags and holds everyone up.

What I found more annoying though was the SE guy who boarded the plane, sat in J, and then loudly called the concierge on his phone to complain about the GA calling zone 1 and zone 2 together. He stayed on the phone most of the boarding process, and everyone that boarded heard the SE whining. Certainly did not help the image of an SE!!

Leave the whining to this forum!!

Yhztraveller

If you are Zone 1 and they have only called Z1, it is not "cutting the line" to move ahead of Z2 people.

My basic rule is that I do not line up at all if I am at the gate before boarding. I'll sit or stand out of the way, and when they call zone 1, I'll go to the back of the Z1 line. If Z1 & Z2 are lined up together, I'll move ahead if it is obvious that the person/people in front of me are Z2.

If I arrive at the gate after Z1 & Z2 have boarded I'll go to the back of the regular line. My bad for getting to the gate late. I have had GA's who recognize me try to call me out of the regular line, but I just think it looks bad to show up after Z1 & Z2 board and make a Z3'r wait so I can board in front of them.

My "rule" is only for boarding though. I have absolutely no qualms about using the priority or Nexus lines to get through security!

canadiancow

Unless you can see their boarding pass, I'm not sure how it's obvious

That is literally a published perk of being in zone 1/2.

RatherBeInYOW

Well, some Air Canada gates have a separate Z1 and Z2, others have them together. I'm guessing it depends on how much space they have at the gate area.

Personally I prefer the UA approach of a separate line for each zone (when they have the space for it), but that requires a bunch of space than many airports do not have.

Since I usually board Z2 I will tend to go to the end of the Z1/Z2 line after they have called Z1 boarding. Usually lets all the ZS1-ers on first.

Yhztraveller

The line moving, but they are not moving is a pretty good sign.....

Maybe, but I still don't want to be too obvious about the fact that I am a VIP and way more important than they are!

canadiancow

My experience is that the 2s continue to move closer and closer even if only 1 was called.

mapleg

Well, you can't be a real VIP unless everyone around you knows it!

meagicano

If you ever see a youngish 30's blonde woman with a fish baggage tag loudly directing zone 1/2 traffic when EVERYTHING IS BEING HELD UP.... that's me. I have the worst luck of being stuck at those gates with no room to move or sit, so I stand in line and if they start boarding and there's the gaggle effect... well, JUST GET ON THE PLANE.

At LGA once they were holding up boarding until they felt enough people from each zone had got on, and the PA was nowhere loud enough. I just stood up and called out and helped process the mess. I don't care if it makes me obnoxious, let's all get on the plane and get to where we're going.

Also, a few years in the navy and some time calling drill realllllly helped my "voice projection" abilities.

canadiancow

I haven't pulled out my "loud voice" in years. If I heard a passenger shouting reasonable directions, I'd probably smile.

I just don't understand how people don't get the 1-2-3-4-5. Or do they get it, and not care?

Bohemian1

Some clearly are clueless. Some choose to think the 'rules' don't apply to them. And I really do think that the rest just want to get in position to board ASAP so they can stuff their bags in the precious remaining overhead space.

I sometimes wonder how much of this problem is related to the egregious amounts that airlines charge for checked bags, but that's a whole other topic.