Nov 15, 2014, 2:15 pm
Air Canada introduces zoned boarding
Oct 27, 2019, 7:15 pm
#4216
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
I often can't even get near the desk to inform them I am "zone asterisk" (pre-boarding) and I cannot hear their announcements, nor can I lipread them with the microphone and fist in front of their mouths. In their rejection of a previous CTA complaint, AC asserted that it is always my responsibility each and every flight to identify myself to the desk and make them aware that it is their responsibility to put me on the flight before it closes. Once I finally breach the crowd to do that, they say "just sit over ... oh." because the reserved seats for preboarding passengers are allowed to be filled with non disabled people. I am expected to stand in a nearby place where they can see me so they don't forget.
Oct 27, 2019, 7:36 pm
#4217
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
Light flex, I like it 
In saying that, the times I have flown J (paid, eup, opup, etc) most people moved out of the way for Z1s. Now I don't often fly in J so I certainly can't say this would be the case all the time, and you have proven that it is often not, unfortunately.
In saying that, the times I have flown J (paid, eup, opup, etc) most people moved out of the way for Z1s. Now I don't often fly in J so I certainly can't say this would be the case all the time, and you have proven that it is often not, unfortunately.
Oct 27, 2019, 7:40 pm
#4218
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYC / random hotel in YYZ
Programs: Back of the bus
Posts: 922
I can say that every fligh I have taken in the last year, the AC reps have been zone nazi's. You all should be proud. LOL
Oct 27, 2019, 7:43 pm
#4219
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
Oct 27, 2019, 7:49 pm
#4220
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK *G
Posts: 3,099
And after years of observation I still haven’t figured out how zone boarding is done at YYZ during evening, especially when they board two wide bodies side by side, or boarding at the gates at the corner such as E71, E79, bonus point for both of the above. All I see is a mass of people somehow all disappeared into the gate.
Oct 27, 2019, 8:27 pm
#4221
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,296
Light flex, I like it
In saying that, the times I have flown J (paid, eup, opup, etc) most people moved out of the way for Z1s. Now I don't often fly in J so I certainly can't say this would be the case all the time, and you have proven that it is often not, unfortunately.
In saying that, the times I have flown J (paid, eup, opup, etc) most people moved out of the way for Z1s. Now I don't often fly in J so I certainly can't say this would be the case all the time, and you have proven that it is often not, unfortunately.
And while I'm not always in J, I'm always zone 1.
Oct 27, 2019, 9:10 pm
#4222
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
United still does it best. Zone 1 and zone 2 separate lines. Others to stay seated until called. I was sceptical when they first introduced this but seems to work well. Best AC boarding was recently when they still had the United signs up for 1 and 2 and people used them to board ...
Oct 28, 2019, 7:28 am
#4223
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,669
United still does it best. Zone 1 and zone 2 separate lines. Others to stay seated until called. I was sceptical when they first introduced this but seems to work well. Best AC boarding was recently when they still had the United signs up for 1 and 2 and people used them to board ...
Oct 28, 2019, 8:31 am
#4224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,254
United still does it best. Zone 1 and zone 2 separate lines. Others to stay seated until called. I was sceptical when they first introduced this but seems to work well. Best AC boarding was recently when they still had the United signs up for 1 and 2 and people used them to board ...
Oct 28, 2019, 8:34 am
#4225
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Programs: *G
Posts: 2,304
And after years of observation I still haven’t figured out how zone boarding is done at YYZ during evening, especially when they board two wide bodies side by side, or boarding at the gates at the corner such as E71, E79, bonus point for both of the above. All I see is a mass of people somehow all disappeared into the gate.
Oct 28, 2019, 8:34 am
#4226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 12,068
Zone 1 was properly called and enforced on the YQG/YYZ 6am flight yesterday
Oct 28, 2019, 8:42 am
#4227
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,254
Is Air Canada the only airline with zone boarding? I implied this planet, but sure, we can include this Solar System too.
Oct 28, 2019, 9:45 am
#4228
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,736
Now, if you had said WestJet when you said half the plane, I would have agreed. It's an absolute joke over there, where people with teenaged kids, or those with the slightest bit of grey in their hair, all take advantage of pre-boarding. I've been on WS flights where I counted about half the plane getting on during pre-boarding.
Oct 28, 2019, 9:56 am
#4229
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,561
My flight YYZ-ORD last night, after an hour delay and gate change, had a massive crowd formed waiting for boarding. Lounge was closed, and everyone was long angry with the typical pre-clearance blackout of information.
I was in 1D, so a little concerned about space, so more than a little concerned about the apparently 20 people in front of me.
Zone 1 called once, no one moved. Zone 1 called a second time, no one moved. Zo... I step ahead of 20 people between me and the podium, and boarded first.
I'm not sure what the 20 people thought they were doing.
I was in 1D, so a little concerned about space, so more than a little concerned about the apparently 20 people in front of me.
Zone 1 called once, no one moved. Zone 1 called a second time, no one moved. Zo... I step ahead of 20 people between me and the podium, and boarded first.
I'm not sure what the 20 people thought they were doing.
Oct 28, 2019, 9:58 am
#4230
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,736
