Air Canada introduces zoned boarding
#3916
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,552
My sole remaining travel anxiety is just straight up missing a flight. So then its a game of chicken balancing how many drinks I can have in the lounge and still be at the gate when Zone 1 is called.
#3917
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: 44,284
I watched an interesting gate lice/zone issue in FLL last week
For people who know FLL, the gates are not that great...
All that said, people were 'standing' in the zone one line while the inbound was still getting off the plane. Given the way FLL is designed, people had to move around the groups of people lining up.
I've just never understood it
For people who know FLL, the gates are not that great...
All that said, people were 'standing' in the zone one line while the inbound was still getting off the plane. Given the way FLL is designed, people had to move around the groups of people lining up.
I've just never understood it
That's like asking "outside of your need to be in Europe, why do you fly to Europe?"
J is more comfortable than the gate area.
Yes.
No, they're all standing in the aisles/jetbridge waiting to board.
#3918
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
This. With the exception of a flight I turned up to t-20 mins to find no one in the gate area and an agent saying we were just waiting for you two ... when there was basically no queue ... when I’ve boarded with the last few after the “get up or you won’t make the flight” announcement there was still a huge queue from half way down the walk way.
And even I have a small backpack that I can fit under the seat I like to put my feet there. And prefer not to try and cram it into an overhead taken up peoples second piece of carry on.
But I’ve only done this (intentionally) a few times.
And even I have a small backpack that I can fit under the seat I like to put my feet there. And prefer not to try and cram it into an overhead taken up peoples second piece of carry on.
But I’ve only done this (intentionally) a few times.
#3919
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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
This. With the exception of a flight I turned up to t-20 mins to find no one in the gate area and an agent saying we were just waiting for you two ... when there was basically no queue ... when I’ve boarded with the last few after the “get up or you won’t make the flight” announcement there was still a huge queue from half way down the walk way.
And even I have a small backpack that I can fit under the seat I like to put my feet there. And prefer not to try and cram it into an overhead taken up peoples second piece of carry on.
But I’ve only done this (intentionally) a few times.
FTers who have travelled with me know that I often prefer boarding last or near last.
I often try to time it so that there is minimal waiting on the jet bridge, but often it doesn't work out that way.
#3920
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,780
Just noticed, wiki does not mention zone *.
#3921
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
I think it used to, and then it was edited to say "preboarding".
As I have posted multiple times, Zone * is not only for customers requesting wheelchairs. I always get Zone * because I indicate that I am deaf when I buy my ticket or FP. (And when they board Zone * after Zone 2, which I would be as E50K, I am disgruntled, as I would be if I was in paid J.)
As I have posted multiple times, Zone * is not only for customers requesting wheelchairs. I always get Zone * because I indicate that I am deaf when I buy my ticket or FP. (And when they board Zone * after Zone 2, which I would be as E50K, I am disgruntled, as I would be if I was in paid J.)
#3922
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,284
I think it used to, and then it was edited to say "preboarding".
As I have posted multiple times, Zone * is not only for customers requesting wheelchairs. I always get Zone * because I indicate that I am deaf when I buy my ticket or FP. (And when they board Zone * after Zone 2, which I would be as E50K, I am disgruntled, as I would be if I was in paid J.)
As I have posted multiple times, Zone * is not only for customers requesting wheelchairs. I always get Zone * because I indicate that I am deaf when I buy my ticket or FP. (And when they board Zone * after Zone 2, which I would be as E50K, I am disgruntled, as I would be if I was in paid J.)
#3924
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 678
I have been given zone 5 and no other indication of TK status on AC BP again. Funny AC issued UA segment BP has TK*G Zone 1.
Anyone else on the same boat?
Anyone else on the same boat?
#3925
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 2
Hi,I just read an article about Vancouver International Airport opens new bus gate terminal expansion.
I do understand this kind of system but how would Air Canada zoning system work? Will AC transport each zoning passengers with an individual bus like zone 1 bus, zone 2, zone3 etc? Will AC suspend the zoning boarding so whoever first gets off the bus they get on the plane first =chaos?
I do understand this kind of system but how would Air Canada zoning system work? Will AC transport each zoning passengers with an individual bus like zone 1 bus, zone 2, zone3 etc? Will AC suspend the zoning boarding so whoever first gets off the bus they get on the plane first =chaos?
Last edited by dingkong; Nov 14, 2018 at 4:27 pm Reason: typos
#3926
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,415
Hi,I just read an article about Vancouver International Airport opens new bus gate terminal expansion.
I do understand this kind of system but how would Air Canada zoning system work? Will AC transport each zoning passengers with an individual bus like zone 1 bus, zone 2, zone3 etc? Will AC suspend the zoning boarding so whoever first get off the bus they get on the plane first?
I do understand this kind of system but how would Air Canada zoning system work? Will AC transport each zoning passengers with an individual bus like zone 1 bus, zone 2, zone3 etc? Will AC suspend the zoning boarding so whoever first get off the bus they get on the plane first?
#3927
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
Hi,I just read an article about Vancouver International Airport opens new bus gate terminal expansion.
I do understand this kind of system but how would Air Canada zoning system work? Will AC transport each zoning passengers with an individual bus like zone 1 bus, zone 2, zone3 etc? Will AC suspend the zoning boarding so whoever first get off the bus they get on the plane first?
I do understand this kind of system but how would Air Canada zoning system work? Will AC transport each zoning passengers with an individual bus like zone 1 bus, zone 2, zone3 etc? Will AC suspend the zoning boarding so whoever first get off the bus they get on the plane first?
For AC outstations, my N=3 experiences have been Zone 1 onto our own sparse bus and all other zones boarded later onto other buses.
#3929
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK *G
Posts: 3,095
It depends on both the airline and the airport, and sometime the size of the aircraft/J cabin. Some airports have mini buses for F/J passengers, so zone boarding means you have to be at the gate when they call Zone 1 or J/F or priority or whatever to use that mini bus. For airports using large buses only, if the J cabin is huge, then priority boarding means getting on the first bus. If the J cabin is small, then that means getting on the bus first, which means getting off the bus last, board the plane last.
#3930
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Air Canada 50K, Marriott Gold,
Posts: 206
My wife and I booked 2 tickets in J on Aeroplan. She has no status. The flight includes a segment on a plan with no J class but what's interesting (or weird) is that for this segment our boarding passes spit out Zone 2 for me (E35K) and Zone 4 for her. Wouldn't it make sense for AC to give Zone 1 across all your flights in a booking like this? I also thought it was strange that we have different zones even though we are sitting together and on the same PNR.....