Nov 15, 2014, 2:15 pm
Air Canada introduces zoned boarding
Jan 15, 2019, 8:14 am
#4021
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,822
Yeah, I kind of had the same idea; no rollboard means less incentive to board early, but at the same time we were at one of the D gates that has a bit less room than some of the others and boarding an oversold A320 was a gong show indeed. Especially with 17+ people trying to gate check bags at the same time as they called Z1 boarding.
Jan 15, 2019, 8:50 am
#4022
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,417
Yes. Even Southwest a so called low cost carrier seems to have a boarding system that works.
AC boarding with 5 zones/lines like at YVR for the YYZ widebody flights also works. I understand most gates do not have the space for 5 lines.
The current system does not work well though for the most part Z1 and Z2 seem to board together with the GA sometimes calling them together. AC GA also seem to be understandably very busy behind the counter. If they came out and moved Z2 behind the Z1 in line or eyeballed oversized bags before the boarding starts things may be smoother and it does not have to be confrontational or aggressive either - I see other airlines do this.
So the choices are :
1) have a system that is rigid and organized to the n'th degree that does not require any intervention i.e. 6 boarding lines. We obviously do not have this at AC currently.
2) Staff so you have the ability to manage the boarding process proactively. We do not have this either as we have 2-4 GA handling everything from seat assignments, gate checking bags, upgrades and the boarding process.
3) Fix the current system closer to point 1 above since the likelihood of increasing staff/costs is slim. Since there is not enough space for 6 lines at all gates, have a Zone 1, 2, 3 lines all separate. Change Zone 2 to 4 when Zone 2 has boarded. Change 3 to 5 when Zone 3 has boarded. There is absolutely no point in lining up if you are in Z4 or Z5. This would keep Z1 line open for Z1 to board anytime. It would also allow AC to board families with small children from the Z1 line AFTER Z2 has completed boarding. No clustering or chaos. No excuses from people saying they were in the right line like now (Z 1/2 or Z 3-5). Everything is self explanatory and the GA just check everyone in and execute.
AC boarding with 5 zones/lines like at YVR for the YYZ widebody flights also works. I understand most gates do not have the space for 5 lines.
The current system does not work well though for the most part Z1 and Z2 seem to board together with the GA sometimes calling them together. AC GA also seem to be understandably very busy behind the counter. If they came out and moved Z2 behind the Z1 in line or eyeballed oversized bags before the boarding starts things may be smoother and it does not have to be confrontational or aggressive either - I see other airlines do this.
So the choices are :
1) have a system that is rigid and organized to the n'th degree that does not require any intervention i.e. 6 boarding lines. We obviously do not have this at AC currently.
2) Staff so you have the ability to manage the boarding process proactively. We do not have this either as we have 2-4 GA handling everything from seat assignments, gate checking bags, upgrades and the boarding process.
3) Fix the current system closer to point 1 above since the likelihood of increasing staff/costs is slim. Since there is not enough space for 6 lines at all gates, have a Zone 1, 2, 3 lines all separate. Change Zone 2 to 4 when Zone 2 has boarded. Change 3 to 5 when Zone 3 has boarded. There is absolutely no point in lining up if you are in Z4 or Z5. This would keep Z1 line open for Z1 to board anytime. It would also allow AC to board families with small children from the Z1 line AFTER Z2 has completed boarding. No clustering or chaos. No excuses from people saying they were in the right line like now (Z 1/2 or Z 3-5). Everything is self explanatory and the GA just check everyone in and execute.
Last edited by vernonc; Jan 15, 2019 at 8:59 am
Jan 15, 2019, 8:52 am
#4023
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,792
Actually for most of my recent flights, people have not lined up early, and the current system has worked well, much better than when people line up.
Jan 15, 2019, 2:09 pm
#4024
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,562
AC management clearly does not care about enforcing their zone boarding rules; its just one other unimportant thing. SW, its a cornerstone of everything else they do.
Jan 15, 2019, 2:42 pm
#4025
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AC E35K, Marriott Gold, Nexus
Posts: 10
I was flying back connecting through YYZ to YOW on the weekend. Flight was full, on an A320, and they said they needed 17 bags gate checked. They were offering to let you board with zone 3 if you did so, and the GA was writing zone 3 on the boarding passes of people who gate checked bags.
Thought that was interesting as I hadn't seen it before; I'm guessing this is a GA being creative to get more gate check volunteers versus actual AC policy?
Thought that was interesting as I hadn't seen it before; I'm guessing this is a GA being creative to get more gate check volunteers versus actual AC policy?
Jan 15, 2019, 7:22 pm
#4026
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,154
Jan 15, 2019, 8:15 pm
#4027
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
one other thing to note. I have learned with united when they say boarding at 5:43, unless there is a late aircraft or issue they start boarding. Whereas for AC regardless of whether the plan has been at the gate for hours they hardly ever board at the time stated.
am I alone in knowing when I have a united flight I there when they say they will start boarding and with AC I usually arrive 5 minutes plus after they say they will start boarding
Jan 15, 2019, 8:56 pm
#4028
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
this is what united has done by not having a lane for 3 and up. There is no place to line up. And they are actively told to remain seated. I thought at first it wouldn’t work but so far in a dozen or so flights the last while it has been perfect. Whereas I dread AC boarding each time.
one other thing to note. I have learned with united when they say boarding at 5:43, unless there is a late aircraft or issue they start boarding. Whereas for AC regardless of whether the plan has been at the gate for hours they hardly ever board at the time stated.
am I alone in knowing when I have a united flight I there when they say they will start boarding and with AC I usually arrive 5 minutes plus after they say they will start boarding
On another note, my experience is that YYZ is the worst for gate herds. I had to wade through what felt like 9 thousand people herding around Z2-Z5 to speak to the GA at T-20. 20 minutes before starting Z1 and there's hundreds of people stepping on each other's heals. Unreal.
I
Jan 15, 2019, 9:25 pm
#4029
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,792
Last time I arrived a couple of minutes before the boarding time, most of the J cabine had already boarded....
Jan 15, 2019, 11:24 pm
#4030
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
Boarding begins with Y tonight on AC 126 because "catering is still on board" 15 mins after scheduled boarding time...
The aircraft arrived 7 hours ago from HKG.
The aircraft arrived 7 hours ago from HKG.
Jan 16, 2019, 7:50 am
#4031
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,417
Southwest is a special case as they do not have assigned seats. Boarding with your zone is thus really important, and really enforced (I presume).
AC management clearly does not care about enforcing their zone boarding rules; its just one other unimportant thing. SW, its a cornerstone of everything else they do.
AC management clearly does not care about enforcing their zone boarding rules; its just one other unimportant thing. SW, its a cornerstone of everything else they do.
Jan 16, 2019, 7:54 am
#4032
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AC E35K, Marriott Gold, Nexus
Posts: 10
this is what united has done by not having a lane for 3 and up. There is no place to line up. And they are actively told to remain seated. I thought at first it wouldn’t work but so far in a dozen or so flights the last while it has been perfect. Whereas I dread AC boarding each time.
one other thing to note. I have learned with united when they say boarding at 5:43, unless there is a late aircraft or issue they start boarding. Whereas for AC regardless of whether the plan has been at the gate for hours they hardly ever board at the time stated.
am I alone in knowing when I have a united flight I there when they say they will start boarding and with AC I usually arrive 5 minutes plus after they say they will start boarding
Jan 16, 2019, 2:50 pm
#4033
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime PE, AC Altitude SE100K-1MM
Posts: 308
this is what united has done by not having a lane for 3 and up. There is no place to line up. And they are actively told to remain seated. I thought at first it wouldn’t work but so far in a dozen or so flights the last while it has been perfect. Whereas I dread AC boarding each time.
On a UA flight in October, I noticed that they now only have sign lane for 2 groups - Group 1, then Group 2. The gate agent mentioned that this was a fairly new process and that people in Groups 3 to 5 should remain seated, and will use the Group 2 lane only when called. This did reduce the congestion around the the gate.
Jan 19, 2019, 9:48 am
#4034
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,562
ugh..
Last edited by RangerNS; Jan 19, 2019 at 10:12 am Reason: either vb or I posted to the wrong place
Jan 29, 2019, 9:18 pm
#4035
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 376
Boarding announcements for 8547 to Thunder Bay just now in YYZ…
“Row 18 and higher" then
“Row 16 and higher" then…
Etc
“Row 4 and higher“ and finally
"Everyone else"
Minimized the time out in the very cold Toronto weather.
“Row 18 and higher" then
“Row 16 and higher" then…
Etc
“Row 4 and higher“ and finally
"Everyone else"
Minimized the time out in the very cold Toronto weather.