Air Canada introduces zoned boarding
#4081
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
I understand but from his perspective the line says 1/2.
there were only 6 in business class yet about 12 in line ahead of him. If he wants to get in early on zone 2 then might as well get in line ...
and if he travels a lot he knows AC often let’s people board at different zones unless they are first couple in line. (I think part of it is because they rarely board at the time they say they will, except on long haul flights, in order to board as quickly as possible and make up time)
In the end the united set up is far better. Your issue goes away and if someone does try they enforce it.
there were only 6 in business class yet about 12 in line ahead of him. If he wants to get in early on zone 2 then might as well get in line ...
and if he travels a lot he knows AC often let’s people board at different zones unless they are first couple in line. (I think part of it is because they rarely board at the time they say they will, except on long haul flights, in order to board as quickly as possible and make up time)
In the end the united set up is far better. Your issue goes away and if someone does try they enforce it.
#4082
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
I understand but from his perspective the line says 1/2.
there were only 6 in business class yet about 12 in line ahead of him. If he wants to get in early on zone 2 then might aswh well get in line ...
and if he travels a lot he knows AC often let’s people board at different zones unless they are first couple in line. (I think part of it is because they rarely board at the time they say they will, except on long haul flights, in order to board as quickly as possible and make up time)
In the end the united set up is far better. Your issue goes away and if someone does try they enforce it.
there were only 6 in business class yet about 12 in line ahead of him. If he wants to get in early on zone 2 then might aswh well get in line ...
and if he travels a lot he knows AC often let’s people board at different zones unless they are first couple in line. (I think part of it is because they rarely board at the time they say they will, except on long haul flights, in order to board as quickly as possible and make up time)
In the end the united set up is far better. Your issue goes away and if someone does try they enforce it.
#4083
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 282
I know it has been said here before, but I want to also compliment the SFO staff for trying to keep people in line with respect to the different zones. Multiple announcements as well, explaining the zone system and where to line up.
Funny situation in YYZ last week. There were over 50 people on the standby list for YYZ-YUL. I'd never seen such a thing before. I had a seat assignment at OCI, but was switched to GTE once I arrived at the airport. At one point while boarding, the gate agents said something along the lines of "we have 23 zone 3 passengers who have yet to board. Please move out of the way if you are not in zone 3." I thought this was great. The only problem was that after zone 3, once zone 4 was called, people just went into any line, filling up the zone 1, 2, etc. Of course once I got my boarding pass, I just went directly to the boarding agent, bypassing the lines.
Funny situation in YYZ last week. There were over 50 people on the standby list for YYZ-YUL. I'd never seen such a thing before. I had a seat assignment at OCI, but was switched to GTE once I arrived at the airport. At one point while boarding, the gate agents said something along the lines of "we have 23 zone 3 passengers who have yet to board. Please move out of the way if you are not in zone 3." I thought this was great. The only problem was that after zone 3, once zone 4 was called, people just went into any line, filling up the zone 1, 2, etc. Of course once I got my boarding pass, I just went directly to the boarding agent, bypassing the lines.
#4084
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,670
Was flying MEX-YYZ last week. Showed up 15 minutes before boarding to find a relatively long line for 1/2 and really long line for 3-5. Thought I might be able to scoot through when they called Zone 1. They called 1/2 together.
#4085
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Flew out of BNA earlier this week. Other than an unusual verbal announcement for pre-boarding (zone 0), it was nice to see a relatively small station like BNA actually split the Z1 and Z2 announcements (even though there were no Z1 pax on my flight).
#4086
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: 44,347
I understand but from his perspective the line says 1/2.
there were only 6 in business class yet about 12 in line ahead of him. If he wants to get in early on zone 2 then might as well get in line ...
and if he travels a lot he knows AC often let’s people board at different zones unless they are first couple in line. (I think part of it is because they rarely board at the time they say they will, except on long haul flights, in order to board as quickly as possible and make up time)
In the end the united set up is far better. Your issue goes away and if someone does try they enforce it.
there were only 6 in business class yet about 12 in line ahead of him. If he wants to get in early on zone 2 then might as well get in line ...
and if he travels a lot he knows AC often let’s people board at different zones unless they are first couple in line. (I think part of it is because they rarely board at the time they say they will, except on long haul flights, in order to board as quickly as possible and make up time)
In the end the united set up is far better. Your issue goes away and if someone does try they enforce it.
There was a separate 1 and 2 line. He was in the 1 line (as I said). Not the 1/2 line, because there wasn't one.
There were even more people patiently waiting their turn in the 2 line.
This. As an E75K/E50K flyer, I certainly want to board as early as possible, in my own zone of course, especially when I know bin space is going to be scarce. I will line up where AC tells me to line up, try to quietly look/ask around to see who is Zone 1 and let them through but I certainly don't want to start asking everyone in the line and come out as an entitled cheaper version of a DYKWIA.
However, in the case where there is a combined line, if they only call zone 1, are you going to rush forward? That's an important, but separate, topic.
#4087
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE100K, *G, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC, Enterprise Plat
Posts: 671
But I never stand IN the line during zone 1. I don’t want to put any DYKWIA’s in the position of having to squeeze past me. Not cool.
#4088
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
However I don’t really want to look like so called gate lice when waiting to board in my zone.
#4089
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: 44,347
I think we can all agree that the combined 1/2 line is a problem that AC could solve (maybe with more gate space?).
But when there are separate lines, there's just no excuse.
I'm zone 1. Move to the side. (reference: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24339693-post5.html)
But when there are separate lines, there's just no excuse.
I'm zone 1. Move to the side. (reference: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24339693-post5.html)
#4090
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE100K, *G, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC, Enterprise Plat
Posts: 671
I'm zone 1. Move to the side. (reference: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24339693-post5.html)
#4091
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: SkyPesos -> MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 680
Zone 4 pax boarding when Zone 1 was called...what can I say.
Also, when the agent calls for Zone 1 boarding and you see more passengers lined up in Zone 1-2 lanes than the amount of J class seats available.
Also, when the agent calls for Zone 1 boarding and you see more passengers lined up in Zone 1-2 lanes than the amount of J class seats available.
#4092
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
You do know that some SE, E75K, E50K, E35K and *G members fly in the back of the bus sometimes?
#4094
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,569