Weird or just plain incorrect things FAs/SDs have said while on board
#466
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,187
When I boarded AC 3 YVR-NRT with a friend, I was held back because the SD/FA (can't recall who) needed to see my boarding pass. I said "I'm 1D, he's 1G". That was not good enough.
As I was fishing it out of where I had just put it, the conversation went like:
"Why do you need to see it?"
"It's a security requirement."
"Is it new?"
"No, it's been this way for at least 3 years."
"None of my other flights this month have asked for it"
"Oh you must fly narrow-body a lot"
"4 of them were transatlantic"
That was roughly when I found the BP and showed her, so the conversation ended, but part of that conversation is likely wrong. Because there are 3 possibilities.
1. It's not a requirement
2. It's newer than 3 years
3. Every other crew is neglecting their jobs
As I was fishing it out of where I had just put it, the conversation went like:
"Why do you need to see it?"
"It's a security requirement."
"Is it new?"
"No, it's been this way for at least 3 years."
"None of my other flights this month have asked for it"
"Oh you must fly narrow-body a lot"
"4 of them were transatlantic"
That was roughly when I found the BP and showed her, so the conversation ended, but part of that conversation is likely wrong. Because there are 3 possibilities.
1. It's not a requirement
2. It's newer than 3 years
3. Every other crew is neglecting their jobs
#469
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 73
When I boarded AC 3 YVR-NRT with a friend, I was held back because the SD/FA (can't recall who) needed to see my boarding pass. I said "I'm 1D, he's 1G". That was not good enough.
As I was fishing it out of where I had just put it, the conversation went like:
"Why do you need to see it?"
"It's a security requirement."
"Is it new?"
"No, it's been this way for at least 3 years."
"None of my other flights this month have asked for it"
"Oh you must fly narrow-body a lot"
"4 of them were transatlantic"
That was roughly when I found the BP and showed her, so the conversation ended, but part of that conversation is likely wrong. Because there are 3 possibilities.
1. It's not a requirement
2. It's newer than 3 years
3. Every other crew is neglecting their jobs
As I was fishing it out of where I had just put it, the conversation went like:
"Why do you need to see it?"
"It's a security requirement."
"Is it new?"
"No, it's been this way for at least 3 years."
"None of my other flights this month have asked for it"
"Oh you must fly narrow-body a lot"
"4 of them were transatlantic"
That was roughly when I found the BP and showed her, so the conversation ended, but part of that conversation is likely wrong. Because there are 3 possibilities.
1. It's not a requirement
2. It's newer than 3 years
3. Every other crew is neglecting their jobs
#470
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Ive given up trying to guess when they will and wont ask for it, I keep it out until I get to my seat. This of course means that I have to put it away at my seat potentially delaying boarding. Its especially possible pointless when Z1-2 are boarding, not that that is always followed.
Unless there are two gates accessible once part the GA who scans it which is, rare I believe, there is no real reason its needed, for the majority of passengers. I am and have been aware of exactly where my seat is in every airplane Ive been on for many years thanks to the beauty of seat maps and OLCI.
Unless there are two gates accessible once part the GA who scans it which is, rare I believe, there is no real reason its needed, for the majority of passengers. I am and have been aware of exactly where my seat is in every airplane Ive been on for many years thanks to the beauty of seat maps and OLCI.
#471
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,815
Around the time that BP checks were eliminated for cabin crews working narrowbody flights, the decision was made to keep BP checks on widebodies so that pax could be directed down the correct aisle. Nothing to do with security -- that aspect relies entirely on the gate agents (lord help us). Your observations don't exactly come as a surprise.
#472
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,187
She still wouldn't let me past without seeing my BP.
#473
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: AC*E
Posts: 51
My understanding was that it has to be shown on wide body planes and this was after a couple of cases when people boarded the wrong flights and didn't realize until after pushback and also after that weird HKG case 7 years ago when that young dude dressed in the old man mask managed to board and get to Canada wearing a disguise.
Supposedly a boarding pass check would have caught that guy
Supposedly a boarding pass check would have caught that guy
#474
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
#475
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,187
My understanding was that it has to be shown on wide body planes and this was after a couple of cases when people boarded the wrong flights and didn't realize until after pushback and also after that weird HKG case 7 years ago when that young dude dressed in the old man mask managed to board and get to Canada wearing a disguise.
Supposedly a boarding pass check would have caught that guy
Supposedly a boarding pass check would have caught that guy
#476
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
While I agree, didnt one of the FTers on this board once get on the wrong plane? Hence I can see the need for a sense check of the flight number ... But only when two aircraft are accessible via the same gate. Granted I dont fly that much ... but Ive only seen this once or twice.
#477
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,815
My understanding was that it has to be shown on wide body planes and this was after a couple of cases when people boarded the wrong flights and didn't realize until after pushback and also after that weird HKG case 7 years ago when that young dude dressed in the old man mask managed to board and get to Canada wearing a disguise.
Supposedly a boarding pass check would have caught that guy
Supposedly a boarding pass check would have caught that guy
First, there is no difference between a narrow body and a wide body when it comes to BP checking with the gate agent. Why would they perform the check on the plane afterwards on dual isle planes but not on single ones?
Second, I could have a boarding pass saying anything ... they aren't checking ID, or scanning it, just a visual check of the BP. The only reason to check is to get people down the right aisle, anything else would be trivial to get around on purpose.
Third, when I flew a TPAC J this year I was chatting with the SD when I boarded because I was travelling with my broken foot. I was first on the plane, and she asked for by BP and I said "I'm in 2A" (or whatever it was) and I didn't want to drop my crutches to fish it out and she said oh that's fine. Waiting for the other PAX to start boarding we were chatting about how many people board and have no idea where they are going on the large wide bodies, hence why they ask.
Fourth, if they are really interested in avoiding people accidentally on the wrong plane there are other ways. For example, when the United EWR and ORD flights board at 6am from the same gate area in YOW they actually complete boarding and then announce the flight destination over the PA before they close the cabin door to catch people on the wrong flight, it happens so often. But the boarding for an AC widebody has gates so spaced apart it isn't like you are going to wander down the wrong jetway; the GA would have to screw up for you to get on the wrong flight.
#478
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Programs: *G
Posts: 2,304
As stated, the theory with BP presentation on widebodies is to make sure that pax are directed to the correct aisle - but there is a third possibility - if directed from the door "to the other side" of the aircraft, someone may end up in the catering truck (it's happened).
#480
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Delta, BC
Posts: 1,645
No kidding. I often resist the urge to tell a few fellow passengers that row 35 follows sequentially after row 33 and 34 and is well down from row 6 (or some such).