why was everyone zone 2 (YVZ > YVR AC121)
Feb 6, 2018, 9:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: YVR/YEG/YYZ depending on day
Programs: E35K, FPC Platinum
Posts: 392
why was everyone zone 2 (YVZ > YVR AC121)
I'm taking this flight today.
The last time I took this flight last week, I was amazed how many zone 2 pax there were! I thought people were lined up in the wrong zone, or one line was spilling over into another (which often happens when people queue up super early). I was in paid PY with zone 2 and this line looked like how the classic zone 4 or zone 5 lines looked. Everyone was indeed zone 2!
This is the first time I saw that. I saw people leave the boarding area (presumably going back to the lounge to wait out the long line).
Any reason for this?
The last time I took this flight last week, I was amazed how many zone 2 pax there were! I thought people were lined up in the wrong zone, or one line was spilling over into another (which often happens when people queue up super early). I was in paid PY with zone 2 and this line looked like how the classic zone 4 or zone 5 lines looked. Everyone was indeed zone 2!
This is the first time I saw that. I saw people leave the boarding area (presumably going back to the lounge to wait out the long line).
Any reason for this?
Last edited by YVRYEGYVR; Feb 8, 2018 at 12:57 pm Reason: Correct: This should read YYZ - YVR!
Feb 6, 2018, 9:45 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: YVR/YEG/YYZ depending on day
Programs: E35K, FPC Platinum
Posts: 392
Will see if its the same today. I'm usually also zone 2 because of a credit card so I'm adding to the length of that line =)
Feb 6, 2018, 9:50 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
People line up in the wrong boarding zone all the time, but YVR-YYZ-YVR is an elite heavy route. Could have been a mixture of both.
You'd be shocked if you flew UA, it's not uncommon to see 60+ people on the CPU list for every hub-hub flight. Almost everyone has status.
You'd be shocked if you flew UA, it's not uncommon to see 60+ people on the CPU list for every hub-hub flight. Almost everyone has status.
Feb 6, 2018, 9:57 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Bonvoy LTE
Posts: 1,881
On UA, I've seen 80% of the flight on the CPU list and when boarding began, overhead space was full on an A320 by the time Group 1 finished boarding. This was BOS to ORD/IAH.
Feb 6, 2018, 12:11 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: YYC
Programs: AC*SE, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 570
This time of year is also particularly bad since you've got both individuals which had status for 2017 as well as those who have recently earned it for 2018. After March 1st things tend to improve somewhat (although not a huge amount).
Maybe OP can change the title?
Feb 6, 2018, 2:47 pm
#9
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
Feb 6, 2018, 10:00 pm
#10
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: 16,780
The real answer is that AC has cheapened Zone 2 boarding by giving it to so many people.
Feb 6, 2018, 11:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: OZ Diamond, Jiffypark Manhattan Gold
Posts: 4,485
I was under the impression Star Gold was zone 1, maybe it used to be before the most recent round of changes? On lots of the signs I see that logo is still present on the zone 1, I've been going zone 1 almost all the time. Don't rat me out!
Feb 6, 2018, 11:14 pm
#12
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: 44,357
*G has never been zone 1.
Feb 6, 2018, 11:38 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,924
Thank you for confirming what I thought but hesitated to ask. I have been on the YYZ-YVR -YYZ route about 4X in the past year. On the widebody I saw the SD doing an erratic pattern to visit each pax and it was obvious she was taking the meal orders for the SE100s , who easily made up 30-40% of the cabin. It is more evident on the AB320 equipment as my last flight had maybe 2 non status, 2 crew, 2 E50 and everyone else SE100 or E75. (I saw the tags on the bags).
Feb 7, 2018, 8:55 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
It always perplexes me what the advantage - other than egotism - is obtained by displaying cheap plastic status tags. When our packages arrive each year, they're the first things to be scissored and discarded. I saw one guy the other day with four pieces* of carry-on, each with his SE100K tag (some presumably from years past). Perhaps a manifestation of some deep insecurity? My own card is on my airline app, although I'm not sure I've had to display it to anybody.
* yet we wonder how the bins fill up by the end of Zone 2.
* yet we wonder how the bins fill up by the end of Zone 2.
Feb 7, 2018, 10:47 am
#15
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
I doubt I'll ever convince the RCHHMP constabulary that such tags are only displayed to stroke the owners' egos, but in my datapoint-of-one, there have been tangible benefits.
I was under the impression that the SE package contains 4 luggage tags.