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So what do the bp scanners at gate actually do?

So what do the bp scanners at gate actually do?

Old Feb 7, 2019 | 6:24 pm
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So what do the bp scanners at gate actually do?

On AC112 on Monday we were boarding at C48 which is really tight with C47 or 49 - don't know which. That gate was boarding a flight to YUL at the same time.

2 pax in J (including one guy who I was thrilled to see leave given his behavior in the few minutes he was aboard the aircraft) and a few from Y ended up having to leave our aircraft because "oh crap, I'm on the wrong plane!" Not that they would have known that in time had there not been seat snafus because of it.

So how does this happen? What exactly is the BP scanner telling the GA when it gets scanned? Are they simply doing a name match at that point?
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 6:26 pm
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When I've accidentally/unintentionally boarded at the wrong gate at YYZ, there is some sort of error message with some red that pops up advising that I'm the doofus of the moment.
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 6:28 pm
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My guess is they not only do that but also record that the passenger has actually boarded. Marking the coupon as used, etc.
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 6:29 pm
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Originally Posted by yyznomad
When I've accidentally/unintentionally boarded at the wrong gate at YYZ, there is some sort of error message with some red that pops up advising that I'm the doofus of the moment.
So the GA was out to lunch enough to ignore the red light multiple times? Yikes.
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 6:38 pm
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Sometimes when BPs don't scan properly, GAs will look at the BP and mark you boarded by entering your seat number, e.g. 2A.

If they're not paying attention to your BP, that could be part of it. Although how a second person gets on with the same seat number, I'm not quite sure. Perhaps it also flags red and the GA simply attributes it to a system error since the person's BP is indeed valid. But I'm speculating now.
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 6:51 pm
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Originally Posted by Adam Smith
Sometimes when BPs don't scan properly, GAs will look at the BP and mark you boarded by entering your seat number, e.g. 2A.

If they're not paying attention to your BP, that could be part of it. Although how a second person gets on with the same seat number, I'm not quite sure. Perhaps it also flags red and the GA simply attributes it to a system error since the person's BP is indeed valid. But I'm speculating now.
That's what I'd guess.

The SCANNER will not allow you to board the wrong flight.

But the GAs just type in your seat number when they do it manually, and then SHOULD be doing a name check, but apparently not always

One time I attempted to board the wrong flight in SNA because UA had two SNA-SFO flights beside each other, boarding simultaneously, but the scanner errored out. Though it did NOT make the problem obvious. The GA typed in my seat number, then was confused when the name didn't match, then finally realized I was at the wrong gate.
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 7:08 pm
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Recently I had a seat mate do an "oh crap" dash at YYZ. Left his book in the pocket too. That's why I was so angry when the agent mocked my concern over front a red light when boarding AC in AMS. You don't want to be a solo deaf person in some remote place you didn't plan to go. Grr
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 7:27 pm
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So consensus is that this GA failed to do their basic function not once but 4 or 5 times inside 15 minutes?

Wow.
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 7:34 pm
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Originally Posted by WaytoomuchEurope
So consensus is that this GA failed to do their basic function not once but 4 or 5 times inside 15 minutes?

Wow.
Consensus ? No ! This is FT.
Very likely, yes.
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