Last edit by: Adam Smith
AC link:
UPDATED HERE January 2, 2022
Boarding Process
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...g-by-zone.html
Pre-boarding: Customers who have requested wheelchair assistance
Zone 1: J and SE customers
Zone 2: 75K, 50K, 35K, 25K, Star Alliance Gold, Premium Economy, Latitude and Primary or Secondary Cardholder on Aeroplan black credit cards
Zone 2.5:
- Passengers travelling with children under the age of 6 or who require additional time to board the aircraft
- Passengers travelling with a musical instrument as part of their carry-on baggage
Zone 3: Comfort fares, passengers who purchased preferred seats in advance
Zones 3, 4 and 5: General boarding (back to front). AC Express flights will not have Zone 5.
Zone 6: Economy Basic
Companions travelling on the same PNR as an Aeroplan Elite/*Gold member will receive the same priority boarding zone.
UPDATED HERE January 2, 2022
Boarding Process
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...g-by-zone.html
Pre-boarding: Customers who have requested wheelchair assistance
Zone 1: J and SE customers
Zone 2: 75K, 50K, 35K, 25K, Star Alliance Gold, Premium Economy, Latitude and Primary or Secondary Cardholder on Aeroplan black credit cards
Zone 2.5:
- Passengers travelling with children under the age of 6 or who require additional time to board the aircraft
- Passengers travelling with a musical instrument as part of their carry-on baggage
Zone 3: Comfort fares, passengers who purchased preferred seats in advance
Zones 3, 4 and 5: General boarding (back to front). AC Express flights will not have Zone 5.
Zone 6: Economy Basic
Companions travelling on the same PNR as an Aeroplan Elite/*Gold member will receive the same priority boarding zone.
Original thread covering 2014-2019 can be found here
Zoned Boarding (2020 onwards)
#556
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: 16,617
Proper zoned boarding procedures were observed at YYZ on the way down, as they have been on past flights that I've taken to the Caribbean, so I don't agree with this assertion.
#557
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,140
Apparently NAS has a fun spin on boarding procedures. "Pre-boarding" is "passengers needing extra time, passengers with children under 4, Zone 1, and wheelchair passengers".
I realize the airport staff handle all of the flights here (i.e. not even AC contact personnel), but I don't think that's any airline's priority. Do they just make it up as they go along?
I realize the airport staff handle all of the flights here (i.e. not even AC contact personnel), but I don't think that's any airline's priority. Do they just make it up as they go along?
#558
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
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Posts: 16,617
Only about 800 times, so I'm still getting the hang of it
It's not the inconsistency that surprised me, it's the bizarre mishmash of groups they lumped together there, especially not doing wheelchairs beforehand like they should. That seems to be the one thing they do consistently, regardless of whatever hash they make of the rest of it.
It's not the inconsistency that surprised me, it's the bizarre mishmash of groups they lumped together there, especially not doing wheelchairs beforehand like they should. That seems to be the one thing they do consistently, regardless of whatever hash they make of the rest of it.
#559
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Air Canada - Super Elite, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 571
Good that things were as they should be on the way down at least! I was also a bit surprised when my flight from YYZ boarded how it did. I asked the GA on the way by if they werent following zoned boarding for some reason in this flight and she just shrugged it off, so wasnt sure if they just didnt care. Maybe more about that agent than the flight destination though.
#560
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YLW
Posts: 117
so frustrating
#561
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,815
For the opposite experience, I flew AC back from FLL in mid-January and the gate area was total chaos, zone 1 and 2 all jumbled together and people just everywhere. The GA called out 4 names including mine and when I got up to the gate pushing through the crowds he says "ah yes, my SEs". Then he scans our BPs, and then lets us stand past the gate away from the insanity and then lets us board before they even call zone 1. Couldn't have been happier.
#562
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,517
127 today at YYZ is another zoo. Three other zone 1 customers were stranded in the zone 1 lane watching the gate agents clearing zone 2-6. We were late to the gate due to late connecting flight, but this did not seem to be right. Later we were told the agent clearing zone 1 lane had trouble helping a passenger with special need, but there were two other agents there clearing other zones
#563
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: 16,617
If there's no agent dedicated to the Zone 1 line, or they're tied up with someone, I have no qualms about making my way from the head of the Z1 line to another agent. I'll usually give it a bit of time to try not to be a jerk about it, but if buddy in front of me doesn't remember where he put his passport or is trying to get his seat changed or something, and the GA doesn't have the good sense to move him out of the flow, I'm not going to let half the plane get on while I stand there. Like David Dingwall, I'm entitled to my entitlements!
#564
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Kamloops, BC
Programs: Air Canada-Aeroplan, NEXUS, E50K, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 344
Mex-yyz red eye just now. Flying J waiting around and they make the boarding announcement. Agent checking passports and then tells everyone who is using a phone they need a paper boarding pass. There was no overhead announcement for at least 45min before as lounges were closed and we were just hanging around.
Ended up having to wait for one agent to work her way through everyone and by the time got to us zone 4 was boarding. Almost no bin space in J. Quite irritating. I was not super enthused and did let the gate agent know there should have been an announcement saying everyone needs a paper boarding pass.
Not sure this is the correct thread but wonder what others would have done?
Ended up having to wait for one agent to work her way through everyone and by the time got to us zone 4 was boarding. Almost no bin space in J. Quite irritating. I was not super enthused and did let the gate agent know there should have been an announcement saying everyone needs a paper boarding pass.
Not sure this is the correct thread but wonder what others would have done?
#565
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,183
Mex-yyz red eye just now. Flying J waiting around and they make the boarding announcement. Agent checking passports and then tells everyone who is using a phone they need a paper boarding pass. There was no overhead announcement for at least 45min before as lounges were closed and we were just hanging around.
Ended up having to wait for one agent to work her way through everyone and by the time got to us zone 4 was boarding. Almost no bin space in J. Quite irritating. I was not super enthused and did let the gate agent know there should have been an announcement saying everyone needs a paper boarding pass.
Not sure this is the correct thread but wonder what others would have done?
Ended up having to wait for one agent to work her way through everyone and by the time got to us zone 4 was boarding. Almost no bin space in J. Quite irritating. I was not super enthused and did let the gate agent know there should have been an announcement saying everyone needs a paper boarding pass.
Not sure this is the correct thread but wonder what others would have done?
#566
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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Mex-yyz red eye just now. Flying J waiting around and they make the boarding announcement. Agent checking passports and then tells everyone who is using a phone they need a paper boarding pass. There was no overhead announcement for at least 45min before as lounges were closed and we were just hanging around.
Ended up having to wait for one agent to work her way through everyone and by the time got to us zone 4 was boarding. Almost no bin space in J. Quite irritating. I was not super enthused and did let the gate agent know there should have been an announcement saying everyone needs a paper boarding pass.
Not sure this is the correct thread but wonder what others would have done?
Ended up having to wait for one agent to work her way through everyone and by the time got to us zone 4 was boarding. Almost no bin space in J. Quite irritating. I was not super enthused and did let the gate agent know there should have been an announcement saying everyone needs a paper boarding pass.
Not sure this is the correct thread but wonder what others would have done?
#567
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Kamloops, BC
Programs: Air Canada-Aeroplan, NEXUS, E50K, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 344
I guess moving on I will do that. But do you seriously do a doc check on every single flight you go on? Lol a tad annoying and anal retentive but a good way to ensure it doesn't happen again.
#568
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC-E50K, *G, WS-Gold, Nexus, HH-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, Hertz-PC
Posts: 181
#569
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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It's definitely possible to do one without actually getting paper printed, but it's a lot easier for them to quickly know one way or the other if you have paper. I don't like it, but I understand it.