Aug 26, 2022, 5:21 pm
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)
Mar 30, 2023, 6:35 pm
#616
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: 44,353
I think part of it is that you're just less likely to really take issue if the combined zone 1+2 is 5 people.
When I want to board early, I don't care if 3 people in Y get on before me. It's when zone 2 is 50 people that I care about properly calling zone 1, making sure those pax can actually get to the podium, and enforcing the zone.
It's worse when zone 2 is 50 people and zone 1 is just me and they call them together, and when questioned say "you're the only one in zone 1 so it didn't make sense to do them together". Yes, it definitely makes sense there. If zone 1 is 50 people and zone 2 is 1 person, then it doesn't really matter.
When I want to board early, I don't care if 3 people in Y get on before me. It's when zone 2 is 50 people that I care about properly calling zone 1, making sure those pax can actually get to the podium, and enforcing the zone.
It's worse when zone 2 is 50 people and zone 1 is just me and they call them together, and when questioned say "you're the only one in zone 1 so it didn't make sense to do them together". Yes, it definitely makes sense there. If zone 1 is 50 people and zone 2 is 1 person, then it doesn't really matter.
Mar 31, 2023, 4:07 pm
#617
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Ottawa, Canada + Edinburgh, Scotland
Programs: AC SE, Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 815
Instead of a beep, there should be a loud announcement, audible for 100 feet in every direction: 'Sorry, you are in zone 3. Please wait your turn.'
Mar 31, 2023, 4:31 pm
#618
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: AC 75k
Posts: 704
YYZ-YOW last week there was a long line at gate for zone 3+, so I just sat down. Then for some reason the whole mass of humanity started moving forward with no announcement. Seeing the action, I got up to join the 1/2 line and watched the 3+ line forcing forward while I took my time pondering with Z1/2. Within a minute or two there was a , "Boarding for Zone one only at this time." announcement. Suddenly everything halted. I politely barged my way through the 1/2 corridor. Not sure if the crowd surge overwhelmed the system or if a junior agent goofed. All said though, there was no Zone 1 announcement prior to initial boarding for sure.
Mar 31, 2023, 11:06 pm
#619
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,923
I thought I last experienced this at the NH gate in NRT. According to one company; https://www.dormakaba.com/us-en/solu...g-gates-293606 the system is at multiple airports.. I believe that Lufthansa uses the Swift Boarding Gate format in Frankfurt and Munich The format is used at Incheon airport on skyteam flights. I am surprised that Air Canada doesn't use on its long haul flights. Yes,its an investment, but it makes boarding so much faster and easier. I suppose the argument is that photo id must be checked, but surely AC could do what EVA does and that is to verify the people in line as they go before they go through the gates. It boggles the mind how many people still dont have their id available or their boarding passes out when they go to board.We are called elitist when we complain about the mess at boarding, and yet we pay for that priority boarding, just as we pay for seat selection (either as a direct payment or as an indirect payment though our FF activity.)
Apr 1, 2023, 5:16 am
#620
Join Date: May 2021
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC
Posts: 27
I suppose the argument is that photo id must be checked, but surely AC could do what EVA does and that is to verify the people in line as they go before they go through the gates. It boggles the mind how many people still dont have their id available or their boarding passes out when they go to board.We are called elitist when we complain about the mess at boarding, and yet we pay for that priority boarding, just as we pay for seat selection (either as a direct payment or as an indirect payment though our FF activity.)
Apr 1, 2023, 5:37 pm
#621
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,567
Just wanted to report a great zone experience on 106 this morning.
Lines 2+ were filled up as expected even before the flight arrived. There was no one in zone 1 until it was time for boarding and then we made our way up.
It was a nice changed
Lines 2+ were filled up as expected even before the flight arrived. There was no one in zone 1 until it was time for boarding and then we made our way up.
It was a nice changed
Apr 1, 2023, 11:01 pm
#623
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,316
Apr 2, 2023, 7:40 am
#624
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 23
Our boarding zone on août boarding pass has *.
no number: we shally get zone 2 with our Aeroplan visa infinite or whatever it’s called. We requested a wheelchair at the arrival city as they need to be booked. In Toronto we usually just pick one up when arrive at YYZ I push my wife :
would the wheelchair request replace any boarding zone and that’s why it’s not listed
no number: we shally get zone 2 with our Aeroplan visa infinite or whatever it’s called. We requested a wheelchair at the arrival city as they need to be booked. In Toronto we usually just pick one up when arrive at YYZ I push my wife :
would the wheelchair request replace any boarding zone and that’s why it’s not listed
Apr 2, 2023, 8:33 am
#625
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,805
Seems like this follows up on an older article.
But yes, if requiring assistance, you get a * instead of a zone. And they board you first if my memory is correct, before zone 1. (Has been a few years but before my wife got her hip replacement, for a while we requested assistance for her.)
Apr 2, 2023, 12:54 pm
#626
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,316
Seems like this follows up on an older article.
But yes, if requiring assistance, you get a * instead of a zone. And they board you first if my memory is correct, before zone 1. (Has been a few years but before my wife got her hip replacement, for a while we requested assistance for her.)
But yes, if requiring assistance, you get a * instead of a zone. And they board you first if my memory is correct, before zone 1. (Has been a few years but before my wife got her hip replacement, for a while we requested assistance for her.)
Yes you have PRE instead of a zone number and you do board first and while the AC agent assists you, your entire entourage goes ahead of you and gets to board also
Apr 2, 2023, 1:12 pm
#627
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,805
You miss a detail: then after the whole tribe has boarded, a miracle takes place and suddenly the person in a wheelchair walks like a charm.
But then that's another story. Some people think they are smarter than you and me...
Apr 2, 2023, 1:20 pm
#628
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,316
LOL oh, Ya I forgot that. The miracle of flight. When waiting for DXB, HKG, LHR there are about 50 wheelchairs, and upon arrival 3 wheelchairs
Apr 2, 2023, 5:32 pm
#629
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,167
That's not always a scam. My parents can both walk ... but they are not good with long distances, nor standing for a long time - so they both now request wheelchairs at the airport. They are both quite comfortable walking down the ramp to board, it's the "in-airport" experience they need help managing.
Apr 2, 2023, 6:23 pm
#630
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,805
That's not always a scam. My parents can both walk ... but they are not good with long distances, nor standing for a long time - so they both now request wheelchairs at the airport. They are both quite comfortable walking down the ramp to board, it's the "in-airport" experience they need help managing.
But then, it's only the two of them, not a whole tribe...
As I mentioned, at one point my wife also asked for assistance. She too could walk short distances, just painful.