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)
May 4, 2024, 8:17 pm
#1051
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,375
Boarded and no wifi, not going to enjoy this thread. Sarcasm is such a fine art. Good boarding, I looked as I was the only SE in line. Folks behind me with PY fares and zone 2 boarded with me. Only five wheel chairs and I loved the fact there was no entourages. Eleven seniors and one prisoner and then zone 1.
Now i get to enjoy this long journey between a family with a whiny crying kid. so there is karma, I am being punished for saying what i said. I see this kid going back and fourth between mom and dad and the constant chatter between the family as I sit in the middle in the 2-2-2 configuration. Oh ya he has a tablet with no head set.....yup karma is spanking me with a hard paddle......with spikes.
Now i get to enjoy this long journey between a family with a whiny crying kid. so there is karma, I am being punished for saying what i said. I see this kid going back and fourth between mom and dad and the constant chatter between the family as I sit in the middle in the 2-2-2 configuration. Oh ya he has a tablet with no head set.....yup karma is spanking me with a hard paddle......with spikes.
May 5, 2024, 7:52 am
#1053
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,932
I also noticed that on the 321 the bins over the rear exit row, where you need them most, are used for the emergency equipment and you cant put stuff under the seats ahead. 🙄. Next time Ill take a preferred seat at the front.
May 5, 2024, 8:25 am
#1054
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,674
I cleared using a CPAP machine on an overnight flight, which I have done many times before, with AC medical, and once my boarding pass came back wtih PRE. Wasn't sure when to board so I boarded with Zone 1 (I was in J) but I guess I could have went earlier.
May 5, 2024, 10:23 am
#1056
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YOW
Programs: AC P(easant)25K
Posts: 282
May 5, 2024, 12:05 pm
#1057
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,283
I'm pretty sure that I could identify seniors in the wild, but how did you figure out that someone was a prisoner (I'm assuming here that this was literal and not metaphorical)?
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
May 5, 2024, 12:21 pm
#1058
Join Date: Sep 2023
Programs: AC 75K, BAEC Gold, NCC Plat, HHG
Posts: 9
They want to get the bags to be checked over to the ground crew as early as possible which is probably why giving zone 2 boarding is a convenient thing to offer for AC.
May 5, 2024, 12:27 pm
#1059
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,864
I'm pretty sure that I could identify seniors in the wild, but how did you figure out that someone was a prisoner (I'm assuming here that this was literal and not metaphorical)?
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
But anyway, seniors don't qualify for preboarding, except if having mobility issues. So were these senior with claimed mobility problems, or just senior?
(Before she had hip replacement surgery, for a while, my wife would ask for assistance and we would preboard. Also last year while abroad, I hurt my Achilles heel and walking was painful, so I asked too. however on the day of the flight, I felt I could walk as long as not too fast, In both instances, it was PRE instead of Zone 1 so not a big deal. But I don't believe we abused the system.)
May 5, 2024, 1:43 pm
#1060
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,932
I'm pretty sure that I could identify seniors in the wild, but how did you figure out that someone was a prisoner (I'm assuming here that this was literal and not metaphorical)?
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
May 5, 2024, 1:44 pm
#1061
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet, Marriott, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,185
I'm pretty sure that I could identify seniors in the wild, but how did you figure out that someone was a prisoner (I'm assuming here that this was literal and not metaphorical)?
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
Restraint method depends on agency and available equipment.
Prisoners pre-board for the ease of the person escorting the prisoner.
May 5, 2024, 3:16 pm
#1062
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,375
I'm pretty sure that I could identify seniors in the wild, but how did you figure out that someone was a prisoner (I'm assuming here that this was literal and not metaphorical)?
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
And since when did prisoners get to board before Zone 1? AC is becoming more like United every day.
Yes the eleven seniors, I classified them as being older than me (I am old) they had both PRE and regular zones 4,5, but as long as you lined up behind the wheel chairs the agent would ask if you need additional time to board, well who says no to that. When we boarded there was a hold up, so these seniors walked slowed, some with a limp etc. we were stopped half way on the bridge because the crew were not ready....so we waited and then we went on and most walked normal to the plane. The prisoner was escorted, no shackles because of safety I guess but two very strongly built plain clothes officers. The BP and fare would be in the prisoners name so he would earn points? I say prisoner but could just be a detaineee.