Aug 26, 22, 6:21 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)
Jan 14, 20, 6:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE, Bonvoy Tit/LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Enterprise Gold, UA*S, Accor Gold, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,378
Zoned Boarding (2020 onwards)
So last night on AC967 I noticed that the zone 1 lineup was a little long. Started chatting with a family in the line that told me they were given zone 1 to compensate for the 4hr delay. I found that interesting. I mentioned to them that zone 1 is supposed to be reserved for Business Class or Super Elite and they told me they were neither.
Another interesting tidbit was that on the outbound a few days earlier (AC966) I overheard the gate agent saying there were 66 people in zone 1...Based on the meal orders and the onboard product manager (or whatever they are called, the agents that roam various flights to make sure everyone is happy) I was one of maybe 2 SE's in the business cabin.
Another interesting tidbit was that on the outbound a few days earlier (AC966) I overheard the gate agent saying there were 66 people in zone 1...Based on the meal orders and the onboard product manager (or whatever they are called, the agents that roam various flights to make sure everyone is happy) I was one of maybe 2 SE's in the business cabin.
Last edited by Nitehawk; Jan 15, 20 at 2:32 am Reason: Add details of AC966
Jan 14, 20, 7:11 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, AA PPro, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 43,531
So last night on AC967 I noticed that the zone 1 lineup was a little long. Started chatting with a family in the line that told me they were given zone 1 to compensate for the 4hr delay. I found that interesting. I mentioned to them that zone 1 is supposed to be reserved for Business Class or Super Elite and they told me they were neither. Another interesting tidbit was that on the outbound a few days earlier (AC966) I overheard the gate agent saying there were 66 people in zone 1...Based on the meal orders and the onboard product manager (or whatever they are called, the agents that roam various flights to make sure everyone is happy) I was one of maybe 2 SE's in the business cabin.
That seems unlikely, but not impossible.
Jan 14, 20, 7:37 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,746
Sunday at YVR, boarding a flight to PHX.
Departure time, 40 minutes past boarding time, no boarding announcements yet. Obviously the flight is departing late, but being bored and all I ask the male GA for an estimated delay. He says, annoyed, "can't you see I've already started boarding?" Then he says - in a normal voice, not on the PA: "Zone 4." Turns out he's been "boarding" for 15 or 20 minutes whoever is standing within earshot of the podium (keep in mind this is one of the gates that shares a seating area with the adjacent gates - the GAs of which are all making PA announcements that drown out whatever our GA is saying) and thinks he's about to complete boarding despite having, by my estimate when I got on the plane, about 12 people on a 767. When I board, I ask the agent who scans my BP: "do you realize you aren't making any announcements and no one knows you're boarding?" She shrugs, nods in the direction of the male GA and says "this is how he prefers to do it".
I'm more baffled than annoyed.
Departure time, 40 minutes past boarding time, no boarding announcements yet. Obviously the flight is departing late, but being bored and all I ask the male GA for an estimated delay. He says, annoyed, "can't you see I've already started boarding?" Then he says - in a normal voice, not on the PA: "Zone 4." Turns out he's been "boarding" for 15 or 20 minutes whoever is standing within earshot of the podium (keep in mind this is one of the gates that shares a seating area with the adjacent gates - the GAs of which are all making PA announcements that drown out whatever our GA is saying) and thinks he's about to complete boarding despite having, by my estimate when I got on the plane, about 12 people on a 767. When I board, I ask the agent who scans my BP: "do you realize you aren't making any announcements and no one knows you're boarding?" She shrugs, nods in the direction of the male GA and says "this is how he prefers to do it".
I'm more baffled than annoyed.
Jan 18, 20, 4:04 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: BA blue,, aeroplan 25K
Posts: 1,020
Our boarding zone on aot boarding pass has *.
no number: we shally get zone 2 with our Aeroplan visa infinite or whatever its 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 thats why its not listed
no number: we shally get zone 2 with our Aeroplan visa infinite or whatever its 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 thats why its not listed
Jan 18, 20, 4:07 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2001
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 709
Our boarding zone on aot boarding pass has *.
no number: we shally get zone 2 with our Aeroplan visa infinite or whatever its 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 thats why its not listed
no number: we shally get zone 2 with our Aeroplan visa infinite or whatever its 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 thats why its not listed
Feb 2, 20, 4:18 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 180
Back in November, YYC-SFO outbound, LAX-YVR-YYC inbound, I was P25K while my 2 companions had no status. I somehow had Zone 2 (I expected Zone 3 since I only bought the standard fare) on my BP while they had Zone 4, this happened for all the flights. I asked the agent in YYC and SFO why that is when I went to check bags and they had no idea.
Feb 2, 20, 4:27 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, AA PPro, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 43,531
Being on the same PNR has never been sufficient to share zones with lower-status companions.
You also need to check in at the same time. Through OLCI, that's easy. Check all the boxes.
At the counter, more often than not, they seem to check us in "separately", so I get zone 1, and my companion does not.
You also need to check in at the same time. Through OLCI, that's easy. Check all the boxes.
At the counter, more often than not, they seem to check us in "separately", so I get zone 1, and my companion does not.
Feb 2, 20, 4:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 180
Did the OLCI check in with all 3 at the same time, the counter was literally just for bag drop
Feb 7, 20, 1:35 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K, AC-3MM, Marriott- LT Titanium, SPG RIP
Posts: 2,924
Feb 10, 20, 11:41 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK *G
Posts: 2,921
Feb 10, 20, 12:08 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, AA PPro, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 43,531
YYZ-YUL that's much less likely.
LAX-YYZ... there were people in zone 1.
