CDG 2F - New Zone Boarding process - AF Medium-haul
Feb 20, 2019, 12:57 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: French based in PRG, CDG.
Programs: AZ Executive (STE+) - FB Silver (STÉ)- Lounge Key
Posts: 143
CDG 2F - New Zone Boarding process - STE zone 3 - no more chaos?
Hello,
Following a recent trip over CDG 2F, I noticed that AF started to deploy the zone boarding (J/SP = 1-2; STE and coach: 3,4,5) for their medium-haul flights.
Does it really help to rule and get rid of the total chaos with all pax and get lices rushing at the gate?
I noticed that GA are trying hard to enforce this policy by checking the zones at the lane entrance, but still.
I think it really helps the STE as they will be part of Zone 3 to exerce their priority right after SP but before Y.
So far SP 1-2 sign show back again STE.... not really consistent
I will try to attach a picture.
Following a recent trip over CDG 2F, I noticed that AF started to deploy the zone boarding (J/SP = 1-2; STE and coach: 3,4,5) for their medium-haul flights.
Does it really help to rule and get rid of the total chaos with all pax and get lices rushing at the gate?
I noticed that GA are trying hard to enforce this policy by checking the zones at the lane entrance, but still.
I think it really helps the STE as they will be part of Zone 3 to exerce their priority right after SP but before Y.
So far SP 1-2 sign show back again STE.... not really consistent
I will try to attach a picture.
Last edited by catsniper75; Feb 20, 2019 at 2:41 am Reason: picture
Feb 20, 2019, 3:57 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: FR
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 298
There is already not enough space in this terminal to correctly deal with two zones for boarding, I would not expect them to be able to manage it better with 5 zones.
I would personally find a proper use of the lounges' FIDS to show information about delays (and prevent ppl from congesting the boarding area when they could have waited longer in the lounge) more valuable for STE+...
I would personally find a proper use of the lounges' FIDS to show information about delays (and prevent ppl from congesting the boarding area when they could have waited longer in the lounge) more valuable for STE+...
Feb 20, 2019, 7:23 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Valencia, Paris
Programs: FB Gold, IB Plus Plata
Posts: 164
There is already not enough space in this terminal to correctly deal with two zones for boarding, I would not expect them to be able to manage it better with 5 zones.
I would personally find a proper use of the lounges' FIDS to show information about delays (and prevent ppl from congesting the boarding area when they could have waited longer in the lounge) more valuable for STE+...
I would personally find a proper use of the lounges' FIDS to show information about delays (and prevent ppl from congesting the boarding area when they could have waited longer in the lounge) more valuable for STE+...
2F is often a stressful experience for boarding procedures, even for Elite Plus. And Zone Boarding is not a good solution. It adds more complication and stress.
AMS and FCO have very efficient boarding for schengen flights by enforcing the SP Line. At CDG 2F, most of the time they let everybody board at the same time than SP passengers.
Feb 21, 2019, 4:22 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: EUR
Programs: FB Plat./BA Gold (thanks BD)/A3 *Gold/HH Diamond/A Club Gold
Posts: 918
I had this experience flying CDG to Heathrow this morning from 2E (L satellite gate L25).
Very unpleasant!
Because of the crampt area around the gate there was one Sky Priority queue to approach the boarding area which then subtly split into two after going around a corner: Sky Priority Zone 1 and Sky Priority Zone 2.
Obviously most people (including me) weren't aware of this so were just following the person in front - then I noticed lots of people being turned away from the gate "No, no, you're not Zone 1, you're Zone 2....", luckily I noticed in time and checked my zone just in time to avoid embarrasment and got back up into the Zone 2 Queue... but really... The non-Priority pax were having a good laugh at all the priority people being turned away.
It certainly didn't speed anything up, just created a lot embarassment/frustration/confusion/stress - bad idea, badly implemented.
Not sure what the breakdown between one 1 and Zone 2 is... If zone 1 is limited to J passangers fair enough on long haul, but an A319?, there were only 6 on the plane when I finally boarded, so hardly worth the effort (certainly not worth annoying all the other Sky Priority passengers).
As Plat for LIfe, paying a good (but not quite full) fare behind the curtain I have to wonder who gets Zone 1?
Very unpleasant!
Because of the crampt area around the gate there was one Sky Priority queue to approach the boarding area which then subtly split into two after going around a corner: Sky Priority Zone 1 and Sky Priority Zone 2.
Obviously most people (including me) weren't aware of this so were just following the person in front - then I noticed lots of people being turned away from the gate "No, no, you're not Zone 1, you're Zone 2....", luckily I noticed in time and checked my zone just in time to avoid embarrasment and got back up into the Zone 2 Queue... but really... The non-Priority pax were having a good laugh at all the priority people being turned away.
It certainly didn't speed anything up, just created a lot embarassment/frustration/confusion/stress - bad idea, badly implemented.
Not sure what the breakdown between one 1 and Zone 2 is... If zone 1 is limited to J passangers fair enough on long haul, but an A319?, there were only 6 on the plane when I finally boarded, so hardly worth the effort (certainly not worth annoying all the other Sky Priority passengers).
As Plat for LIfe, paying a good (but not quite full) fare behind the curtain I have to wonder who gets Zone 1?
Feb 21, 2019, 6:00 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: French based in PRG, CDG.
Programs: AZ Executive (STE+) - FB Silver (STÉ)- Lounge Key
Posts: 143
Zoning on Long-haul OK - Medium-haul NOK - To report on SkyPriority panel ?
I had this experience flying CDG to Heathrow this morning from 2E (L satellite gate L25).
Very unpleasant!
Because of the crampt area around the gate there was one Sky Priority queue to approach the boarding area which then subtly split into two after going around a corner: Sky Priority Zone 1 and Sky Priority Zone 2.
Obviously most people (including me) weren't aware of this so were just following the person in front - then I noticed lots of people being turned away from the gate "No, no, you're not Zone 1, you're Zone 2....", luckily I noticed in time and checked my zone just in time to avoid embarrasment and got back up into the Zone 2 Queue... but really... The non-Priority pax were having a good laugh at all the priority people being turned away.
It certainly didn't speed anything up, just created a lot embarassment/frustration/confusion/stress - bad idea, badly implemented.
Not sure what the breakdown between one 1 and Zone 2 is... If zone 1 is limited to J passangers fair enough on long haul, but an A319?, there were only 6 on the plane when I finally boarded, so hardly worth the effort (certainly not worth annoying all the other Sky Priority passengers).
As Plat for LIfe, paying a good (but not quite full) fare behind the curtain I have to wonder who gets Zone 1?
Very unpleasant!
Because of the crampt area around the gate there was one Sky Priority queue to approach the boarding area which then subtly split into two after going around a corner: Sky Priority Zone 1 and Sky Priority Zone 2.
Obviously most people (including me) weren't aware of this so were just following the person in front - then I noticed lots of people being turned away from the gate "No, no, you're not Zone 1, you're Zone 2....", luckily I noticed in time and checked my zone just in time to avoid embarrasment and got back up into the Zone 2 Queue... but really... The non-Priority pax were having a good laugh at all the priority people being turned away.
It certainly didn't speed anything up, just created a lot embarassment/frustration/confusion/stress - bad idea, badly implemented.
Not sure what the breakdown between one 1 and Zone 2 is... If zone 1 is limited to J passangers fair enough on long haul, but an A319?, there were only 6 on the plane when I finally boarded, so hardly worth the effort (certainly not worth annoying all the other Sky Priority passengers).
As Plat for LIfe, paying a good (but not quite full) fare behind the curtain I have to wonder who gets Zone 1?
Maybe we should report it to the SkyPriority panel app
Feb 21, 2019, 8:00 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: FB platinum
Posts: 372
A true issue is when there is no enforcement of SP at all (e.g in TLS), but this is probably fine I think!
Feb 21, 2019, 2:00 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: French based in PRG, CDG.
Programs: AZ Executive (STE+) - FB Silver (STÉ)- Lounge Key
Posts: 143
Expérience : generally SP correctly enforced at 2F
+1
2F is often a stressful experience for boarding procedures, even for Elite Plus. And Zone Boarding is not a good solution. It adds more complication and stress.
AMS and FCO have very efficient boarding for schengen flights by enforcing the SP Line. At CDG 2F, most of the time they let everybody board at the same time than SP passengers.
Generally a GA stands at the entrance of the SP lane.
If they are not here early to remove the coach gate lices, a loudly and proper « Non mais il y a tout ça en SkyPriority?! » or « This lane is for SkyPriority only » is sufficient to rule the lane and generally 10-15 SP pax remain 🤓.
Et les moutons seront bien gardés.
Last edited by catsniper75; Feb 23, 2019 at 6:25 pm
Feb 21, 2019, 3:40 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,909
I wonder why everyone finds the zone boarding great with US airlines, even for domestic flights with cramped gates, but not with AF for medium- and short-haul flights 
Zone 1 is for J, Ultimates, Club2000/Skipper.
Zone 1 is for J, Ultimates, Club2000/Skipper.
Feb 22, 2019, 6:20 am
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Location: EUR
Programs: FB Plat./BA Gold (thanks BD)/A3 *Gold/HH Diamond/A Club Gold
Posts: 918
Fair enough - to be clear I have no problem with the concept, Just the execution. Poor signage and mixed queueing at the beginning meaning that most of the zone2 pax ended up in zone1 and being turned away quite bruskly by the diligent gate staff.
As a result it took about 5 minutes to boards the +\- 6 zone 1 pax whilst annoying a lot of other elite pax (not not including me as I had realized just in time).
Better execution with better signage it would be great. By when they can't (certain gates) or for smaller planes it just created more disruption/délais to everyone - including the zone 1 pax....
As a result it took about 5 minutes to boards the +\- 6 zone 1 pax whilst annoying a lot of other elite pax (not not including me as I had realized just in time).
Better execution with better signage it would be great. By when they can't (certain gates) or for smaller planes it just created more disruption/délais to everyone - including the zone 1 pax....
Last edited by jsfr; Feb 22, 2019 at 11:23 am
Feb 23, 2019, 1:30 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,909
I boarded yesterday in 2F and there were 2 lanes as usual. One labeled “SkyPrio zone 1&2” and one labeled “zone 3, 4 & 5”. Surprisingly, I saw someone who had a BP with Sky Priority written on it but zone 3
Could that be for Silver members ?
Could that be for Silver members ?
Feb 23, 2019, 1:35 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,909
Fair enough - to be clear I have no problem with the concept, Just the execution. Poor signage and mixed queueing at the beginning meaning that most of the zone2 pax ended up in zone1 and being turned away quite bruskly by the diligent gate staff.
As a result it took about 5 minutes to boards the +\- 6 zone 1 pax whilst annoying a lot of other elite pax (not not including me as I had realized just in time).
Better execution with better signage it would be great. By when they can't (certain gates) or for smaller planes it just created more disruption/délais to everyone - including the zone 1 pax....
As a result it took about 5 minutes to boards the +\- 6 zone 1 pax whilst annoying a lot of other elite pax (not not including me as I had realized just in time).
Better execution with better signage it would be great. By when they can't (certain gates) or for smaller planes it just created more disruption/délais to everyone - including the zone 1 pax....
Feb 23, 2019, 2:04 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: French based in PRG, CDG.
Programs: AZ Executive (STE+) - FB Silver (STÉ)- Lounge Key
Posts: 143
Silver/ STE - Zone 3 - No SP
Maybe the case you saw was a bug, a flex fare or a negotiated business fare not properly coded, a transit with higher class (W/ J/ F) on previous leg ?
Who knows.
Last edited by catsniper75; Feb 23, 2019 at 3:06 am
Feb 23, 2019, 2:08 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: French based in PRG, CDG.
Programs: AZ Executive (STE+) - FB Silver (STÉ)- Lounge Key
Posts: 143
this a new era, the revenge of non-Status Y gate lices pax has started 😁
Feb 23, 2019, 6:58 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,980
I didn't have zone boarding back in Déc but remember my boarding pass only remarked my Silver status, no "Sky priority" written on it. Still boarded in the priority line after the first group after showing my card, before the main Y passengers.