Now Boarding Group D as in Death?
Aug 18, 2019, 10:48 pm
#1
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Now Boarding Group D as in Death?
So, I was next to the AS gate at PHX when the GA said Now Boarding Group B as in Barrel, can't remember what he said for C and then Group D as in Death.
Maybe he said Depth but multiple of us heard Death.
Really?
I don't fly AS - is the "letter boarding zone" thing an AS thing or VX thing? Seems better to use numbers since it would be easier for non-English speakers if nothing else - and avoid things like this...
Maybe he said Depth but multiple of us heard Death.
Really?
I don't fly AS - is the "letter boarding zone" thing an AS thing or VX thing? Seems better to use numbers since it would be easier for non-English speakers if nothing else - and avoid things like this...
Aug 19, 2019, 12:14 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Aug 19, 2019, 1:05 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
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I have noticed lately that the GA have been trying to lighten things up by announcing group numbers like “B, beautiful..”. I wasn’t there but I very much doubt they said “D..death”. However you bring up a good point, just stay to the basics...A, B, C, D...that way there never be any misinterpretation...🙄
Aug 19, 2019, 6:47 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2017
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If they're going to use letter boarding groups, they really should make the GAs stick with the phonetic alphabet, as is standard across the industry. Of course, Delta is a competitor so maybe they don't want to give them any more free press.
Aug 19, 2019, 9:38 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2017
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I've heard 'A as in awesome' before, although I never stuck around the gate long enough to hear D announced. Perhaps they should go with 'D as in delightful' to stick with the positive theme. There do seem to be a lot of words to avoid starting with D. In addition to Death, I would be a bit hesitant to hear Dive, Dirigible, Donor, Danger, Disaster.....
Aug 19, 2019, 9:49 am
#8
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I've heard 'A as in awesome' before, although I never stuck around the gate long enough to hear D announced. Perhaps they should go with 'D as in delightful' to stick with the positive theme. There do seem to be a lot of words to avoid starting with D. In addition to Death, I would be a bit hesitant to hear Dive, Dirigible, Donor, Danger, Disaster.....
Aug 19, 2019, 9:49 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
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I most often hear: Awesome, Beautiful, Charming, and Delightful.
I did recently hear a different set of words that were thematically linked (food, maybe?), but I don’t remember exactly.
It could be that the context of A-C would have helped us better understand what was used for D in this particular instance.
I did recently hear a different set of words that were thematically linked (food, maybe?), but I don’t remember exactly.
It could be that the context of A-C would have helped us better understand what was used for D in this particular instance.
Aug 19, 2019, 10:17 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
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I most often hear: Awesome, Beautiful, Charming, and Delightful.
I did recently hear a different set of words that were thematically linked (food, maybe?), but I don’t remember exactly.
It could be that the context of A-C would have helped us better understand what was used for D in this particular instance.
I did recently hear a different set of words that were thematically linked (food, maybe?), but I don’t remember exactly.
It could be that the context of A-C would have helped us better understand what was used for D in this particular instance.
Aug 19, 2019, 10:24 am
#11
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It might be a policitally correct move to avoid common Western European origin names: A as in Andrew, B as in Bob, C for Charlie, D for David, etc.
Aug 19, 2019, 10:56 am
#13
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Aug 19, 2019, 11:28 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2015
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It's too bad they can't use the phonetic alphabet due to the word being Delta - those words were all chosen for good reason, they're very distinct.
I used to do phone tech support as an internship during college and would sometimes have to read out passwords to people.
Our team used to always just pick random words because there was no official policy. Eventually someone found the phonetic alphabet and we all started using that because it was so much easier.
My guess is that Alaska didn't give them any specific training on words to use with the announcement. I've seen some do the "A as in Awesome..." route (that's as far as I usually make it) but those gate agents may have just come up with that on their own, or shared between themselves. In this case, maybe he meant "depth" or he just thought "death" would be amusing but yeah, not a good call.
I used to do phone tech support as an internship during college and would sometimes have to read out passwords to people.
Our team used to always just pick random words because there was no official policy. Eventually someone found the phonetic alphabet and we all started using that because it was so much easier.
My guess is that Alaska didn't give them any specific training on words to use with the announcement. I've seen some do the "A as in Awesome..." route (that's as far as I usually make it) but those gate agents may have just come up with that on their own, or shared between themselves. In this case, maybe he meant "depth" or he just thought "death" would be amusing but yeah, not a good call.
Aug 19, 2019, 11:42 am
#15
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I'll presume "depth". The standard phonetic alphabet is effective but businesslike. I find it likable when gate agents use creative fun words. So they may miss the mark occasionally, I still find that better than Sierra Oscar Sierra all the time.