Boarding Multiple Groups Together
 

I was flying CLT-BOS on this past Sunday and for the second time in a week (and like fourth time this year) the gate agent called for Group 1, waited an appropriate amount of time, then called Group 2 for like 5 seconds, then called Group 2,3,4 together. I tweeted that I didn't think this was proper procedure and received a response that on flights with light elite loads, they may call groups together. Fair enough, except that as a mid-spending EP, I was at least #5 on the upgrade list and all of the good coach seats were taken way in advance, which leads me to believe that there were at least a fair number of EPs as well as other elites on the flight.

Maybe not a huge deal, but with all of the improvement and clarity in the boarding groups, this is annoying.

This is why you have to crowd the boarding area, even if you are group 8! You have got to be prepared to push your way through those group 3's when group 2 is called and you are holding a group 7 boarding pass!

D0 has created a lot of pressure to get boarding groups moving and gate agents sometimes take liberties with the interpretation of boarding groups, perhaps because a flight is delayed, has a potential weather/crew timeout situation or if it has a light passenger load.

Flying AA F from LHR recently, F, J, and OneWorld elites (including Ruby) were all called at the same time, having the appearance of half of the plane boarding all at once with the normal coach boarding groups pushing right on their tails.

Better than when the upgrade list is empty and they call group 2 and look confused as why it's empty. Or even better when they call group 1 on a single-class CRJ.

However the BG's are designated, this has been pretty common practice on AA and other carriers for years. No need to turn the boarding process into an overly-formal thing when there is no need. Chances are that the first person in BG2 and the last in BG3 both get OH space and there really isn't anything else to be said for boarding early.

Group 2 consists only of EXPs who are not in FC.

Whenever the GA calls the groups in such a way that my Earned Priority Boarding Privilege is nullified, I try to politely point out that priority boarding is an EARNED privilege, guaranteed in writing. I like to add: "I know you want to save time, but there are ways to save time without taking away a privilege which is hard-earned over the course of an entire year".

So far, my admonishments have made not even the tiniest bit of difference. :(

My frustration comes when I leave the lounge in time to be at the gate a few minutes before boarding is scheduled to begin only to find that half the flight is already standing in the jetway, because they started the boarding 5+ minutes ahead of schedule. By the point, there's rarely a clear path to access the "priority" lane and bypass the remaining groups shoving to board.

Why is this an issue? Is it really that important to get the privilege of sitting in a metal tube 30 seconds longer than some other guy? I can see being angry if it gets to the point that groups 6-8 are called early enough that they get on in front of you, because that is when overhead space becomes an issue. The airlines have hit marketing gold with this boarding thing. A "perk" that people will spend thousands of dollars a year to "earn" that costs the airlines nothing.

If I know the flight isn't full I usually wait until the line is gone before I get on.

Gee, I can't imagine why not with a line like THAT 👎.

If you board when your group number gets called, nobody "nullified" your EARNED early boarding. Good grief.

What passive aggressive lecture do you give when they don't do a PDB?

Yes, they get space, but I would prefer it to be over my seat
Additionally the issue isn't as great when calling 2 and 3 together, but the OP indicated they also lumped in group 4, which is much larger

Since you asked.......

For some reason, AA now boards planes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes prior to the established boarding time. Since Flight Attendants rarely prevent Y passengers from placing their luggage in the overhead F cabin bins, an F cabin passenger that expects to place their carry-on baggage in the F cabin needs to leave the lounge super early, stand at the gate in the "cluster", and then schlepp onto the plane (aka ugly metal tube) much earlier than a sane person would desire.

If established AA protocols were actually enforced by management and followed by line employees, none of the foregoing would be necessary. The chances of that taking place are similar to the chances of a snowball being thrown in hell.

Report this incident to the airline (and make sure you let them know how critical your business is to them). If you're important enough, they will throw some miles your way.

Please write back and tell us what they say.

Overhead space becomes an issue at group 3. That's why airline board first class, first. People tend to stow their luggage at the first empty overhead bin. After all, you never really know if there will be bin space back at row 85, so why take chances? Also, why lug your suitcase all the way to row 85 (and back, after landing) when there's plenty of unused space at row 5?

Also, compare "standing in a line waiting to board" and "seated on the aircraft". Which place would you rather be? I think most people prefer "seated on the aircraft" as a more comfortable place than standing in line.

That's why we have boarding groups, and that's why AA guarantees early boarding as a privilege that you can earn, if you fly enough. And that's why, when the gate agent board groups 2 thru 5 at the same time, passengers lose an earned privilege.

In over 5 years as a low- to mid-level AA/US elite (currently gold/group 4), I have *never* had to gate-check my roller bag. The only times I have had to put my bag substantially aft of my seat has been when I have boarded late (i.e., after general boarding has started).

That's exactly the issue. When they board early, elites (who earned early boarding) have to stow their bags aft of their seat assignment. Bottom line: when the GA deviates from the boarding schedule, some people lose earned privileges.