fotographer

You should see the BA boarding lines at BOM.. not good

nrr

Pax, especially first timers (or don't understand English) hear the GA announcement (re group boarding), but just fathom that the flt is boarding and they should be in the queue...
PS: For many routes even Greyhound boards pax by seat numbers.

flyalways

Care to elaborate ? I have boarded BA in BOM/LHR and many other stations. Did not notice
much difference...

fotographer

The biggest difference I see between them is that at LHR, the gate agents seem to be stricter in terms of group boarding than at BOM.
Ever noticed that even though there are lines for groups, most passengers seem always to stand in the wrong line anyway, plus at Bom when they call for those passengers needing more time to board, it seems
that the whole plane full of passengers need more time to board.

thunderlounge

I just absolutely love when they call for CK's and a rush of group 4's plug the boarding lane before they even call group 1 and you have to push through them as they make a fuss.

wrp96

Last week, none of us from group 1 could get through the group 4 people blocking the lane, so the GA went onto group 2. When somebody from group 1 called out "How about letting us group 1 people actually get up there to board before going onto the next groups?" one of the idiots blocking the lane goes "I don't know what the big deal is. We're all going to the same place." If it isn't such a big deal, then why are you blocking the boarding lane so you can be the first from your group to board?

thunderlounge

Exactly. It isn’t rocket science, or anything above kindergarten level numbers. Yet the gate lice plague remains.

Nomorepretzels

Last Sunday in LAS the GA calls Group 1 so the DW & I fall in line.It turned out the 4 in front us happened to be Group 7. In a louder than usual voice each one was told to wait until their group number was called. (semi-surprised). I got to wondering after the first 2 were told to wait what were the other 2 thinking? I was waiting for a DYKWIA .

nrr

Yes IF pax fathom airport queues and other nuances things would have been different...but they don't.
I've even seen pax wanting to choose (what they think are) "nice" seats, oblivious to what is printed on their bps [I'm not referring to self-upgraders.]

kahdgar

If I recall, the lice really started to be a problem after the airlines started charging for checked baggage. The overhead bin wars really added to the general urgency to get on the plane. I understand the desire to carry-on from an IRROPS standpoint, but the whole experience is so much nicer if I check my bags.

Score8

I'm not sure I agree. I've been traveling for 15 years or so and, other than when planes were empty post 9/11, it has been a problem with Gate Lice. AA has pretty much done a good job of labeling the group numbers properly (F used to be its own group before group 1, which was pretty stupid.) The only problem that remains confusing is that folks pay for Priority, but still might be in Group 4 or maybe higher. I like what UA has in BOS with the gates that determine whether you can board. I could stand there all day watching people get rejected. I think it is a mix of folks who are self-important, don't know better, or aren't really aware that they are gumming up the process. Those same people screw up the aisles in grocery stores where overhead bags and priority have nothing to do with it.

giants_fan

I've seen some very self-entitled DYKWIAs, and I got the sense they had no status at all! That said, I wouldn't blame people for labeling CK as a group. When a CK rep helps me at an airport, I'm generally friendly... "please" and "thank you" basic manners, which can be hard on long travel days. Yet I've had many of these agents say, "wow, you are the nicest CK I've ever had... you're so kind/friendly/sweet." It makes me wonder what kind of crap a "normal" CK gives them? I hope to never be normal!

dave_261

I had a similar experience by a rep who met me at LHR. Her smart device had stopped working and she profusely apologized for not knowing where I was headed for my connection. I told her it was no problem and I'd just look it up for both of us to know. She was very relieved and basically told me some CK's would have chewed her out for this.

mvoight

AA should do something about that device if she's had several CKs complain

justhere

Sounds like what she said to you did exactly what she wanted it to do.