ibrandsguest

Today I was waiting for my flight, just before boarding. At the gate, like most American Airlines gates, there are 2 clearly-marked boarding lanes: one for zones 1-4 (first class and other elites) and the other for zones 5-9 (main cabin). People usually mill around the boarding lanes, but they don't go past the sign where the lanes begin; rather, they wait in an unorganized way around the sign for the boarding lanes, with nobody wanting to move right up to the sign, or into the lane.

One middle-aged white guy behind me said, "For everyone in zone 1, why don't we just go ahead and line up, and go ahead and move into the boarding lane and wait on the side of the lane? That way, boarding will be faster and nobody can cut in line, and if there's a Concierge Key member, who boards first, the person can just go in front."

People started to actually line up, but then one person grumbled something about "rude" and "white privilege", and people stopped. So there were 4 people in the boarding lane, all lined up, and others still waiting outside the boarding lane.

I think that it's an excellent idea to announce that we can just line up-even if it's another passenger who said it. How is that rude? I don't think that it is.

Thanks.

obscure2k

Moving thread to AA Forum
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Science Goy

Not sure why you're giving that random person's opinion so much weight.

I've seen people line up before plenty of flights. If you want to, you should. If you don't, then don't.

Uncle Nonny

CK Boards before Group 1. People needing assistance board before Group 1. Why gum up the process? To gain an extra 5 seconds?

jmj9905

I don't understand why the person used the words "white privilege". As far as I know, if you have the money or points you can fly F. Why do you have to throw race in the mix?

USFlyerUS

Yes, it's called "gate lice". I hate when people line up and block the lane for others.

Often1

Best thing to do when know-it-all non-employees try to "organize" things is to ignore them. Who cares what the guy says?

He happened to be wrong in a way which may gum up boarding. But, even if he is correct, what is the big hurry to board 6.5 seconds faster? My basic understanding of quantum physics is that all passengers arrive at the same time.

SeeBuyFly

Not to side with that person, but in the US, white people are more likely to have the money to fly F. Most likely also miles.

Anyway, the person who was calling for a group 1 line was presumably doing so to display and emphasize that they had a right to board before later groups. This is tacky.

ibrandsguest

I wasn't the one who claimed that "white privilege" applied; I simply am reporting what one person stated, and that statement froze up others from proceeding.

I was behind 2 other people in front of the sign at the boarding lane. The guy who called for Zone 1 people to line up might have been arrogant about being in Zone 1, but perhaps he just saw that there were other Zone 1 people milling around.

I thought that it helped things; rather than having people milling around the boarding area, as gate lice, people moved to one side of the unused boarding lane, freeing up space elsewhere, and the lane was wide enough that CK members could board through it, and there were people who boarded in wheelchairs through the other lane.

I've seen gate agents require this before, and I actually liked it, whoever was pushing for it.

Nuhusky

jmj9905

Nuhusky:

I agree.

Nuhusky

catcher1

People needing assistance are boarded in the group 5-9 line. I see nothing wrong with group 1 passengers lining up within the barriers (The only very minor gum-up is a CK passenger.) On the other hand, I don't think passengers should be making suggestions to others at the boarding gate. If a group 1 passenger wants to move ahead, that's his business. He shouldn't be looking for group support.

VegasGambler

I hate the Southwest boarding process, because I don't like standing in line. I just sit down and relax until my group is called, then I stand up and board.

I have never understood the rush to get on the plane. It's not leaving without you, and your seat is the same. I'd probably want to line up if I was in the last group (to avoid a gate check) but for any other group I really don't see the point.

Antarius

I'm usually the last guy on as well. But in the rare case I don't check a bag, it's a PITA to weave through a cluster of people to try to board.

In an ideal world where everyone sat down and only got up when called (somehow they manage this in NRT flawlessly), you are correct. Given that group 8 people love to stand right in front of the line blocking it, IMO, queues would be preferable.

even with queues, you can still board late.