Stop the early boarding (D0) stupidity
Feb 28, 2019, 9:26 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,233
DL's iPhone (and probably Android) app sends a notification as soon as the flight begins boarding, triggered by the scan of the first boarding pass. That's usually a good indicator of when to head to the gate from the lounge.
Probably too difficult for AA to handle.
Probably too difficult for AA to handle.
Feb 28, 2019, 9:28 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,414
I may be in the minority, but I'm good with them boarding early since it gives a somewhat better likelihood of us actually getting out of there on time. I find when they start boarding "on time" on the mainline planes, half the time they are still boarding by the time we should depart.
Maybe what they really need to do is bump up the departure time to 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes.
Maybe what they really need to do is bump up the departure time to 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes.
Feb 28, 2019, 9:29 pm
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,414
Sadly, even UA's IT, with their ancient ASP.net or whatever .bomb website, surpasses AAs
I mean we talk like 'dynamic reaccom' is a great new thing but UA and DL have had this thing for at least 5 years now, as far as I can remember
Feb 28, 2019, 9:40 pm
#34
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Join Date: Aug 2017
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Posts: 2,931
I must be in a minority because on all of my AA flights I've watched the countdown to Boarding run out and then they wait another 5-10 minutes before even starting with first class.
Feb 28, 2019, 9:44 pm
#35
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Feb 28, 2019, 10:06 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
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Posts: 8,315
Mar 1, 2019, 12:55 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 152
Recently had an issue at DFW on the ERD with boarding being complete minus myself at T-25 with speaker pages for “final boarding” and dirty looks from the gate agent as I boarded, they didn’t actually close the door until T-10 anyway.
Was coming from HNL, got in to D30ish had breakfast in the lounge and trekked it to B2 figuring I had plenty of time with a 80 minute layover, definitely not the friendliest encounter I’ve had.
Was coming from HNL, got in to D30ish had breakfast in the lounge and trekked it to B2 figuring I had plenty of time with a 80 minute layover, definitely not the friendliest encounter I’ve had.
Mar 1, 2019, 2:22 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, BA Silver
Posts: 1,631
Assuming your timeline is correct, you were phoned 22mins before flight was due to depart. I think given the circumstances, it was not unreasonable to call you, although they could have waited another few mins. No harm in checking that the passenger has not lost track of time and is going to make it on time. The fact that they were rude to you is not really acceptable though, since they were early rather than you being late.
I have had gate agents be snarky to me when I have arrived at the gate as one of the last few to board but still well within boarding cut off time. I think they are under pressure to get the gates closed as early as possible, or they are just bored and want to go home. In the vast majority of these cases, it makes no difference to departure time, we still end up sitting on the plane at the gate for 10-20mins+ with the plane door open. My guess is that when gate agents are rushing to get the gate closed, it is rarely because the pilot is ready to depart immediately, it is because they personally just want to get the gate closed.
I have had gate agents be snarky to me when I have arrived at the gate as one of the last few to board but still well within boarding cut off time. I think they are under pressure to get the gates closed as early as possible, or they are just bored and want to go home. In the vast majority of these cases, it makes no difference to departure time, we still end up sitting on the plane at the gate for 10-20mins+ with the plane door open. My guess is that when gate agents are rushing to get the gate closed, it is rarely because the pilot is ready to depart immediately, it is because they personally just want to get the gate closed.
Last edited by Enigma368; Mar 1, 2019 at 2:33 am
Mar 1, 2019, 3:03 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
My problem is that when I arrive on time to board according to the info on the ticket, its already group something...
and when I opt to get there early just to be safe, end up waiting far beyond the boarding time.... I am a loser either way
and when I opt to get there early just to be safe, end up waiting far beyond the boarding time.... I am a loser either way
Mar 1, 2019, 6:23 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
Today I'm flying an envoy flight BOS-JFK, which departs out of B36. The flight departs at 2:57pm, and boards around 2:27pm. I'm at the lounge at B4, which is about a 10 minute walk to the gate. I leave at boarding time sharp (2:27pm).
About 5 minutes into my walk (2:35pm), I get a phone call from a mass. Number. It's AA:
AAgent: "hello no2chem this is x with AA, will you still be traveling with us today?"
Me: "yes, I'm at gate B23 and walking"
AAgent: " you're the last to board the gate will be closed soon"
Me: " boarding started 5 minutes ago"
AAgent: "you're the last to board the gate is about to close"
.... So I get there and the agent repeats how I'm the last to board and they were about to close the gate. I make it a point that the gate isn't supposed to close until 10mins before departure, and it's 2:40, 17 mins before departure.
To add insult to injury, the flight departs 10mins late anyway
While I appreciate the call (sort of, the AAgent was really rude and it sounded like she wanted her bonus points for closing the flight early), they really need to fix this early boarding crap. At least announce in the AC when you're going to do that.
Anyone else experience this?
About 5 minutes into my walk (2:35pm), I get a phone call from a mass. Number. It's AA:
AAgent: "hello no2chem this is x with AA, will you still be traveling with us today?"
Me: "yes, I'm at gate B23 and walking"
AAgent: " you're the last to board the gate will be closed soon"
Me: " boarding started 5 minutes ago"
AAgent: "you're the last to board the gate is about to close"
.... So I get there and the agent repeats how I'm the last to board and they were about to close the gate. I make it a point that the gate isn't supposed to close until 10mins before departure, and it's 2:40, 17 mins before departure.
To add insult to injury, the flight departs 10mins late anyway
While I appreciate the call (sort of, the AAgent was really rude and it sounded like she wanted her bonus points for closing the flight early), they really need to fix this early boarding crap. At least announce in the AC when you're going to do that.
Anyone else experience this?
Mar 1, 2019, 6:58 am
#42
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
How does the GA scan your boarding pass AND close the aircraft door at the same time if you try to board at T-10? Seems like the 5 minutes between "be at the gate T-15" and "door closes at T-10" supports scanning the last BP's at maybe T-11 so the door can close on time.
Mar 1, 2019, 7:18 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Owner of 2,000 TWA shares
Posts: 812
There's no winning. I arrived at the gate 5 minutes prior to boarding and they were on Group 5. I was Group 1. I decided to wait in a seat instead of waiting in line. There is no sweet spot.
Mar 1, 2019, 7:21 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
No but, sorry, I'm not sympathetic, except for the rudeness of the agent. I'd love it if flights boarded right when boarding was to start and if they closed the door and departed as soon as possible. I try to get to the gate not later than when boarding starts (and usually a few minutes before that), since sometimes flights board early. Admirals Clubs are not that great and aren't worth missing being among the first to board. At least AA affirmatively contacted you.
And my goal is never to board first -- I don't need the overhead space and I find it 100x more comfortable to sit 10 extra minutes in an AC chair than in coach.
Mar 1, 2019, 7:37 am
#45
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: AA Pro;Ritz Carlton Ambassador;Hilton Silver: SPG Gold
Posts: 111
Today I'm flying an envoy flight BOS-JFK, which departs out of B36. The flight departs at 2:57pm, and boards around 2:27pm. I'm at the lounge at B4, which is about a 10 minute walk to the gate. I leave at boarding time sharp (2:27pm).
About 5 minutes into my walk (2:35pm), I get a phone call from a mass. Number. It's AA:
AAgent: "hello no2chem this is x with AA, will you still be traveling with us today?"
Me: "yes, I'm at gate B23 and walking"
AAgent: " you're the last to board the gate will be closed soon"
Me: " boarding started 5 minutes ago"
AAgent: "you're the last to board the gate is about to close"
.... So I get there and the agent repeats how I'm the last to board and they were about to close the gate. I make it a point that the gate isn't supposed to close until 10mins before departure, and it's 2:40, 17 mins before departure.
To add insult to injury, the flight departs 10mins late anyway
While I appreciate the call (sort of, the AAgent was really rude and it sounded like she wanted her bonus points for closing the flight early), they really need to fix this early boarding crap. At least announce in the AC when you're going to do that.
Anyone else experience this?
About 5 minutes into my walk (2:35pm), I get a phone call from a mass. Number. It's AA:
AAgent: "hello no2chem this is x with AA, will you still be traveling with us today?"
Me: "yes, I'm at gate B23 and walking"
AAgent: " you're the last to board the gate will be closed soon"
Me: " boarding started 5 minutes ago"
AAgent: "you're the last to board the gate is about to close"
.... So I get there and the agent repeats how I'm the last to board and they were about to close the gate. I make it a point that the gate isn't supposed to close until 10mins before departure, and it's 2:40, 17 mins before departure.
To add insult to injury, the flight departs 10mins late anyway
While I appreciate the call (sort of, the AAgent was really rude and it sounded like she wanted her bonus points for closing the flight early), they really need to fix this early boarding crap. At least announce in the AC when you're going to do that.
Anyone else experience this?
Last edited by jacca83; Mar 1, 2019 at 7:50 am Reason: Type