Strange denial of boarding on MAN-PHL
Apr 6, 2019, 5:58 am
#211
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of course that doesnt make it very common, but it does show a pattern.
Apr 6, 2019, 6:12 am
#212
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When I was younger, I had several close calls with cutting things close with flights....until the one time when I did miss a flight. It would have been very close; I was heading to PHL, met a friend for lunch. Was driving to the airport, cruising along, when all of a sudden traffic on the road came to a standstill. I still needed to get gas, return the car, etc. I was making contingency plans, could skip the gas... Then I gave in, contacted a friend who worked for the airline (thankfully I had someone, no telling what the agents at PHL would have done), and I was put on the next flight.
After that experience, I've always been early.
I'm glad things worked out for the OP's friend, but I think most people are usually at the gate early.
Apr 6, 2019, 6:14 am
#213
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Perhaps I'm an unusual case, but when I'm returning from an international trip, I usually really want to get home. I get to the airport early. Check out a lounge (if there is one available). And I usually go to the gate ~15 before boarding is scheduled to begin. If it is a short trip/mileage run, I usually have a roller and backpack, so want to make sure they get stored.
When I was younger, I had several close calls with cutting things close with flights....until the one time when I did miss a flight. It would have been very close; I was heading to PHL, met a friend for lunch. Was driving to the airport, cruising along, when all of a sudden traffic on the road came to a standstill. I still needed to get gas, return the car, etc. I was making contingency plans, could skip the gas... Then I gave in, contacted a friend who worked for the airline (thankfully I had someone, no telling what the agents at PHL would have done), and I was put on the next flight.
After that experience, I've always been early.
When I was younger, I had several close calls with cutting things close with flights....until the one time when I did miss a flight. It would have been very close; I was heading to PHL, met a friend for lunch. Was driving to the airport, cruising along, when all of a sudden traffic on the road came to a standstill. I still needed to get gas, return the car, etc. I was making contingency plans, could skip the gas... Then I gave in, contacted a friend who worked for the airline (thankfully I had someone, no telling what the agents at PHL would have done), and I was put on the next flight.
After that experience, I've always been early.
Apr 6, 2019, 6:18 am
#214
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One part of the question was, are there many people who wait until the last second to board the aircraft?
It sounds like there are some who do willingly wait. Some people are running late, for whatever reason (traffic, connecting flights, etc). But my guess is that most people are indeed at the gate early.
It sounds like there are some who do willingly wait. Some people are running late, for whatever reason (traffic, connecting flights, etc). But my guess is that most people are indeed at the gate early.
Apr 6, 2019, 6:22 am
#215
Join Date: Aug 2013
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One part of the question was, are there many people who wait until the last second to board the aircraft?
It sounds like there are some who do willingly wait. Some people are running late, for whatever reason (traffic, connecting flights, etc). But my guess is that most people are indeed at the gate early.
It sounds like there are some who do willingly wait. Some people are running late, for whatever reason (traffic, connecting flights, etc). But my guess is that most people are indeed at the gate early.
As it happens I’m one of the last minute people, but I have never been denied boarding in such circumstances - and I would undoubtedly have claimed (and won) if I had.
[ETA: since Jon has liked your post I take it he did indeed mean your interpretation of his question- rather than the way I read it! But in any case the OP’s situation is the one I’m talking about!]
Last edited by Ldnn1; Apr 6, 2019 at 6:27 am
Apr 6, 2019, 6:48 am
#216
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Little of both.
Main point being that the number of these, exact, situations is tiny -and- in some cases waiting for a probable no-show results in an empty seat going out that could have been filled. That’s in fact more common than this and costs € too.
Main point being that the number of these, exact, situations is tiny -and- in some cases waiting for a probable no-show results in an empty seat going out that could have been filled. That’s in fact more common than this and costs € too.
Apr 6, 2019, 12:43 pm
#217
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I don't know as we don't see a lot of complaints here. On the other hand, in my last experience, the gate agents didn't appear to be remotely apologetic that I was at the gate 15 minutes before departure for a once a day flight. So ... I'm guessing they've done this before.
In the case of OP, I thought the GA's could see where the person checked in? i.e., the airport or online. One would think its unlikely for someone to check in at the airport and no show, although it probably happens a lot for online check-in. And, I'm used to hearing GA's page missing passengers which also suggests this may not be typical.
Apr 6, 2019, 12:56 pm
#218
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In the case of OP, I thought the GA's could see where the person checked in? i.e., the airport or online. One would think its unlikely for someone to check in at the airport and no show, although it probably happens a lot for online check-in. And, I'm used to hearing GA's page missing passengers which also suggests this may not be typical.
Apr 6, 2019, 1:14 pm
#219
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It may be less common for at-airport-check-in passengers but it happens a bunch for at-airport check-in passengers too. The GA pages for missing passengers come up for both kind of checked in passengers. Last few times where I knew some of my at-airport-check-in travel party members weren’t yet certain to make it to the airport on time to get to the departing flight on time, the check-in agents and/or the gate agents said they would appreciate an update as soon as possible about which (if any) of the checked-in additional travel party members wouldn’t make it on time for departure. It seemed that the agents had enough experience of such kind of situations that they made it a point to ask me to remember to inform the gate agents as soon as I knew for sure what was going to end up with the additional checked-in passengers. [The unfortunate take away from these kind of experiences is that being early in providing this no-show information to help the airline may backfire at least in terms of passenger comfort level.]
Apr 6, 2019, 1:20 pm
#220
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Unsure about MAN, but for flights from LHR, an airline can also see that the passenger has gone through security. So for someone who checked-in online, and never went to a check-in desk, its still possible for the airline to see that they are more than likely in the airport (and airside) as they went through security
Apr 6, 2019, 10:24 pm
#221
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I have been contacted by 2 others with the exact same case, all on inbound international flights and with early departures . One had a denied EC261 claim, one wasn't from europe, both times AA cited the 30 minute rule as a reason. (Both passengers gave up)
of course that doesnt make it very common, but it does show a pattern.
of course that doesnt make it very common, but it does show a pattern.
Apr 7, 2019, 3:55 pm
#222
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It’s possible to have an originating ticket from MAN or LHR and reach the departing gate areas at these airports without having had the MAN/LHR-departing boarding pass scanned and without having the airline know if the passenger had (yet) cleared or even approached the MAN/LHR security screening checkpoints.
*Though I believe all terminals now have “conformance.”
Apr 7, 2019, 4:05 pm
#223
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based upon a lot of FT comments, boarding is happening early whether you want it to or not. even on international flights.
Stop the early boarding (D0) stupidity
Apr 7, 2019, 5:07 pm
#224
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2 separate itineraries/tickets, DUB-LHR (EI) and LHR-YYZ (AC). Check in for both online. Arrive into T2 off the EI flight, go through the T2 transiting passengers security screening, no boarding pass needed. Then at the EU "immigration" desk you can get through there without an onward boarding pass and no need to show your passport due to coming from Ireland. You can arrive at T2B gates with your boarding pass from online check-in, without having it scanned at security, so essentially they would not be aware if you were in the airport or not
Apr 7, 2019, 5:35 pm
#225
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T2 example was provided earlier.
Last edited by GUWonder; Apr 7, 2019 at 5:42 pm