A modest proposal to improve the boarding situation
Jul 19, 2019, 2:53 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: American Airlines ExecPlat, Asiana Diamond
Posts: 127
Best way to improve boarding: get rid of the vague sign. Having “group 1-4” on one side makes people in group 4 think they can board with group 1 in that line.
AA should change one side to group 1 & 2, the other to 3&4+. That way those in 5-9 will have to wait to be called and won’t line up. People with priority will line up like normal.
AA should change one side to group 1 & 2, the other to 3&4+. That way those in 5-9 will have to wait to be called and won’t line up. People with priority will line up like normal.
Jul 19, 2019, 2:58 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,706
Best way to improve boarding: get rid of the vague sign. Having “group 1-4” on one side makes people in group 4 think they can board with group 1 in that line.
AA should change one side to group 1 & 2, the other to 3&4+. That way those in 5-9 will have to wait to be called and won’t line up. People with priority will line up like normal.
AA should change one side to group 1 & 2, the other to 3&4+. That way those in 5-9 will have to wait to be called and won’t line up. People with priority will line up like normal.
Jul 19, 2019, 3:44 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,256
There are a lot of problems with baggage claim delays, misdirected bags and stolen (“lost” in airline lingo) bags and it just takes one of those events to leave a lasting impression of “I’ll never check a bag again” attitude. The airlines need to clean up their baggage handling and that would help a lot.
I board early because of my status and I have no complaints but I’d feel a lot differently spending over $20K per year with AA if I was handed a boarding pass with Zone 9 on it.
I board early because of my status and I have no complaints but I’d feel a lot differently spending over $20K per year with AA if I was handed a boarding pass with Zone 9 on it.
AA managed to do a better job with bags than getting me somewhere on time
Jul 19, 2019, 9:46 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 456
Jul 20, 2019, 10:59 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
I mean, it happens more often than the zero times that occur when you carry your bag onboard, but lost bags are not an endemic, regular issue. I check 2 bags at least twice a week and they have not showed up 3 times. One of the 3 was the TSA (it was a direct flight and one bag made it, one got taken apart for some reason), one was due to a colossal cluster due to weather resulting in me changing my flights and the third time was an AA screwup. Across 88 flights this year, not that bad.
AA managed to do a better job with bags than getting me somewhere on time
AA managed to do a better job with bags than getting me somewhere on time
And your 3 delayed bags in 88 flights seems rather high IMO.
Jul 20, 2019, 11:17 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
If you are going to get your bag checked for free -- how is being reassigned to Group 9 a penalty?
I mean if you aren't worried about overhead space (your bag has been checked already), and you have your original seat assignment, what's the downside to boarding last?
Jul 21, 2019, 1:19 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OC, CA
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 832
I would reduce the number of groups, and then arrange separate lines for each group (or alternating lines like WN does). 9 separate groups that need to be called one by one is ridiculous, and you will never be able to implement 9 separate lines. Having a single line for groups 1-4 that has group 4 people line up and then wait as group 1 pushes by makes no sense. And I think most FC folks will get over boarding at the same time as EXP.
The other thing AA needs is better signage or continuous announcements for what groups are currently boarding. A lot of people just see a line and join it. And I have seen them start boarding group 1 before calling group 1, and when people see boarding with no announcement they tend to join in.
The other thing AA needs is better signage or continuous announcements for what groups are currently boarding. A lot of people just see a line and join it. And I have seen them start boarding group 1 before calling group 1, and when people see boarding with no announcement they tend to join in.
Jul 21, 2019, 6:52 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Phoenix/Columbus
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United Gold, US Airways silver
Posts: 1,717
Jul 21, 2019, 9:20 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,316
Or rather a small suite of proposals.
Given that the primary reason for the boarding scrum is the scramble for limited overhead bin space, and further given that AA will never walk back on charging for checked bags, and finally given that those sitting in bulkhead seats generally speaking require bin space for their personal items, here are a few probably tired-out suggestions:
1) limit bin use to groups 1 thru 6. Enforce this by issuing one sticker saying the date, flight number, record locator, and something like BIN OK along with each group 1 to 6 boarding pass. Every bag in the bins then must have a valid sticker on it. Any bag in the bins without a sticker gets checked, possibly for a significant penalty charge, or left behind. Issue two stickers to bulkhead row passengers.
2) within each cabin, load the bulkhead rows first, perhaps along with CK. In my particular group 3 case, I only choose to join the scrum if I have gotten stuck in a bulkhead row, in which case I have no choice.
What do you think?
saunders111
(About to join the battle to board for a bulkhead seat on a fully booked 737... so yes, for today this message boils down to “let saunders111 board first”😛
Given that the primary reason for the boarding scrum is the scramble for limited overhead bin space, and further given that AA will never walk back on charging for checked bags, and finally given that those sitting in bulkhead seats generally speaking require bin space for their personal items, here are a few probably tired-out suggestions:
1) limit bin use to groups 1 thru 6. Enforce this by issuing one sticker saying the date, flight number, record locator, and something like BIN OK along with each group 1 to 6 boarding pass. Every bag in the bins then must have a valid sticker on it. Any bag in the bins without a sticker gets checked, possibly for a significant penalty charge, or left behind. Issue two stickers to bulkhead row passengers.
2) within each cabin, load the bulkhead rows first, perhaps along with CK. In my particular group 3 case, I only choose to join the scrum if I have gotten stuck in a bulkhead row, in which case I have no choice.
What do you think?
saunders111
(About to join the battle to board for a bulkhead seat on a fully booked 737... so yes, for today this message boils down to “let saunders111 board first”😛
This sticker thing sounds like a new program that people would quickly find loopholes. Keep your sticker on from last time.and reuse, us get a new one for todays trip and now 1 person can put *two* bags in the overhead.
You can't tell me somebody's going to scan individual barcode stickers for overhead luggage before they allow it. It's just seems like, as creative as it may be, just not the right approach
Jul 21, 2019, 10:06 am
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I think AA should go back to the old days of calling F class, then EXPs seat in coach, and so on and then start with Group numbers. This would stop some of the rushing the BP reader. Unfortunately given the current nature of society and fear over being separated from one's bag boarding will continue to remain a crazy process.
Jul 21, 2019, 11:37 am
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
AA need
1, to have 4 queues in hub airport to manage the flow instead of 2 which merged to 1.
2, to install the automatic gate would help too so agent can pay more attention to the bulky hand luggage instead of manually check Boarding Pass.
3, reduce the boarding number to 7 or 8 for a starter.
4, consider rear door boarding for B738 and A321 aircraft via stairs for group 7 to 9 who are mostly sit in the back.
1, to have 4 queues in hub airport to manage the flow instead of 2 which merged to 1.
2, to install the automatic gate would help too so agent can pay more attention to the bulky hand luggage instead of manually check Boarding Pass.
3, reduce the boarding number to 7 or 8 for a starter.
4, consider rear door boarding for B738 and A321 aircraft via stairs for group 7 to 9 who are mostly sit in the back.