CE board at your leisure - forcing your way past the plebs
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Northern Europe
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 373
CE board at your leisure - forcing your way past the plebs
Reading through previous posts, it seems BA has a policy of providing priority boarding for card status holders. Apparently, this applies to both CW and CE flights. However, with CE there is often no separate line for CE pax, so this begs the question: What is the correct boarding etiquette?
I have seen some pax on this board describe how they simply storm past the rest of the Y pax in the queue, no doubt flashing their cards with a big smirk. I am just not sure how I would feel though if I was waiting in the queue and someone forced their way past me.
So...if in CE, or you have status do you:
1) March confidently past everyone else, slam your boarding pass or card on the counter and watch the faces of the plebs grumbling behind you?
2) If boarding has not started, go to the front of the queue, positioning yourself before the first person in the queue, apologetically saying that you are allowed to board first?
3) Wait patiently in the queue with the plebs, after all boarding a SH flight does not take that long so what is the harm.
I have seen some pax on this board describe how they simply storm past the rest of the Y pax in the queue, no doubt flashing their cards with a big smirk. I am just not sure how I would feel though if I was waiting in the queue and someone forced their way past me.
So...if in CE, or you have status do you:
1) March confidently past everyone else, slam your boarding pass or card on the counter and watch the faces of the plebs grumbling behind you?
2) If boarding has not started, go to the front of the queue, positioning yourself before the first person in the queue, apologetically saying that you are allowed to board first?
3) Wait patiently in the queue with the plebs, after all boarding a SH flight does not take that long so what is the harm.
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I do 3). I'd be too embarrassed to push past other people, and besides, even if I didn't feel embarrassed, I wouldn't do it.
However, if I feel that the flight will be full-ish and I have the risk of not having the space to put my wheelie bag, with ET pax often dumping their bags in CE without directed by cabin crew to do so, then I (pathetically, I know) hang around the gate early to make sure that I can join the boarding queue early so that I can definitely put my wheelie in the overhead bin.
BA, please note! Even some LCCs are doing a better job of priority boarding. They have a separate queue for those who paid for priority boarding. I know paid priority boarding is a revenue stream for LCCs and so they need to enforce it to keep that stream going, whereas BA doesn't, but it shows that it can be done pretty easily.
However, if I feel that the flight will be full-ish and I have the risk of not having the space to put my wheelie bag, with ET pax often dumping their bags in CE without directed by cabin crew to do so, then I (pathetically, I know) hang around the gate early to make sure that I can join the boarding queue early so that I can definitely put my wheelie in the overhead bin.
BA, please note! Even some LCCs are doing a better job of priority boarding. They have a separate queue for those who paid for priority boarding. I know paid priority boarding is a revenue stream for LCCs and so they need to enforce it to keep that stream going, whereas BA doesn't, but it shows that it can be done pretty easily.
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Feb 28, 2010 at 5:42 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,105
So...if in CE, or you have status do you:
1) March confidently past everyone else, slam your boarding pass or card on the counter and watch the faces of the plebs grumbling behind you?
2) If boarding has not started, go to the front of the queue, positioning yourself before the first person in the queue, apologetically saying that you are allowed to board first?
3) Wait patiently in the queue with the plebs, after all boarding a SH flight does not take that long so what is the harm.
1) March confidently past everyone else, slam your boarding pass or card on the counter and watch the faces of the plebs grumbling behind you?
2) If boarding has not started, go to the front of the queue, positioning yourself before the first person in the queue, apologetically saying that you are allowed to board first?
3) Wait patiently in the queue with the plebs, after all boarding a SH flight does not take that long so what is the harm.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Petit Four de Pucci, RedVee's Navigator Badge, BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
So...if in CE, or you have status do you:
1) March confidently past everyone else, slam your boarding pass or card on the counter and watch the faces of the plebs grumbling behind you?
2) If boarding has not started, go to the front of the queue, positioning yourself before the first person in the queue, apologetically saying that you are allowed to board first?
3) Wait patiently in the queue with the plebs, after all boarding a SH flight does not take that long so what is the harm.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: british airways
Posts: 44
3) Life is too short. Yes you are allowed to board first, but if BA doesn't enforce your rights then you just look like an arrogant p**** if you try to do so for yourself. Plus the stress of facing down all those Y passengers just isn't worth the benefit, especially as they will all be walking past you ensconced in CE!
I didn't but when I went to the loo at the back of the plane I was pleased to see him and his little family sitting at the very back of a very full aircraft.
#6
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,213
1) Never - too crass for my liking
2) Occasionally - subtly done though. For example, when boarding UK Domestic flights
3) Usual for me
2) Occasionally - subtly done though. For example, when boarding UK Domestic flights
3) Usual for me
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Highlands but mostly GIG
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 485
Gold and Silver are allowed priority boarding
Recently was boarding a LH flight at T5 to find no priority boarding queue, dont know what went wrong on this occasion but as has been mentioned the LCC's are doing a better job
Recently was boarding a LH flight at T5 to find no priority boarding queue, dont know what went wrong on this occasion but as has been mentioned the LCC's are doing a better job
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Petit Four de Pucci, RedVee's Navigator Badge, BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
#10
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass
Posts: 5,530
On the s/h 767 they sometimes board from door 2L, so we can still turn left on boarding
I do 3 or a modified 2 (ie just stand at the front before they start making the boarding call to make sure you are in the first lot) depending on how full the flight is.
I agree we should not have to, but they dont make separate calls for CE and card holders or make any effort to get us on with priority, I am sorry to say that Easyjet does it better.....
I do 3 or a modified 2 (ie just stand at the front before they start making the boarding call to make sure you are in the first lot) depending on how full the flight is.
I agree we should not have to, but they dont make separate calls for CE and card holders or make any effort to get us on with priority, I am sorry to say that Easyjet does it better.....
Last edited by antichef; Feb 28, 2010 at 4:22 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
As a pleb I witness more jostling going on amongst the priority pax themselves.They remind me of a bunch of male capercaillies on the lekking ground fighting for dominance during the breeding season,
#12
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
At least the English are too polite to force their way to the front when a queue froms. Queuing is an English custom after all, isnt it?
I am not so concerned about priority boarding but do want to make sure I get to place my cabin luggage near where I sit. This can be a problem with CE but not really an issue with CW. At least BA crew are happy to offer the closet if there is equipment or their own bags taking up the overhead bins.
#13
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: ARN
Programs: Mucci Entry Level, BA Gold, EK Pleb, SK Pleb, QR Pleb
Posts: 3,585
Not a problem for me. I only have a small laptop which I can easily put under the seat in front of me. I always board as one of the last pax, enjoying the freedom before some hours in a small metal tube
#14
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: France
Programs: MUCCI, BA LTG/GGL/CCR, AF PLAT, ETHIHAD AND LH USELESS PLASTIC
Posts: 2,063
It's not as if there was a pre-departure glass of Champagne or a comfortable seat waiting for you in CE anyway
#15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,926
Please tell us more about male capercaillies. I've eaten capers but have never been aware of their sex. Caillies sounds exotic, or Celtic and sweaty, so I wonder what they do?
Last edited by Greenpen; Feb 28, 2010 at 4:34 pm Reason: Spelling.