LCY8737

Gate 6 (or was it 8?) had it this morning. Also seen it at gate 2 a few weeks back. It is not at all of the gates though.

stifle

The gate lounge arrangements at LCY seem like they would make it problematic to enforce very well.

747_not_777

Exactly my thought. And I carry the little BA document you get with your silver card each year, which clearly states this.

At LCY the situation is somewhat different (but I would still join the priority queue and argue my way on-board - a benefit is a benefit, end of). However at all other airports there should be no reason why it is not being announced for Silvers (and OW equivalents too).

Cap'n Benj

Last time I was at LGW (Late Jan early Feb for a Long haul) they called called Gold, Silver and Bronze. Was there a trial for a period, or just an error by the member of staff at the time?

ThatT1Feeling

That's usual at AMS - it's a prerecorded message. In reality Silvers are allowed to priority board as well and it is very well policed - i.e. non-eligible pax are held back very efficiently.

However as on certain other European Short Haul routes, CE plus Gold plus Silver can amount to a sizeable number of passengers getting priority boarding - but it does keep enough people away to keep some overhead space free before the remaining passengers board.

lawrenson1

Hi,

Mr L1 went up to the gate, and reminded them of this.

They still refused him boarding.

This was at Gate 8, LCY, this morning.

I think the replies on this thread would indicate this particular Silver benefit seems to be offered rather patchily.

Regards,
Karen

darthlemsip

LCY has a high number of status passengers passing through it, so they only allow CE and Gold priority boarding at the gates where they offer it. They know this is an exception to to the usual policy of premium/Gold/Silver passengers, but it's the only airport where BA do this. According to the gate crew last month when I flew to FAO anyway

corporate-wage-slave

I'm a regular on this run.

It depends on the gate and on the timing. It's also a bit of a farce given the relatively low number of passengers and the very fast boarding at LCY any way.

The scenarios seem to be:
- No priority boarding at all - probably more than 50% of occasions, less so recently
- Gold only - Edinburgh service
- Gold and CE (where applicable)
- Gold, Silver and CE - only seen that once.

There are vast quantities of Golds and Prems at LCY, and it's pretty pointless in my view - they can constitute over half the passengers. One thing I've seen is that general boarding passengers get penned into the seating area at the back, with Golds (etc) left to stand at the front by the doors on to the apron. Why they don't call the flight and board immediately (so everyone just walks straight on) I shall never know.

LCY is completely different to any other BA airport given the sheer quantity of status passengers. T5 is now excellent at priority boarding, and LGW do a reasonable job.

LCY8737

I hope he will live. Not being priority boarded at LCY is terrible.

I passed through that gate this morning. The priority boarding area is roped off and the sign at the entrance to that section of the gate clearly states CE/Gold/Emerald. No mentioning of Silvers.

Genius1

If LCY have decided not to priority board Silvers/Sapphire, then they are clearly flouting both the BA and oneworld policies.

I can understand why LCY may not priority board Silvers if there are too many status holders, but the policy needs to be made clear.

TheHak

Never thought priority boarding was an important perk and there are a few destinations where I often find the 'priority queue' to be sometimes longer than the normal queue, LHR-FRA or LHR-GVA from heathrow but I guess you are right. It should be made clear.

HIDDY

The reasons for enforcing it at LCY might be valid but it does seem rather unfair that they can change OW rules regrading preferred boarding at some airports just to suit themselves.

Anyway what is the difference between priority boarding and preferred boarding as it's now called? That one always has me wondering.

lawrenson1

Just about. He was extremely grumpy about it tho.

As an aside, on our Peru trip a couple of weeks ago, the LAN gate staff were EXTREMELY deferential when he flashed his Oneworld Sapphire card.

Embarassingly so, in fact. At one gate they even wheeled a wheelchair passenger out of the way so we could board first.

Cheers,
Karen

edi-traveller

It would be interesting to have Nicci's view on this - but as I have never seen any priority boarding at LCY I guess I can continue to put up with it.

Genius1

+1 on the first paragraph.

As to the second paragraph, I think both mean the same thing.