"Enjoy priority boarding on all British Airways flights."
Jul 6, 2013, 4:48 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
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Jul 6, 2013, 7:19 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 19
I flew from BRU to LHR and connected long haul yesterday. CE check-in line was longer then ET or bag drop off at BRU but priority boarding was offered and some ineligible passengers were send back.
Of course connection fast track security at T5 north was a nightmare and twice as long as the normal line. Boarding at T5B, fast track was available but the line was very long. And from reading some boarding passes half the people weren't supposed to be there but nobody was send back. I felt more like the line for families with small children then fast track.
Of course connection fast track security at T5 north was a nightmare and twice as long as the normal line. Boarding at T5B, fast track was available but the line was very long. And from reading some boarding passes half the people weren't supposed to be there but nobody was send back. I felt more like the line for families with small children then fast track.
Jul 6, 2013, 7:22 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MAN/BHX
Programs: ABBA
Posts: 6,027
Then there's the whole penny pinching on arrival, charging for a luggage trolley. Way to say FU to foreign arrivals.
Jul 6, 2013, 8:13 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Egham, Surrey, UK
Programs: Mucci Champion des Champions, BAG4L, *A Gold, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz Gold, Avis President
Posts: 3,416
I flew from BRU to LHR and connected long haul yesterday. CE check-in line was longer then ET or bag drop off at BRU but priority boarding was offered and some ineligible passengers were send back.
Of course connection fast track security at T5 north was a nightmare and twice as long as the normal line. Boarding at T5B, fast track was available but the line was very long. And from reading some boarding passes half the people weren't supposed to be there but nobody was send back. I felt more like the line for families with small children then fast track.
Of course connection fast track security at T5 north was a nightmare and twice as long as the normal line. Boarding at T5B, fast track was available but the line was very long. And from reading some boarding passes half the people weren't supposed to be there but nobody was send back. I felt more like the line for families with small children then fast track.
Just the luck of the draw I guess.
Jul 6, 2013, 9:05 pm
#22
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,927
Certainly no premium service.
Jul 7, 2013, 3:19 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Brussels, London, Geneva, ....
Programs: Priority Club Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, formerly BA Gold, formerly KLM silver
Posts: 245
In my experience, priority boarding at LGW depends entirely which gate you go from. Specifically whether the boarding pass check is before or after the waiting area.
If the boarding pass check is done on entry to a seating area at the gate then once priority boarding is announced it's very rare for one of the gate staff to stand at the exit from the seating area and check boarding passes. Without checking, people whose English isn't that good or who weren't paying attention or who don't care just see some people boarding and follow them. Net result - no priority boarding.
If the gate is one where the boarding pass check only happens literally when you board then priority boarding normally works OK. Most of the time the gate staff will turn back people who aren't entitled to it.
In contrast, at AMS priority boarding does generally work as there is a seating area both before and after the boarding pass check. The boarding pass check only starts just before boarding is about to start and they will turn back people not entitled to priority boarding. The hazard at AMS is that the automated announcements only refer to priority boarding for CE and gold but not for silver. Fortunately the staff know the truth.
If the boarding pass check is done on entry to a seating area at the gate then once priority boarding is announced it's very rare for one of the gate staff to stand at the exit from the seating area and check boarding passes. Without checking, people whose English isn't that good or who weren't paying attention or who don't care just see some people boarding and follow them. Net result - no priority boarding.
If the gate is one where the boarding pass check only happens literally when you board then priority boarding normally works OK. Most of the time the gate staff will turn back people who aren't entitled to it.
In contrast, at AMS priority boarding does generally work as there is a seating area both before and after the boarding pass check. The boarding pass check only starts just before boarding is about to start and they will turn back people not entitled to priority boarding. The hazard at AMS is that the automated announcements only refer to priority boarding for CE and gold but not for silver. Fortunately the staff know the truth.
Jul 8, 2013, 4:28 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 360
Just logged on my EC account and that popped up as one of my gold benefits which reminded me of this thread.
On a recent PMI to LCY there was no fast track/priority boarding. A general boarding call was made (a queue formed at that point) and the gate agent went on to say "we invite passengers in CE and BA Exec Club Gold and Silver members to board at their leisure".
What's the point of that when there was already a queue?
Out of interest, how many on here would interpret "board at leisure" to mean push to the front of the queue (which I didn't do btw but am I too polite)?
On a recent PMI to LCY there was no fast track/priority boarding. A general boarding call was made (a queue formed at that point) and the gate agent went on to say "we invite passengers in CE and BA Exec Club Gold and Silver members to board at their leisure".
What's the point of that when there was already a queue?
Out of interest, how many on here would interpret "board at leisure" to mean push to the front of the queue (which I didn't do btw but am I too polite)?
Jul 8, 2013, 4:44 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Programs: MUCCI; BAEC Lifetime Gold; Marriott Bonvoy Emeritus Titanium; Hertz#1, Avis President’s Club
Posts: 3,214
It would depend on the situation and length of the queue, but in most cases I would make my way to the front of the queue
Jul 8, 2013, 5:15 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Perth WA/ UK
Programs: BA Gold, Priority Club Gold, Accor Silver, Virgin Australia Gold
Posts: 1,750
Last nights slightly delayed Boeing 767 from CPH to LHR ended up a free for all from a very hot C32 gate at CPH...no priority boarding offered whatsoever....when I remarked that it was like EasyJet of old - the comment just went over their heads....great crew onboard though.....
Incidently that shared lounge at CPH is also pretty poor.
Incidently that shared lounge at CPH is also pretty poor.