Tracking BA Fast Track and Priority Boarding
#211
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Silver, Mucci
Posts: 5,289
I as very impressed with fast track boarding at MAN gate 142 last month.
After passing through the gates across the corridor, the passengers in the boarding queues were facing towards me. The regular line was nearest the window and not yet boarding. The line for fast track was along side it and very short. With only a brief stop to scan my boarding card I walked straight onto the aircraft.
I have never seen FT boarding even attempted at MAN before, except at gate 141. (Or maybe it was the check out line for Boots!) There have been announcements for it at the other gates, but not before it was nigh on impossible to get through the scrum leading up to the gate.
If fast track boarding can be done so well at these MAN gates, it can be done anywhere!
Well done, BA!
After passing through the gates across the corridor, the passengers in the boarding queues were facing towards me. The regular line was nearest the window and not yet boarding. The line for fast track was along side it and very short. With only a brief stop to scan my boarding card I walked straight onto the aircraft.
I have never seen FT boarding even attempted at MAN before, except at gate 141. (Or maybe it was the check out line for Boots!) There have been announcements for it at the other gates, but not before it was nigh on impossible to get through the scrum leading up to the gate.
If fast track boarding can be done so well at these MAN gates, it can be done anywhere!
Well done, BA!
#213
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 278
For priority security, ICN / Seoul can be updated to an emphatic No now that First is no longer operated on that route. There is nothing by way of priority for Club World (now the highest cabin operated on that route) and it is often an absolute zoo there - 30min + to get through, followed by a ride on the congested transit train from hell to reach the Asiana lounge which BA uses. Now need to arrive 3 hours before departure time to be safe.
Last edited by visit14; Apr 20, 2015 at 9:43 am
#214
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bloomsbury
Programs: BA Silver, AF Ivory
Posts: 2,196
Not sure about the ORY entry - I use multiple times a year and priority boarding has always been announced and enforced. Priority security is also available but I rarely need to use it at the time i travel.
#215
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA silver, VS, Jet, Carlson gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 614
The problem with DUS is that virtually everyone seems to join the Fast track lane!
#216
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BA, Marriott, Hertz, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 2,015
At Budapest yesterday, I tried to use Fast Track security but was told BA don't pay for it anymore, so went through normal track to find there was no normal track scanner open, so went to the Fast Track scanner where there were no people queuing.
Also, Fast Track boarding was non-existent as it was announced at the same time as general boarding and there seemed to be no policing of who joined which queue.
Also, Fast Track boarding was non-existent as it was announced at the same time as general boarding and there seemed to be no policing of who joined which queue.
#217
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Carlson Gold Elite, Accor Platinum, SPG Gold, Marco Polo Gold
Posts: 273
At Budapest yesterday, I tried to use Fast Track security but was told BA don't pay for it anymore, so went through normal track to find there was no normal track scanner open, so went to the Fast Track scanner where there were no people queuing.
Also, Fast Track boarding was non-existent as it was announced at the same time as general boarding and there seemed to be no policing of who joined which queue.
Also, Fast Track boarding was non-existent as it was announced at the same time as general boarding and there seemed to be no policing of who joined which queue.
Fast track boarding is plainly idiotic at Budapest. They board Club and status passengers at the same time as the back rows of the plane.
BA need to get a grip on being consistent - At BUD there is usually now a BA employee at the gate as well as the (useless) Celebi staff, so there should be no excuse.
#218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,306
#219
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 628
I'm flying from NCL on Tuesday (school holidays start this week up here). I've never felt the need to use fast track security before, but as our flight to Lhr is at the same time as the New York flight plus I expect a number of charters/LCC I was wondering about eligibility. We have a separate revenue flight connecting to avios CW/F BA flights. I have Marco Polo gold. It would be good to get through security as quickly as possible with the kids in tow!
#221
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,472
Fast Track is also available online for 3 a head from the airport's website.
#222
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA
Posts: 61
'Fast' track at IST last week was truly awful. Provided by 'partner' TAV, they have only one person on the passport desk (and three people on the desk to count the fast track tickets - honestly, three people who count them again and again, shuffle and count again). Electronic visas seem to have slowed everything down. Took 1 hour 10mins of queuing before the first CE passenger went through. In the meantime thee entire ET cabin had passed through the normal gates!
TK's business class queue was much better serviced and was quick.
Exactly the same experience on the way back - one operative and four to count the cards - you would think I would have learned.
'Fast track' at IST is not a perk, it is punitive. My advice would be that if there is more than four people waiting in the TAV fast track line, bin it and just join the other punters.
TK's business class queue was much better serviced and was quick.
Exactly the same experience on the way back - one operative and four to count the cards - you would think I would have learned.
'Fast track' at IST is not a perk, it is punitive. My advice would be that if there is more than four people waiting in the TAV fast track line, bin it and just join the other punters.
#224
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,472
#225
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,200