New Boarding Process- has anyone noticed an improvement?
Apr 8, 16, 4:31 am
#736
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: BAEC GfL, currently GGL
Posts: 208
Nicely done on Cityflyer ex DUB this morning: OWEs, Club shepherded in the fast track queue. Rubies into the "general" queue.
One family with youngster then brought down the fast track track to sit the other side of the gate.
When the plane opened, the sequence was clearly followed: Family, fast track queue, then the Rubies, then everybody else.
First sets of overheads were closed (until 1a and myself loaded our carryons), at which point the cabin crew closed them again while the ET folk entered.
If this becomes a consistent service standard, I will certainly have no complaints!
One family with youngster then brought down the fast track track to sit the other side of the gate.
When the plane opened, the sequence was clearly followed: Family, fast track queue, then the Rubies, then everybody else.
First sets of overheads were closed (until 1a and myself loaded our carryons), at which point the cabin crew closed them again while the ET folk entered.
If this becomes a consistent service standard, I will certainly have no complaints!
Apr 8, 16, 7:29 am
#737
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AMEX PP;BAEC Bronze;Tesco CC Preferred;
Posts: 212
Boarding was an utter and complete shambles for BA226 at Atlanta on 31 March. Flight was running a little late, although there were no announcements about this. Approximately 8 wheelchair-bound / infirm passengers and probably 10 families with very young children. Boarding was announced, but with no mention of priorities, and there was no separate lane or signs for First etc: just one large pen which was surrounded by about 80 anxious pax.
Families and infirm had to shove their way through this melee and duck under the Tensa tapes whereupon, again without any Tannoy announcement, one or two of the staff tried to intervene, eventually appealing verbally to all to stand back off the carpeted area. Tempers frayed among the usual cohort of seemingly nervous, vocal, pushy flyers and angry shouts of "Disgraceful", "Shambolic" etc (British accents) filled the air. In fact no instructions about boarding were made at all, although plenty of call-forwards made to regularise paperwork
Of course it all eventually sorted itself out as I observed it from a distance (I was in 1A so had no worries about eventually getting my seat or locker space) but in my 50 years of flying BOAC /BA I have never seen anything quite so shambolic. There were 8 disinterested, aimless staff at the gate in BA uniforms - an appalling advert for the airline. It seemed to me that the operation must have been outsourced to an inexperienced third party. If so, why on earth put them in BA uniforms: would the police let G4S or Serco staff masquerade as real coppers?
I was quite ashamed of all this, and have no doubt whatsoever that many first-time BA passengers would have vowed to avoid the airline at all costs in future. All so avoidable and simply caused by sloppy, distant managers and poor training and supervision.
As the CSD commented, (the cabin crew were forewarned that there might be trouble brewing): one day soon it will all come back to bite BA just as it did Tesco, if for slightly different reasons.
Families and infirm had to shove their way through this melee and duck under the Tensa tapes whereupon, again without any Tannoy announcement, one or two of the staff tried to intervene, eventually appealing verbally to all to stand back off the carpeted area. Tempers frayed among the usual cohort of seemingly nervous, vocal, pushy flyers and angry shouts of "Disgraceful", "Shambolic" etc (British accents) filled the air. In fact no instructions about boarding were made at all, although plenty of call-forwards made to regularise paperwork
Of course it all eventually sorted itself out as I observed it from a distance (I was in 1A so had no worries about eventually getting my seat or locker space) but in my 50 years of flying BOAC /BA I have never seen anything quite so shambolic. There were 8 disinterested, aimless staff at the gate in BA uniforms - an appalling advert for the airline. It seemed to me that the operation must have been outsourced to an inexperienced third party. If so, why on earth put them in BA uniforms: would the police let G4S or Serco staff masquerade as real coppers?
I was quite ashamed of all this, and have no doubt whatsoever that many first-time BA passengers would have vowed to avoid the airline at all costs in future. All so avoidable and simply caused by sloppy, distant managers and poor training and supervision.
As the CSD commented, (the cabin crew were forewarned that there might be trouble brewing): one day soon it will all come back to bite BA just as it did Tesco, if for slightly different reasons.
Apr 9, 16, 3:03 pm
#738
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold, Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 401
It was better this time. Upon arriving at the gate I could see a long but nice orderly queue at general boarding and a far less organised queue for priority boarding. Club Europe and Gold/Emerald were called first, after that Silver/Sapphire were called and after that (I assume) Bronze/Ruby. One gate agent(?) repeatedly called those who should board to come forward and those who attempted to board too early were sent back in a nice and discreet manner.
Apr 17, 16, 1:27 am
#739
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Diamond, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 7,440
Took a flight on D8? (Norwegian) yesterday from BCN-LGW to compare.
Boarding was due to commence at 16:50 but was a good 20 minutes or so later than that.
This consisted of first come first served (people were queuing from around the time mentioned on the board, a couple earlier) and rows 1-15 on one side of the podium and 16-30+ on the other side with passport / document checks being done in the queue and again at the podium.
Took ages to board and the overhead baggage situation was no better than with BA.
Boarding was due to commence at 16:50 but was a good 20 minutes or so later than that.
This consisted of first come first served (people were queuing from around the time mentioned on the board, a couple earlier) and rows 1-15 on one side of the podium and 16-30+ on the other side with passport / document checks being done in the queue and again at the podium.
Took ages to board and the overhead baggage situation was no better than with BA.
Apr 17, 16, 2:32 am
#740
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Yorkshire
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 348
Hi, Long time lurker and beneficiary of the great advice and tips offered here.
Flew BA1342 to LBA yesterday, we boarded from A4 via bus to aircraft. No priority boarding was called, they went straight to general boarding. The Flight was reasonably lightly loaded at about 50-60% I would guess.
Flew BA1342 to LBA yesterday, we boarded from A4 via bus to aircraft. No priority boarding was called, they went straight to general boarding. The Flight was reasonably lightly loaded at about 50-60% I would guess.
Apr 17, 16, 2:39 am
#741
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: 61,107
Hi, Long time lurker and beneficiary of the great advice and tips offered here.
Flew BA1342 to LBA yesterday, we boarded from A4 via bus to aircraft. No priority boarding was called, they went straight to general boarding. The Flight was reasonably lightly loaded at about 50-60% I would guess.
Flew BA1342 to LBA yesterday, we boarded from A4 via bus to aircraft. No priority boarding was called, they went straight to general boarding. The Flight was reasonably lightly loaded at about 50-60% I would guess.
I know it is possible to do priority boarding by bus but it truly is lipstick on a pig. Moreover LBA passengers are in the very fortunate and civilised position of not needing priority boarding on the whole. Or Club Yorkshire as I saw it yesterday.
. Plenty of room in the overheads for the wildlife 
.
Apr 17, 16, 4:34 am
#743
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,087
Hi, Long time lurker and beneficiary of the great advice and tips offered here.
Flew BA1342 to LBA yesterday, we boarded from A4 via bus to aircraft. No priority boarding was called, they went straight to general boarding. The Flight was reasonably lightly loaded at about 50-60% I would guess.
Flew BA1342 to LBA yesterday, we boarded from A4 via bus to aircraft. No priority boarding was called, they went straight to general boarding. The Flight was reasonably lightly loaded at about 50-60% I would guess.
A4 boarding never seems to go well in my exprience, but fortunately it doesn't happen very often. Normal gate boarding for LBA flights does seem to be done fairly well with priority boaring called first. Also you'll notice that it seems fairly civilised for the LBA flight. I always find the MAN flights quite rowdy, and priority boarding on them seems to be a bit of a scrum - but they are like that on the other side of the Pennines!
Welcome to Flyertalk LBA_flyer, welcome to the British Airways board in particular. I am sure the rest of the Brigantes will be delighted to see another recruit here to exchange notes on cost effective ferret care.
I know it is possible to do priority boarding by bus but it truly is lipstick on a pig. Moreover LBA passengers are in the very fortunate and civilised position of not needing priority boarding on the whole. Or Club Yorkshire as I saw it yesterday.
I know it is possible to do priority boarding by bus but it truly is lipstick on a pig. Moreover LBA passengers are in the very fortunate and civilised position of not needing priority boarding on the whole. Or Club Yorkshire as I saw it yesterday.
Apr 17, 16, 4:59 am
#744
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 158
It was better this time. Upon arriving at the gate I could see a long but nice orderly queue at general boarding and a far less organised queue for priority boarding. Club Europe and Gold/Emerald were called first, after that Silver/Sapphire were called and after that (I assume) Bronze/Ruby. One gate agent(?) repeatedly called those who should board to come forward and those who attempted to board too early were sent back in a nice and discreet manner.
Completely different experience at LHR later in the week, though, for NCL service - UK business and ALL OW status holders called forward at once, no attempt to even acknowledge proper process.
Apr 17, 16, 5:22 am
#745
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Offshore Island
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 297
LCY / GRX boarding experience
Just returned from a trip to Granada from LCY. The gate for the GRX flight seemed to be too small to hold all the passengers so was very crowded and chaotic. The boarding agent checking BPs was asking passengers if they would check their hand baggage into the hold for free as the flight was full. We asked if we could keep ours with us as we had booked Club Europe and she said that's fine and directed us to a short row of 4-5 low stools behind a tensa barrier. A small sign, not clearly visible, said this area was for CE and Gold passengers.
When boarding commenced, the barrier to this area was removed so priority passengers could board first.
On the return leg, the announcement was made for CE and Gold passengers to board first, however, this was only made in Spanish so the majority of the passengers didn't understand and everyone got up to board. After checking us through we then had to wait by the exit door in a small vestibule which then became very crowded so that when we were eventually allowed to proceed to the aircraft there was a bit of a stampede to get to the front!
When boarding commenced, the barrier to this area was removed so priority passengers could board first.
On the return leg, the announcement was made for CE and Gold passengers to board first, however, this was only made in Spanish so the majority of the passengers didn't understand and everyone got up to board. After checking us through we then had to wait by the exit door in a small vestibule which then became very crowded so that when we were eventually allowed to proceed to the aircraft there was a bit of a stampede to get to the front!
Apr 17, 16, 7:50 am
#746
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
Complete scrum of a flight from Dublin, high number of status passengers on the route and I ended up having to put my bags above row 6, before working my way back up to my seat. I ask the ground staff about the new boarding process but they just said they were not doing it any more.
Other than that it is just very inconsistent, some times they follow the procedure sometimes not, gives a very poor impression.
Other than that it is just very inconsistent, some times they follow the procedure sometimes not, gives a very poor impression.
Apr 18, 16, 6:44 am
#747
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,776
Boarding at LHR T5 on Friday evening descended into a bit of a shambles. (Gate A3, to TXL).
It started well, with families with children being boarded first. Then the agent invited Club Europe passengers and Gold members to board through the priority lane. They were boarded pretty quickly and efficiently, being handled by both gate agents.
There were now a couple of dozen Silver and other premium passengers hovering around the gate, not quite knowing what to do. One of the agents asked her colleague, "Are we boarding Silvers yet?". Her colleague shrugged, then immediately announced general boarding. The queue that had formed in the general boarding lane then surged forward to both gate agents, completely blocking the path of the premium passengers who had patiently waited.
I really despair at how British Airways' staff can continue to get such a basic and simple process so horribly wrong, time after time.
It started well, with families with children being boarded first. Then the agent invited Club Europe passengers and Gold members to board through the priority lane. They were boarded pretty quickly and efficiently, being handled by both gate agents.
There were now a couple of dozen Silver and other premium passengers hovering around the gate, not quite knowing what to do. One of the agents asked her colleague, "Are we boarding Silvers yet?". Her colleague shrugged, then immediately announced general boarding. The queue that had formed in the general boarding lane then surged forward to both gate agents, completely blocking the path of the premium passengers who had patiently waited.
I really despair at how British Airways' staff can continue to get such a basic and simple process so horribly wrong, time after time.
Apr 20, 16, 6:38 am
#748
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,641
AMS again yesterday evening. The usual queue forms in the priority lane, headed by the usual self-important businessmen. (Yes, it's always men.) Club and Golds are called. The entire queue moves forward towards the scanner, and stops because the scanner operator is diligently refusing to take anyone who's not a Club or a Gold. But because those who are can't come forward towards the scanner, another agent comes to the priority lane and tells the whole lot of self-important businessmen that they must move out of the priority lane to allow others to come forward. If they do not, she will halt boarding entirely.
That did the trick. That sort of approach is much needed, although I understand that the Dutch are more likely to deliver it than the British.
That did the trick. That sort of approach is much needed, although I understand that the Dutch are more likely to deliver it than the British.
Apr 20, 16, 7:01 am
#749
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Diamond, Hertz Gold 5*
Posts: 5,674
Completely random this week at various airports.
LHR T5 - queue of 30+ already formed for priority boarding and all variants (CE, Gold, Silver, Bronze etc.) called at once, with people cutting into the queue at all points. As a G(GL) travelling in CE, I was probably 40th-ish to board. No issue with overhead space in the end but a poor overall experience.
AMS - Line formed 15 minutes pre-boarding. CE and Gold called, with some initial checking of the line by staff but then a free for all again. No policing from about T-5 on the lines.
HKG - 3 separate lines, First & Gold; CW WT+ Silver & Bronze; WT. All formed well into these lines, but then boarding of all lines started together, so a scrum on the airbridges.
None of these airports seemed to actually follow the process as defined by BA, so they wonder why queues have again started to form 10 minutes before boarding - it's because on the day, nobody knows which set of rules will be used.
LHR T5 - queue of 30+ already formed for priority boarding and all variants (CE, Gold, Silver, Bronze etc.) called at once, with people cutting into the queue at all points. As a G(GL) travelling in CE, I was probably 40th-ish to board. No issue with overhead space in the end but a poor overall experience.
AMS - Line formed 15 minutes pre-boarding. CE and Gold called, with some initial checking of the line by staff but then a free for all again. No policing from about T-5 on the lines.
HKG - 3 separate lines, First & Gold; CW WT+ Silver & Bronze; WT. All formed well into these lines, but then boarding of all lines started together, so a scrum on the airbridges.
None of these airports seemed to actually follow the process as defined by BA, so they wonder why queues have again started to form 10 minutes before boarding - it's because on the day, nobody knows which set of rules will be used.
Apr 20, 16, 7:16 am
#750
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: BA LifetimeGold GGL/CCR
Posts: 1,140
A couple of weeks ago, shorthaul from LHR, EC's, golds, silvers, bronzes were called all together for priority boarding. I asked the check in agent why she did not use the new boarding procedure, she replied very friendly that the new boarding procedure was still in a test phase and not generalised.
Anyway, the old boarding procedure worked well and we were all on board 10 minutes before the official departure time. Hand baggage quantities and dimensions were not verified, no overhead bin space problems although the flight was fairly full.
Maybe time to go back to the old rules and procedures?
Anyway, the old boarding procedure worked well and we were all on board 10 minutes before the official departure time. Hand baggage quantities and dimensions were not verified, no overhead bin space problems although the flight was fairly full.
Maybe time to go back to the old rules and procedures?
