New Boarding Process- has anyone noticed an improvement?
Apr 20, 2016, 11:06 pm
#752
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Southampton, UK
Programs: BAEC GFL, GGL, Hilton Diamond, EuroBonus Gold for Life, SPG Plat Elite
Posts: 217
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 21, 2016, 6:35 am
#754
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Cheltenham
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 536
Slightly off topic, on the EDI - LHR this morning and once we were in the air; the crew announced a special thank you to our gold card holders and members of the executive club and one world members.
Getting back on topic, boarding was gold, silver, bronze and one world equivalent members (all at once).
Getting back on topic, boarding was gold, silver, bronze and one world equivalent members (all at once).
Apr 21, 2016, 8:04 am
#755
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow / London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 3,457
Because they don't seem to know what's going on either! My last email to CS received a response telling me that the process is First / Business passengers, then Gold, Silver and Bronze at the same time!
Apr 22, 2016, 1:47 am
#756
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, Avis Preferred Plus, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 114
As a silver, I find the whole short haul boarding process way more stressful than the old system. Previously, I'd just stand in the fast track line, knowing I was entitled to be there with CE/golds etc. Everyone else boards after fast track.
Now it's a complete mess. To give an experience in Dublin as an example. They explain that boarding will be CE, golds, silver, bronze then everyone else. In that order. Problem is, there is only one line and it's anyone's guess where in that line you should be. You try to position yourself appropriately (I was way back), but you don't really know the status of those around you. You can't just remain seated and wait (well you could if you were happy being last on) because once boarding begins they don't say when CE/gold etc are done. I suppose you could push further forward but then you're just contributing to the animal nature of it all.
CE next time! 😝
Now it's a complete mess. To give an experience in Dublin as an example. They explain that boarding will be CE, golds, silver, bronze then everyone else. In that order. Problem is, there is only one line and it's anyone's guess where in that line you should be. You try to position yourself appropriately (I was way back), but you don't really know the status of those around you. You can't just remain seated and wait (well you could if you were happy being last on) because once boarding begins they don't say when CE/gold etc are done. I suppose you could push further forward but then you're just contributing to the animal nature of it all.
CE next time! 😝
Apr 22, 2016, 10:26 am
#757
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Australia
Programs: Aeroplan 50k, Hilton Diamond, Accor Plus Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 188
Thanks to BA schedule changes I’ve flown easyJet LGW MLA several times, and boarding has been a breeze/pleasant experience.
Without exception the correct boarding procedures were followed for the outbound and inbound flights (even by the contract staff in MLA – a different company to the one used by BA in MLA)
Speedy boarding passengers called forward first; then family groups with children under 5 and assistance passengers, followed by general boarding.
Passengers – in their boarding order -then proceed down the air bridge (or similar) and wait behind the barrier for the crew to finish prepping the aircraft (about a 5-10 minute wait).
No unseemly rush or crush for those who paid for speedy boarding: unlike the ignominy endured most of the time by BA club and first class passengers.
The only ‘downside’ being I had to pay for food on-board; which to be honest wasn’t too bad, and had to ‘suffer’ 3 x 3 seating, but then again I was in 1D.
Fast track is hit and miss at LGW so no great loss there, and with PP a pleasant lounge experience was had in Aspire!
Overall the entire experience was surprisingly pleasant (and less stressful), with efficient and smartly attired boarding staff and cabin crew, and 50% cheaper than CE.
Am I a convert to easyJet? Only time – and BA scheduling – will tell!
Apr 23, 2016, 2:13 pm
#758
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA LTG/GFL, Honors Diamond, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 718
For the first time in 22 domestic and European sectors that I have undertaken since the announced changes, boarding was done correctly (as I understand what the process is supposed to be) at LHR on a domestic.
First call was Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward to priority lane, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined at the boarding scan.
Next call, after all the above passengers were processed, was Silver, OWS and any remaining Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined.
Third call, once all the above passengers were processed, was general boarding, OWR use the priority lane. Priority queue was policed, and non compliant passengers were declined and sent to general.
^
Prompt boarding and seating, bin space seemed fine, Good job. Compared with the mass charge of people usually, this was efficient, stress free, simple and quick.
First call was Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward to priority lane, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined at the boarding scan.
Next call, after all the above passengers were processed, was Silver, OWS and any remaining Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined.
Third call, once all the above passengers were processed, was general boarding, OWR use the priority lane. Priority queue was policed, and non compliant passengers were declined and sent to general.
^
Prompt boarding and seating, bin space seemed fine, Good job. Compared with the mass charge of people usually, this was efficient, stress free, simple and quick.
Last edited by rjn21; Apr 24, 2016 at 4:42 am
Apr 24, 2016, 12:59 am
#759
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
For the first time in 22 domestic and European sectors that I have undertaken since the announced changes, boarding was done correctly (as I understand it is supposed to be) at LHR on a domestic.
First call was Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward to priority lane, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined at the boarding scan.
Next call, after all the above passengers were processed, was Silver, OWS and any remaining Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined.
Third call, once all the above passengers were processed, was general boarding, OWR use the priority lane. Priority queue was policed, and non compliant passengers were declined and sent to general.
^
Prompt boarding and seating, bin space seemed fine, Good job. Compared with the mass charge of people usually, this was efficient, stress free, simple and quick.
First call was Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward to priority lane, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined at the boarding scan.
Next call, after all the above passengers were processed, was Silver, OWS and any remaining Domestic UK, Gold, OWE - please come forward, everyone else remain seated. Queue was regularly policed, and non compliant passengers were declined.
Third call, once all the above passengers were processed, was general boarding, OWR use the priority lane. Priority queue was policed, and non compliant passengers were declined and sent to general.
^
Prompt boarding and seating, bin space seemed fine, Good job. Compared with the mass charge of people usually, this was efficient, stress free, simple and quick.
Apr 24, 2016, 3:38 am
#761
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
... as I say, I'm still waiting for it to happen since the procedure was confirmed.
Apr 24, 2016, 3:48 am
#762
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: usually LON
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Tesco Blue, TK Elite (*G), Oyster Diamond Jubilee edition
Posts: 1,546
Was on LHR-MXP last week and all pax with some sort of priority were called at the same time. Luckily the plane was not even half full so pretty smooth boarding (relatively speaking). People in Priority lane arriving later were almost ignored.
Apr 24, 2016, 4:01 am
#763
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,831
Fully agree with the HKG experience. It has happened that way on the three flights I have had this year from HKG, even when in F I have been boarded after the CW and WT lines. Then of course the inevitable scrum just before the air bridge when no-one is heading for the right section. Last time people for the upper seats were heading for the lower deck and being turned around at the door. No-one to direct them and far too much trouble to be able to follow a sign.
Apr 24, 2016, 4:16 am
#764
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,959
I still have about 10% success at Heathrow. One particularly good occasion where the chap came down and extracted me as Gold, and another guy as Business UK, to the very front ^
Complete failure everywhere else.