New Boarding Process- has anyone noticed an improvement?
Apr 24, 16, 4:44 am
#766
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The difference with the Easyjet way, and the BA way, is what happens after they scan your boarding pass.
On BA, they scan your boarding pass as soon as the aircraft is ready, and you board immediately.
On Easyjet, they scan your boarding pass when the Gate opens, and then segregate you into holding areas. When the aircraft is ready, they board the groups as they have been segregated. This ensures no skipping, and means you 'get what you paid for'...unless it's a bus-gate but let's leave that for now.
All BA would need to do, in theory, is move the Gate desks to the front, opposed to the back, of the seating area. Doing so, would allow for segregation behind the Counters.
It seems to work for Easyjet, and while we're not necessarily comparing apples with apples, it could be an option.
M
On BA, they scan your boarding pass as soon as the aircraft is ready, and you board immediately.
On Easyjet, they scan your boarding pass when the Gate opens, and then segregate you into holding areas. When the aircraft is ready, they board the groups as they have been segregated. This ensures no skipping, and means you 'get what you paid for'...unless it's a bus-gate but let's leave that for now.
All BA would need to do, in theory, is move the Gate desks to the front, opposed to the back, of the seating area. Doing so, would allow for segregation behind the Counters.
It seems to work for Easyjet, and while we're not necessarily comparing apples with apples, it could be an option.
M
Apr 24, 16, 1:44 pm
#767
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Easyjet do not always check boarding passes then divide passengers into priority/normal groups. They do this, for example, at AMS where the gates they usually use (H pier) are built with a holding pen past the boarding pass scanner.
However at Stansted and other airports, there is no segregated holding pen past the boarding pass scanner, only a passageway to the stairs or airbridge (depending on which is in use).
There is, in all Easyjet locations, a clearly marked set of two queues, one for priority and one for normal. When processing boarding cards, the gate agents start with the priority queue. Before boarding they actively marshal waiting passengers into the two queues, which prevents an impenetrable scrum at the scanner.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco recently boarding the BA286 (the A380, which does not board premium passengers directly from the lounge) there was exactly such an impenetrable scrum at gate A9 with no marshalling of queues.
It is not hard. Why can't BA's gate agents do it?
However at Stansted and other airports, there is no segregated holding pen past the boarding pass scanner, only a passageway to the stairs or airbridge (depending on which is in use).
There is, in all Easyjet locations, a clearly marked set of two queues, one for priority and one for normal. When processing boarding cards, the gate agents start with the priority queue. Before boarding they actively marshal waiting passengers into the two queues, which prevents an impenetrable scrum at the scanner.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco recently boarding the BA286 (the A380, which does not board premium passengers directly from the lounge) there was exactly such an impenetrable scrum at gate A9 with no marshalling of queues.
It is not hard. Why can't BA's gate agents do it?
Apr 24, 16, 1:53 pm
#768
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The new BA boarding process would seem to involve, in effect, four or five different queues. It doesn't seem very surprising that there isn't enough floor space at most airports to actually set up this many queues.
Apr 24, 16, 2:18 pm
#769
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I don't have much experience of EZY, but is it right that they have only two categories of passenger?
The new BA boarding process would seem to involve, in effect, four or five different queues. It doesn't seem very surprising that there isn't enough floor space at most airports to actually set up this many queues.
The new BA boarding process would seem to involve, in effect, four or five different queues. It doesn't seem very surprising that there isn't enough floor space at most airports to actually set up this many queues.
I appreciate that the issue with BA is perhaps the next level along (splitting up those with the entitlement, but certain BA out-stations (and LHR occasionally) manage it
Apr 24, 16, 2:21 pm
#770
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While BA do have more than two levels of boarding priority, when they only have two boarding announcements (priority and other) that would be two queues, easy to manage. Yet they have never even done that in many places.
Meanwhile CX and JAL with just as many classes of travel and status levels also manage ok.
Meanwhile CX and JAL with just as many classes of travel and status levels also manage ok.
Apr 24, 16, 2:24 pm
#771
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Families with children under 5 and those requiring assistance board first, after Speedy Boarding pax.
You either pay for Speedy Boarding per sector, or you can buy an easyJet Plus card, which not only includes extra leg room/up front seats for all your flights for a year, but also Fastrack access at a number of airports, including LGW). The 'perks' for this card are only valid for the card holder, ie if you want the extras for anyone travelling with you (including children) they have to pay.
Apr 25, 16, 3:03 am
#772
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LHR to NCL 22 Apr.. I arrived at the gate after boarding had commenced so don't know what announcements had been made. Felt a bit guilty using prioirty lane which was empty and when I got to the front one of the 2 ladies scanning boarding cards for the regular que paused her side of the line, gestured for me to come forward then asked other people to come forward after me. NCL to LHR 24 Apr fast track bp scanned into holding room at gate 3. Completely full aircraft boarding from front and rear. When aircraft ready for boarding staff went forward to remove ropes and passengers surged forward then the young man started making announcements for prioirty boarding and to ask people at the rear to use back steps. Was too late by this time as a massive scrum had moved forward. Flight was delayed by 15 mins whilst approx 10 bags had to be put in the hold. Staff talking at the podium could have been more proactive with bags.
Apr 25, 16, 12:22 pm
#773
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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.
Apr 30, 16, 2:39 am
#776
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I saw the fast track sign at dub at the 200 gates said club europe and gold/emd only. They announced that, but immediately on to silvers and were clear the right queue was ce/fast track only and y was left queue. Lady also went down the ft queue scanning bps to speed boarding. Well done!
Apr 30, 16, 4:25 am
#778
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