Boarding question - double beep at gate?
Jun 27, 2017, 12:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 87
Boarding question - double beep at gate?
Hello,
a couple of of times recently, my boarding pass hasn't scanned straight through at the gate, but instead double beeps then there's a manual process by the agent, often noting down my seat number on a bit of paper before boarding.
Why is this? I've heard that a double beep might mean a seat change or upgrade - but that's never happened.
I often chose the emergency exit, is it a check for that perhaps? If so, why write my seat number down?
I'm intrigued
thank you!
a couple of of times recently, my boarding pass hasn't scanned straight through at the gate, but instead double beeps then there's a manual process by the agent, often noting down my seat number on a bit of paper before boarding.
Why is this? I've heard that a double beep might mean a seat change or upgrade - but that's never happened.
I often chose the emergency exit, is it a check for that perhaps? If so, why write my seat number down?
I'm intrigued
thank you!
Jun 27, 2017, 12:23 am
#3
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,967
The process in FLY involves checking you agree to being able to use the emergency exit. Rather than scanning the bp, you enter the seat number at the top of the boarding screen (which is probably why it was written down), then the message comes up which needs to be cleared - usually the agent may check you are happy to be in an exit row and determined whether they think you meet the criteria.
Jun 27, 2017, 1:38 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Around somewhere
Programs: Gold, Some red card and some hotel cards.
Posts: 709
A double beep means a 'gate stop' has, for some reason, been put one on you. It could be for any reason. It could be that they where looking for someone with the same name as you, you had been upgraded or as said above to see if you were suitable to sit in an exit seat.
Jun 27, 2017, 1:45 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BAEC GGL
Posts: 261
Or, most frustratingly, on US flights (I think it's only US flights) it can also signal you've been chosen for the random extra security check.
Jun 27, 2017, 2:02 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
Programs: AS; BA Silver; UA; HH Gold; Sprüngli Connaisseur
Posts: 2,912
Out of ZRH to LHR, I once had the gate agent write down something while they were scanning my boarding card. No beep, but later on I ended up with a crew member from a flight to LCY that had gone tech sitting next to me.
Nov 29, 2022, 10:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 12
Hi all,
not sure if this is the best place to ask my question about a gate beep, apologies if not.
While boarding BA418 LHR to LUX yesterday my passport scan triggered a beep and the gate agent asked me what kind of right I have to reside in the UK. I explained that I have EU settled status and all was well and I proceeded boarding.
Can someone explain why my status is queried when leaving the UK? I‘m sure BA has all the right to do so but I‘m wondering why this is done when exiting a country. I travel frequently and this has not happened to me before.
not sure if this is the best place to ask my question about a gate beep, apologies if not.
While boarding BA418 LHR to LUX yesterday my passport scan triggered a beep and the gate agent asked me what kind of right I have to reside in the UK. I explained that I have EU settled status and all was well and I proceeded boarding.
Can someone explain why my status is queried when leaving the UK? I‘m sure BA has all the right to do so but I‘m wondering why this is done when exiting a country. I travel frequently and this has not happened to me before.
Nov 30, 2022, 12:44 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
Hi all,
not sure if this is the best place to ask my question about a gate beep, apologies if not.
While boarding BA418 LHR to LUX yesterday my passport scan triggered a beep and the gate agent asked me what kind of right I have to reside in the UK. I explained that I have EU settled status and all was well and I proceeded boarding.
Can someone explain why my status is queried when leaving the UK? I‘m sure BA has all the right to do so but I‘m wondering why this is done when exiting a country. I travel frequently and this has not happened to me before.
not sure if this is the best place to ask my question about a gate beep, apologies if not.
While boarding BA418 LHR to LUX yesterday my passport scan triggered a beep and the gate agent asked me what kind of right I have to reside in the UK. I explained that I have EU settled status and all was well and I proceeded boarding.
Can someone explain why my status is queried when leaving the UK? I‘m sure BA has all the right to do so but I‘m wondering why this is done when exiting a country. I travel frequently and this has not happened to me before.
Dec 1, 2022, 8:43 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 12
!Yes, I had a LHR-LUX-LHR return so that could have been the reason for BA to ask. I returned to the UK yesterday and had no problems, nobody queried anything. I will fly again on Saturday and kind of hope that this will happen again so I can ask why they query it.