DYKWIA | 2018 edition
#661
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
Often there is some trickery with the boarding times / screen announcements. They say boarding to get people to go to the gate. If you aren't familiar with this and follow instructions then it's very likely you'll find yourself at the gate early in most airports.
In most cases when I've been last to board, there is a long line in the jetbridge as people take their time to get on. I think it would be difficult to time it so that this didn't happen, but you didn't miss your flight. If you have any tips, do share.
In most cases when I've been last to board, there is a long line in the jetbridge as people take their time to get on. I think it would be difficult to time it so that this didn't happen, but you didn't miss your flight. If you have any tips, do share.
Often while playing the game you will fall early and be halted on the jet bridge. However, while annoying, this isn't a disaster.
Alas while playing the game you must NEVER be so late that you A: Cause an announcement B: Cause other pax to look and scowl/tut when you board C: Cause a delay to departure.
#663
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,699
Often there is some trickery with the boarding times / screen announcements. They say boarding to get people to go to the gate. If you aren't familiar with this and follow instructions then it's very likely you'll find yourself at the gate early in most airports.
In most cases when I've been last to board, there is a long line in the jetbridge as people take their time to get on. I think it would be difficult to time it so that this didn't happen, but you didn't miss your flight. If you have any tips, do share.
In most cases when I've been last to board, there is a long line in the jetbridge as people take their time to get on. I think it would be difficult to time it so that this didn't happen, but you didn't miss your flight. If you have any tips, do share.
I personally want to be there early and get settled in even if it does mean sitting around for 20 minutes or so.
I've been last twice and only just made it (drinking in the lounge + toilet trip and forgetting a bag) and wouldn't want to risk a hefty bill for new flights because of something trivial.
JFK T7 is somewhere where you're better waiting. Last time I was in the CCR, they announced boarding, so we all got up and got to the gate where half the plane were already boarding and you were barely on the airbridge in a queue.
Had a Virgin flight at LGW before where they announced "gate closing now" nearly an hour and a half before boarding started and loads of people made a run for it.
I've waltzed past people on AA a few times, Virgin UC before etc.
Last edited by xenole; Oct 4, 2018 at 5:18 am
#664
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,124
"Be where we need to be" is our mantra. We are not addicted to spending more time in the waiting room [sorry, FLounge] or prepared to risk being offloaded.
#665
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, Senior Railcard & Bus Pass
Posts: 983
#666
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,196
I tend to aim to get to the gate about 25 mins before departure on BA. I'm not a fan of sitting around at the gate so given the choice I'd rather arrive once boarding had already started.
#667
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 562
I don't know about anyone else but I am always too excited to get on the actual plane that as soon as I see our gate number announced I'm basically running to the gate.
#669
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: BA Bronze SPG
Posts: 273
My husband used to be one of those boarding last till we took our seats at 1A and 1B - (on an easyjet flight!) and our hand luggage was off-loaded to the hold! Since then he's keen to get on board asap to get the hand luggage above us!
#670
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow / London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 3,457
it was the start of a good run as I was picked up in the Jag by Special Services the next day for a transfer between T5 and T3 for a Miami flight. If only every BA experience could be that good!
Last edited by Filthy Monkey; Oct 4, 2018 at 9:21 am
#671
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
You seem to very often confuse personal opinion / speculation and declaration of fact/s.
I clearly stated "I would be amazed". Ergo, I am of the opinion that BA would do their best to avoid offloading GCH's bags.
It is clearly in no way a "positive assertion". So need to try and prove that I am "wrong".
So lets re-cap.
I *think that BA would avoid offloading GCH's carry-on bags.
To be clear.
I clearly stated "I would be amazed". Ergo, I am of the opinion that BA would do their best to avoid offloading GCH's bags.
It is clearly in no way a "positive assertion". So need to try and prove that I am "wrong".
So lets re-cap.
I *think that BA would avoid offloading GCH's carry-on bags.
To be clear.
- I have no evidence of this being fact or true.
- This is an assumption based on my own "best guess"
- I will not be held responsible for someone searching through 10 years of FT posts to try to disprove my guess/assumption/opinion/thoughts.
They cleared Group 1 and 2 queues and then announced any further second items would need to be gate checked. If you weren't in those queues when the gate opened it didn't matter what your status was.
#672
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
I do believe you but I am amazed that Group 1 and 2 managed to fill all the overhead bins by themselves!
#674
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,448
I'm no Brit and I'm not older generation (more middle), but if there is a queue everyone should respect it.
Still have to happen on BA or OW, but I had a DYKWIA moment encounter while waiting in line at the Business Desk Check-in for SN. There was a bit of a queue that was turning around a corner, and there was a SN ground agent policing it. A middle age man tried to move beside the line (aka skipping it) and was stopped and directed to the queue's end by the agent. My husband, that was closer, then heard this classic, half-outraged half-dumbfounded, reply: "Mais je suis Snateur!"
It didn't work
Still have to happen on BA or OW, but I had a DYKWIA moment encounter while waiting in line at the Business Desk Check-in for SN. There was a bit of a queue that was turning around a corner, and there was a SN ground agent policing it. A middle age man tried to move beside the line (aka skipping it) and was stopped and directed to the queue's end by the agent. My husband, that was closer, then heard this classic, half-outraged half-dumbfounded, reply: "Mais je suis Snateur!"
It didn't work
There was utter chaos when we arrived with just two overwhelmed booking agents trying to take care of hundreds and hundreds of displaced passengers, many doubtless with complicated itineraries. The Star Gold priority line had understandably been abandoned in favour of getting as many people through as possible in the shortest possible time. We joined the end of what was already a very long queue, eventually reaching the desk about 90 minutes later.
We began to discuss our options, knowing we now had no chance of making the original SQ flight from FRA with the only option a four hour train journey. The agent typed, and typed, and typed, desperately trying to find two J seats to SYD.
In the middle of this a LH Senator strode up to the desk and loudly proclaimed his status meant he should jump the queue and be seen immediately. The agent ignored him and continued dealing with us, so he tried again. And again. And again. Id had enough and pointedly told him we were also Star Gold, travelling in Business, had been queuing for 90 minutes as had everyone else and instructed him as to where hed find the end of the queue.
He stopped complaining but still stood there. The agent eventually persisted and found us a BA coded, QF flight from FRA-SIN in J (see, theres some BA relevance here!), we thanked her profusely and turned away - at which point Mr Senator tried to jump in. The people next in the queue, plus the agent, were having none of this though and refused to let him be served - and he finally got the message and scuttled off to the back of a queue that was by now far longer than it was at his arrival time.
We lost our day in Singapore, but in recompense got an upper deck seat on the 747, coupled with a fabulous QF crew whod worked out our situation from the PNR notes and treated us wonderfully - and of course we were now in a revenue bucket so double dipped for Avios and TPs.
I like to think, in my mind, that Mr Senator slept on the airport floor for two days and ended up on Uzbekistan Airways ...