For goodness sake, stop queuing!
Jul 16, 2019, 12:26 am
#92
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 67
I've given up caring about it as it happens every single time in BRU, usually at B04. To be fair, the flight is always packed and people are desperate to board so that they can store their cabin luggage.
Jul 16, 2019, 3:26 am
#94
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Gold, LH FTL, KL/AF Ivory
Posts: 1,878
My own 2 cents is that the airlines, not just BA, have brought this on to themselves.
Insufficient space in the gate area. The pressure is on providing opportunities for retail sales, passengers hanging around gate areas aren't contributing anything, so give them as little room as possible, with no possibility of arranging an organized queuing system.
Pressure on space for cabin luggage. Passengers know that the first passengers to board get first choice on space in luggage bins (it suffices to bypass a check-in agent to avoid getting the silly yellow sticker (or else just pull it off). Hence the gate-lice phenomenon. Airlines have brought this on themselves by charging for checked bags, and generally being incapable of delivering the checked bags efficiently at the destination. I wouldn't even mind checking bags if I knew I would get them within 5-10 minutes of getting into the arrivals hall.
Insufficient space in the gate area. The pressure is on providing opportunities for retail sales, passengers hanging around gate areas aren't contributing anything, so give them as little room as possible, with no possibility of arranging an organized queuing system.
Pressure on space for cabin luggage. Passengers know that the first passengers to board get first choice on space in luggage bins (it suffices to bypass a check-in agent to avoid getting the silly yellow sticker (or else just pull it off). Hence the gate-lice phenomenon. Airlines have brought this on themselves by charging for checked bags, and generally being incapable of delivering the checked bags efficiently at the destination. I wouldn't even mind checking bags if I knew I would get them within 5-10 minutes of getting into the arrivals hall.
Jul 16, 2019, 3:41 am
#95
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
I agree they're very laid back at Gatwick in my view. Pushing and shoving, pax often just barge their way through. Gate angels don't do much to stop them.
Jul 16, 2019, 3:43 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
Jul 16, 2019, 4:40 am
#97
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Good point T8191 ; though this problem is far from unique to LGW.
Even at stations where ground staff do reposition themselves, the overriding factor will always, always, remain that of effective enforcement.
The reality is that a very sizeable percentage of passengers have come to edit mentally any announcements of the type quoted above by Savvysaz (“we are now boarding those in group one and those with small children or requiring assistance”), such that the invitation includes the words “......and also anybody else who prefers to board right now rather than wait until their own group is actually called”.
Even at stations where ground staff do reposition themselves, the overriding factor will always, always, remain that of effective enforcement.
The reality is that a very sizeable percentage of passengers have come to edit mentally any announcements of the type quoted above by Savvysaz (“we are now boarding those in group one and those with small children or requiring assistance”), such that the invitation includes the words “......and also anybody else who prefers to board right now rather than wait until their own group is actually called”.
Jul 16, 2019, 7:15 am
#98
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Programs: Tufty Club (Gold), BAGA Gymnastics level 4, 440yds swimming certificate
Posts: 2,533
Good point T8191 ; though this problem is far from unique to LGW.
Even at stations where ground staff do reposition themselves, the overriding factor will always, always, remain that of effective enforcement.
The reality is that a very sizeable percentage of passengers have come to edit mentally any announcements of the type quoted above by Savvysaz (“we are now boarding those in group one and those with small children or requiring assistance”), such that the invitation includes the words “......and also anybody else who prefers to board right now rather than wait until their own group is actually called”.
Even at stations where ground staff do reposition themselves, the overriding factor will always, always, remain that of effective enforcement.
The reality is that a very sizeable percentage of passengers have come to edit mentally any announcements of the type quoted above by Savvysaz (“we are now boarding those in group one and those with small children or requiring assistance”), such that the invitation includes the words “......and also anybody else who prefers to board right now rather than wait until their own group is actually called”.
Jul 16, 2019, 10:10 am
#99
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Perth WA/ UK
Programs: BA Gold, Priority Club Gold, Accor Silver, Virgin Australia Gold
Posts: 1,750
One has to ask.. has this been brought upon us passengers by most if not all airlines charging to check bags (elites in this case dont apply)
and for those like myself who never checks a bag, unless I am forced to by some over zealous agent at check in..
After all , everyone is going to the same place, and trying to get on board early can only mean we have space for our carry on.
Although my memory with age has well according to my wife, been missing for a while, I dont remember the mess in front of a gate for boarding prior to airlines charging for checked bags
and for those like myself who never checks a bag, unless I am forced to by some over zealous agent at check in..
After all , everyone is going to the same place, and trying to get on board early can only mean we have space for our carry on.
Although my memory with age has well according to my wife, been missing for a while, I dont remember the mess in front of a gate for boarding prior to airlines charging for checked bags