Priority boarding is back (at ARN)
Sep 27, 2020, 9:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Priority boarding is back (at ARN)
Not sure if it’s a mistake, but just boarded with them
calling all Gold, Silver, Bronze first.
No fast track at ARN (despite the boarding pass stating otherwise), or lounge, but there is priority boarding.
calling all Gold, Silver, Bronze first.
No fast track at ARN (despite the boarding pass stating otherwise), or lounge, but there is priority boarding.
Sep 27, 2020, 9:40 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
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To be fair, I got priority boarding from TXL a month or so ago. Probably just an outstation blip rather than a formal change. Happy to be corrected though 
Sep 27, 2020, 9:46 am
#3
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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You have to go by what happens at Heathrow. Everywhere else, with only a handful of exceptions, the gate staff are employed by ground handling agencies, who typically work for perhaps a dozen other airlines. Even if they wear a BA uniform, they may well be employed by Swissport, for example. All airlines have turned their protocols around in recent months, some airlines have made repeated changes, so for ground handling agents it's easy to grab the wrong file binder and use the old script - either by mistake or out of exasperation. And if you can't find the file, you'll go by what you remember.
Boarding remains back to front, in terms of policy.
Boarding remains back to front, in terms of policy.
Sep 27, 2020, 9:50 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
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You have to go by what happens at Heathrow. Everywhere else, with only a handful of exceptions, the gate staff are employed by ground handling agencies, who typically work for perhaps a dozen other airlines. Even if they wear a BA uniform, they may well be employed by Swissport, for example. All airlines have turned their protocols around in recent months, some airlines have made repeated changes, so for ground handling agents it's easy to grab the wrong file binder and use the old script - either by mistake or out of exasperation. And if you can't find the file, you'll go by what you remember.
Boarding remains back to front, in terms of policy.
Boarding remains back to front, in terms of policy.
Sep 27, 2020, 11:55 am
#6
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
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If the fiasco at the T5 C gate for ALC is anything to go by, they may as well. We boarded late for no good reason and if that was not enough the PA system did not work. The jovial and extremely pleasant gentleman who seemed to be in charge started calling out loud. There was, of course, nothing in Spanish which I think is a disgrace but there it is. We went as far as row 20 - 30 and they gave up and called all passengers. Thus we were more or less back at the old system and social distancing was out of the window.
Sep 27, 2020, 12:00 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2020
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If the fiasco at the T5 C gate for ALC is anything to go by, they may as well. We boarded late for no good reason and if that was not enough the PA system did not work. The jovial and extremely pleasant gentleman who seemed to be in charge started calling out loud. There was, of course, nothing in Spanish which I think is a disgrace but there it is. We went as far as row 20 - 30 and they gave up and called all passengers. Thus we were more or less back at the old system and social distancing was out of the window.
Not sure why not having a Spanish announcement (in an English airport) is a disgrace!
Sep 27, 2020, 12:05 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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And it’s absurd to call customers idiots for not listening when the airline doesn’t make an announcement in their language.
Sep 27, 2020, 12:10 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2020
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Id be surprised if the majority of the passengers couldn't understand English.
And even when it is in their native language or a language they understand customers are still ignorant / chose not to follow the rules / don't listen. its just the culture of self entitlement we seem to have.
Sep 27, 2020, 12:56 pm
#10
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
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It was a flight bound for Spain which had Spanish customers aboard. They didn’t really understand what was going on until I translated. In general, it appals me how few people at BA speak foreign languages. Speaking English is mandatory for many non-UK airlines.
Sep 27, 2020, 1:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2020
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English is the global language, the language of commerce, airports, flying, the internet. One of the perks of being English - which also leads to lack of dual language skills.
Sep 27, 2020, 1:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, UK
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Is there a reason BA can't use Aviavox to automatically announce in whatever languages are required?
Sep 27, 2020, 1:25 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2020
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Apparently the tannoy was broken? so down to human calling and no dual language skills
Sep 27, 2020, 3:02 pm
#14
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Sep 27, 2020, 3:37 pm
#15
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Completely agree; on flights to Mediterranean counties like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece; there are many people who can't speak and understand English fluently so it would be essential to make announcements in the language of destination countries for boarding or make use of the FIDS boards.