Boarding experience at LHR this morning
Feb 11, 2023, 9:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: United GS, BAEC GGL, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 469
Boarding experience at LHR this morning
Booked in club, 2 pieces of hand baggage within regulation and went through about 5 or 6 in the group 1 queue.
Was asked at that point to gate check my case, which I disputed politely with the boarding manager and went on. No issue finding space for my case and when boarding was complete there was plenty of overhead space.
Have heard multiple announcements in the past for folks in boarding groups 5 and above not to expect to find space and would understand if was one of the last on running late that there might be an issue but why are group 1s being asked to gate check a bag?
Was asked at that point to gate check my case, which I disputed politely with the boarding manager and went on. No issue finding space for my case and when boarding was complete there was plenty of overhead space.
Have heard multiple announcements in the past for folks in boarding groups 5 and above not to expect to find space and would understand if was one of the last on running late that there might be an issue but why are group 1s being asked to gate check a bag?
Feb 11, 2023, 10:01 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,985
I've seen that once. I know it's not a published benefit of Gold/Group 1 to not be asked to gate check, and at the risk of sounding entitled, DYKWIA etc, surely they should be asking the higher boarding groups to gate check first....
Feb 11, 2023, 10:08 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: United GS, BAEC GGL, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 469
I book club deliberately for a fast get away when I get home as I'd rather be spending time with my family than hanging about waiting for a bag to be delivered so slightly miffed by the whole experience.
Feb 11, 2023, 11:07 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 587
Hand baggage has got out of hand recently, and with it being half term this week there's a particular focus.
The staff member thought it was probably worth an ask - if you'd have wanted to check it in then it's an easy win. The fact that they let you proceed without fuss is the result of your Group 1/2 boarding pass I expect.
If you'd been 4/5 and above I think it would have been less of a 'request' from the staff member.
The staff member thought it was probably worth an ask - if you'd have wanted to check it in then it's an easy win. The fact that they let you proceed without fuss is the result of your Group 1/2 boarding pass I expect.
If you'd been 4/5 and above I think it would have been less of a 'request' from the staff member.
Feb 11, 2023, 11:19 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: United GS, BAEC GGL, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 469
Hand baggage has got out of hand recently, and with it being half term this week there's a particular focus.
The staff member thought it was probably worth an ask - if you'd have wanted to check it in then it's an easy win. The fact that they let you proceed without fuss is the result of your Group 1/2 boarding pass I expect.
If you'd been 4/5 and above I think it would have been less of a 'request' from the staff member.
The staff member thought it was probably worth an ask - if you'd have wanted to check it in then it's an easy win. The fact that they let you proceed without fuss is the result of your Group 1/2 boarding pass I expect.
If you'd been 4/5 and above I think it would have been less of a 'request' from the staff member.
Feb 11, 2023, 11:24 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 587
Feb 11, 2023, 11:31 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2022
Programs: British Airways Executive Club - Silver, Nectar, Tesco
Posts: 1,003
He seemingly has a thing of taking his guitar with him and placing it on the seat next to him
Feb 11, 2023, 2:51 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: Emirates Skywards (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Radisson (Gold)
Posts: 370
The boarding order tends to be pre-pre-boarding for anyone willing to check their bag, THEN Group 1.
The gate agent might have been confused as to whether you were at the end of that group or the very start of group 1.
The gate agent might have been confused as to whether you were at the end of that group or the very start of group 1.
Feb 11, 2023, 2:57 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 285
There was definitely a time when I sat next to someone famous from... a rock band of some kind. But, let's say 70/80s going by his age. And the crew (coming back from Oslo) made something of a fuss. Not to the detriment of anything else. They just clearly knew he who was and I had zero idea!
Feb 11, 2023, 2:57 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: United GS, BAEC GGL, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 469
There was no possibility that was the case. The pre checkers had gone down the stairs already and the group 1 queue had been lined up to go through the electronic gates.
Feb 12, 2023, 5:15 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,237
i mean frankly they should force families to gate check if they want to take advantage of pre-boarding since they are usually the most abusive of carry on allotment/stowing in CE when seated down back from my prior experience.
after all, if they need the extra time to be settled, it should help to do so without the burden of so many carryon bags.
after all, if they need the extra time to be settled, it should help to do so without the burden of so many carryon bags.
Feb 12, 2023, 5:41 am
#15
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,968
I am really not convinced families are the worst offenders. I have seen plenty of self important business men (it’s usually men but not exclusively) with more than 2 bags. Let’s call them the rimowa/tumi brigade for the sake of brevity.
Of course any suggestion from the ba gate staff of checking bags is immediately met with exclamations of I’m gold/in business/know Sean Doyle etc
Of course any suggestion from the ba gate staff of checking bags is immediately met with exclamations of I’m gold/in business/know Sean Doyle etc