Be at the gate AT LEAST 30 min before departure?
Just came back from a trip on KA, and found the above note on my boarding pass - AT LEAST printed in CAPS and all. I don't recall KA (or CX, for that matter) employing such a policy before - no more mention of "boarding ends 10 mins before departure" in small letters either. Not exactly an unfrequent traveler here, but these things always unsettle me when I'm sitting at the lounge. On both flights, boarding did not start until 10 minutes before departure, so I had to sit around the gate for 20+1 mins.
When did they change this, and does anyone know why? Did they have that much trouble with late PAX that would require them to change their policy? |
I think they've been pretty consistent about the 30 minute message http://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=9976491 . Except in reality they don't start 斬客 til 10 mins before departure, and recent CX HKG experience shows if I'm at gate 10 mins before departure I normally have to wait (I normally aim for at least 10 and preferably 20 - if I'm 20 mins these days I really have to wait)
|
Originally Posted by percysmith
(Post 25323125)
I think they've been pretty consistent about the 30 minute message
|
Not on the boarding passes but elsewhere. Did they delete the departure time yet?
|
On 16AUG my BP printed "NO LATER than 20 minutes" (from TPE) but on 20AUG it printed "AT LEAST 30 minutes" (from HIJ).
|
Originally Posted by percysmith
(Post 25323346)
Not on the boarding passes but elsewhere. Did they delete the departure time yet?
Originally Posted by ernestnywang
(Post 25323416)
On 16AUG my BP printed "NO LATER than 20 minutes" (from TPE) but on 20AUG it printed "AT LEAST 30 minutes" (from HIJ).
|
The PSB wants to make sure they have enough time to grab you before the flight.
|
No use. Those get to gate late will continue to get to gate late... Until they get offloaded once
|
I am sorry, but they certainly need to stop changing things as they like and start to be consistent.
The e-ticket that their booking engine sends clearly states: BOARDING TIME – PASSENGERS ARE REMINDED TO ARRIVE AT THE BOARDING GATE AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE. PASSENGERS ARRIVING AFTER THIS TIME MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR TRAVEL AND NO RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE ACCEPTED IN SUCH CASES. and that 11. NO AGENT, EMPLOYEE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF CARRIER HAS AUTHORITY TO ALTER, MODIFY OR WAIVE ANY PROVISION OF THIS CONTRACT. I don't remember the last time they started boarding 30 minutes before departure anyway. It may simply be an idea by a consultant specialising in cost saving so that passengers spend less time in lounges and hence they can save a dollar or two on F&B. |
Originally Posted by Iamhappy
(Post 25349403)
I am sorry, but they certainly need to stop changing things as they like and start to be consistent.
The e-ticket that their booking engine sends clearly states: BOARDING TIME – PASSENGERS ARE REMINDED TO ARRIVE AT THE BOARDING GATE AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE. PASSENGERS ARRIVING AFTER THIS TIME MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR TRAVEL AND NO RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE ACCEPTED IN SUCH CASES. and that 11. NO AGENT, EMPLOYEE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF CARRIER HAS AUTHORITY TO ALTER, MODIFY OR WAIVE ANY PROVISION OF THIS CONTRACT. I don't remember the last time they started boarding 30 minutes before departure anyway. It may simply be an idea by a consultant specialising in cost saving so that passengers spend less time in lounges and hence they can save a dollar or two on F&B. It's both a cost saving initiative and a CYA initiative too. Hong Thai has been sending pax to airport 3 hours before departure for some time on similar motivations. Another unequal term (we don't get a refund if the flight is >3 hours late). |
Originally Posted by percysmith
(Post 25349422)
Well in LHR don't they have 30 minutes conformance? That will override e-ticket.
It's both a cost saving initiative and a CYA initiative too. Hong Thai has been sending pax to airport 3 hours before departure for some time on similar motivations. Another unequal term (we don't get a refund if the flight is >3 hours late). If one was on a holiday with Hong Thai, as long as Hong Thai has provided him/her with the transportation/accommodation/meals and have taken him/her to the tourist attractions stated in the brouchure (with reasonable deviations for traffic/weather/others), I guess he/she will not have much say when they arrive 3 hours at the airport before departure. |
You can argue this is like a post-contract condition, like Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking (such conditions won't be effective for the first-time contract but will be for contracts thereafter)
I would imagine it will be construed as a stricter of term ie LHR 30 mins if they have it, 20 mins for other airports. Hong Thai isn't a a contract term (since you don't decide the itinerary anyway), just an annoying practice. Something I get around by doing my own holidays. |
I got caught out with this on a DOH flight when the Pier F front desk staff told me at 6.10pm that my flight was delayed for a while due to technical issues, yet at 6.30pm it was already closed and as a result I missed my flight. No compensation whatsoever despite the lack of an announcement and my reliance on their promise to do so.
|
I never pay attention to that statement... I'll (try my best to...) manage my own time to reach the gate right at the time when boarding starts
Originally Posted by Isochronous
(Post 25349849)
I got caught out with this on a DOH flight when the Pier F front desk staff told me at 6.10pm that my flight was delayed for a while due to technical issues, yet at 6.30pm it was already closed and as a result I missed my flight. No compensation whatsoever despite the lack of an announcement and my reliance on their promise to do so.
But did they say the boarding is delayed or what? If boarding has started then there's no reason to keep staying in the lounge... Also if they know you're in the lounge gate may call the lounge to call you out as this should be faster than unloading your bag (if any) p.s. BTW was the flight oversold? :p |
Originally Posted by Iamhappy
(Post 25349442)
I don't think it will make sense for KA/CX to change all the BPs to show 45 minutes.
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:41 pm. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.