Boarding by Elite Level
Oct 19, 2009 | 12:30 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: CO Plat, National Exec Elite, Avis First, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 23
Boarding by Elite Level
I haven't seen this one before, but on flight IAH to LAX this evening, Plat's were boarded prior to the rest of the elites (bunch of elites, only one upgrade). Never seen this before, is this a sign of things to come or just an isolated incident??? Not that I would mind . . . .
Oct 19, 2009 | 2:18 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United LT-GS, AA LT-Plat, Hyatt LT-Globalist, Hilton LT-Diamond, Marriott LT-Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 15,831
I haven't seen this one before, but on flight IAH to LAX this evening, Plat's were boarded prior to the rest of the elites (bunch of elites, only one upgrade). Never seen this before, is this a sign of things to come or just an isolated incident??? Not that I would mind . . . .
Oct 19, 2009 | 4:52 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Walnut Creek, CA (SFO/OAK)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 757
Is this more alignment with UA? (red carpet boarding for 1K, Global Services, First and Biz)
Oct 19, 2009 | 5:15 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: CO non-elite, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,621
As CF indicated, I too have only seen this on Elite heavy boardings. I've personally seen it most CLE-IAH.
Oct 19, 2009 | 6:19 am
#6
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,526
Have only seen it once.
Was a Friday afternoon IAH-CLE flight.
GA actually "bounced" a gold elite trying to board with the plats.
"Sorry sir, but we're only boarding Platinum elites at this time."
Was a Friday afternoon IAH-CLE flight.
GA actually "bounced" a gold elite trying to board with the plats.
"Sorry sir, but we're only boarding Platinum elites at this time."
Oct 19, 2009 | 8:40 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Central NJ (Usually EWR but sometimes PHL)
Programs: UA-1K w/2MM & lifetime U-Club; Marriott-Lifetime Titanium; IHG-Diamond; National-Exec. Elite
Posts: 2,553
I used to see it on EWR-DCA & DCA-EWR all the time.
Oct 19, 2009 | 8:54 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus. Eurobonus Millionaire
Posts: 38,721
I wish I'd see this more often on elite-heavy flights. Thankfully the days of, "We've got too many elites so we're boarding only by row number," appear to be gone.
Oct 19, 2009 | 9:05 am
#9
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
This question was raised a year or so ago. An employee (maybe sfogate??) said that they are *supposed to* board by elite level when the flight is >X% full of elites. It's been a while, but x=30 or 50 sticks in my mind.
Oct 19, 2009 | 1:31 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: CO Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 324
As a plat, I think boarding by level would be great--especially on the big planes. Flights from EWR to Asia have so many Silver, Gold and Plats that if you don't move fast you could easily be 40 deep in line. I don't see the need on the smaller planes.
Oct 19, 2009 | 2:55 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,784
A majority of my EWR-ORD flights in the past couple of years have had this happen, particularly at peak times. Even as a gold, I still had no trouble snagging an exit row and finding overhead space on the 735.
Oct 19, 2009 | 3:14 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus. Eurobonus Millionaire
Posts: 38,721
I find just the opposite to be true. The large aircraft (767, 777) have plenty of overhead space and there is always space for my bag regardless of when I board. The bins on the smaller aircraft, on the other hand, always fill up.
Oct 19, 2009 | 4:08 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Frozen in Carbonite
Programs: UA Aluminum 0.6MM, Bonvoy Life Sentence, Hyatt Eliteist, AA Super Plutonium
Posts: 2,878