The Gate Lice are coming... the GATE LICE are coming
Mar 9, 2010, 2:25 pm
#136
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Appropriate thread correlating to an experience I had this morning at DEN waiting to bard a UA flight. 30 minutes before boarding, a middle aged guy with meticulously groomed gray hair ( he kept using his comb every 5 minutes or so to make sure it remained in perfect condition ), wearing ironed jeans, boat shoes, no socks, open shirt and a vest, with a fancy leather carry-on moved onto the red carpet, secured his spot and began making loud phone calls. Keep in mind, there was not yet an agent at the gate and there were plenty of seats available in the boarding area. Minutes later he was joined by a lady, who was reading a children's book and another business type guy. They guarded their space on the red carpet until boarding was announced, a good half hour after they started the line. Turned out they were in the FC cabin.
I thought this was an UA exclusive, glad to hear that it occurs on DL now as well. It does, however, add an entertainment factor for all the folks in the boarding area.
I thought this was an UA exclusive, glad to hear that it occurs on DL now as well. It does, however, add an entertainment factor for all the folks in the boarding area.
Mar 9, 2010, 2:32 pm
#137
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EP, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 1,001
I like the way Vietnam Airlines handles this, at least on domestic flights. First class boards last. And it isn't a Marxist-Uncle Ho conspiracy!
If a first-class passenger tries to board before coach is done, they actually turn him/her away.
Coach passengers are not allowed to deposit luggage in overhead bins in first. After coach is fully boarded, first passengers are called (or summoned from the lounge where they're finishing departure drinks). With no herd to wade through, they waltz aboard to an empty cabin with open overhead bins, take seats and prepare for takeoff. They miss a 20-30 minute wait aboard the plane and they avoid bumping and jostling from coach passengers had they boarded later.
If a first-class passenger tries to board before coach is done, they actually turn him/her away.
Coach passengers are not allowed to deposit luggage in overhead bins in first. After coach is fully boarded, first passengers are called (or summoned from the lounge where they're finishing departure drinks). With no herd to wade through, they waltz aboard to an empty cabin with open overhead bins, take seats and prepare for takeoff. They miss a 20-30 minute wait aboard the plane and they avoid bumping and jostling from coach passengers had they boarded later.
Mar 9, 2010, 3:13 pm
#138
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Appropriate thread correlating to an experience I had this morning at DEN waiting to bard a UA flight. 30 minutes before boarding, a middle aged guy with meticulously groomed gray hair ( he kept using his comb every 5 minutes or so to make sure it remained in perfect condition ), wearing ironed jeans, boat shoes, no socks, open shirt and a vest, with a fancy leather carry-on moved onto the red carpet, secured his spot and began making loud phone calls. Keep in mind, there was not yet an agent at the gate and there were plenty of seats available in the boarding area. Minutes later he was joined by a lady, who was reading a children's book and another business type guy. They guarded their space on the red carpet until boarding was announced, a good half hour after they started the line. Turned out they were in the FC cabin.
I thought this was an UA exclusive, glad to hear that it occurs on DL now as well. It does, however, add an entertainment factor for all the folks in the boarding area.
I thought this was an UA exclusive, glad to hear that it occurs on DL now as well. It does, however, add an entertainment factor for all the folks in the boarding area.
Mar 9, 2010, 3:57 pm
#139
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
I agree too. In my case, I don't see the advantage of boarding early. I usually just have a laptop case since most of the time I need to check my bag. I spend the extra time in the lounge, so I don't really care about pre-departure drink. By the time I get to the gate, Zone 3 or 4 is already boarding and I either use the breezeway or wait until I make sure I tell the GAs that I'm there, so they don't give my seat to anyone.
Mar 9, 2010, 4:42 pm
#140
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 785
I agree too. In my case, I don't see the advantage of boarding early. I usually just have a laptop case since most of the time I need to check my bag. I spend the extra time in the lounge, so I don't really care about pre-departure drink. By the time I get to the gate, Zone 3 or 4 is already boarding and I either use the breezeway or wait until I make sure I tell the GAs that I'm there, so they don't give my seat to anyone.
Mar 9, 2010, 4:54 pm
#141
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
Mar 9, 2010, 5:03 pm
#142
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Mar 9, 2010, 6:14 pm
#143
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 859
I have a sneaking suspicion many of those who are making fun of the lice are guilty guilty guilty...
Mar 9, 2010, 6:22 pm
#144
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Wirelessly posted (ATT Tilt: 8900a/1.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6) UP.Link/6.3.1.20.06.3.1.20.0)
next time I am at MCO I will be sure to get a picture of myself DYKWIA gate lice-ing.
normally I show up towards the middle of zone 3, about the time that the jetway is backed up but I bypass the line with my skymiles card (never board w/my BP)
Originally Posted by crazygrow
I have a sneaking suspicion many of those who are making fun of the lice are guilty guilty guilty...
normally I show up towards the middle of zone 3, about the time that the jetway is backed up but I bypass the line with my skymiles card (never board w/my BP)
Mar 9, 2010, 6:46 pm
#145
Formerly known as god_forbids
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: DL Kettle
Posts: 167
I never knew 
OK folks, I barely made GM last year and officially have NO UG benefit since I am HNL-based (it's a developing world style airport anyway). Based on this combination of barely-there "status" and home airport advantage, am I allowed to look down my nose at the mass of gate lice that inevitably forms in front of every flight out of here? Inquiring minds wish to know ...
Mar 9, 2010, 6:58 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
Oh wow. SoCal is a neighborhood to brag on now? I never knew
OK folks, I barely made GM last year and officially have NO UG benefit since I am HNL-based (it's a developing world style airport anyway). Based on this combination of barely-there "status" and home airport advantage, am I allowed to look down my nose at the mass of gate lice that inevitably forms in front of every flight out of here? Inquiring minds wish to know ...
I never knew OK folks, I barely made GM last year and officially have NO UG benefit since I am HNL-based (it's a developing world style airport anyway). Based on this combination of barely-there "status" and home airport advantage, am I allowed to look down my nose at the mass of gate lice that inevitably forms in front of every flight out of here? Inquiring minds wish to know ...
Last edited by avidflyer; Mar 9, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Mar 9, 2010, 7:19 pm
#147
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
Mar 9, 2010, 8:09 pm
#148
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AZO/DTW
Programs: Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, IHG Platinum, Delta GM, CO GE
Posts: 256
come on now...admit it..
Not one of you have ever been even a little bit of gate louse (is that the proper term?). Well I admit sometimes I have been, long days and you know what: I am very sick and tired of having folks carry what looks like two weeks worth of 'small' bags on to BE on long haul flights leaving little room for when one goes on last....you know who you are, some of you are writing on this thread--you know those of you trying hard not to be one of the lice as it were. But then when said person gets on last, walking confidently with his/her BE and newly minted stamped "DM" boarding pass and finds no place, I mean no place, to put there many bags....ohhh can you say "Do You Know Who I Am?" Saw this just the other day....
. Sooo the lesson is sometimes being gate louse can work in your favor.
. Sooo the lesson is sometimes being gate louse can work in your favor.
Mar 9, 2010, 8:19 pm
#149
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Oh wow. SoCal is a neighborhood to brag on now? I never knew
OK folks, I barely made GM last year and officially have NO UG benefit since I am HNL-based (it's a developing world style airport anyway). Based on this combination of barely-there "status" and home airport advantage, am I allowed to look down my nose at the mass of gate lice that inevitably forms in front of every flight out of here? Inquiring minds wish to know ...
I never knew OK folks, I barely made GM last year and officially have NO UG benefit since I am HNL-based (it's a developing world style airport anyway). Based on this combination of barely-there "status" and home airport advantage, am I allowed to look down my nose at the mass of gate lice that inevitably forms in front of every flight out of here? Inquiring minds wish to know ...
I didn't even realize US had priority boarding, I had just assumed dougie had made you pay an entrance fee at the gate these days.
Mar 9, 2010, 8:28 pm
#150
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
Not quite, in fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have us move the jetway ourselves and load our own luggage (if no one else can do it correctly--then we'll do it ourselves)