The Gate Lice are coming... the GATE LICE are coming
Jan 29, 2017, 10:45 pm
#1651
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: DL 4MM; DM
Posts: 1,397
My wish is DL would extend the roping further than 5 ft. I am sick and tired of the special snowflakes who are too good to join what is obviously an actual line waiting to board. Instead they try to bull their way in. Especially when it comes to "Premium" boarding--which is anything but that. I have become very proficient at my blocking technique 
. But I do wish that was not something I needed to do 
. AA actually has it on this count.
. But I do wish that was not something I needed to do . AA actually has it on this count.
Jan 30, 2017, 5:38 am
#1652
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: MI
Programs: HH-Diamond, Delta-Diamond
Posts: 129
I board premium for every flight and I have yet seen an obvious actual line. Especially with Sky Zone blocking most of the entrance.
Jan 30, 2017, 6:07 pm
#1653
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 359
Combine bad PA systems that garble pretty much everything a GA tries to say, a preference to shove all planes to adjacent gates in the name of reducing labor costs, and the resulting 767's worth of passengers crammed into a space originally designed to seat the passenger count of a CRJ 700, and gate louse is a perfectly rational action when there's no place to sit within 100 feet of the departure area and you're trying then to stand some place you can hear your flight being called.
EXACTLY! ^^^
Jan 30, 2017, 7:27 pm
#1654
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,356
Combine bad PA systems that garble pretty much everything a GA tries to say, a preference to shove all planes to adjacent gates in the name of reducing labor costs, and the resulting 767's worth of passengers crammed into a space originally designed to seat the passenger count of a CRJ 700, and gate louse is a perfectly rational action when there's no place to sit within 100 feet of the departure area and you're trying then to stand some place you can hear your flight being called.
Some psychology graduate student could make a career out of figuring out this behavior. I've noticed that once a few people start to gather, it draws more. What makes people herd together like that? I much prefer to stay seated until it's my time.
Jan 30, 2017, 8:00 pm
#1655
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,268
No, not really. Gate lice stand RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BOARDING AREA. Just because seating is inadequate doesn't require that you stand right in front of the boarding lanes, oblivious to the people behind you trying to get past. You can easily stand off to the side. Why not at the windows?
.
.
Jan 31, 2017, 7:27 am
#1656
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: DL DM, DL AMEX Reserve
Posts: 275
I saw some new-ish looking signs for Premium, Sky, Zones 1 - 2 off to the side of a gate at ATL.
Is this coming?
Is this coming?
Jan 31, 2017, 9:43 pm
#1657
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: SEL by way of ATL
Programs: AAdvantage Gold, DL, KE Skypass
Posts: 43
When I was transiting through JFK (T2) a few weeks ago, I was quite surprised that the GA was very clear with specifying who should be approaching at what time:
"If you have a boarding pass with PREM -- spelled P-R-E-M -- you are now allowed to board. I repeat..."
And people actually listened to him. However....you did have some SP folks loitering around, and I almost expected them to pounce, but they didn't. I almost applauded them for their restraint. LOL
"If you have a boarding pass with PREM -- spelled P-R-E-M -- you are now allowed to board. I repeat..."
And people actually listened to him. However....you did have some SP folks loitering around, and I almost expected them to pounce, but they didn't. I almost applauded them for their restraint. LOL
Last edited by mjchick; Feb 1, 2017 at 12:02 am
Feb 1, 2017, 5:56 am
#1658
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Plat-ist, Bonvoyyyyyyed, Hilton $15 Daily F&B Receiver, Food Lion MVP
Posts: 1,203
Yes, maim, S-K-Y is exactly the same as P-R-E-M. Please, go right ahead and force yourself into the line, you'll get there faster.
Ugghhhh, if only GAs would enforce...
Ugghhhh, if only GAs would enforce...
Feb 1, 2017, 6:16 am
#1659
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
For years, there have been signs/monitors for queuing boarding lines in some low numbered gates in the B Concourse. The GAs and passengers seem to like them, and they recently expanded to a few more gates, but the concept has not yet expanded to the entire airport or other airports. Did you see the signs in Concourse B or elsewhere? If Concourse B, you saw nothing new. If elsewhere, that may be a promising sign.
Feb 2, 2017, 9:36 am
#1660
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM 1MM, HH Gold, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 25
This thread is cracking me up. There is nothing sweeter than seeing someone get booted by the GA for trying to board too early.
So if you are Diamond/Premium and stand in the SP boarding line prior to boarding, are you also considered a "Gate Louse"? (Provided you are not blocking wheelchair access, elderly etc.) Admittedly I have not read all 111 pages of this thread for a verdict on that.
So if you are Diamond/Premium and stand in the SP boarding line prior to boarding, are you also considered a "Gate Louse"? (Provided you are not blocking wheelchair access, elderly etc.) Admittedly I have not read all 111 pages of this thread for a verdict on that.
Feb 2, 2017, 10:37 am
#1661
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: DTW,SFO,ICN
Programs: DL,BA,KE
Posts: 66
The boarding announcements are consistent and clear now, which is good. And people are listening because when they call Prem, 90% of the crowd blocking the aisles still just stands there. For recent flights I've been on, it's been particularly bad in FNT and ATL where there is a wall 2 deep of medallions waiting to board with SKY it seems.
Feb 2, 2017, 12:31 pm
#1662
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
These are among the most egregious gate lice. These are the ones who should know better, but block the path out for the arriving plane's passengers. These are the ones who are going to board early enough to have overhead space and not have to wait in a long line, but have a pathological need to be first. Maybe if someone is in a bulkhead seat this behavior might make sense, but otherwise, people should leave the path wide open and oly approach when their zones are called.
Feb 2, 2017, 12:42 pm
#1663
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM 1MM, HH Gold, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 25
These are among the most egregious gate lice. These are the ones who should know better, but block the path out for the arriving plane's passengers. These are the ones who are going to board early enough to have overhead space and not have to wait in a long line, but have a pathological need to be first. Maybe if someone is in a bulkhead seat this behavior might make sense, but otherwise, people should leave the path wide open and oly approach when their zones are called.
Feb 2, 2017, 4:00 pm
#1664
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: MSP & MCO
Programs: DL PM & NRSA, AA Gold, ANA Plat, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, National EC Exec, GE, CLEAR
Posts: 1,225
I should have included the passengers deplaning in my first post. Yes, obviously blocking the path for those passengers is ridiculous and rude. But assuming they are not in the way of anyone getting off the plane, I dont see the issue with a Diamond or Premium doing this. The fact is that they are going to board first anyway and would much rather not fight through 4 walls of people to board when they call Premium.
-Unaccompanied Minors
-Families w/ Infants and Strollers/Carseats
-Medical & Wheel chairs
So, yes you're getting in the way of some people. But its still stupid that they board prior to F (with the exception of UMs, totally understandable)
So, yes it's annoying, also I find it kinda funny, you're going to have all the bin space you want and be on soon enough. Sit and relax
Feb 2, 2017, 8:03 pm
#1665
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
1. wheelchairs/medical
2. A boarding group
3. Family with infants strollers etc.
4. B boarding group
5. etc.....
WN enforces the hell out of this too, I have watched families told wait until after A boarding we will announce it, it is actually quite nice.
I see the need for wheelchairs/medical to board first, but families should in NO way be in the same boat. Also WN says its the infant and ONE family member ONLY, not 19 people traveling with them they have to wait and board in their group.