The Gate Lice are coming... the GATE LICE are coming
#826
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
He must think it is WN
#827
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta GM, Marriott Platinum, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,530
1) Monkey See, Monkey do. People line up behind other people.
2) Those who want to get on the plane first.
a) Almost everyone wants overhead bin space.
b) Some want extra time to wrap up work, or have a PDB.
3) Seats in the boarding area can be used up. This doesn't mean 100% utilization, but enough seats could be used that standing is preferred to using what's left.
Of course, I maybe wrong here.
2) Those who want to get on the plane first.
a) Almost everyone wants overhead bin space.
b) Some want extra time to wrap up work, or have a PDB.
3) Seats in the boarding area can be used up. This doesn't mean 100% utilization, but enough seats could be used that standing is preferred to using what's left.
Of course, I maybe wrong here.
If I am in a middle seat or non-exit row, I will grab a seat in the bulkhead (as close as a GM in ATL can get to the front!), but then you have VERY limited options to store your rollaboard, and it's 2x as bad on MD-88/90s or DC-9s.
Since all the non-upgraded DYKWIAs in the back will put their bags over my seat before I board if I'm not on before the middle of zone 1 (when the plane is 30-40% full) then I lose 10 minutes waiting for the whole plane to empty out so I can get to my bag in the back of the plane.
It only takes a few times of doing that before you learn to knock grandmas out of the way to get to the front of that line!
#828
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Everywhere....
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 463
This one this afternoon in ATL... Inbound AC hadn't even arrived.. 90 mins prior to departure he had already lined up.
#829
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,419
#830
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DFW...at the moment
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, HH gold
Posts: 609
I have a confession: when I was but a youngster (like <10), I used to sit waiting for WN flights from the moment that I got to the gate. 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes--it didn't matter to me.
*whew*, I feel better that I got that off my chest.
*whew*, I feel better that I got that off my chest.
#831
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: DL Diamond, VS Silver, Priority Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 585
There is definitely a high correlation of business pax w/ rollaboard not checking their bag and people crowding the gate to board at the beginning of their zone.
If I am in a middle seat or non-exit row, I will grab a seat in the bulkhead (as close as a GM in ATL can get to the front!), but then you have VERY limited options to store your rollaboard, and it's 2x as bad on MD-88/90s or DC-9s.
Since all the non-upgraded DYKWIAs in the back will put their bags over my seat before I board if I'm not on before the middle of zone 1 (when the plane is 30-40% full) then I lose 10 minutes waiting for the whole plane to empty out so I can get to my bag in the back of the plane.
It only takes a few times of doing that before you learn to knock grandmas out of the way to get to the front of that line!
If I am in a middle seat or non-exit row, I will grab a seat in the bulkhead (as close as a GM in ATL can get to the front!), but then you have VERY limited options to store your rollaboard, and it's 2x as bad on MD-88/90s or DC-9s.
Since all the non-upgraded DYKWIAs in the back will put their bags over my seat before I board if I'm not on before the middle of zone 1 (when the plane is 30-40% full) then I lose 10 minutes waiting for the whole plane to empty out so I can get to my bag in the back of the plane.
It only takes a few times of doing that before you learn to knock grandmas out of the way to get to the front of that line!
#832
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HSV
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/1.2MM, UA Premier gold/1MM, Choice diamond, Marriott gold
Posts: 1,374
There is definitely a high correlation of business pax w/ rollaboard not checking their bag and people crowding the gate to board at the beginning of their zone.
If I am in a middle seat or non-exit row, I will grab a seat in the bulkhead (as close as a GM in ATL can get to the front!), but then you have VERY limited options to store your rollaboard, and it's 2x as bad on MD-88/90s or DC-9s.
Since all the non-upgraded DYKWIAs in the back will put their bags over my seat before I board if I'm not on before the middle of zone 1 (when the plane is 30-40% full) then I lose 10 minutes waiting for the whole plane to empty out so I can get to my bag in the back of the plane.
It only takes a few times of doing that before you learn to knock grandmas out of the way to get to the front of that line!
If I am in a middle seat or non-exit row, I will grab a seat in the bulkhead (as close as a GM in ATL can get to the front!), but then you have VERY limited options to store your rollaboard, and it's 2x as bad on MD-88/90s or DC-9s.
Since all the non-upgraded DYKWIAs in the back will put their bags over my seat before I board if I'm not on before the middle of zone 1 (when the plane is 30-40% full) then I lose 10 minutes waiting for the whole plane to empty out so I can get to my bag in the back of the plane.
It only takes a few times of doing that before you learn to knock grandmas out of the way to get to the front of that line!
Last edited by Kwaj boy; Feb 24, 2012 at 1:51 pm
#833
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: TBD
Programs: Diamond Hilton, Titanium Marriott, Delta DM, President Circle Herz, NIGHTS IN OWN BED 2022 28
Posts: 312
98 gate lice off the carpet
Flying ind-atl and i just counted 48 people standing in the walk way before any zones where called DL really needs to start cracking the whip on this issue
Last edited by Diamondkellen; Feb 24, 2012 at 8:05 am Reason: typo 48 not 98
#835
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Internet
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 714
You should come to China. When pre-boarding is announced, everyone just rushes the gate and boards. And the airlines don't do anything, because they can't. That's just how it works here. Try it sometime - the world will not end, and you'll still get a seat on the plane. Probably.
#836
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
DL isn't going to do anything about this. The only solution is to become the 49th person in the scrum (if you want OH space). My view is that if they aren't going to enforce it, they ought to get rid of it so that people like OP don't think it's a real possibility.
#837
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
You should come to China. When pre-boarding is announced, everyone just rushes the gate and boards. And the airlines don't do anything, because they can't. That's just how it works here. Try it sometime - the world will not end, and you'll still get a seat on the plane. Probably.
#838
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,816
Why does the title say "98" but the thread say "48"? Why 50 more people listed in the title?
#839
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: FLL or MIA
Posts: 181
It is funny to watch the dynamic. Usually starts with a couple FFer's who for whatever reason want to be in the first 1-3 to board. Then you get a few more lining up behind them, some are general pax who are not sure what is going on and some are guys getting worried about overhead space. Once you hit about 10 it becomes a mass rush as people think they are missing out on something. Really gets accelerated if boarding starts 15m or so late.
#840
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: TBD
Programs: Diamond Hilton, Titanium Marriott, Delta DM, President Circle Herz, NIGHTS IN OWN BED 2022 28
Posts: 312
Sorry i was typing on my phone. It was 48 either way i was upgraded so i did what i normally do which is have a seat laugh at the lice and enjoy knowing i get to push them out of my way to board in FC. I also enjoy the nasty looks of how come he got uograded and not me.