Oh, great, I was wondering what AZ boarding at LHR was like. I snagged a ~�100 return ticket to LIN from LHR on AZ for later this month. I noticed that the DL page about medallion benefits said that AZ does priority boarding "where operationally possible" or some such nonsense. I thought LHR might qualify, but it doesn't sound like it. Guess I'll have to make the dash to get my bag in a bin.

Technically, they board ST Elite Plus/Elite first, but in my actual experience, it's pretty much been a cattle call. Just lurk around the gate and board promptly.

So you're saying I need to be a gate louse that day

Sadly, um, yes.

It depends on the plane. Exit rows that are also bulkheads (eg: 18/19 on the 752) get zone 2 to provide a chance of getting overhead space.

Nope, they'll check it through to MSY for you and remember for this trip, you'll have to go through the gate lice routine not once, but twice.

One option would be to get one of the Delta Amex cards which let's your bags fly for 'free'.

MCI is a relatively "easy" airport, I'd just bite the bullet and check the bag(s) there.

Bob H

It's quite hit-or-miss, but exit rows sometimes do get boarded early--it just depends on the GA--some do it, some don't. The rationale is that the early boarding allows time for the FAs to go over the safety briefing with the exit row pax and get the verbal commitment that they are willing to assist in an emergency. In practice, even when boarded early, I've never had an FA do the exit row briefing until the plane is fully boarded (or at least very close).

Go to the drug store and buy the cheapest sling you can; then board first with the elderly & infirmed. ;-)

Thanks for the replies. I happened to open the itinerary on the site, and found that where I had lucked into an exit row on the first flight, they now just had a "Select Seat" link. The only seat available was 36-B, the middle seat in the bulkhead behind the galley. I took that; I'm coordinating my arrival with other people and really don't want to be bumped. I suppose I'll keep checking for better seats (this is under two weeks from now), especially when check-in opens at T-24; if no better seat opens up I'll wait until I'm at the airport to complete check-in, and if I'm stuck in that seat I might as well check the bag, much as I dislike the thought of the fee.

I mentioned in another thread that my initial first flight was removed from the schedule, and there is a link allowing me to change my flights; is this at no fee? I've been interested in a connection through MEM in the same time frame. I get error messages when trying to change to it online; would it work by phone? This is on CRJs, less comfortable but I guess allowing valet checking of the bag. The seat maps just show Preferred seats; do you think I can get confirmed seat assignments by phone? I'll appreciate any thoughts.

I'll update this for the record. As the date got closer, I was able to improve my seat assignment, and took my carry-on to the gate. They announced before boarding that the flight would be full, there could be a problem with the overheads, and pax were invited to have their bags tagged for gate check to the final destination. I got that done at no charge, and we were invited to preboard to take the bags down the jetway.

The first flight was delayed, adding to a tight connection at ATL between high B and high A gates. I got to the second flight late in the process, and probably would have had a problem finding overhead space.

So, I wound up checking the bag for free, had easy boarding on the first flight and, since I was waiting for people on later flights, the wait at baggage claim wasn't a drawback.

As a person who flies on the M88s and D95s quite frequently, I have experienced many different scenarios with bags. I have yet to fly on a M8K but, I would assume that it would be more like the D95s (because of the D95s modern interior).

I have only *ONCE* been required to gate-check a bag on a D9X (they had the same bins) and that was only because it was 100% full and a family in F decided to put every bag they were taking on their trip in the overhead bin--which extended into Y. Otherwise, there would of been room.

However, on the M88s the bins are much smaller and don't fit as many bags. I flew on a 85% full flight from LIT to ATL and we had to gate check our bags (boarding in zone 3!). And then, on a flight that was 100% full from IAH to ATL EVERYONE (zone 3 and 4) had to gate check their bag.

A lot of times (as a NRSA) we are boarded in Zone 2, but I have seen many people board me in Zone 2.

Last two flights Ive had, i was nearly last to board due to late arrival of previous flight. Both times I was in the back of a line of 30 or more people waiting in the jetway. GA announced that no more carries on would be allowed. Only personal items. She then went through the line and gate checked all bags. Guy in front of me DYKWIA'ed to no avail. All bags were checked. These were heavy business/elite flights on 757's.

Glad it worked out. Just to repeat something in case any infrequent flyers pull this thread up because they are facing the same issue...

As you learned, baggage moves faster through ATL than humans. People often make the mistake, especially when they are coming into ATL on an RJ, of carrying on bags when they have a tight connection, thinking it's the only way the luggage will arrive with them. These people are often stunned at the long wait at the top of the Jetway while the luggage is loaded onto the freight elevator and everyone stands and waits for a GA to come and open the door. The luggage winds up not being on the next flight, because the passenger missed the flight due to the fifteen minute wait for the carry-on. The same passenger and luggage would have been on the flight had the luggage been checked.

One of the reasons baggage claim can be a nightmare in ATL is because local bags are behind connection bags in priority, so when things get skittish, final destination baggage sits, while connecting bags get raced from plane to plane.