Zone 3 and Zone 4
 

I am curious to know if anyone can point me to the zone 3 / zone 4 seat ordering? I recently booked ticket for my SO who was stuck in zone 4 for both segments - and had a bag that could not be checked as it contained electronics. Given the fight for overhead bin space, those in zone 4 are pretty much screwed these days on a full flight. As such, I would like to figure out how to at least make sure zone 3 will come up when selecting seats from now on.

I could be wrong, but I am almost positive it has nothing to do with seat numbering. The way it is supposed to work, is that First/Business will board first. Then Gold, Platinum and Diamond medallions will board (Zone 1) regardless of their seat assignments. Silver Medallions and those with the AMEX credit cards board with zone 2. And then I think zone 3 is limited to a small group of people that doesn't have anything to do with seat numbering

Zone 3 is back half of coach, Zone 4 is front half of coach.

Keep in mind that a lot of preferred seats are in the front of the cabin (which means a lot of people board in Zones 1/2) and it makes it even tougher for those in Zone 4.

Is there even any people now days that actually board zone 3 or 4? Seems to me its more like 75% zone 1, 25% zone 2. Everyone now has some type of status to let them not board in zone 3 or 4. The real issue here is for the GA to enforce carry on regulations. If these were enforced correctly everyone would have space in the over head bins. To let GM, PM, and DM all board zone 1 is just absurd.

I agree. Something like DM/PM = Zone 1, Gold/Silver = Zone 2, AMEX Cardholders (Since yes, it is an advertised benefit) = Zone 3, Everyone else = Zone 4.

As a GM, I wholeheartedly concur.

There is little incentive to reach PM if you are GM flying out of ATL. Slight improvement in upgrade chances and a few miles or near-worthless SWUs.

Close... except AmEx holders are more valuable to DL and Papa AmEx than Medallions are, so Zone 1 should = AmEx, followed by Zone 2 = DM/PM/GM.

That is what I was thinking. Better to be in the back of the bus if you want bin space.

OT - with the AmEx card it is only those who name is on the card get priority (unless traveling with the card holder). Correct.

Curious. When are they boarding economy comfort?

EC doesn't affect boarding zone. Strictly by status.

There is no specific boarding zone for EC.

This is because all medallions DM/PM/GM that are not upgraded and are seated in EC, will board with their zones.

Now those non-status skymiles members and non-skymiles members ... will also board with their respective zones, even if they are seated in Purchased EC seats.

It will interesting to see if DL will change the boarding process to 'fit' in the EC purchased and seated, non-medallion folks.

Priority boarding (in Zone 2) is a perk of EC (unless the pax is a DM/PM/GM in which case they continue boarding in Zone 1).

Hear, hear! Zone 2 is now being overrun with AMEX cardholders.

That wasn't an issue on the first ATL-DTW flight this morning... 90% o the pax boarded in zone 1!

There was no overhead space for those in zone 1 that didn't flight the gate lice aggressively, much less the 5-10 people who were < 1.

Yes, when flying out of ATL, zone 1 boarding doesn't seem to be much of a benefit, at least in my experience.

It's quite humbling when the GA calls for zone 1, and most of the PAX in the gate area start boarding. ;)