MSPeconomist

I had a worse one recently some months ago at MSP, IIRC also from a G gate. FC was boarding an no one was moving, just gate lice standing there blocking access to the SkyPriority lane. I said "excuse me" FOUR times, a bit louder each time to the group of kettles immediately in from of me. Then I tried "please move." Finally I said "if you're not boarding with first class, please get out of the way for those who are in first class." They finally moved a bit, while grumbling loudly about how rude I was.

United747

I second your comments, I flew out of one of the G gates recently and there was no space at all for passengers to board with all of the lice.

Grouchy

Have to agree with both of you G gates can be bad, especially when a flight is delayed and everyone seems to hug the gate area.

Nevertheless not going to say 'excuse me' four times. If excuse me doesn't work with gate lice it's generally time for a more direct approach; excuse me may i ask why you are blocking this area? (toedeledoekie, verschwinden please...)
In the beginning you will you will feel very uncomfortable doing that but this is why it's great to have a JV with KLM and where your experience with KLM's idea of Sky Priority @AMS comes in handy (Please proceed directly to the front and let it to their FFs to fight their way through the row and endure comments/arguments with their fellow passengers without status).

For AMS, SOP for me; ignore G6a and go for G6b

KevinDTW

SP boarding at AMS is "hold this SP boarding card above your head as you try to fight your way to the gate through the crowds of people standing around."

Grouchy

That's if you are lucky and fly DL, otherwise you won't get a SP boarding card

KevinDTW

Ah, you are correct of course. True KLM boarding certainly builds character and toughens you up, that's for sure!

SCEflyer

Even though you might not have used the terms, it seems like you viewed these folks as nothing more than kettles and gate lice, and that came through in the way you spoke to them, so no wonder they weren't too quick to move out of your way.

In the alternative, a spoonful of sugar can do wonders.

udontknowme

They're gate LICE, not gate ants. Sugar has no effect.

BeatCal

I think that you are one of the worst DYKWIA Perhaps all should board like SW
Maybe "these lice" had never flown before

SFBayGuy

I think this comment is a little harsh, though not entirely out of line.

I am taken a bit by "I exclaimed in a slightly elevated and commanding voice". When confronted with similar situations I've generally found that a kindly "Excuse me, folks" is sufficient.

Crazyhotelguy

LOL . I have met that guy and many of his family members.

gooselee

Over on the gate lice thread someone suggested yelling "Hot soup comin' through!"

Haven't developed the appropriate cajones to try that one out yet.

pntherpaw86

One of the worst DYKWIA? For expecting to be able to board when your zone is called without a crowd of people blocking your way that aren't allowed to board yet?! I think not. I see nothing wrong with getting a bit of an attitude with people who repeatedly refuse to follow the rules and camp out in the boarding area before their zone is called. THEY are in the wrong, YOU are in the right if you are trying to board with your zone. No amount of kindness or politeness is going to make any difference with people who think they don't have to follow the rules. If anything, the people blocking the boarding area are the DYKWIAs, thinking they have the right to be there and clog up the works. And, if they've never flown before, don't you think they'd be listening to the announcements from the GA about keeping the boarding area clear and waiting until their zone is called? Generally if I'm in an unknown situation, I tend to hang back and listen closely to announcements (i.e. "We board by zone number, which can be found on your boarding pass" ... and a lot of GAs even walk through the whole order of pre-board, FC, Sky, etc., too).

In a somewhat related matter, I was flying out of the MSP F gates on Sunday evening, seated alongside the boarding area with my backpack beside me right next to the garbage can. I hear "excuse me" from behind me, and it is one of the flight crew asking to get through between the garbage can and my seat. So of course I move my backpack, thinking it was weird that he was squeezing through there. I look back and see the entire width of the boarding area blocked 2 or 3 people deep with no way for anyone to get through. All I could do was shake my head...

gloobnib

This is exactly the problem why people crowd the gate area. The GA starts a long convoluted speech that mentions everybody's zone at some point. The PA systems are poorly designed and cannot always be heard beyond 20-30 feet from the GA. Add in the continuous "Attention airport security alert" and "Hello I am mayor Greene" airport announcements, plus the extraordinarily loud BEEP BEEP of the electric carts. Oh and maybe 2 other gates in the area also loading pax.

Just look around during the boarding announcement for the the dozen or so pax who obviously travel rarely. Observe their asking each other "what did she say?" and "Who are they boarding now?". OF COURSE they will crowd the GA trying to figure out what they are being asked to do.

Try to have a little empathy...

/RANT

NotHamSarnie

^

There is really little call for getting snippy when boarding. Yes, it's annoying to have to get through the crowds, but most people don't care about our silly elite stuff, they just want to get on the plane. A cheery "Excuse me!" usually works just fine, the friendlier the better. The only exception to my placid attitude toward this is when the crowds won't yield to the pre-boarding wheelchairs or other people who are struggling.