“Do You Know Who I Am?”: The Definitive Thread of DYKWIA Stories
Dec 9, 2014, 8:59 am
#4411
Formerly known as HuwRLewis
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Holland, Michigan, USA
Programs: DL-DM (Charter); DL-MM; Hilton: Diamond
Posts: 139
Why aren't the the DL GAs doing their job, and telling people to move away from the boarding lanes?
At Changi, there is a separate SP seating area. Admittance is monitored by an agent. Civilised. That's not likely to happen here, but at least the GAs could exercise more control/organization. Flying is grim enough for pax without having to do crowd control.
At Changi, there is a separate SP seating area. Admittance is monitored by an agent. Civilised. That's not likely to happen here, but at least the GAs could exercise more control/organization. Flying is grim enough for pax without having to do crowd control.
Dec 9, 2014, 9:08 am
#4412
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: Delta DM; *A FO. UG since(1/1/15): 11/14
Posts: 683
Why aren't the the DL GAs doing their job, and telling people to move away from the boarding lanes?
At Changi, there is a separate SP seating area. Admittance is monitored by an agent. Civilised. That's not likely to happen here, but at least the GAs could exercise more control/organization. Flying is grim enough for pax without having to do crowd control.
At Changi, there is a separate SP seating area. Admittance is monitored by an agent. Civilised. That's not likely to happen here, but at least the GAs could exercise more control/organization. Flying is grim enough for pax without having to do crowd control.
Dec 9, 2014, 9:11 am
#4413
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Minneapolis, formerly the shores of Lake Minnetonka
Programs: DL PM (and KM)
Posts: 394
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
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
Dec 9, 2014, 9:35 am
#4414
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 817
Last night at PHX on the 11:30pm PHX-JFK red eye. Due to late arriving aircraft, the GA boards F first rather than pre-board passengers. There were so many gate lice hovering around the gate area that I wasn't able to get to the sky priority lane. None of the lice were qualified for pre-board anyway so there was no reason for everyone to be standing that close to the gate blocking everyone.
After snaking my way through I finally got close to the entrance to the SKY lane and a group of 4 were literally standing shoulder to shoulder intentionally blocking others from passing by. I exclaimed in a slightly elevated and commanding voice "excuse me!" As I passed through I overheard "Oh Jesus" and "what's his problem?" I didn't reply to these remarks but my thoughts were call me mridley2 and and my problem is you will not get out of the damn way so those whose zone is being called are able to board.
This was after the GA made repeated announcements about the flight being full and those pax seated in Zones 2 & 3 would have to gate check their bags since there wouldn't be enough space to fit everyone's bag. I understand passengers want to stand near the gate to improve their chances of boarding at the beginning of their zone but it is inexcusable for passengers to block the gate area entirely. Partly I blame the GA's for causing such a panic but I understand that since it does alert passengers to remove imperative items from their bags in case they are required to check. But the GA should also announce & enforce the unspoken rule of those in the gate area to clear a path so passengers can board without hassle or delay.
Were my comments selfish or DYKWIA behavior? I do not think so but it did get quite the response from the east team in their fictitious game of red rover red rover.
After snaking my way through I finally got close to the entrance to the SKY lane and a group of 4 were literally standing shoulder to shoulder intentionally blocking others from passing by. I exclaimed in a slightly elevated and commanding voice "excuse me!" As I passed through I overheard "Oh Jesus" and "what's his problem?" I didn't reply to these remarks but my thoughts were call me mridley2 and and my problem is you will not get out of the damn way so those whose zone is being called are able to board.
This was after the GA made repeated announcements about the flight being full and those pax seated in Zones 2 & 3 would have to gate check their bags since there wouldn't be enough space to fit everyone's bag. I understand passengers want to stand near the gate to improve their chances of boarding at the beginning of their zone but it is inexcusable for passengers to block the gate area entirely. Partly I blame the GA's for causing such a panic but I understand that since it does alert passengers to remove imperative items from their bags in case they are required to check. But the GA should also announce & enforce the unspoken rule of those in the gate area to clear a path so passengers can board without hassle or delay.
Were my comments selfish or DYKWIA behavior? I do not think so but it did get quite the response from the east team in their fictitious game of red rover red rover.
Dec 9, 2014, 10:07 am
#4415
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,268
Last time I was through there, it was all the GAs could to to get the literal squatters to go sit on another part of the floor vaguely close to their gate.
Dec 9, 2014, 10:13 am
#4416
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
+1 to this. How many times have I been waiting to board a flight and the gate next door is leaving right around the same time and boarding a couple of zones ahead so people hear their zone and think they can board, but really it's the flight next door that's boarding their zone.
Dec 9, 2014, 10:20 am
#4417
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,373
not even at a hub ... I'm sure you have seen how DCA can get kind of chaotic with ATL/MSP/DTW/LGA all boarding within 5-10 min of each other a couple times during the day
Dec 9, 2014, 10:44 am
#4418
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
Very true. I was thinking that but didn't type it. Even DAY the other day had flights to ATL, MSP, and DTW leaving at about the same time. If they just made it part of the general script this would at least help somewhat and prevent those of us trying to board with our zones from engaging in DYKWIA-esque behavior.
Dec 9, 2014, 11:10 am
#4419
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
+1 to this. How many times have I been waiting to board a flight and the gate next door is leaving right around the same time and boarding a couple of zones ahead so people hear their zone and think they can board, but really it's the flight next door that's boarding their zone.
Dec 9, 2014, 11:45 am
#4420
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
Dec 9, 2014, 11:56 am
#4421
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,373
I haven't flown out of DAY in about 4 years, but I remember that area WAY too well from approx monthly trips for the prior 8-9 years
Dec 9, 2014, 12:04 pm
#4422
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
How about the RJ corral area in JFK T2 -- that can be a terribly chaotic gate area. Several gates crammed together sharing a departure info board and flights leaving every few minutes during busy times. Overlapping announcements, etc. To be avoided at all costs if possible.
Dec 9, 2014, 12:10 pm
#4423
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 922
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
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
Now, that said, the vast majority of people are receptive to a simple "excuse me"; the people with headphones blaring get a tap on the shoulder, and I weasel on through. But the people that refuse to move and are blocking access to the gate long before their zone is called are the DYKWIA - not the people who actually should be boarding and are being blocked.
Dec 9, 2014, 12:12 pm
#4424
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 922
How about the RJ corral area in JFK T2 -- that can be a terribly chaotic gate area. Several gates crammed together sharing a departure info board and flights leaving every few minutes during busy times. Overlapping announcements, etc. To be avoided at all costs if possible.
Dec 9, 2014, 12:21 pm
#4425
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
My thought as well reading through the latest set of lice-inspired posts. UA has largely eliminated the possibility of lower-caste lice blocking the way for exalted elites like me. I really like the new lane system...perhaps DL should follow.