no zone on my iphone bp
 

I checked in for my flight this morning and noticed there is no zone on my E-boarding pass. The flight number and seat number are there but under the zone there is nothing. Not a big deal for me since I know to board in zone sky, but I can see the kettles trying to board in the wrong zone and probably getting away with it since no zone is on their BP or someone not familiar with the new zones or Deltas boarding priority being confussed.

I printed out a paper BP as well for the HOOU and the zone was on there. I do like how the Iphone boarding passes have sky priority in big highlighted letters at the top now though.

Was a mess beyond belief in MSP last night. These clowns who make these decisions don't have a clue.

I don't see anything wrong with the renaming of zones. All airlines are looking for a few extra bucks in revenue and selling "first zone" boarding is one way to get some cash.

As for announcing the zones, I haven't flown since they redid the order of zones, but all they need to do is announce is "Now Borading: Zone Sky. Zone Sky are our Diamond, Platnium, Gold Medallion members, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, and Alaska Airlines MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75 members." I assume the script is pretty close to that. I'll find out next time I fly I guess.

That's the trick ;) ... get the GA to do it correctly and not have 150 confused pax trying to get on at once.

Fact.

Silver medallion now zone 1?
 

Any other SM noticing their boarding passes saying zone 1? Mine have been for last 3 segments, and not in exit-row seat. Have they finally had enough SM complaining about amex customers in zone 2 to do something about it or just a fluke?

I was in Zone 1 this past week, but I was upgraded on the first legs of my trips.

They added another pre-zone 1 zone called SKY and bumped 2/3/4 to 1/2/3 IIRC.

So yes they fixed the FO in Zone 2 problem :eek:

FO's are still in Zone 2, along with 60% of the aircraft (the Amex Medallion crowd, those in EC, and, IIRC, those who've bought preferred seats). Thing is, Zone 2 is now referred to as "Zone 1," thanks to the inexplicably random decision to call Zone 1 "Zone Sky".

It's already caused virtual gridlock on one flight I've taken so far, with almost all of Zone 1 trying to board immediately after FC got on the plane, and the GA ultimately yelling over the PA that SkyPriority had to board in full before anyone from Zone 1 would be allowed on the plane. She didn't clarify beyond that, which led to plenty of head-scratching as those in Zone 1 tried to figure out what the heck the difference was; Zone 1 has always been SkyPriority...

Typical Delta shtick with this zone business, SM remains a joke.

I have though found the best-kept-not-so-secret way to maintain super-priority boarding. Keep on having babies. We've had a child 3 or under for the last 10 years and just walk right on, before SkyPriority, first-class, and even god himself. Nothing more satisfying that elbowing right past those snotty GM and above gate lice and seeing their angry looks. Of course the private school tuition will one day do me in, but thats another story.

Regardless of what they are called, in reality there are 6 boarding zones.

Someone correct me if I got these backwards ;) but from another thread I tried to figure out that apparently the previous OLD System was:

1. Pre-Boards (wheelchairs, extra time, passengers with children under 2 years of age)
2. Zone PREM (BE, Business, First) (Actually would be Zone 1 in a common sense system)
3. Zone SKY (DM, PM, GM, STE+, Gold MVP) (Actually would be Zone 2 in a common sense system)
4. Zone 3 (FO, AMEX, EC, Exit Rows)
5. Zone 4 (All other ticketed and confirmed)
6. Zone 5 (All rows and Cleared standby passengers)
or were designated zones 3/4/5 really 2/3/4? I'll edit if someone can confirm.

Apparently the Current System(unless DL changed it again) is:

1. Pre-Boards (Unless you are an English Teacher then this is first to board, as pre-boarding is OVER when the first pax boards. :p )
2. Zone PREM: First, Business Elite, Business
3. Zone SKY: Diamond, Platinum and Gold, Skyteam elite +, Alaska MVP Gold
4. Zone 1: Silver, Economy Comfort, AMEX, Exit rows and bulkhead
5. Zone 2: all remaining coach
6. Zone 3: Self loading freight, cargo class, steerage, standby, etc.

So apparently Silvers have gone from being a designated Zone 3 and 4th zone to actually board, to being a designated Zone 1 and 4th zone to actually board. ^

Bottom line you do not board any earlier and you still board with the AMEX folks, but you are still FO Special, and Delta thanks you for Flying Delta's Big Small RJets with no FC and no chance of a FO upgrade. :D

add: YMMV, but here is what delta.com currently says, which is different from the above:

"Via our Delta Sky Priority lane, all passengers in BusinessElite®, First, or Business Class will be invited to preboard. All Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion® members, SkyTeam ElitePlus customers, and Alaska Airlines® MVP® Gold members are then invited to board in Zone 1. Silver Medallion members and SkyTeam Elite customers can begin boarding in Zone 2 using the Sky Priority boarding lane when traveling in Economy Class."

Thus according to delta.com the current zones are apparently:

1. Pre-Board (wheelchairs, extra time, passengers with children under 2 years of age)
2. Pre-board v. 2.0 (BusinessElite, Business, First)
3. Zone 1 (DM, PM, GM, STE+, AA Gold MVP)
4. Zone 2 (FO, STE, AMEX, EC, Exit Rows)
5. Zone 3 (All other ticketed and confirmed)
6. Zone 4 (All rows and Cleared standby passengers)

Funny anecdote: my KLM-printed BP for a DL-operated flight in paid domestic F was showing "Zone 99".

You've got some catching up to do:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...?highlight=sky

While SM is getting more and more worthless I never really understood all this fuss about zone 2 (now zone 1). I find that even on very heavy business routes with tons of GM and above there is still plenty of overhead when zone 2 boards- of course with many more zone 2s it helps to be towards the front of that zone, but it really seems to be the poor souls with no status or amex that get the shaft when it comes to overhead space. Really why else rush to board unless you're in first and can get in a nice pre-flight drink.

It really seems that with priority boarding and most of SkyPriority benefits Delta is offering a "status symbol" more than anything else, just like those silly yellow priority luggage tags that get your bag to you one minute faster than everyone else. I see why it works- not to sound socially elite (which I am not) but frequent business travelers are usually not at the upper echelon of the corporate world (though exceptions exist). These are the work-horses of corporations who spend tons of time away from home and family while the truly elite stay home in the comfort of their own bed (or have their own jet). Status symbols are nice, they make us feel good about ourselves, but in reality they do little of practical benefit. Most of SkyPriority is for show- perhaps the only really practical benefit is the security line.

The reality is that I feel very bad for those who earn SM with their butt in a seat (posted this in a prior thread as well). Truth is I "buy" SM and its few benefits the same way others "buy" a gold amex and its benefits. With a platinum amex I rack in 20,000 MQM per year by charging over $50,000 annually (not hard to do with a big family). All it takes is 2 domestic round-trips and I hit silver. The $150 annual fee is well-worth it for the rare upgrade (had one last week on a weekend flight) and the annual companion ticket (assuming you use it) can be worth well more than $150. I believe part of the reason Delta has devalued SM so much is that they realize that many SM are not frequent fliers at all. If I were an SM who actually earned that status with flying I would be furious at the situation.

Welcome to the hell that quite possibly awaits me on Mar. 1, 2013.