Builderman

IIRC according to the policy FOs can board through the SkyPriority line in zone 1, while everyone else has (including AMEX holders) boards through the general line. Of course half the GAs don't enforce zones after FC so I can't imagine them ever enforcing a difference between the two queues in the same zone.

Yankeeflyer

I think that's probably right, b/c as credit card holder with no status my boarding card used to have Zone 2 on it.

mattsteg

Having 2 groups supposedly simultaneously boarding in the same zone through different lanes is a giant cluster.

I've always read that as "FOs and Amex board in zone 1, once zone2 starts FO can cut but AMEX can't", at least from a practical perspective.

Just add an amex zone, imo. They still get early boarding, and there's not the same strangeness.

JGfromOC

As a lowly FO (soon to be GM though) I welcome this change. I'll probably never aspire greater than GM on DL (will always stay at least FO) so it is nice to see some value being brought to my status. FO has become kind of a joke status since UG's are nearly non-existent and all the other benefits are a byproduct of being an AMEX holder.

I'd really like to see DL give FO's SP too for security screening. That would be nice.

Rocco7799

This is OT, but I just flew out of DCA, and as an FO, I was able to use the SP security line.

Rocco7799

I am disappointed to hear that this is a typo or old page on the site. I appreciate the few benefits that FOs receive, but adding an easier boarding experience would have been great.

xolinlevh

+1 Rather sick of how easy it is to get in early boarding these days. Throw in that theres the new SPG tie in and now hotel people who have no status can get priority boarding, really devaluing the point of sky priority.

Just to give some comparison....this past weekend i was flying from IST-AMS, came to the gate a bit later then i intended to and there was a HUGE line for boarding, while the SP lane had 0 people in it. Walked to the front, there was a gate agent checking passes to make sure you were supposed to be there, she waived me in and i boarded first. THATS how the boarding should be.

JGfromOC

Had the same experience flying with Alitalia inter-Italy using the SP line. Was pretty nice. Too bad it isn't like that here.

Builderman

There seem to be a lot fewer elites in Europe. That may have something to do with FB's mileage earning rules. Be careful what you wish for.

xolinlevh

True. Though a big help would also be the enforcement of the zones. Far too often i see people board get in line and board with me when either F or SP/prem whatever, and they are zone 2/3 etc. GAs usually just scan and ignore it

Denolloyd

So true. Last week Thursday in ATL, I was waiting for the GA to call Zone 1. These two guys walked by and one said to the other "I don't think its our turn". The other guy replied to him "do you always follow the rules". It was nice when the GA told them they were only boarding Zone Sky and then made an announcement reiterating right in front of them. Needs to happen more.

HongKonger

Everyone else should adopt your attitude.

There are ways that customers bring profit to an airline other than flying, and it is attractive to DL to entice those customers who bring profit in ways other than flying to continue doing so. We may not like it but with the recent changes DL has made it very clear they are going to reward the most profitable customers not necessarily the most frequent customers. Get used to it because it's here to stay and will continue to evolve further in that direction.

JGfromOC

Not sure I agree with this. What about those of us that are FO, AMEX card holders and SC members? You telling me I am not profitable to DL? If I am not going to get UG's then I should get priority security line access or boarding. One or the other.

HongKonger

No I'm not saying you or anyone else are not profitable. I'm saying that DL concluded that the average Amex holder is profitable enough to them to give the same boarding priority an FO has even if that Amex holder isn't otherwise a medallion. And I'm saying that the trend toward awarding benefits based on profitability not necessarily frequent flying will continue for DL and all airlines.

Recreation

Face it, the real crux of the issue is overhead storage space.

Nobody would care about who was seated first if everyone played by the rules of what a "carry-on" was. When you're pre-assigned your seat, it's no real privilege to board first and sit there for 20 minutes while the rest of the passengers get situated. The privilege is in getting first dibs on the limited overhead space.

I don't know about the other AMEX holders, but *I* always take advantage of their other great perk, which is one free checked bag. 95% of what I brought is tucked away in cargo, where it belongs. What I do bring on to the plane will neatly fit UNDER my seat, even the seat with the metal bar running through it. So boarding early offers no real advantage to me... except to be entertained by the folks jockeying for overhead space.

BTW, if you're gold/platinum SPG and hold the SPG Amex, you can now sign up for the Delta/SPG Crossover Rewards program and board in Zone 2 plus get one free checked bag, along with the other Delta SkyMiles AMEX holders.

https://www.delta.com/profile/spgLanding.action