Broken Record: Boarding Zones - Delta Policy Not to Enforce
Dec 13, 2013, 7:56 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PVU, SLC
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I've seen GAs try to bribe people to gate check carryon bags before boarding starts by offering drink/snack coupons. It's even better than being able to check the bag for free if you bring it to the gate. However until late and damaged bag percentages are believed to be significantly improved, some passengers will understandably continue to avoid checking bags, either during check in or at the gate.
Dec 13, 2013, 8:52 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Makati City, Philippines
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, CX GO, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,361
FWIW, I have noticed improved boarding overseas. Especially at MNL, now they give you a big red BE card in the Skyclub which is collected when you board. They have moved the departure gate over to gate 14 now allowing for more room where one can actually sit while waiting to board. Super smooth the last 2 departures in November and December.
Also NRT, really seems to be enforcing boarding zones amd turning people away by being proactive with GA's organizing the boarding zones with signs.
In the US however, it's a Zoo, been through ATL, MSP, DTW, LAS, PIT, and MIA, pretty much all the same, fight your way through the gate lice to board with your PREM zone.
Speaking of PIT, what up with some of the boarding areas? Badly stained carpet, seats with huge splits in them where no one will sit? Ceiling tiles stained.
Also NRT, really seems to be enforcing boarding zones amd turning people away by being proactive with GA's organizing the boarding zones with signs.
In the US however, it's a Zoo, been through ATL, MSP, DTW, LAS, PIT, and MIA, pretty much all the same, fight your way through the gate lice to board with your PREM zone.
Speaking of PIT, what up with some of the boarding areas? Badly stained carpet, seats with huge splits in them where no one will sit? Ceiling tiles stained.
Dec 13, 2013, 10:20 pm
#33
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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The response is (in my experience) always "Oops, sorry." If it's a minor believable error (e.g. +-1 row, opposite aisle seat) for the same quality seat, I don't mind switching. Otherwise, not a chance, and the FA should enforce it as necessary.
Dec 13, 2013, 10:21 pm
#34
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If I tripped over him, something would break. And it wouldn't be me.
Dec 14, 2013, 3:08 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Last Tuesday, ATL-MSP, 50+ on the UG list, PREM is called. There was a woman clutching her AmEx with her BP who couldn't believe all these people were boarding before her.
I waited patiently in line while people in front of me had their boarding passes scanned. When I was about fourth in line, THE GA CALLED FOR ZONE 1 AND THE MASSES STARTED CUTTING IN LINE! I expressed dismay calmly but clearly. Having waited patiently in line, she could have at least waited until all of PREM was done boarding. It wasn't as though we weren't stuck in a long line in the Jetway. No time would have been lost boarding the plane if she had just finished the Zone before calling the next. At least five people had shoved between me and the guy who had been behind me for the past seven minutes. I expressed to the GA how rude this was and she apologized, saying she expects that people will not act that way. There was an old guy behind my trying to impress a younger woman. They were standing at the side during PREM boarding and wormed their way into the line when Zone 1 was called. The GA made him wait while she finished checking in PREM, but only because I pointed it out to her, she saw DM on my BP and I promised her I would let DL know what a mess she made of the boarding process. It wasn't just him, though. There must have been 30 people doing the same thing. She said something like, "Zone 1, please be patient and allow PREM to finish boarding. Will all PREM please step forward. If you are PREM, please step forward."
It was a custer-fluck, totally because the GA handled it so poorly.
I waited patiently in line while people in front of me had their boarding passes scanned. When I was about fourth in line, THE GA CALLED FOR ZONE 1 AND THE MASSES STARTED CUTTING IN LINE! I expressed dismay calmly but clearly. Having waited patiently in line, she could have at least waited until all of PREM was done boarding. It wasn't as though we weren't stuck in a long line in the Jetway. No time would have been lost boarding the plane if she had just finished the Zone before calling the next. At least five people had shoved between me and the guy who had been behind me for the past seven minutes. I expressed to the GA how rude this was and she apologized, saying she expects that people will not act that way. There was an old guy behind my trying to impress a younger woman. They were standing at the side during PREM boarding and wormed their way into the line when Zone 1 was called. The GA made him wait while she finished checking in PREM, but only because I pointed it out to her, she saw DM on my BP and I promised her I would let DL know what a mess she made of the boarding process. It wasn't just him, though. There must have been 30 people doing the same thing. She said something like, "Zone 1, please be patient and allow PREM to finish boarding. Will all PREM please step forward. If you are PREM, please step forward."
It was a custer-fluck, totally because the GA handled it so poorly.
Dec 14, 2013, 3:53 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta DM, 3M; AA, FB, UA some lower status
Posts: 394
As long as Delta continues to sell "Zone 1" which is in reality Zone 4 (after pre boards, PREM and Sky) boarding will be a mess.
I view this practice as an unethical scam. They should be ashamed of it.
I view this practice as an unethical scam. They should be ashamed of it.
Dec 14, 2013, 4:35 am
#37
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
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Another fun one is the GA @ the next gate boarding a flight with just announcements like ZONE 1, no flight, no destination. People just hear a zone and rush the door, even if boarding for their flight has not even started....
Dec 14, 2013, 4:47 am
#38
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Atlanta GA
Programs: DL FO, HH Ag
Posts: 57
I'm going to take a different tack on this - I don't think it's Delta's fault that people can't read and follow directions.
At the beginning of the boarding process, they invariably announce "We board by Zones. To find your Zone, Look on your BP. Please board when your Zone is called". Those are simple, explicit instructions, that if followed, would result in a relatively smooth boarding process. The problem comes when pax try to interpret the information.
It doesn't matter how the Zones are labeled, only that the pax identify theirs and board when called. DL could call the zones John, Paul, George, Ringo, and Pete, and it wouldn't matter - just look at your BP and board when you are called. I have had a Skymiles Amex (and been Zone 1) for years and have never been confused about this.
However, I do agree that the real culprit here is the carry-on luggage issue. Fix that, and all the other problems go away.
-JimG
At the beginning of the boarding process, they invariably announce "We board by Zones. To find your Zone, Look on your BP. Please board when your Zone is called". Those are simple, explicit instructions, that if followed, would result in a relatively smooth boarding process. The problem comes when pax try to interpret the information.
It doesn't matter how the Zones are labeled, only that the pax identify theirs and board when called. DL could call the zones John, Paul, George, Ringo, and Pete, and it wouldn't matter - just look at your BP and board when you are called. I have had a Skymiles Amex (and been Zone 1) for years and have never been confused about this.
However, I do agree that the real culprit here is the carry-on luggage issue. Fix that, and all the other problems go away.
-JimG
Dec 14, 2013, 4:56 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hoschton, GA
Programs: Delta DM, SP Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 432
Quote:Originally Posted by mbwmbw
I propose they put in automated boarding lanes w/ actual gates (much like you see on many metro systems), and if your BP doesn't meet that zone then you are rejected. The social backlash from holding up the line and being an idiot might be enough to fix the boarding zone process.
A similar system controls access to the priority security queue at BRU, but I imagine automated turnstiles would be prohibitively expensive to install at every Delta gate.
That said, whatever became of the self-boarding system that Delta was testing at BOS gate A2 (among other locations)?
I propose they put in automated boarding lanes w/ actual gates (much like you see on many metro systems), and if your BP doesn't meet that zone then you are rejected. The social backlash from holding up the line and being an idiot might be enough to fix the boarding zone process.
A similar system controls access to the priority security queue at BRU, but I imagine automated turnstiles would be prohibitively expensive to install at every Delta gate.
That said, whatever became of the self-boarding system that Delta was testing at BOS gate A2 (among other locations)?
I loved the GA in ATL earlier this year who had an excellent solution to the issue. Before boarding started on this flight to LAX, he announced the different zones and when they boarded. He then announced that anyone who tried to board BEFORE their zone was called would not be allowed to board until after ALL other zones has boarded. Smoothest boarding of a 767 I've seen in years....
Dec 14, 2013, 5:19 am
#40
Original Poster
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I'm going to take a different tack on this - I don't think it's Delta's fault that people can't read and follow directions.
At the beginning of the boarding process, they invariably announce "We board by Zones. To find your Zone, Look on your BP. Please board when your Zone is called". Those are simple, explicit instructions, that if followed, would result in a relatively smooth boarding process. The problem comes when pax try to interpret the information.
It doesn't matter how the Zones are labeled, only that the pax identify theirs and board when called. DL could call the zones John, Paul, George, Ringo, and Pete, and it wouldn't matter - just look at your BP and board when you are called. I have had a Skymiles Amex (and been Zone 1) for years and have never been confused about this.
However, I do agree that the real culprit here is the carry-on luggage issue. Fix that, and all the other problems go away.
-JimG
At the beginning of the boarding process, they invariably announce "We board by Zones. To find your Zone, Look on your BP. Please board when your Zone is called". Those are simple, explicit instructions, that if followed, would result in a relatively smooth boarding process. The problem comes when pax try to interpret the information.
It doesn't matter how the Zones are labeled, only that the pax identify theirs and board when called. DL could call the zones John, Paul, George, Ringo, and Pete, and it wouldn't matter - just look at your BP and board when you are called. I have had a Skymiles Amex (and been Zone 1) for years and have never been confused about this.
However, I do agree that the real culprit here is the carry-on luggage issue. Fix that, and all the other problems go away.
-JimG
The one at the ATL T gate last year delayed boarding significantly in my experience. I liked it, but infrequent travelers took forever to get through it.
I loved the GA in ATL earlier this year who had an excellent solution to the issue. Before boarding started on this flight to LAX, he announced the different zones and when they boarded. He then announced that anyone who tried to board BEFORE their zone was called would not be allowed to board until after ALL other zones has boarded. Smoothest boarding of a 767 I've seen in years....
I loved the GA in ATL earlier this year who had an excellent solution to the issue. Before boarding started on this flight to LAX, he announced the different zones and when they boarded. He then announced that anyone who tried to board BEFORE their zone was called would not be allowed to board until after ALL other zones has boarded. Smoothest boarding of a 767 I've seen in years....
Dec 14, 2013, 6:06 am
#41
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Richmond, VA
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 39
More common than you think. People don't connect that there should be someone talking on the microphone at *their* gate for the announcement to make sense.
I think the bigger issue is everyone thinks the rules do not apply to them. We need to penalize the Kettle who abuse the perks.
Wow. #Win. This is epic and would certainly fix the problem. I wish more GAs would do this.
I think the bigger issue is everyone thinks the rules do not apply to them. We need to penalize the Kettle who abuse the perks.
Wow. #Win. This is epic and would certainly fix the problem. I wish more GAs would do this.
That said, i think the baggage policy is really what prompts everyone to want to board sooner -- people try to save money and cram everything into a carry on. I don't know why anyone would want to rush to be cramped on a plane sooner otherwise. I feel like the problem isn't quite as bad on the regional jets where you have to gate jet as frequent travelers on those planes know space isn't as much of an issue.
Dec 14, 2013, 7:02 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kingdom of the Sun
Programs: DL GM/MM
Posts: 3,708
So the zones are named A, B, 1, 2, 3.
Police carryons and zone jumping.
Problem solved.
Next!
Dec 14, 2013, 7:19 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
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Dec 14, 2013, 8:05 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Atlanta GA
Programs: DL FO, HH Ag
Posts: 57
Dec 14, 2013, 9:13 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Easy solution to all of this. Put locks on F cabin OHBs. Keep them locked until F is boarding. Board F last. Aside from OHB space there is no reason to want to board early. Its not like a potential PDB is worth sitting being bumped into by Y pax for 20 minutes anyhow.