payingdues

I think DL would be better served by coming up with a way to manage gate lice and by actually enforcing zone boarding. I've boarded with a GA that explicitly stated over the intercom "SKY Zone is not for Amex card holders. Amex card holders board with Zone 1." That boarding experience was noticeably more pleasant for me.

FlyAO2

except when you need to go to the bathroom and someone steals your seat on the bus...I mean plane

lovecabo

I'd rather see EC as one boarding zone. I always have to scramble to get to the front of the SKY line because people invariably put their bags in the first few bins (the EC bins), even though they are heading back to Row 30. It would make life simpler if EC folks got to board right after PREM, then follow with the rest of SKY.

HDQDD

I think DL should add at least three more boarding groups before Zone 1, just to make it more confusing.

Pre-boards
F
DM
PM
GM
FO
Zone 0 (for Kettles)

then

Z 1-3.

Seriously though, DL should just use Zones 1-5 for everyone. Zone 1 is F class, Z2 is Sky, Z3 (old Z1), etc. Today's system is so confusing when pax in Z1 see half of the plane get in line before them, they all start wrestling into line thinking they missed the Z1 call. Make it simple.

FlyAO2

This is spot on. If you are an ocassional traveler and not paying close attention, there is no reason for you to think that you are in GROUP/ZONE 1 boarding that you're not boarding at the begining

Chaserxp215

Agree that it would make it simpler... but selling an Amex with "premium zone 3 boarding" doesn't have the same ring as zone 1

MSPeconomist

This might help to demonstrate to other elites how often DMs get upgrades, which could encourage some to go for DM. So DL would gain even if it's not better for elites.

On the 757 and other aircraft with the left turn into the FC cabin, it makes sense to board some coach passengers at the same time as FC. Otherwise all that empty aisle real estate just goes to waste as FC passengers are getting settled.

MSPeconomist

It would greatly help if FAs would pay attention during boarding and not allow coach passengers to place their bags in the FC bins, protect the EC bins from regular coach passengers, and save bin space for people in bulkhead and exit row seats.

EnvoyBoy

At MSP on Saturday, those volunteering to check their bag were then invited onto the aircraft. This was before those needing assistance or military were invited on. Then FC was called, with no mention of DM.

Ironic insofar that once you've given up your bag, there's really no rush or need to board early as you don't require overhead space any longer. Go figure.

flyerslc

LAX this weekend, very crowded in 53B gate. The GA made it clear that following the rules was going to be necessary in that tight space. He stated loudly, "look at your boarding pass next to year seat, if it does not say SKY, it is not your turn, etc. He turned away several people and made them wait in a corral of shame. It was great. I just wish they had given him a cattle prod.

relangford

While AmEx may advertise Zone 1 boarding, as soon as the AmEx card holder lines up, he/she finds out it is the third to board. Other than the first time this happens, the CC holder then knows "Zone 1" ain't the first zone! Make Zone 1 the F cabin; Zone 2 DMs, PMs, and GMs; Zone 3 FOs (yeah, me!), the AmEx holders, etc. I really doubt AmEx holders will get rid of their cards just because they have to wait as they do now anyway for Zone 1. AmEx could rationalize this with something like: "board right after First Class and SkyTeam elites".

Robert Leach

The thing I try, as strictly a trial, is to eliminate any pre-board announcement. If you are in a wheelchair, or standing there with two kids in your arms, the gate agent should discreetly scan your boarding pass and invite you to board without making an announcement.

It is the announcement itself that starts the rush toward the gate.

I have always wondered about a silent boarding process. No PA announcements until the last zone. Put a screen above the boarding pass scanner that displays, "Now boarding First Class. First Class only" without a word being uttered. Then, "SkyPriority and First Class may board now." And so forth. In my mind, the chaos begins the minute the PA announcement about pre-boarding for "those needing extra time" starts.

jdrtravel

If they made the first checked bag free and charged non-elites to for use of bin space it would solve many problems.

berliner5000

This. Think of the faster security lines too.

MSPeconomist

Even with announcements, it would help to have a display that anyone could read at any time stating what groups are currently boarding. As it is, when someone arrives at the gate area after boarding has begun, there's a tendency to either get in line or push to the podium to board and once the person is there, GAs have a tendency to let them through rather than forcing them to swim upstream back through the line.