A Question For Gate Agents
 

Why did Delta stop using the automated gate and boarding announcements? It was something unique to Delta and seemed to work very well. The gate agents are not consistent with their announcements and it can be confusing when multiple flights are boarding. Sometimes all the agents are bothered with saying is "zone one can board". At MCO half the time they don't even display the zone currently boarding on the GIDS anymore. I'm not a gate lice and am usually standing way back from the gate. Having a visual helps a lot. So I'm just wondering why Delta has regressed when it comes to utilizing technology to make boarding more efficient.

If they've eliminated the automated announcements, I'm glad. They were always confusing, since GAs often said different things than what the automated system said.

Still, it should be easy at most airports to display the zone that's currently boarding.

The GA's should just work on other things besides announcements. The automated announcements were always more honest about delays. "This flight is delayed due to maintenance with the aircraft" or "Our flight is delayed due to air traffic control". Most gate agents aren't willing to say anything about the delay.

I don't work flights on a regular basis, but from what I've seen with my limited experience, SNAPP now displays a script agents are supposed to read with each corresponding "Play" (SNAPP-speak for different checklist item for each flight). The GIDS are managed by a separate application called GIDS Manager that controls both the GIDS and the gate audio announcements. I've seen agents that will advance to the next zone in SNAPP and make their announcement but forget to click the next zone in GIDS Manager, meaning there is no automated announcement and the GIDS don't update with the current zone. My guess is agents are just forgetting to click the next zone in GIDS Manager - the automated announcements haven't gone away.

I really wish the BP scanners were integrated with the GIDS and the announcements, and would issue a loud "Bzzt," flash red, and reject the BP when a BP that's not in line with the current boarding priority is presented. The GA could of course manually override it, but the default state would be to reject someone boarding out of turn.

Preboard: accept any BP
First Class/Diamond: only FC or DM
Sky: FC, DM, Sky
etc.

I agree. This would be an easy way to enforce boarding zones. Also, GAs could claim that it's the computer's fault and not a case of the GA being mean to those trying to board before their correct zone is called.

Thanks for the information. It's a shame the agents aren't using the tools available to them. It would make their job a lot easier. Not too long ago in ATL there were flights to Houston Bush and Houston Hobby boarding side by side. Both agents only said "boarding Houston" and that leads to confusion. The automated announcements clarify Bush or Hobby.

This explains a lot.

Like why the last flight I was boarding in ATL displayed/played the automated SKY boarding announcement while the inbound was still being cleaned and door was shut (leading to confused PREM pax and a compression of the PREM/SKY boarding blob), and how the same flight remained on SKY boarding throughout the entire boarding process.

I guess the GA remembered at the very end and clicked through Zones 1/2/3/Final all at once, because they all played in a row and 7 or 8 people suddenly jumped up from their seats to board. At least a couple Zone 1 folks seemed perturbed that they were having to gate check their bags.

WHOLLY agree w/ CestMoi. What a great idea I hope (with little expectation) that someone from DL reads this. It would alleviate alot and then we can ask DL GA's to ask the gate lice to clear away from the boarding area and stop lining up until the boarding process begins, not BEFOREHAND!

I was trained last year that Siri shouldn't be used anymore unless necessary because Delta gets overwhelming complaints that customers prefer to hear announcements from a "warm body." the only problem is that announcements are not consistent even though gate agents have been told to stick to the script for 15 months now.

I would also add a trapdoor if the manual override is not hit in time. Failing that confetti and a DYKWIA banner that would automatically unfurl letting everyone know how important the individual is that they can't wait their turn.

Public shaming is the only thing that will save us!

Some people have no shame. Ejecting the offender out of the queue and making them go to the back of the line would be effective.

But what about when my GM companion is traveling with me??

Everyone can bring up to 8 other people to board in their higher zone. In theory, the whole flight can board with Premium