Ground Crew Member Scans Boarding Passes at Gate
Jun 7, 2017, 6:08 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
There is an Undercover Boss segment with the CEO of Frontier -- he works with the a cross-trained agent at one of their small stations in a warm climate. One of the issues that came up is appropriate uniform attire when you are working checkin, the gate, and loading bags on a really hot day.
Jun 7, 2017, 6:28 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 609
At the smallest town I've ever lived in, the airport handles 3 or 4 flights per day, all on Horizon Air feeding to SEA. The same person is at the check-in counter, loads bags onto the plane, does the orange flashlight dance to guide the plane onto the taxiway, and probably sweeps the terminal too.
While I lived there, the airport didn't have full ILS capabilities, which made life interesting in the late winter/early spring when fog was common. I spent many wayward hours waiting at SEA, boarding the little Q400, flying over and circling, attempting a couple of landings, and flying back to SEA to wait some more.
While I lived there, the airport didn't have full ILS capabilities, which made life interesting in the late winter/early spring when fog was common. I spent many wayward hours waiting at SEA, boarding the little Q400, flying over and circling, attempting a couple of landings, and flying back to SEA to wait some more.
Jun 7, 2017, 6:49 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 61
Jun 7, 2017, 7:16 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Formerly Box 350, Boston Mass, Oh two one three four. Now near Beverly Hills 90210
Programs: Loyal Order of Water Buffalos
Posts: 3,938
I worked at BOS in the 1980s running a gift shop and was friends with the gate agents for some of the commuter airlines in old Terminal D, and more than once I helped them with boarding passes. No scanning, just checking off names on greenbar, but it was more fun than restocking the magazine racks!
Jun 7, 2017, 7:29 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Big Muddy Mile Marker 332
Programs: Delta-PM, HHonors-Diamond, Hyatt-Explorist, Hertz - Presidents
Posts: 335
At the smallest town I've ever lived in, the airport handles 3 or 4 flights per day, all on Horizon Air feeding to SEA. The same person is at the check-in counter, loads bags onto the plane, does the orange flashlight dance to guide the plane onto the taxiway, and probably sweeps the terminal too.
Jun 7, 2017, 7:32 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NYC/LAX
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 391
I've scanned myself in twice at MIA actually. Only one GA was at the gate and someone asked for help. I was next in line so I just scanned myself. I was the only one to do so because no one boarded for 2 minutes after I did.
Jun 7, 2017, 10:23 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
MANY years ago, our son's first civilian aviation job was with a regional carrier at a small airport. His "primary" job was as an A&P mechanic but he was also trained and expected to work as a GA, baggage handler, general rampie, and even give the safety briefings on some of the smaller aircraft which didn't have FA's.
Early one morning, the scheduled GA had called in sick so he checked everyone in, loaded the baggage and boarded the passengers. The Captain asked him to check something which required that he get into the left seat. He took care of the problem and as he came out of the cockpit one of his regular passengers said to him: "If someone started to close the door, I was getting off the plane!"
Early one morning, the scheduled GA had called in sick so he checked everyone in, loaded the baggage and boarded the passengers. The Captain asked him to check something which required that he get into the left seat. He took care of the problem and as he came out of the cockpit one of his regular passengers said to him: "If someone started to close the door, I was getting off the plane!"
Jun 7, 2017, 11:05 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 647
At first I was going to ask if that was the opposite of infuriated. But then I found this. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=furiated. Who knew?
Jun 7, 2017, 11:11 am
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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At first I was going to ask if that was the opposite of infuriated. But then I found this. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=furiated. Who knew?
Jun 7, 2017, 11:32 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
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I wonder how TJ is doing these days... and if he's still numba one.
(For those who weren't around in 2010, "furiated" originated in this very relevant and comical thread where 15 year old TJ wanted the GA fired because a pilot was scanning BPs: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...rmination.html)
Jun 7, 2017, 1:05 pm
#26
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
And, I assume that you know TJ's new and current screenname, that I believe he initiated since so many people made fun of him. I won't publicize it here. 
From reading his posts here, I believe he works for DL now.
From reading his posts here, I believe he works for DL now.
Jun 7, 2017, 1:29 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
And, up until the end, I was cheating with the PHX based hooker airline. (old habits die hard)
ETA: secretsea18 says hi.
Jun 7, 2017, 2:17 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MKE
Programs: DL 2 MM
Posts: 905
I wasn't the only one either.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:48 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 464
Last time I few out of McAllen TX (MFE) on AA I had the same agent through the entire process. She checked me in and took my bag, then showed up at the gate and scanned all our BPs. Looking out the window I saw her get in the aircraft tug and push us back.
This was a long time ago, though.
This was a long time ago, though.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:54 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
Last time I few out of McAllen TX (MFE) on AA I had the same agent through the entire process. She checked me in and took my bag, then showed up at the gate and scanned all our BPs. Looking out the window I saw her get in the aircraft tug and push us back.
This was a long time ago, though.
This was a long time ago, though.