Delta simply does not know how to police their boarding!
#211
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,495
Standard practice on prettymuch every DL flight I've ever taken. They call-out the zones, but it's generally a free-for-all. It's routine to see gate lice board when PREM is called. I rarely see anyone rejected by a G/A, and half the time they don't even look at the BP they're scanning. I'm sure it's awkward for a GA to send a person on the Walk of Shame, so most don't bother.
#213
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 7
Flying from LGA-YUL the other day. The gate agent told a family with kids/stroller who were lining up to preboard that family boarding would be called after SKY and sent them away. Red coat was at the desk too so presumably wasnt a rogue GA. Not sure why they changed from the norm here.
#214
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 4
Boarding process
Delta needs to rethink and reconfigure their boarding process. Way too many pre-boarders and half the plane standing by the access lanes completely blocking it. I have to fight my way through the crowd just to board. Ridiculous and makes the flying process more of a hassle than it already is. Come on Delta, do something.
#216
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 624
Because of regulatory rules, there isnt much they can do about the extent of preboarding (which I agree is sometimes outrageous). The rule is that the airline has to offer a preboarding opportunity, and they are not allowed to inquire as to the basis for the preboard. I once saw an entire group of about two dozen or so able-bodied police officers on the way to a union conference preboard as a group - that was a substantial percentage of the capacity of the CRJ we were on.
#217
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
#219
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO/TPA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 199
I hope this experience yesterday isn't a taste of things to come. T2 at ATL yesterday, boarding is slightly delayed. This gate is 100% e-gate so no one single boarding lane. Rather there are several routes to the jetway. Also this gate employs the pillars.
Some folks are patiently lining up behind Sky/Zone1/2 pillars. The Prem pillar is marooned by itself in the square-ish open area in front of the e-gates where people who want to speak with a GA need to pass, and where people in wheelchairs, families with strollers, confused people, people who want to stretch their legs, and, presumably, some Prem passengers are milling around.
There is no discernible line for Prem. I have a Prem ticket but I have no idea where to park myself. A loose aggregate is spilling into and beginning to block the concourse and I don't want to add to that congestion. I spot an empty seat buried behind the forming crowd and "excuse me, pardon me, excuse me" my way to it and sit.
No Prem line ever materializes because, I think, there just does not seem to be an obvious place to form one. It's in a spot where you'd put a sign reading, "Wait here if you just want to be in everyone's way."
As the pre-boarders make their way into the jetway, the amorphous group presses forward and when Prem is called our blob pushes toward the e-gates, each of us jockeying to position ourselves in front of one or another e-gate. It's like a toll plaza that doesn't have distinct bright lines on the ground telling you early on what lane you are in and to stay there, so cars don't just dart out wherever and whenever to jump into a different lane. And the e-gates do back up because either they are finicky or people don't know how to use them yet or something, idk. So people get impatient with the holdup and switch to another "lane".
It was unorganized and unpleasant and honestly, things looked a lot better over in the Sky/Zone1/2 area where at least actual lines had formed.
I'm not usually one to get my feathers rumpled about a messy boarding process, but this really was quite a mess, at least as far as the Prem "lane" went. Not the end of the world but not a "premium" experience either. IOW, for all the fancy e-gate equipment and the pillars, this was actually a worse experience than usual.
Some folks are patiently lining up behind Sky/Zone1/2 pillars. The Prem pillar is marooned by itself in the square-ish open area in front of the e-gates where people who want to speak with a GA need to pass, and where people in wheelchairs, families with strollers, confused people, people who want to stretch their legs, and, presumably, some Prem passengers are milling around.
There is no discernible line for Prem. I have a Prem ticket but I have no idea where to park myself. A loose aggregate is spilling into and beginning to block the concourse and I don't want to add to that congestion. I spot an empty seat buried behind the forming crowd and "excuse me, pardon me, excuse me" my way to it and sit.
No Prem line ever materializes because, I think, there just does not seem to be an obvious place to form one. It's in a spot where you'd put a sign reading, "Wait here if you just want to be in everyone's way."
As the pre-boarders make their way into the jetway, the amorphous group presses forward and when Prem is called our blob pushes toward the e-gates, each of us jockeying to position ourselves in front of one or another e-gate. It's like a toll plaza that doesn't have distinct bright lines on the ground telling you early on what lane you are in and to stay there, so cars don't just dart out wherever and whenever to jump into a different lane. And the e-gates do back up because either they are finicky or people don't know how to use them yet or something, idk. So people get impatient with the holdup and switch to another "lane".
It was unorganized and unpleasant and honestly, things looked a lot better over in the Sky/Zone1/2 area where at least actual lines had formed.
I'm not usually one to get my feathers rumpled about a messy boarding process, but this really was quite a mess, at least as far as the Prem "lane" went. Not the end of the world but not a "premium" experience either. IOW, for all the fancy e-gate equipment and the pillars, this was actually a worse experience than usual.
#220
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,991
I'm not usually one to get my feathers rumpled about a messy boarding process, but this really was quite a mess, at least as far as the Prem "lane" went. Not the end of the world but not a "premium" experience either. IOW, for all the fancy e-gate equipment and the pillars, this was actually a worse experience than usual.
#221
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 4
I hope this experience yesterday isn't a taste of things to come. T2 at ATL yesterday, boarding is slightly delayed. This gate is 100% e-gate so no one single boarding lane. Rather there are several routes to the jetway. Also this gate employs the pillars.
Some folks are patiently lining up behind Sky/Zone1/2 pillars. The Prem pillar is marooned by itself in the square-ish open area in front of the e-gates where people who want to speak with a GA need to pass, and where people in wheelchairs, families with strollers, confused people, people who want to stretch their legs, and, presumably, some Prem passengers are milling around.
There is no discernible line for Prem. I have a Prem ticket but I have no idea where to park myself. A loose aggregate is spilling into and beginning to block the concourse and I don't want to add to that congestion. I spot an empty seat buried behind the forming crowd and "excuse me, pardon me, excuse me" my way to it and sit.
No Prem line ever materializes because, I think, there just does not seem to be an obvious place to form one. It's in a spot where you'd put a sign reading, "Wait here if you just want to be in everyone's way."
As the pre-boarders make their way into the jetway, the amorphous group presses forward and when Prem is called our blob pushes toward the e-gates, each of us jockeying to position ourselves in front of one or another e-gate. It's like a toll plaza that doesn't have distinct bright lines on the ground telling you early on what lane you are in and to stay there, so cars don't just dart out wherever and whenever to jump into a different lane. And the e-gates do back up because either they are finicky or people don't know how to use them yet or something, idk. So people get impatient with the holdup and switch to another "lane".
It was unorganized and unpleasant and honestly, things looked a lot better over in the Sky/Zone1/2 area where at least actual lines had formed.
I'm not usually one to get my feathers rumpled about a messy boarding process, but this really was quite a mess, at least as far as the Prem "lane" went. Not the end of the world but not a "premium" experience either. IOW, for all the fancy e-gate equipment and the pillars, this was actually a worse experience than usual.
Some folks are patiently lining up behind Sky/Zone1/2 pillars. The Prem pillar is marooned by itself in the square-ish open area in front of the e-gates where people who want to speak with a GA need to pass, and where people in wheelchairs, families with strollers, confused people, people who want to stretch their legs, and, presumably, some Prem passengers are milling around.
There is no discernible line for Prem. I have a Prem ticket but I have no idea where to park myself. A loose aggregate is spilling into and beginning to block the concourse and I don't want to add to that congestion. I spot an empty seat buried behind the forming crowd and "excuse me, pardon me, excuse me" my way to it and sit.
No Prem line ever materializes because, I think, there just does not seem to be an obvious place to form one. It's in a spot where you'd put a sign reading, "Wait here if you just want to be in everyone's way."
As the pre-boarders make their way into the jetway, the amorphous group presses forward and when Prem is called our blob pushes toward the e-gates, each of us jockeying to position ourselves in front of one or another e-gate. It's like a toll plaza that doesn't have distinct bright lines on the ground telling you early on what lane you are in and to stay there, so cars don't just dart out wherever and whenever to jump into a different lane. And the e-gates do back up because either they are finicky or people don't know how to use them yet or something, idk. So people get impatient with the holdup and switch to another "lane".
It was unorganized and unpleasant and honestly, things looked a lot better over in the Sky/Zone1/2 area where at least actual lines had formed.
I'm not usually one to get my feathers rumpled about a messy boarding process, but this really was quite a mess, at least as far as the Prem "lane" went. Not the end of the world but not a "premium" experience either. IOW, for all the fancy e-gate equipment and the pillars, this was actually a worse experience than usual.
#222
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: Marriott, IHG, Delta, United
Posts: 570
Having been on some flights of other international airlines that didnt offer pre-boarding.... it was actually much worse if you can believe it.
They boarded their elites and priority boards first, and then some of the pax with needs (who would qualify for preboarding in DL) started to board. You had elderly people in wheel chairs, parents with car seats for infants/toddlers, etc. all trying to get in with the rest of the other pax. It was a mess.
Watching the elderly with mobility issues trying to get around other pax who were already seated, it just made everything grind to a halt. Then you had the parent trying to figure out how to assemble their car seat in a row with another passenger in the aisle seat, who had to get up from their aisle seat and stand in (and block) the aisle while the parent took a few minutes putting it together.
Long story short, it was bad all around. And it gave me a new appreciation for preboarding. Even if I am flying F, I want the wheelchair people and infants to get on first while the plane is empty. After observing that, it was obvious that preboarding is better for everyone.
They boarded their elites and priority boards first, and then some of the pax with needs (who would qualify for preboarding in DL) started to board. You had elderly people in wheel chairs, parents with car seats for infants/toddlers, etc. all trying to get in with the rest of the other pax. It was a mess.
Watching the elderly with mobility issues trying to get around other pax who were already seated, it just made everything grind to a halt. Then you had the parent trying to figure out how to assemble their car seat in a row with another passenger in the aisle seat, who had to get up from their aisle seat and stand in (and block) the aisle while the parent took a few minutes putting it together.
Long story short, it was bad all around. And it gave me a new appreciation for preboarding. Even if I am flying F, I want the wheelchair people and infants to get on first while the plane is empty. After observing that, it was obvious that preboarding is better for everyone.
#223
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,417
Having been on some flights of other international airlines that didn’t offer pre-boarding.... it was actually much worse if you can believe it.
They boarded their elites and priority boards first, and then some of the pax with needs (who would qualify for preboarding in DL) started to board. You had elderly people in wheel chairs, parents with car seats for infants/toddlers, etc. all trying to get in with the rest of the other pax. It was a mess.
Watching the elderly with mobility issues trying to get around other pax who were already seated, it just made everything grind to a halt. Then you had the parent trying to figure out how to assemble their car seat in a row with another passenger in the aisle seat, who had to get up from their aisle seat and stand in (and block) the aisle while the parent took a few minutes putting it together.
Long story short, it was bad all around. And it gave me a new appreciation for preboarding. Even if I am flying F, I want the wheelchair people and infants to get on first while the plane is empty. After observing that, it was obvious that preboarding is better for everyone.
They boarded their elites and priority boards first, and then some of the pax with needs (who would qualify for preboarding in DL) started to board. You had elderly people in wheel chairs, parents with car seats for infants/toddlers, etc. all trying to get in with the rest of the other pax. It was a mess.
Watching the elderly with mobility issues trying to get around other pax who were already seated, it just made everything grind to a halt. Then you had the parent trying to figure out how to assemble their car seat in a row with another passenger in the aisle seat, who had to get up from their aisle seat and stand in (and block) the aisle while the parent took a few minutes putting it together.
Long story short, it was bad all around. And it gave me a new appreciation for preboarding. Even if I am flying F, I want the wheelchair people and infants to get on first while the plane is empty. After observing that, it was obvious that preboarding is better for everyone.
Last edited by Gig103; Oct 16, 2018 at 3:12 pm
#224
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
Boarding right now is even worse than normal at the end of the concourses at ATL under construction. I forgot what gate I was at a couple of months ago (end of the A Concourse) the pillars were useless as two of them were up against the wall and impossible to line up around, that and all the wheelchairs parked against the wall as well.
#225
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: Marriott, IHG, Delta, United
Posts: 570
Re: ineffective preboarding, on a DTW-CDG Air France flight, the GA called preboarding and then immediately Prem/Sky (I can't remember if AF has only the latter). We all shuffled in and found a logjam on the jetway, because the FA was smart enough to block until the wheelchair assistance had been completed (including getting the wheelchairs off the plane). It would have been better to call preboarding, and then wait until it was done. Also, on topic of gate lice, there were all these people standing around the Sky area and were just blocking the way. One passenger was standing right at the entrance to Sky and was checking everyone's boarding pass presumably so he could jump in as soon as they deemed fit.
And as soon as the preboarding was announced the families started gathering their belongings and kids, so it wasnt as if they werent trying. Just traveling
families need a bit more time to even get from the seats to the gate. So if the GA had waitied til the wheelchairs got off, there would have been no issue. But that didnt happen.
Instead the onslaught of premiums resulted in families trapped behind us in the premium group, and of course that slowed the process of car seat assembly once on the plane.
Another long anecdote, but I concur. Get the wheelchairs off before boarding premiums, and things run better for everyone.