Stop the Sky Priority Boarding Cattle Call!
Nov 13, 2018, 6:50 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Fair--but people without SKY status should not board there (but I know they sometimes do). Being on the upgrade list does not entitle anyone to any perk, it's just being on a list. Between FO's, ST elite and corporate contracts that add pax to the upgrade list, I would think there are plenty of flights with lots of people who are on the UG list who are not SKY. In this case, this is an enforcement issue.
I'm not talking about boarding order here, I'm talking about general gate crowding.
Nov 13, 2018, 9:21 am
#32
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: IHG Spire
Posts: 163
I'm not seeing that lately. 10/30 (a Tuesday!?) I couldn't catch a non-middle upgrade to C+ on any segment. Seatmates in the exit rows were GMs and Plats. C+ was mostly families w/kids flying on what I would think was a school day.
Nov 13, 2018, 9:30 am
#33
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I just wish there was more airplane mixing so that they could board the darn plane quicker - e.g., board some random people in the middle and back of the plane while PREM and SKY is underway. Would shave at least 5-7 minutes off of boarding if they did that.
Nov 13, 2018, 11:32 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Delta 1MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 166
Until Delta actually enforces the rules, this is all moot anyway. It would be much easier if the system simply refuses boarding passes when passengers try to board out of turn. It would eliminate the awkwardness the agent must feel asking people to step aside to wait for the proper zone. And once that is obvious, people will self regulate for fear of certain embarrassment- since the machine won't look the other way.
Nov 13, 2018, 11:36 am
#35
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM. 1MM
Posts: 2,045
Another all too common issue is GA's not opening the Sky Priority Lane while boarding a flight. Often I see GA's who will board PREM/SKY through general boarding line and then follow with Zone 1,2.. through the same line.
That is fine for those PREM/SKY pax at the gate when boarding first starts. But usually I prefer to hang in the club until about T-20 or so. I though that benefit was a guaranteed feature of being SKY. The ability to show up later during boarding and be able to skip past the scanner line is important to me.
That is fine for those PREM/SKY pax at the gate when boarding first starts. But usually I prefer to hang in the club until about T-20 or so. I though that benefit was a guaranteed feature of being SKY. The ability to show up later during boarding and be able to skip past the scanner line is important to me.
Nov 13, 2018, 11:42 am
#36
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Bonvoy LTTitanium, BAEC Silver
Posts: 591
Another all too common issue is GA's not opening the Sky Priority Lane while boarding a flight. Often I see GA's who will board PREM/SKY through general boarding line and then follow with Zone 1,2.. through the same line.
That is fine for those PREM/SKY pax at the gate when boarding first starts. But usually I prefer to hang in the club until about T-20 or so. I though that benefit was a guaranteed feature of being SKY. The ability to show up later during boarding and be able to skip past the scanner line is important to me.
That is fine for those PREM/SKY pax at the gate when boarding first starts. But usually I prefer to hang in the club until about T-20 or so. I though that benefit was a guaranteed feature of being SKY. The ability to show up later during boarding and be able to skip past the scanner line is important to me.
Nov 13, 2018, 11:52 am
#37
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
I don't understand, you guys want to stay in the lounge and not board first, but not board last either? Why not just board last? I would think that in 90% of cases the overhead situation in the area around your seat is going to be the same boarding in the middle as boarding last (everyone in your general area will be boarding before you).
Nov 13, 2018, 11:54 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I don't understand, you guys want to stay in the lounge and not board first, but not board last either? Why not just board last? I would think that in 90% of cases the overhead situation in the area around your seat is going to be the same boarding in the middle as boarding last (everyone in your general area will be boarding before you).
Nov 13, 2018, 12:33 pm
#40
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
Enforcing Boarding Zones
With so many negative posts about the boarding process, I witnessed the opposite yesterday. The GA was ACTIVELY enforcing boarding zones to the point they were asking people to show their phones before scanning, and I watched them kick 2 people out of the line during pre board and people behind me during PREM who were trying to board with SKY.
I was so surprised I didnt get a chance but would have loved to give them a JWD certificate. With lots of negatives on how boarding is handled I thought a positive post would be warranted.
I was so surprised I didnt get a chance but would have loved to give them a JWD certificate. With lots of negatives on how boarding is handled I thought a positive post would be warranted.
Nov 13, 2018, 12:44 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Minnesota, US
Programs: DL Diamond, SPG/MR Plat, Kimpton IC, IHG Spire Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 659
So maybe the answer is another group before Prem: DYKWIA. I wanna be next to that line and listen to all of the DYKWIAing
Nov 13, 2018, 12:46 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Are you saying Zone 1 is not supposed to board through the Priority lane? They are obviously supposed to wait till they are called, but they are asked to use the Priority lane (assuming no pillars). Or at least that used to be the case. Delta still considers Zone 1 to be priority (you will never be Zone 1 if you are in Main Cabin and do not have something else - Silver status, partner status, credit card, etc). As I mentioned in my post, it seems a little silly to call "Zone 1" priority when over half the plane has already boarded before Zone 1 even starts, but that's besides the point.
I'm not talking about boarding order here, I'm talking about general gate crowding.
I'm not talking about boarding order here, I'm talking about general gate crowding.
I was under the impression that Zone 1 was supposed to board through the general lane, and that they are the first to do so. My understanding, and experience, is that the SP lane is supposed to remain open the whole time for SP to use whenever they come to the gate.
Nov 13, 2018, 1:02 pm
#43
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
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With so many negative posts about the boarding process, I witnessed the opposite yesterday. The GA was ACTIVELY enforcing boarding zones to the point they were asking people to show their phones before scanning, and I watched them kick 2 people out of the line during pre board and people behind me during PREM who were trying to board with SKY.
I was so surprised I didnt get a chance but would have loved to give them a JWD certificate. With lots of negatives on how boarding is handled I thought a positive post would be warranted.
I was so surprised I didnt get a chance but would have loved to give them a JWD certificate. With lots of negatives on how boarding is handled I thought a positive post would be warranted.
Nov 13, 2018, 1:03 pm
#44
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Again, it is farcical since a lot of flights mean that 80%+ of the plane (between Delta and partner status, credit cards, and corporate bookings) gets "priority boarding" but it is what it is.
* Delta even sells priority boarding as an Extra for ~$15 and this slots you into Zone 1
Nov 13, 2018, 2:49 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,348
The worst system imho is on UA, where Premier 1K get to pre-board (and that's often quite a few people) and then FC is in the same group as Platinum and Gold. So if you are in FC and aren't at the gate to line up well ahead of time, you're in for a lengthy wait to board (at least given the elite loads on the flights I've taken recently).