Dec 22, 2018, 7:15 pm
New Delta Boarding Process Jan 2019
Dec 22, 2018, 3:32 pm
#301
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
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I've had them before not even announce the later zones at all. People just spontaneously get up and start boarding.
No fancy new boarding procedure is going to be an improvement until they instill consistency and professionalism in the execution by gate agents. This is probably the company's weakest service area.
Dec 22, 2018, 5:33 pm
#302
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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Yeah, I'm starting to get that impression.
I've had them before not even announce the later zones at all. People just spontaneously get up and start boarding.
No fancy new boarding procedure is going to be an improvement until they instill consistency and professionalism in the execution by gate agents. This is probably the company's weakest service area.
I've had them before not even announce the later zones at all. People just spontaneously get up and start boarding.
No fancy new boarding procedure is going to be an improvement until they instill consistency and professionalism in the execution by gate agents. This is probably the company's weakest service area.
Dec 22, 2018, 5:43 pm
#303
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
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I'd rather see them put in self-scan gates, like at a subway station. That way if your zone isn't ready it rejects you outright. It would need a clear message so that people don't try 30 times thinking it's a scan error, but that is easily doable. Heck, anyone using a phone is already self-scanning in the presence of the gate agent anyway.
While for passengers, it's not zero sum, for DL, the order in which passengers get on planes is zero-sum and it's why GAs probably don't spend much time enforcing boarding zones.
Dec 22, 2018, 5:45 pm
#304
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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While FTers would like this, there are practical issues that would prevent it from being realistic. Just starting with pre-boarders, this would become an issue unless the GA manually handles all those. Military boarding is another. Also, generally passengers on separate tickets will board together and board with the first zone eligible. And TBH as any such system would likely still have a GA override ability, most GAs are just going to use that for those boarding out of order and allow them to pass because it's quicker and less painful overall to do that than to have them continue to hold up the line.
Dec 22, 2018, 7:21 pm
#305
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Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
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I'd rather see them put in self-scan gates, like at a subway station. That way if your zone isn't ready it rejects you outright. It would need a clear message so that people don't try 30 times thinking it's a scan error, but that is easily doable. Heck, anyone using a phone is already self-scanning in the presence of the gate agent anyway.
But, when people try to board out of order and keep fussing with the gate - it holds everything up.
And as mentioned, those in a group trying to board together.
Dealing with the public is always a challenger.
Dec 23, 2018, 1:21 pm
#306
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
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Posts: 2,358
I'd rather see them put in self-scan gates, like at a subway station. That way if your zone isn't ready it rejects you outright. It would need a clear message so that people don't try 30 times thinking it's a scan error, but that is easily doable. Heck, anyone using a phone is already self-scanning in the presence of the gate agent anyway.
Dec 23, 2018, 2:40 pm
#307
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Dec 23, 2018, 4:54 pm
#308
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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Posts: 4,422
Dec 24, 2018, 7:11 am
#309
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriott Platinum, Former Amtrak Select, Former Hilton Gold
Posts: 422
I'd rather see them put in self-scan gates, like at a subway station. That way if your zone isn't ready it rejects you outright. It would need a clear message so that people don't try 30 times thinking it's a scan error, but that is easily doable. Heck, anyone using a phone is already self-scanning in the presence of the gate agent anyway.
Dec 24, 2018, 7:21 am
#310
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: SkyMiles, HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 129
I would think in my imagined situation there would be a gate agent managing the exception cases. And the 'quicker and less painful' comment of yours goes to the root of the problem now because that's why, if they're looking at all, they are letting it slide. Sort of like on Southwest when preboarders are allowed one fellow passenger, and I watched a family of three board (mom had a Cxx boarding group, too).
Dec 24, 2018, 10:58 am
#311
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
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Posts: 964
The only way to eliminate gate lice would be some sort of guarantee that your rollerboard is not going to be gate checked. Make that an added fee or a perk of having status etc and then I will gladly board last and remain seated. But this will never happen therefore I’ll be crowding and fighting all the other lice to guarantee my overhead bin space.
Dec 24, 2018, 12:40 pm
#312
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,241
Once at an outstation I was boarding Zone 1 but saw the person in front of me with a Zone 3 BP. I didn't say anything and when the person got to the front of the line and said a few words to the GA I overheard and realized that the GA had offered Zone 1 boarding for those (in zones 2/3/4) who gate checked their bags ahead of time. (I wasn't at the gate when that announcement was made).
Which is all to say thay sometimes there are legitimate exceptions (which might be made more difficult with automated boarding)
Which is all to say thay sometimes there are legitimate exceptions (which might be made more difficult with automated boarding)
Dec 25, 2018, 7:54 pm
#313
Join Date: May 2015
Location: NYC/Paris
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 111
I think I saw this sort of setup on one of my overseas trips last year - I think it might have been ATH or possibly CDG. I can't recall. Anyway, it was subway-like gates and the passengers were split into assorted boarding groups. Someone was directing people into the proper lanes upon showing their BPs. For those who fit into the "pre-board" category, there was a side lane where they'd bypass the auto gates and a GA would take care of them manually before opening up the automated gates.
Dec 27, 2018, 3:55 pm
#314
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,440
Can anyone find the original announcement on DL.com anymore? I *think* the original December 11, 2018 press release has been deleted, which if confirmed might be an interesting development in the evolution of this particular concept.
Dec 27, 2018, 4:46 pm
#315
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