New Delta Boarding Process Jan 2019
#62
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,221
I’ve complained ad nauseam about DL’s stupid boarding process. Now it appears they’ve managed to make it worse by adding more confusion amongst non FFs.
Just use freaking Zones already! Main cabin 1? ...?!
Main cabin 1 pax: “Guess I need to bunch up front because there’s only a few FC seats and premiers...” in reality land many flights are half full by the time MC1 gets called. Stop calling zone 5 “zone 1” or “main cabin 1”. Just call it zone 5.
I wonder how much money they wasted with consultants to get this new pile of dung boarding system.
Just use freaking Zones already! Main cabin 1? ...?!
Main cabin 1 pax: “Guess I need to bunch up front because there’s only a few FC seats and premiers...” in reality land many flights are half full by the time MC1 gets called. Stop calling zone 5 “zone 1” or “main cabin 1”. Just call it zone 5.
I wonder how much money they wasted with consultants to get this new pile of dung boarding system.
#63
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
#66
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
Programs: Global Mercenary
Posts: 193
I'm not a frequent flyer, but had premier access on United through the club credit card. It was wonderful with free bags, priority boarding etc. i boarded at the front of the line every time. Platinum medallion on Delta is extremely tough to reach by comparison requiring serious flying and $. You can't reasonably cheat your way to Plat with credit cards either. I would be extremely disappointed if I were a loyal Delta Platinum and had to standat the back of the line.
My point is, I would see these changes as a significant disincentive to chasing status on DL.
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,356
#68
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
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#69
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
Splitting the Group2 into C+ and then PM/GM boarding is, in reality, not going to make a difference. Majority of the time, C+ upgrades will be available for PM/GMs, and I think Delta knows this. Even if I somehow don't get the C+ upgrade, I doubt GAs are even going to enforce this. It's simply not worth their time to deny a PM from boarding as they can go start filling the seats further back in the plane. It's all about perceived benefit for actual paying flyers for C+ about feeling that they have high boarding priority.
#71
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 502
Not sure why so many complaints. These are good changes.
For those chiming in about which way is the fastest....speed is not the only consideration in the process. Protecting the product is also important and if somebody is in C+ and expects overhead space....they are HIGHLY annoyed when a bunch of SkyPriority people sitting in row 35 get on board first and throw their crap into the C+ bin.
It's also annoying when SkyPriority people imagine they are the first boarding group. SP is quite a bloated segment these days with uninformed travelers who overestimate the value of their Delta credit card. These changes make it (even) clear(er) that SP is not first. I like that.
TBH, this C+ before the rest of SkyPriority is really the ONLY tangible change. The colors and branding are cosmetic without real impact / the same as what happens now. And the other change - PS boards after D1 - is an edge case and barely matters.
For those chiming in about which way is the fastest....speed is not the only consideration in the process. Protecting the product is also important and if somebody is in C+ and expects overhead space....they are HIGHLY annoyed when a bunch of SkyPriority people sitting in row 35 get on board first and throw their crap into the C+ bin.
It's also annoying when SkyPriority people imagine they are the first boarding group. SP is quite a bloated segment these days with uninformed travelers who overestimate the value of their Delta credit card. These changes make it (even) clear(er) that SP is not first. I like that.
TBH, this C+ before the rest of SkyPriority is really the ONLY tangible change. The colors and branding are cosmetic without real impact / the same as what happens now. And the other change - PS boards after D1 - is an edge case and barely matters.
#72
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 1
Won't make any difference!
Until the gate agents start enforcing and following a policy (any policy), boarding will always be a free for all. Never seen any boarding agents turn away passengers when boarding on the wrong group. This won't change anything.
#73
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,881
I am not really sure why everyone is so riled up about this. When you stop and think about it, the only change was splitting C+ and SKY, which will not make a material if any difference for the passengers in the previous SKY grouping, except those PAX that would be grumpy anyway. The real test will be on Jan 23, when they call C+, and all of the PM/GM who were not aware of the change line up assuming the GA meant SKY. Will the GA let it go or cause a scene and a lot of unhappiness amongst the loyal customers? I can foresee a lot of unhappy GM/PM that will become purposefully ignorant about the change.
#74
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 24
Most people can’t pay attention to when they are supposed to board according to their boarding pass so adding in another two layers is supposed to help this?
Also, for first class, boarding LAST would actually be better. If I’m not carrying on then I wait as long as possible. If I have a carry on it’s another story to make sure I get the overhead space.
Also, for first class, boarding LAST would actually be better. If I’m not carrying on then I wait as long as possible. If I have a carry on it’s another story to make sure I get the overhead space.
#75
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I am not really sure why everyone is so riled up about this. When you stop and think about it, the only change was splitting C+ and SKY, which will not make a material if any difference for the passengers in the previous SKY grouping, except those PAX that would be grumpy anyway. The real test will be on Jan 23, when they call C+, and all of the PM/GM who were not aware of the change line up assuming the GA meant SKY. Will the GA let it go or cause a scene and a lot of unhappiness amongst the loyal customers? I can foresee a lot of unhappy GM/PM that will become purposefully ignorant about the change.