I've never seen the Breezeway back ups and horror stories everyone else comments on. I usually show up at the gate around zone 3 being called and every time I have been able to walk to the front of the Breezeway side, have boarding stopped, have my BP scanned, then be on my way up the jetway. I see the potential for mis-execution, but I've always seen it managed well.

The problem is the Zone 1, 2, 3 combined initial boarding. That leads to a cattle call and a huge group of F, Medallions, SkyTeam, Exit, and Bulkhead passengers boarding at the same time. When you show up, all of that is pretty much gone.

I've been flying for 20+ years, and the last 10 very steadily. About a year ago, I was on two trips (about a month a part) and BOTH got hit by lightening. One was a CRJ, and I swear, the pax freaked out. Some screams were heard and everyone was very anxious. Only several minutes later did the pilot come on and say there was a "discharge" and that it was normal.

The next flight was a MD-88, and another loud boom, flash of light, and the plane shook. Having just had the same experience on the CRJ a few weeks earlier, I was 100% unphased. My seatmate was quite anxious and was wondering why I was unphased.

Hasn't happened since.

Suggestions to Fix Breezeway
 

Delta,

Come on. The Breezeway process needs to be fixed.

1. Make the breezeway line the line closest to the scanner, not farther away. Don't make medallions/first class passengers step in front of everyone else.

2. Make breezeway boarding start AFTER the first class (zone 1) and medallion (zones 2/3) zones board. Making it start at the beginning is anti your best customers (those that buy first class tickets--not upgrades). Instead of being able to go in a small zone, we are trampled by up to 2/3rds of the plane in zone 1.

3. Continue to teach the GAs how to do it. They are getting better, but sometimes do not act intelligently. Today, I went to board and was first to the gate in the "normal" boarding line. The breezeway line was empty. The GA stopped me to ask what zone I was in and when she heard I was first class she wanted me to go back out around the ropes and get into the Breezeway line. I refused. After this 20 second confrontation (by which time I could have been seated on the plane), the breezeway line was packed and she just started to ignore me. I finally just stood in front of both lines until she let me board. Way to treat those who pay first class when you are already giving so little. Note that this was in ATL, so a Delta employee. (Now, I know by how this is written, there are going to be skeptics and those that think I was acting inappropriately/selfish/whatever...so let me note that I wasn't.)

If others here have additional suggestions, please put them forth!

Crazygrow, thanks for starting this one.

If its gonna really work, we need to get those using the breezeway past (somehow) those waiting in line on the JetWay.

Crazygrow,

Like your suggestions, especially #2. Did you write DL customer service through delta.com also? It will likely take a bunch of us doing just that.

It's that sense of entitlement ;)

I like how UA does it with the red carpet (or at least, I like the appearance that it works). All of the 1k/UGS/1st class pax line up on the red carpet, and then the GA drops the tape/rope and they board. Then the GA proceeds to start boarding the other elites through the normal line.

I definitely agree with the fact that the scanner needs to be closest to the Breezeway. I felt that if I went through it, the agent would have to stop, walk around the scanner to the other side, and then proceed to scan my ticket. Not efficient at all.

I think they should 1.) Move the agent closer to the Breezeway. 2.) Rope off the general boarding line, and allow 1st class first, and THEN zone 2/3 medallions through the breezeway, keep the breezeway open, and then unrope the general line and proceed with the next zone.

According to Delta the answer would be "Yes".

They apparently want to treat their best customers well but the implementation has some "design issues" (aka "totally screwed" ;) ).

I have the perfect answer....get rid of Breezeway. If you dilly-dally when boarding....so be it. Breezeway, in my opinion, is a bad idea....get rid of it.

I agree...
 

...agreed.

The last time I used Breezeway was when I was in First Class. We all lined up in Breezeway and then the GA waved her hand for us all to come over to the reg boarding line.

Sure we boarded first, but then again, we would have boarded with Zone 1 anyway. IMHO, it doesn't work it's stupd and if there's only 1 GA doing the boarding it's much more difficult for them and for us to use.

Instead of focusing on Breezeway, maybe DL could address some of the other frustrations that are voiced by their most loyal customers on this board.

Where Delta (and every airline ever and really every business ever) is screwed is that people came here and complained about no Breezway when it didn't exist and now they complain when it does. You know, it has stopped the Medallion that is late for boarding and pushing his way through the line pissing every one off on the way. Now, it only pisses off a fewer number of people because they can at least see the line.

I say keep Breezeway but implement the OP's point #2. It makes no sense to have Medallions use Breezeway to cut in front of Zone 1 pax queued up properly.

Breezeway continues to be handled inconsistently, depending on the whims of the GAs. Two weeks ago on an ATL-SMF flight, the GA announced Zone 1 boarding and also said something about Breezeway for Medallions. All the Zone 1 people began boarding from the regular line. I was also Zone 1 and joined the group. At this point no one was in the Breezeway line. Just about the moment I reached the scanner, the Breezeway line suddenly filled up. The GA turned her back on me and began to take people in the Breezeway Line. After about five BW pax had passed, I was getting steamed (I had already put up with an 8 hour MX delay, and I was not in the mood to be further inconvenienced). I said to the GA "I'm in Zone 1, and I'm also a Breezeway Passenger, " and then I sidestepped one step into the Breezeway line). She did not take kindly to this maneurver and made a snide comment. At that point I made a heroic effort to keep my cool, and headed down the jetway.

Yes. Breezeway is broken and needs to be fixed. Maybe DL can follow the example of Starbucks and shut down all ops for three hours to train their GAs how to run the Breezeway operation.

Unless DL adopts the OP's suggestion #2, it sounds to me like if you are in Zone 1, just get in the Breezeway line. You will either be waived over to the regular line or be checked in from there.