WRONG! The couple who had to move were apparently entitled to priority boarding, so they weren't trying to get ahead of anyone. Plus, both lines were empty, so what difference did it make if they approached the GA via the regular line or the Breezeway line? I have never considered the word "Breezeway" on my BP to mean that I was REQUIRED to take advantage of the Breezeway priority boarding, just that I could if I wanted to. There is still a zone number on the BP.

But you are aware that if you are Zone 1 and try to board during Zone 9, they might make you go back to Zone 1 to board?

Since Delta has not introduced Time Travel yet (go back in time to Zone 1 boarding when Zone 9 is being), they are smart enough to call

Zone 1
Zone 1-2
Zone 1-3
Zone 1-4
Zone 1-5 and so on.

So I see no reason for the GA to send them to Breezeway. The GA was probably new who was taught that "breezeway is for elites" but they forgot to tell the GA that "elites can board in the other line as well".

Maybe it is cost cutting resulting in reduced training time so you only learn half!

I've been called out a few times in ATL for being in the general line instead of the "Breezeway", so rather than risk the rants of the GA I politely ask (before boarding) which line should I be in, i.e. seat 1C, etc. and generally its the general boarding line with no problems.

well now you know that "Breezeway" means use the correct line.

it's amazing when I stereotype the people who cause the problems...I'm usually right.

I recently was told that they were not calling my row number to go to the back of the line. I will not go into the long boring problem.

Here is the response that I got about the problem I had with breezeway.

Thank you for your e-mail. We appreciate your comments.

Our Medallion members, First Class, Business Class, Business Elite,
SkyTeam Elite, and Sky Team Elite Plus customers flying Delta Air Lines
within the United States have a dedicated lane called the Breezeway at
each airport gate allowing them priority boarding anytime during the
process ? not just when their zone is called. If our customer missed
the opportunity to board during our designated zones of 1, 2, or 3
because they were grabbing a bite to eat, shopping for a last minute
gift, or simply spending a few extra minutes at the Crown Room Club,
they can now bypass the general boarding line and take advantage of the
Breezeway lane for immediate access to the loading bridge. They just
simply present their boarding pass to the gate agent, who will stop
general boarding to scan it, and then they can proceed immediately to
the loading bridge to board the aircraft.

Again, thank you for writing, xxxxx, and for your selection of Delta.
We will always welcome the opportunity to be of service.

Sincerely,

Woodie Stapler
Manager
Customer Care

I then sent back and inquired about international, since that is what I do the most of and got this response:

Thank you for the additional inquiry. Actually, the Breezeway boarding
applies as well when a passenger is traveling from the United States to
an international destination.

I spoke with a colleague who works at the Atlanta airport today.
Apparently there has been a change to the Breezeway procedure. Zone 1
is maintained now as first class, BusinessElite boarding only, and the
Breezeway boarding begins after Zone 1. This procedure change was
implemented to prevent a backlog of boarding during Zone 1. I hope this
is helpful.

Again, thank you for writing. We appreciate your selection of Delta and
will always welcome the opportunity to be of service.

Sincerely,

Woodie Stapler
Manager
Customer Care

Sorry to go OT, but this is another example of a really great made-up CC Rep name!

As a PM and a frequent FC flyer, I would laugh at them if they told me to go board in either line. I figure, I will board when I want after they call out the initial boarding call. Whether it is Zone 1 or 9, it should not matter to Elite flyers when they board or which line they are in.

I always board in the normal line, I hardly ever use the breezeway, and never have been told to go to the breezeway line.

Just my two cents.

Im not a overhead bin maniac.

Yes indeed. I flew ATL LHR last week and when boarding started, the Breezeway was filled with optimistic Zone 2+'ers who were told brusquely to step aside for the BE's, while the regular boarding lane was empty apart from a some Zone 7'ers who didn't understand the system at all.

How can Continental make it work so well for the past (couple of?) years and Delta manage to completely screw it up?

On May 10th, my wife and I were flying our of Atlanta to St Lucia anticipating a 4 and 1/2 hour flight and were running late. Since I am PM and she does not have status I told her to board when Zone 2 was called and I would grab some food for the flight and then board.

Zone 4 was boarding when I walked through the Breezeway and was told by the agent " I am not doing Breezeway, you need to get at the back of the line". I smiled and said " You may not be doing Breezeway, but Delta is" and stood there smiling until he reached over and took my boarding pass.

That's so wrong on the part of the GA.

That was such a great comeback, elegant in its simplicity!

I am going to remember it. I hope the situation does not arise for me to use it, but if it does, I definitely will!

So you're saying that instead of the old way where pax with priority boarding status had to work their way though a mob in a single boarding line...the "enhanced" method now has those same priority pax facing mobs in two boarding lines...

.

I think I heard this whole deal should be renamed Berzerkway.

Cheers