Breezeway: The Definitive Thread
#526
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: DL - Plat, Marriott - Plat, Hilton - Diamond, SPG- Plat, National- ES
Posts: 1,857
Does anyone else seem to think that the Breezeway boarding isn't working? If you are PM/GM/SM you have "Breezeway" printed on your bp so why do they still call Zone 1 then wait and Zone 2 and so forth. I think how it should work is that the Breezeway is only available after zone 3 has boarded. That way if you are running late due a tight connection you don't have to wait in a boarding line.
And I thought this is what they were going to.
I have had gate agents annouce that and then watched grown men stand at the breezeway and act like thier two year olds in order to "break line" becasue they apparently can't hear??
Breezeway is a joke and needs to go BYE BYE! I am tired of watching folks line up for half an hour to be FIRST in the breezeway. We have descended to the level of SW!
#527




Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
Programs: Former UA 1K, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 5,487
I wish DL could get their act together with Breezeway and other recognition for SkyTeam Elites. CO seems to be able to do this, including entering DL #s when buying tickets, picking preferred seats, and getting "EliteAccess" onto the BP.
On my last three DL trips (1 mainline and 1 Connection segment each, though I was a no-show for one of the three) I saw "Breezeway" printed on one of 6 BPs. I was able to select preferred exit seats on each flight (except on a full flight). On the last flight I had to call India, but the agent got me 26D on the 752 w/o a problem.
I was able to use the Breezeway & board with Zone 2 using Zone 3 & 9 BPs and my CO Elite card on both segments yesterday. Neither time did the GA give me grief. The GA on the first segment turned away someone else with a Zone 3 BP, so the CO Elite card made a difference.
DL employees have been good about making up for their system screwups by being gracious about letting me in with Zone 2, but it shouldn't have to be that way.
During my one trip to South America (EZE) CO actively enforced EliteAccess priority boarding, if not the physical line itself. I witnessed the GA turn someone away and make that person get back in line.
On my last three DL trips (1 mainline and 1 Connection segment each, though I was a no-show for one of the three) I saw "Breezeway" printed on one of 6 BPs. I was able to select preferred exit seats on each flight (except on a full flight). On the last flight I had to call India, but the agent got me 26D on the 752 w/o a problem.
I was able to use the Breezeway & board with Zone 2 using Zone 3 & 9 BPs and my CO Elite card on both segments yesterday. Neither time did the GA give me grief. The GA on the first segment turned away someone else with a Zone 3 BP, so the CO Elite card made a difference.
DL employees have been good about making up for their system screwups by being gracious about letting me in with Zone 2, but it shouldn't have to be that way.
I can tell you in South America, the concept of boarding in an orderly fashion is entirely lost on people, who for some inexplicable reason begin lining up as much as an hour!! before the flight boards. The breezeway is useless based on my recent experiences, so I just boarded at the very beginning, by squeezing through the crowd.
#528
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 65
It's does work most of the time. I think you'll find where things are running late, the GA just wants to get everyone on and doesn't care too much. I've even seen a late ASA flight where the GA said "everybody get on, go go" when the door opened!
#529
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: DL - Plat, Marriott - Plat, Hilton - Diamond, SPG- Plat, National- ES
Posts: 1,857
Plane is delayed. When they finally start boarding the announce "we will not use Breezeway" Men nearly had a fit, literally SCREAMING at the GA. I thought one of them was going to throw his body on the floor and throw a two year old temper tantrum he was actually STOMPING his feet LOL!
And why? It was a TINY plane. No matter WHAT you had it was going to be checked at the door and go under the plane. There was no first class to get you a drink? WHY did these two HAVE to be to be first? Was there a prize I don't know about? (The "biggest waste of time standing in line prize"?)
#531
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS Titanium, Disney AP
Posts: 14,532
Or just make everyone that has Breezeway on their BP board only through the Breezeway line, and if they decide to board in the regular line, they can wait.
Open up Breezeway from the get-go and don't let anyone use the general boarding line until Zone 4. Simple.
Open up Breezeway from the get-go and don't let anyone use the general boarding line until Zone 4. Simple.
#533
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,777
Done Right in Philly!!
Yesterday, Flight 1019, PHL-ATL. Gate Agent makes announcement that "We will be boarding by zone number ... after Zone 3, Breezeway boarding ..." and 40 people go rushing to the line. I just stood back and watched, even though I was in Zone 1 thanks to an unexpected UG with a SDC.
And then a funny thing happened...the GA gave a reminder that it was only Zone 1 that would board first, and that Breezeway boarding would happen after Zone 3, letting any unboarded Medallions avoid waiting in line. About half the people got out of the line. At this point, they started boarding and I got in line.
The four people in front of me were each Zone 2 or 3. Each one tried to board. Each one was reminded only Zone 1 was boarding and asked to step out of line. Each one argued. The GA said to the third guy something along the lines of, "If you want to discuss this, just stand over by the counter. As soon as the plane has boarded, I'll explain it to you."
I felt bad for her. She was handling the Breezeway correctly, but GAs in other cities who have not handled the Breezeway correctly have made it difficult for her.
I don't get it. When I'm in Zone 2, I board with Zone 2. As long as you're in one of the first three zones there's going to be enough overhead space for your luggage. Why people have to try to argue their way on out of order escapes me.
Anyway, just thought I'd share what happens when a GA gets it and tries to use the Breezeway correctly.
And then a funny thing happened...the GA gave a reminder that it was only Zone 1 that would board first, and that Breezeway boarding would happen after Zone 3, letting any unboarded Medallions avoid waiting in line. About half the people got out of the line. At this point, they started boarding and I got in line.
The four people in front of me were each Zone 2 or 3. Each one tried to board. Each one was reminded only Zone 1 was boarding and asked to step out of line. Each one argued. The GA said to the third guy something along the lines of, "If you want to discuss this, just stand over by the counter. As soon as the plane has boarded, I'll explain it to you."
I felt bad for her. She was handling the Breezeway correctly, but GAs in other cities who have not handled the Breezeway correctly have made it difficult for her.
I don't get it. When I'm in Zone 2, I board with Zone 2. As long as you're in one of the first three zones there's going to be enough overhead space for your luggage. Why people have to try to argue their way on out of order escapes me.
Anyway, just thought I'd share what happens when a GA gets it and tries to use the Breezeway correctly.
#534



Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,133
I'm ambivalent about Breezeway, since I'm usually to the gate area in time. However, I *really* wish they would enforce the zones. I've only seen a gate agent turn away a zone poacher once since I started flying DL weekly back in July.
#535




Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Woodstock, GA USA
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Delta DM & 1MM, Hertz and Avis President's Circle
Posts: 907
I heard a good one Friday afternoon in FLL: "Ma'am, the Breezeway line doesn't open until Zone 4".
Wonder if the GA came up with that on her on?
BTW, MIA and FLL are (IMHO) notorious for people ignoring zone boarding calls.
Wonder if the GA came up with that on her on?
BTW, MIA and FLL are (IMHO) notorious for people ignoring zone boarding calls.
#536



Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL DM1MM
Posts: 1,763
On my last trip, I had a doozy. The GA would not start clearing the upgrade list until after zone 4 had been called, and then the agent at the ticket scanner refused to allow the Breezeway. Fun fun! Breezeway is a great idea but if they can't get consistent, correct use of it from the agents, it's a net negative.
#537
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Under an ORD approach path
Programs: DL PM, MM. Coffee isn't a drug, it's a vitamin.
Posts: 12,935
Each one was reminded only Zone 1 was boarding and asked to step out of line. Each one argued. The GA said to the third guy something along the lines of, "If you want to discuss this, just stand over by the counter. As soon as the plane has boarded, I'll explain it to you."
^
#538




Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Durango, CO
Programs: Hertz #1 Club President's Circle; National Executive Elite; Marriott Titanium; AA Executive Plat
Posts: 111
If i am a regular skymiles customer and i am travelling on a Y-Fare coach ticket. Do i get to use the breezeway?
#540



Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,133
CO handles their elite access lane much better. DL gate agents (many of them) have no respect for the spirit of the idea.

