I agree with you 90% of the time. The only time I get antsy about getting on board is when I've got a carry-on that I know won't fit under the seat or if I have the bulkhead. Normally in F it's not a problem but I like to have my "stuff" close by me.

I hope I don't run into this Gate Agent, cause I would have the concourse supervisor come down so that this gate agent could be re-educated on the policies.

The rules state that Medallions and First Class passengers can use the boarding lines to bypass the general boarding line. Yes, some might see it as elitist. However, the folks on Virginia Avenue have decided to make this a perk for those that have earned/payed for it. It's not up to the gate agents to decide whether or not Delta's corporate policies are unethical, and if they do they can bring it up the chain of command to try and get it changed. They are not to deviate from a policy though if they don't think it's fair. Delta is Southwest - not all passengers are equal - there's a reason that some passengers get priority boarding, free upgrades, priority check-in, etc.

This is what I have found: that the GAs don't like it, do it doesn't get used. You'd have to push people out of the way the way the line forms, to use it.

Sounds like it's time to grant his wish - please report this GA to customer care so he can be properly educated about the appropriate use of the Breezeway and reminded of his *mandatory* commitment to customer service delivery and Delta policy.

I could care less if he likes it or not - it's not in his job description to use personal thoughts or feelings to modify Delta customer policy.

While waiting for a flight in Atlanta last week, the GA at least twice made an announcement that the breezeway was only to be used beginning with Zone 4. Zones 1-3 would be boarded from the general boarding line.

I used the Breezeway and it was great. I liked being able to cut in front of a bunch of people when they were boarding Zone 7. The only downside is that the GA asked me some questions thinking that I didn't know what I was doing. Just because I was wearing t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, doesn't mean I'm non-medallion.

The GA's use of Breezeway in Atlanta on last Friday's flight to RSW irked me to no end. We haven't flown Delta since the Breezeway concept was introduced. The GA announced FC boarding and we were first in the non-Breezeway line with our FC boarding passes in hand. But the GA refused to take our boarding passes, and instead let about 15 pax rush past us using the Breezeway. I complained and she stated that BW pax would be taken ahead of us, even tho there was no prior announcement to that effect.

:mad:

who's supposed to feel good about this?!
 

used the breezeway on 11/19 in ATL only because announcement for Zone 1 was made and about 5 nanoseconds later, the announcement for the next Zone (1, 2 and 3) was made. By the time a senior FO gets out of his/her seat and grabs their carryon bag, all the young strapping flyers are in queue! So, we did use the breezeway and thought it was a great concept... in theory! (That feeling lasted as long as the walk from my seat to the red carpet! :mad: )

However, after waiting for the GA to process a few "regular" flyers, the GA had to step from the behind the boarding machine in front of the regular line then over to the red carpet to retrieve our BPs then step back in front of the regular line and then back over to the boarding machine to swipe our BPs then repeat the process again to hand us our BPs. (Unfortunately, she had to rip the BP because we checked in online and she only handed back one BP receipt so I delayed the line even more by asking for DH's BP receipt - more ripping!)

Personally, I felt like it was a flop because I was waiting in the BW for the GA to decide she had allowed enough regular flyers through that she could halt that process and process our BPs. I'm sure the regular flyers thought we were cutting the line (but that's their problem).

I sincerely hope you are right. I absolutely hate the way people crowd the gate before boarding is called. If this fixes it, I'm for it. ^

I've used the Breezeway several times and I love it. I typically like to hang out in the CRC until about 20 or 25 minutes before departure - downloading email, charging my laptop, etc. With the Breezeway, my delay getting on the plane is lessened just that much. After experiencing it several times in ATL earlier this year, they've now have it in Tampa, where I used it about 3 weeks ago.

The first time I used it in ATL, I did make the mistake of using it to inadvertently butt in front of other elites. I walked up to the gate about 15 to 20 minutes before scheduled departure, and went straight to the Breezeway line, not realizing that there was a slight delay and they were still boarding zones 2 and 3. Since then I've been a little more careful about this. This is the one drawback to the way DL is rolling out this service. Since they (often) don't use the Breezeway during the first 3 zones, a newly-arriving elite / FC pax can make this mistake.

I have had great experiences with the concept at NW and CO. Give DL a bit of time to get used to it (both pax and staff). It really is very sensible.

I certainly like the breezeway. Often, I make it to the gate late because I'd rather spend the time in the CRC rather than try to find a seat among the masses waiting at the gate.

I like to get on the plane fast when I'm in business class. Pop out the notebook and get some work done while sipping Apple Juice.

Concept limited by Delta's mastery of gate geometry
 

I'm most familiar with the "gate bypass" concept at UA. One major difference, the Red Carpet Lane (=== Breezeway in UA eze) is limited to top FF tiers. This permits use of barriers across the entranceway to minimize "false approaches", but would be impractical in a system like Delta's that's open to all medallions.
I don't know why DL wouldn't use a single ticket scanner between the breezeway and regular lanes with double GA's working the shared scanner, if needed or available. The GA then controls who gets the next access for line up in the jet bridge ;). This would allow the GA to prevent Medallions jumping other Madallions:p, or permit the GA to load zones 1 and 2 through the breezeway only if so desired. It also deletes the awkward "reach across" to take BP's from breezeway Medallions.
Got to say that unlike a lot of what I've seen DL roll out recently, this change wasn't adequately communicated or trained on. Probably, the significance of this change was not sufficiently understood.

I've used it in ATL going to PHX, at JFK headed to SVO, and loved it. It allowed me to the front of a line at JFK with a Russia typical 100+ pushing people in it.

However, for the first time yesterday, I felt the ire of my fellow passengers. I and my wife along with our 4 kids (great travelers btw) walk out of the CRC at DFW and stroll to E15 where about 30 people are in line. We Breezeway it up to the front where the GA stopped processing the other passengers and hopped over to us instead. The ire came because dummy me failed to get a gate check tag for the stroller and car seat before going to the front of the line. That was not right and I apologized once I remembered my fub-up. Still though it probably took 90-120 seconds to process the 6 of us. Shame on me:td:.

Other than that I've never felt the glares of other passengers though I am sure they are there. I tend to look straight ahead and get in my big blue seat as soon as I can.

So far, I LOVE the Breezeway concept!