No impact on me so far. During the introductory period, the only flights I had were on CRJs. Since they revised the program to limit it to the "less choice" exit rows, I have had the opportunity to get good seats at purchase. All my upgrades have cleared as a gold too, so no issues.

I would post the same.

I like the idea of keeping a bunch of good seats available for those on high fares booking late. If CC achieves that goal is debatable, but I do not have the information to prove or disprove that. I would like it to work out that way though.

As for CC itself, they've take out the sting for their best customers (elites) and if you really don't want to pay the fee you don't have to. You just won't have a seat assigned until the last moment.

I wish they didn't have to resort to these measures but if it generates a few extra bucks it can help keep the fares low and employees paid.

That's good news; looks like I over-reacted when I heard NW implemented the change.

Roach Coach is still Roach Coach.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...606190353/1001

".....Here's how it works: Instead of boarding from the rear to the front, five rows at a time, passengers in coach board at the same time, after first/business class, elite and special-needs fliers have been seated....."

I think that was discussed at length: Total General Boarding - new directive?

The Detroit News is running a poll on this -- as of early this morning 80% of the respondents indicated they thought it was a bad idea.

Now what does the public know that the people running NW don't know?

Bob H

Yep, it was... but at that point it hadn't hit the mainstream press.

It's interesting to read some of the real-world numbers on the differences in boarding times, though.

Nice of them to officially implement it just after I made elite, too. So I flew 4 board-by-rows segments as WP hoi polloi, plus 3 segments with general boarding before it went systemwide... and since then have flown 1 segment boarding in coach as an elite and 7 segments boarding in FC due to UGs (5 of them on my most recent trip )

Ah well, just one more reason to go for elite status, I guess. Your stampede is much smaller.

Uh, probably nothing. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that "the public" know basically jack about anything involved in running an airline, and are just doing some sort of utterly-uninformed gut reaction (as usual). "Man-on-the-street" polls like this aren't based on knowledge, after all.

Of course, you heard it here first!

Cattle call boarding needs some fine tuning. Perhaps it could be done on a ten row basis or by zones but right now we see a lot of confusion and chaos.

As for elites -- what about a late connection? In the past you could board anytime. (Now you can but you can't since you would be at the back of the line.)

I really think NW should implement using special lines, like Continental does with extra carpeted lines, for boarding F and elites e.g., those who arrive late, to help avoid having to muscle through the "hoi poloi" to board. I really enjoy that feature when flying Continental, it helps reduce my anxiety about getting on in time to find space for my carry-on (which is the main reason I try and board early). Even before F or elites have been called to board on NW (if elites are called at all -- it's not consistent), I just hate having to deal with the coach crowd that piles up at the gate to board on busy flights. Even if I am holding an F boarding pass or am elite, pushing my way through the congregating coach pax can be unpleasant, e.g. I sometimes get dirty looks or even comments like "the line starts back THERE!" (especially since I don't usually look like their stereotype of people boarding in F). Two separate boarding lines shouldn't cost a lot of money, or would it?

I watched Channel 2 news crew at DTW this morning actually. I watched from A21 this morning as a DTW-SFO flight was boarding. Special needs, First, Elite... then a pause (good). Then the cattle call! It was funny seeing so many people in line, as it wrapped around the corner. Same thing happened on our flight, but I think 75% at least on our flight was some sort of Elite when that call came. After I got on board, noticed we only had 1 gate check (a NRSA captain, interestingly) but the poor FAs on the plane were scrambling up and down trying to find places to stow people's luggage. The flight left about 20 minutes late.

(off topic) At the security line today, upstairs near domestic check-in, a Prospect security supervisor was VISCIOUSLY enforcing the carry-on size limit! It was GREAT to see! ^ ^

Today in DTW @ A46, Pinnacle flight on a CRJ, boarding process was:

"Special needs/people with children... Now calling general boarding for flight #XXX"

Luckily I was getting ready for the elite preboard and was at the podium already

I agree

Luckily? That sounds like bad luck to me. I like to be the very last person on board my CRJ flights so as to keep the torture-time on the plane to an absolute minimum. They're going to gate-check my bag anyway, so why be first on board?