Boarding Started 45 Minutes Before Departure
Aug 28, 2017, 6:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: MDW/ORD
Programs: WN A list, UA Gold, AA Gold, Marriott LT Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 526
Boarding Started 45 Minutes Before Departure
On Saturday morning I had an 8:30am flight from LAX to MDW. I had A20 boarding position from Gate 15. I was sitting at the California Pizza Kitchen and just looked on my phone and saw that the flight was already boarding at 7:45. When I got the gate (short walk from CPK) they were already boarding A30-60.
I asked the GA why they started boarding earlier than the normal half hour and she said that it was because they were ready with FA's and pilots, she also said that she announced the flight on PA system but I did not hear it sitting at a restaurant not far away.
How common is boarding at 30 minutes + before departure? I have never experienced this before.
I asked the GA why they started boarding earlier than the normal half hour and she said that it was because they were ready with FA's and pilots, she also said that she announced the flight on PA system but I did not hear it sitting at a restaurant not far away.
How common is boarding at 30 minutes + before departure? I have never experienced this before.
Aug 28, 2017, 6:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Not recent, but in the past it happened to me several times. Now I go to the gate immediately after clearing TSA to check and see if the plane is there, unloaded, etc. If it is, then I stay in the area. Kind of sucks if you paid for EB, but I never do, so it doesn't usually affect me much.
Aug 28, 2017, 6:36 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
They've starting boarding early since acquiring 800s about three years ago. It probably does take longer than 30 mins to complete the process in an 800 especially at a station with many pre-boarders, but one would think that earlier time could be reflected on the BP.
Aug 28, 2017, 7:05 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sunshine State
Programs: Avis Trump. Costco Exec. SPG PLAT PREM-90. WN A+/CP. AA SLV. Nat EE..
Posts: 456
I'd say ~10% for me. It's annoying but it happens. Still less annoying to me when GA's let their friends board after preboard and they hold their BPs without scanning till some later point. Yet another reason why They need to somehow do better at enhancing benefits of BS.
Aug 28, 2017, 7:06 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
WN only boards earlier than T-30 when the aircraft is ready to go, e.g. crew onboard, safety & security checks done. No way to predict in advance, but when they can get everyone on prior to scheduled departure, just like other carriers, WN will push early.
Aug 28, 2017, 9:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: VX Gold/WN Companion
Posts: 682
It is becoming more common on the 800's especially on weekends...takes that much longer to get that many unseasoned travelers loaded.
Yes, I just profiled weekend travelers...trust me, the GA and FA's know it too!
Yes, I just profiled weekend travelers...trust me, the GA and FA's know it too!
Aug 29, 2017, 6:02 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: MDW/ORD
Programs: WN A list, UA Gold, AA Gold, Marriott LT Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 526
Aug 30, 2017, 3:51 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
With delta, it starts when they start preboarding the aircraft. That would be plenty of notice to get over from a nearby spot to the gate IMO. Too bad they don't even consistently do that. I gotta say I'd be pretty upset if I got to the g ate 30-35 mins prior to departure and they are already way past my boarding position..
Aug 30, 2017, 4:28 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It only matters on WN because if you would be among the first to board and you arrive 10 minutes into the process, WN could easily be at the mid-B's by that point.
Just another of the problems created by lack of seat assignments.
Just another of the problems created by lack of seat assignments.
Aug 30, 2017, 4:55 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,243
Only 12 posts until we got the thread to a seat
assignment discussion!
yes I've seen this on 738s as well. I usually get the boarding notification on the app but I think it usually appears after pre-boards when they board the A group. So it's helpful if you're in A30+ (approximately)
assignment discussion!
yes I've seen this on 738s as well. I usually get the boarding notification on the app but I think it usually appears after pre-boards when they board the A group. So it's helpful if you're in A30+ (approximately)
Aug 30, 2017, 5:01 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,519
Wish there were comparative data on deplaning times within/among single-aisle fleets.
Aug 30, 2017, 8:03 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Coast
Programs: WN A+, AS MVP, UA 1P
Posts: 92
It didn't save any time at all, and the customer feedback was generally negative about the change. They ended up scrapping it and going back with the unassigned seating.