GA covered BP reader with her hand and looked up my name for preboarding
Apr 4, 2019, 1:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: SYD
Programs: UA 1K; VA Gold; QF Gold; HHonors Gold; Marriott Gold; National ExecElite
Posts: 419
GA covered BP reader with her hand and looked up my name for preboarding
BBoarding UA 1271 ORD-JAX this afternoon, and I waited until the GA called for 1K’s. So I walked up and she quickly slapped her hand down on the reader and asked me my name. Once she found me on her screen and verified 1K, she said “ok, you’re good” and removed her hand so I could scan my BP. She did the same thing with the 1K guy behind me. I guess this is a reasonable way to ensure adherence to the boarding procedure. Or maybe it was my cologne - Eau de Groupfive.
Apr 4, 2019, 1:09 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
The most reasonable way to ensure compliance is to program the boarding software to beep loudly and embarrass the person trying to board when GS or 1K or any other pre-boarding group is called and the person isn't in those groups. It happens when BG2 tries to board when BG1 is boarding, etc. No reason they can't do it for GS/1K at least.
And if you're boarding with someone who isn't in your group you just let the GA know and they'll override the "beep" and allow them to board, too. Simple IMO.
-RM
And if you're boarding with someone who isn't in your group you just let the GA know and they'll override the "beep" and allow them to board, too. Simple IMO.
-RM
Apr 4, 2019, 1:17 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
Yes, I'm not sure why this is so hard to implement -- whether software of the BP scanner is a pain / expensive to update, or the operational headache of the agent having to change the stage of boarding to recognize who should be allowed at that point?
Apr 4, 2019, 1:19 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,922
Don't they have to do this anyways at airports with screens?
Apr 4, 2019, 2:11 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
I haven't seen the software/scanner implementation to be the problem. Is the GA willingness to do anything about it. Too often they say nothing when the buzzer goes.
Apr 4, 2019, 2:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
The BP scanner in DFW on Tuesday beeped when a group 1, non 1K paid first class ticket holder tried to scan. She sent him packing and he grumbled. Then after boarding he was sitting in front of me reminding anyone in ear shot how UA sucks that a FC passenger had to put his bag 7 rows deep into Economy
I snickered
I snickered
Apr 4, 2019, 2:18 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 221
The BP scanner in DFW on Tuesday beeped when a group 1, non 1K paid first class ticket holder tried to scan. She sent him packing and he grumbled. Then after boarding he was sitting in front of me reminding anyone in ear shot how UA sucks that a FC passenger had to put his bag 7 rows deep into Economy
I snickered
I snickered
Apr 4, 2019, 2:25 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
The problem is that UA flies several planes where it's just not possible to fit every F passenger's bags in F. (The A319 and E70/75 come to mind). UA has elected to prioritize the bags of passengers with status.
Also: ex-DFW, probably not so much -- but there are plenty of routes where there aren't any upgrades at all, or maybe 1 out of 20 F passengers. There's no boarding order that would satisfy every "paid F" customer in that scenario.
Last edited by jsloan; Apr 4, 2019 at 8:56 pm Reason: Please do not edit directly quoted text. (Didn't realize markup counted as edit; sorry :)
Apr 4, 2019, 3:08 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,201
It still shows 1K on my digital boarding pass but in small print at the bottom, so you need to look for it - but I agree that instead of the hand violence, the GA could have just asked to inspect the boarding pass before it was scanned or asked to confirm the name....I do give her kudos at least for trying to enforce the rules vs just not giving a damn.
Apr 4, 2019, 3:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
Apr 4, 2019, 4:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA1K | *A Gold
Posts: 767
This is what a I really like about the automated gates NH uses - they make a different beeping sound for each boarding group and your seat number and status actually pops up on the little screen (SAG for star alliance gold).
I wish united would do something like this, and have at least two machines so that pax could be diverted to the second machine whenever someone accidentally gets in the wrong line.
I wish united would do something like this, and have at least two machines so that pax could be diverted to the second machine whenever someone accidentally gets in the wrong line.
Apr 4, 2019, 4:33 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
The BP scanner in DFW on Tuesday beeped when a group 1, non 1K paid first class ticket holder tried to scan. She sent him packing and he grumbled. Then after boarding he was sitting in front of me reminding anyone in ear shot how UA sucks that a FC passenger had to put his bag 7 rows deep into Economy
I snickered
I snickered