Boarded Wrong Plane!
Aug 14, 2005 | 8:23 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Anaheim, CA US
Posts: 251
Happens to the best of them
I had a business meeting with some UA folks several years back. Among the activities was to understand the boarding process. So we went out to some ORD gates and (pre 9-11) tried our hand at being boarding agents (it was fun telling people 'Welcome Aboard' and so on), shadowed by an experienced agent of course.
My trainer told me of an incident where she was to escort an elderly lady through her connection. She was mortified when she found out she had boarded her on a plane to Manchester, NH instead of Manchester, UK (after the plane was in the air of course.) She did say that those kinds of errors were a lot less likely with the boarding pass readers
My trainer told me of an incident where she was to escort an elderly lady through her connection. She was mortified when she found out she had boarded her on a plane to Manchester, NH instead of Manchester, UK (after the plane was in the air of course.) She did say that those kinds of errors were a lot less likely with the boarding pass readers
Aug 14, 2005 | 9:59 am
#47
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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Originally Posted by GoDucks
I had a business meeting with some UA folks several years back. Among the activities was to understand the boarding process. So we went out to some ORD gates and (pre 9-11) tried our hand at being boarding agents (it was fun telling people 'Welcome Aboard' and so on), shadowed by an experienced agent of course.
My trainer told me of an incident where she was to escort an elderly lady through her connection. She was mortified when she found out she had boarded her on a plane to Manchester, NH instead of Manchester, UK (after the plane was in the air of course.) She did say that those kinds of errors were a lot less likely with the boarding pass readers
My trainer told me of an incident where she was to escort an elderly lady through her connection. She was mortified when she found out she had boarded her on a plane to Manchester, NH instead of Manchester, UK (after the plane was in the air of course.) She did say that those kinds of errors were a lot less likely with the boarding pass readers
Aug 14, 2005 | 12:07 pm
#48
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: BD Gold (and future SEN), 0.2MM AA EXP, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,107
So let's say you completely mess up, and board LAX-NRT instead of the 3-c 777 to DEN or something. You know, too much wine in the RCC, in a rush, etc. Do you think United would really credit you the 10000+ bonus BIS for your little mistake?
Aug 14, 2005 | 12:35 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 523
I was traveling IAD-ALB on UX once, on the 945pm flight which was delayed till past midnight.
I met a woman from Chicago, traveling with a toddler and an infant. Apparently at ORD, she was escorted to the plane. Ten minutes before landing, "Welcome to Nashville."
So, she then was sent through IAD to ALB! After having a partial nervous breakdown when United couldn't at first figure out what to do in Nashville!
I was once exhausted from travel, and was flying DFW-ORD-SNA. Subconsciously, I guess, when I hit ORD, I convinced myself I was flying ORD-ALB home, and tried to board the wrong plane, but was stopped!
albatross
I met a woman from Chicago, traveling with a toddler and an infant. Apparently at ORD, she was escorted to the plane. Ten minutes before landing, "Welcome to Nashville."
So, she then was sent through IAD to ALB! After having a partial nervous breakdown when United couldn't at first figure out what to do in Nashville!
I was once exhausted from travel, and was flying DFW-ORD-SNA. Subconsciously, I guess, when I hit ORD, I convinced myself I was flying ORD-ALB home, and tried to board the wrong plane, but was stopped!
albatross
Aug 14, 2005 | 12:42 pm
#50
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 18,094
Originally Posted by BenjaminNYC
Well, needless to say, I was on the wrong plane, and that's why it buzzed! Yes, I'm an idiot! Just needed to share! 
Yes, you're an idiot. And thanks for sharing.
Aug 14, 2005 | 1:18 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
The only time I boarded the wrong flight was at an airport where the JetWay was a "Y" configuration leading to 2 separate planes. Which they happened to be boarding 2 at the same time!
I didn't know they were boarding 2 down the same door, so I just followed the guy in front of me to the left, not knowing that the right path was also being boarded. I got onboard and took my seat. A few minutes later someone else came to my seat with the same seat assignment. Only after comparing Boarding Stubs did I realize I was on the wrong plane!
Can't recall which airport this was at, but it was a long time ago before Gate Readers.
I didn't know they were boarding 2 down the same door, so I just followed the guy in front of me to the left, not knowing that the right path was also being boarded. I got onboard and took my seat. A few minutes later someone else came to my seat with the same seat assignment. Only after comparing Boarding Stubs did I realize I was on the wrong plane!
Can't recall which airport this was at, but it was a long time ago before Gate Readers.
Aug 14, 2005 | 1:23 pm
#52
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 18,094
Originally Posted by PremEx
Can't recall which airport this was at, but it was a long time ago before Gate Readers.
Aug 14, 2005 | 3:07 pm
#53
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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Originally Posted by iluv2fly
This thread is four pages long and nobody has yet commented on BJ's "I'm an idiot!" remark? What's wrong with you guys?
Yes, you're an idiot. And thanks for sharing.
Yes, you're an idiot. And thanks for sharing.
Aug 14, 2005 | 3:10 pm
#54
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: United 2P
Posts: 192
Originally Posted by BenjaminNYC
Yesterday, I boarded a 757 at SFO headed for EWR. The reader buzzed. The (unfriendly) GA just tore my BP manually and gave me the stub, with a huff. She couldn't be bothered to check why my BP buzzed.
On the plane, someone was in my seat 2A. Her BP said BWI, not EWR, so I smiled and said, "ma'am, I think you've boarded the wrong plane - this one's going to Newark." Many people in F exclaimed "What, this plane is going to Newark?!? I'm going to Baltimore!".
Well, needless to say, I was on the wrong plane, and that's why it buzzed! Yes, I'm an idiot! Just needed to share!
On the plane, someone was in my seat 2A. Her BP said BWI, not EWR, so I smiled and said, "ma'am, I think you've boarded the wrong plane - this one's going to Newark." Many people in F exclaimed "What, this plane is going to Newark?!? I'm going to Baltimore!".
Well, needless to say, I was on the wrong plane, and that's why it buzzed! Yes, I'm an idiot! Just needed to share!
This has been a recurrent nightmare of mine.
Aug 14, 2005 | 3:37 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,947
Originally Posted by iluv2fly
This thread is four pages long and nobody has yet commented on BJ's "I'm an idiot!" remark? What's wrong with you guys?
Yes, you're an idiot. And thanks for sharing.
Yes, you're an idiot. And thanks for sharing.
Happily this hasn't happened to me, but I was on a flight back to IAD a few years back where the guy next to me didn't find out the destination was IAD until mid way through and was freaking out. Luckily he wanted to go to Baltimore so it was just a pricey taxi to correct his mistake. The gates were next to one another at ORD, and he just picked the wrong one.
Aug 15, 2005 | 5:12 am
#56
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Australia
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Posts: 145
I was on a flight recently from SFO to LAX. At the same gate was a flight to PHX (or somewhere like that).
When we had all boarded, the FA's reported that there were 2 more PAX onboard than there should have been. They asked who was not going to LA and no-one answered.
So rather than stuff around, they just closed the doors and off to LAX we went. Quite uneventful really.
When we had all boarded, the FA's reported that there were 2 more PAX onboard than there should have been. They asked who was not going to LA and no-one answered.
So rather than stuff around, they just closed the doors and off to LAX we went. Quite uneventful really.
Aug 15, 2005 | 5:27 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: US
Programs: LH and BA
Posts: 2,324
Originally Posted by BenjaminNYC
Yesterday, I boarded a 757 at SFO headed for EWR. The reader buzzed. The (unfriendly) GA just tore my BP manually and gave me the stub, with a huff. She couldn't be bothered to check why my BP buzzed.
On the plane, someone was in my seat 2A. Her BP said BWI, not EWR, so I smiled and said, "ma'am, I think you've boarded the wrong plane - this one's going to Newark." Many people in F exclaimed "What, this plane is going to Newark?!? I'm going to Baltimore!".
Well, needless to say, I was on the wrong plane, and that's why it buzzed! Yes, I'm an idiot! Just needed to share!
On the plane, someone was in my seat 2A. Her BP said BWI, not EWR, so I smiled and said, "ma'am, I think you've boarded the wrong plane - this one's going to Newark." Many people in F exclaimed "What, this plane is going to Newark?!? I'm going to Baltimore!".
Well, needless to say, I was on the wrong plane, and that's why it buzzed! Yes, I'm an idiot! Just needed to share!
Aug 15, 2005 | 7:20 am
#58
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 250
Back in '92 or '93 when I was a junior in high school, I had this chemistry teacher who was just brilliant. She went to a conference in San Francisco, but on the day she was supposed to be back, she wasn't in the classroom. A few minutes after the bell rang, another teacher came in just laughing, and told us that instead of getting on her flight back to San Diego, our teacher had accidentally gotten on one going to Seattle instead, and hadn't realized it the plane actually landed in Seattle. She finally made it back to SAN a day late, and completely embarrassed - the rest of the science department would not let her live it down for weeks. They kept posting signs "directing" her to her classroom, her office, etc.
Aug 15, 2005 | 9:36 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
About 10 years ago I was flying CO EWR-LGW (those were the days!) when I was sitting in my seat on the 742 (yes! one of those at CO!) when a lady gets on and comes to where I'm sitting. she got very upset with her boarding pass "I thought this was an aisle seat!" (it's a middle) and she was very upset.... goes to complain to the FA who politely informs her that this plane is for London... "The DC-10 flying to Paris is over at that gate..." uh yeah....
no EGR to beep back then.. just a dozy CSR
no EGR to beep back then.. just a dozy CSR
Aug 15, 2005 | 1:53 pm
#60
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SFO - UA Lifetime 1K, HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 418
earlier this year on a SFO-NRT flight, I had the coveted 15A and made my way up to find another guy sitting in 15A....and he had a 15A boarding pass as well 
It turned out he was on the 1:20pm flight and somehow managed to board the 11:30am flight...
It turned out he was on the 1:20pm flight and somehow managed to board the 11:30am flight...