Gate lice’ beware: American Airlines is catching early boarders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we please just start boarding from the rear on up line people up according to their seat number, with the back of the plane at the front of the line? I guarantee this will speed things up tremendously. The flight attendants can monitor to make sure people don’t put their carry-ons in any space other than what is allotted to their seat.

The goal is not speed. The goal is to get you to pay for the right credit card or be loyal to an airline to get status to get perks.

Exactly right. They build in enough time to board the way they want to board; if that means you pay more, in any variety of forms, it's a win for the airlines.

Put another way; the goal is not efficiency for everyone, it is to have you pay for efficiency for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But that's not what gate lice are. IMO nothing wrong with gathering around waiting to board. Sometimes there just isn't anywhere else to sit or even stand.

Also, while I haven't traveled on AA, I travel on UA and DL all the time and I don't ever see anyone jumping the line and boarding outside their group.

I see this all the time! The funniest one was when the gate agent invited active military personnel to board. This 60 year old woman standing directly in front of the podium with bleached hair in a bunny sweatshirt promptly stepped forward to board. The agent asked her if she was active military personnel. She said no, and was directed to wait until her group was called. I have no idea what she was thinking?! She clearly heard the announcement.

Most of the airlines pre-boarding category standard is for those needing assistance ANDactive duty military personnel.

Did you consider that this 60-year old woman may be a person who needed special assistance? In no situation should active duty military be boarding BEFORE those who need assistance. If this woman was a person who needed assistance and was shamed by the gate agent to step back to allow active duty military to board before her, it should have been reported.

And what difference does it make what color her hair was or what she was wearing?

FWIW, most military members don't even take advantage of this offer. Stepping in line ahead of the disabled, elderly or those with special needs would certainly not "fly."

[Anonymous]

The only issue are the carry-ons. All of this--early boarding, fees, delays due to boarding front-first, gate lice--could be eliminated by building planes with enough space for all carry-ons. The new planes are getting close. I would posit that a plane with guaranteed rollaboard stowage would save an airline a ton of money per year in decreased turnaround time and improved passenger satisfaction. This "gate lice" thing is a classic example of engineers solving the wrong problem.

[Anonymous]

^ BTW, how did you know she was 60 years old? Did you ask her?

And another FWIW, there are 60 year olds (women included) who may actually be on active duty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only issue are the carry-ons. All of this--early boarding, fees, delays due to boarding front-first, gate lice--could be eliminated by building planes with enough space for all carry-ons. The new planes are getting close. I would posit that a plane with guaranteed rollaboard stowage would save an airline a ton of money per year in decreased turnaround time and improved passenger satisfaction. This "gate lice" thing is a classic example of engineers solving the wrong problem.

No. Charge for carry on and it's first come first serve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ BTW, how did you know she was 60 years old? Did you ask her?

And another FWIW, there are 60 year olds (women included) who may actually be on active duty.

DP.

If she was special needs, she would be invited to board with the special needs group.
If she was active duty, she would be invited to board with the active duty group.

Have you considered that she was neither of these things, and perhaps she either deliberately or unintentionally tried to board out of turn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But that's not what gate lice are. IMO nothing wrong with gathering around waiting to board. Sometimes there just isn't anywhere else to sit or even stand.

Also, while I haven't traveled on AA, I travel on UA and DL all the time and I don't ever see anyone jumping the line and boarding outside their group.

I see this all the time! The funniest one was when the gate agent invited active military personnel to board. This 60 year old woman standing directly in front of the podium with bleached hair in a bunny sweatshirt promptly stepped forward to board. The agent asked her if she was active military personnel. She said no, and was directed to wait until her group was called. I have no idea what she was thinking?! She clearly heard the announcement.

Most of the airlines pre-boarding category standard is for those needing assistance ANDactive duty military personnel.

Did you consider that this 60-year old woman may be a person who needed special assistance? In no situation should active duty military be boarding BEFORE those who need assistance. If this woman was a person who needed assistance and was shamed by the gate agent to step back to allow active duty military to board before her, it should have been reported.

And what difference does it make what color her hair was or what she was wearing?

FWIW, most military members don't even take advantage of this offer. Stepping in line ahead of the disabled, elderly or those with special needs would certainly not "fly."

No, the call for people needing assistance had already been done, and she heard that because she was standing directly in front of the agent making the announcements, listening attentively. As soon as "active duty military personnel" was called *as its own separate category* she immediately trotted over to the other agent and presented her ticket. I was watching all this because she was a colorful character and so clearly not active duty military. It was just so funny! Who knows, maybe she was ESOL, and in her language "active duty military personnel" means "sweet middle-aged women in 1980s era sweatshirts."

[Anonymous]

Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

AMEN. Or you should have to pay extra to carry on, not the reverse!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

Ha no way you could speed it up by 80% without overhead bags. Maybe get it down to 20 minutes for a normal domestic 737/320.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

I am not sure if you are congenitally stupid, or just bad at math, but "95% of the crap people bring on they don't need" is one of the more idiotic things I've ever heard. When I go in a 3 day, 2 night business trip, let's say my roller bag contains 20 items. It doesn't - there are fewer than that - but let's assume 20. Under your theory, 19 of those 20 items are unnecessary. So, what should I bring? My toiletry bag, and no clean clothes? One pair of clean underwear and no toothbrush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

I am not sure if you are congenitally stupid, or just bad at math, but "95% of the crap people bring on they don't need" is one of the more idiotic things I've ever heard. When I go in a 3 day, 2 night business trip, let's say my roller bag contains 20 items. It doesn't - there are fewer than that - but let's assume 20. Under your theory, 19 of those 20 items are unnecessary. So, what should I bring? My toiletry bag, and no clean clothes? One pair of clean underwear and no toothbrush.

DP.

Lol. Might want to improve your reading before insulting others.

Prior poster was obviously referring to need WHILE IN FLIGHT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

I am not sure if you are congenitally stupid, or just bad at math, but "95% of the crap people bring on they don't need" is one of the more idiotic things I've ever heard. When I go in a 3 day, 2 night business trip, let's say my roller bag contains 20 items. It doesn't - there are fewer than that - but let's assume 20. Under your theory, 19 of those 20 items are unnecessary. So, what should I bring? My toiletry bag, and no clean clothes? One pair of clean underwear and no toothbrush.

DP.

Lol. Might want to improve your reading before insulting others.

Prior poster was obviously referring to need WHILE IN FLIGHT.

DP but obviously people need their stuff where they are going too, not just in flight. Unfortunately bags go missing far too often. If you want to roll the dice, go right ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

I am not sure if you are congenitally stupid, or just bad at math, but "95% of the crap people bring on they don't need" is one of the more idiotic things I've ever heard. When I go in a 3 day, 2 night business trip, let's say my roller bag contains 20 items. It doesn't - there are fewer than that - but let's assume 20. Under your theory, 19 of those 20 items are unnecessary. So, what should I bring? My toiletry bag, and no clean clothes? One pair of clean underwear and no toothbrush.

DP.

Lol. Might want to improve your reading before insulting others.

Prior poster was obviously referring to need WHILE IN FLIGHT.

DP but obviously people need their stuff where they are going too, not just in flight. Unfortunately bags go missing far too often. If you want to roll the dice, go right ahead.

Bags actually very rarely go missing.

Check the data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of overhead.

Glasses, medications, and one small set of clothes and toiletries can easily fit in a small bag/backpack. That can fit under your seat.

95% of the crap people bring on they don't need. It should all be required to to be checked in. I've traveled for decades. Nothing ever more than a small bag is ever really needed for carry on.

The vast majority of travelers just suck at traveling, planning, and organization. Airlines should not cater to stupidity. Get rid of overhead and speed up boarding by 80%.

I am not sure if you are congenitally stupid, or just bad at math, but "95% of the crap people bring on they don't need" is one of the more idiotic things I've ever heard. When I go in a 3 day, 2 night business trip, let's say my roller bag contains 20 items. It doesn't - there are fewer than that - but let's assume 20. Under your theory, 19 of those 20 items are unnecessary. So, what should I bring? My toiletry bag, and no clean clothes? One pair of clean underwear and no toothbrush.

DP.

Lol. Might want to improve your reading before insulting others.

Prior poster was obviously referring to need WHILE IN FLIGHT.

DP but obviously people need their stuff where they are going too, not just in flight. Unfortunately bags go missing far too often. If you want to roll the dice, go right ahead.

Bags actually very rarely go missing.

Check the data.

dp.. well, I had one really bad experience with my and my baby's bag going missing for over a week. Now, when I fly, I make sure to have at least 2 days worth of clean clothes. It was such a hassle to go buy clothes and baby things in a foreign country.