British Airways to start boarding passengers by group from 12th December

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• Tina says:

  18 Nov18 November 07:59

  I flew GVA/LHR. on BA last month and they announced boarding in this order. It was strictly enforced

• Lesley says:

  18 Nov18 November 08:05

  I have genuinely never been able to work out why people are so keen to board as soon as possible. You stand in a queue for ages so you can then sit for longer on the plane than anyone else. Mind you I always have checked luggage which may make a difference? Are people just desperate for an overhead locker? But then that doesn’t apply in business class where there is always room in lockers. I always rock up and board as late as possible.

  • Steve-B says:

    18 Nov18 November 08:26

    There isn’t always overhead locker space in business class. On a full SH flight, it can quickly disappear. Last month I saw two travellers who boarded late have their hand baggage taken off them and checked into the hold…

  • CV3V says:

    18 Nov18 November 08:27

    I remember an easy jet flight where a group of 4 were late to board, one guy looked around the lockers to see they were all full and shouted out ‘thanks for stealing my locker space’.

  • Alan says:

    18 Nov18 November 09:27

    Yep on short-haul it’s overhead bin space that’s the issue. Even flying CE doesn’t necessarily help as you get some inconsiderate folk that dump their bags at the front then walk back through the plane to their seat.

  • Delbert says:

    18 Nov18 November 09:31

    Not quite correct, Lesley. If CE passengers don’t board sharpish then cabin crew start filling up the CE overhead lockers with economy passengers luggage.

    Though, three weeks ago at LHR T5, and for the first time ever, we did see boarding staff actively seeking out oversized carryon luggage prior to boarding, not that that makes much difference anyway.

• Paul says:

  18 Nov18 November 08:06

  Good news but if they split me from my wife and kids it will not work. If I am travelling with my family I expect to board with my family and be accorded the benefits of the status held. Any thing else is a recipe for disaster.
  If they adopt thevUS approach to this it will work once people are educated but it will take time.
  Just a pity they are so late to the party on this and further evidence that 200 committees and several thousand staff, along with tradescUnions all had to meet and reach agreement.

  • Adey says:

    18 Nov18 November 08:23

    Sure if the rest of your family have your status. Otherwise, who is doing the splitting/ BA or you?

  • Peter says:

    18 Nov18 November 09:33

    Why? Does all adults in your party also hold status? If not then please explain why you should you are so entitled?

• Crowtravel says:

  18 Nov18 November 08:14

  I can see some gate agents, especially if turnaround is tight or overrunning, conflating the groups and announcing “groups 1 and 2 come forward now” – much the same way they currently ask “Gold, silver and bronze” to board at the same time when that’s not how it’s supposed to happen.

• Mark says:

  18 Nov18 November 08:18

  I guess they’ve given up on fast turnaround boarding then, ie rear of the plane first, so everyone isnt held up behind some old dear in the aisle deciding which books/socks to leave in her carry on.

• CV3V says:

  18 Nov18 November 08:23

  Ok if they enforce it, the biggest problem for which is usually down route where the staff aren’t BA and don’t want to attempt crowd control. At KUL where i have been fortunate to board in First a few times i know that after the make the boarding announcement they dont then check anyones boarding passes. So everyone who is already in the scrum walks straight on.

  Does this mean the end of the priority lane (or whatever its called at BA)? Will i still be able to board ‘at my leisure’? Or if i miss my slot does it mean the back of the queue?

  • Ruth Findlay says:

    18 Nov18 November 08:44

    This is a good point, as that would be very frustrating.

• Paul says:

  18 Nov18 November 08:31

  AA boarding is a complete zoo. On my recent flight from JFK to LHR, over half the customers were in the wrong line, mainly non status economy passengers blocking up the priority line.

  At least BA arent copying the madness of 8 different boarding groups like AA; seems sensible to limit number of groups to number of fingers on a hand.

  They also need to highlight the boarding group against a coloured background on ticket / app so infrequent travellers can figure it out more quickly. I have some sympathy for those who don’t travel often / don’t think about these things often (or read blogs about it!) being tripped up by the process, getting embarassed by a gate agent, and then having to go to the back od the line at the end of the ordeal.

• Simon Bostic says:

  18 Nov18 November 08:32

  Anyone know of any research which has revealed why exactly people are perepared to stand for an hour at the boarding area? Is it just Leming behaviour or is there a valid reason in people’s minds that they must be first on board? Is it a subconscious anxiety they will be left behind? Last one on is a ninny?

  Clearly to maximise time in a premium cabin is a valid reason but in cattle class….? Wild horses won’t keep people from standing around unnecessarily it seems to me.

  • Mark says:

    18 Nov18 November 08:45

    Presumably so your carry on isnt shifted to the hold.

  • Ruth Findlay says:

    18 Nov18 November 08:49

    I’ve always wondered this too and reckon it’s to do with bagging overhead locker space, plus just plain human behaviour. Personally, if I’m flying economy (usually admittedly not BA) I try not to take anything that can’t go under the seat, and sit down until the very last minute before boarding. All those people queuing for ages in a hot sardine can of an airport looking miserable. It’s not for me! In J or F I just board straight away anyway.

  • ankomonkey says:

    18 Nov18 November 22:52

    “Last one on is a ninny?” – comment of the week 🙂

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