• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

American Airlines tests new boarding procedure

moonstone

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,972
Reaction score
3,104
Location
Moonstone, ON
Resorts Owned
The Beach Club at St. Augustine Beach, FL (1 floating week, purchased in 1982)

77,000 RCI points (Sunrise Ridge Resort, TN)

dougp26364

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
14,688
Reaction score
3,483
Location
Kansas
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grand Chateau
Marriott Shadow Ridge
Marriott Ocean Pointe
Marriott Destination Club Points
Hilton Grand Vacation Club Las Vegas Blvd
Grand Colorado on Peak 8
Spinnaker French Quarter Resort Branson
I am hopeful about this new process. Flying is enough of a PIA without the line cutters. But more than this, what I’d really like to see is a way to eliminate those who stand around, crowding the boarding area waiting for their group to be called and forcing others to navigate through the mass of bodies…..but that’s asking a lot.
 

T_R_Oglodyte

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
16,694
Reaction score
8,711
Location
Belly-View, WA
If this is rolled out widely, I expect a significant increase in the already known healing powers of flying commercial airlines. Just think of the additional people there will be who will require assistance or extra time in boarding, but by the end of the flight they will have regained their mobility and will be able to retrieve their luggage from overhead bins and take it with them off the plane.
 

Dori

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,138
Reaction score
900
Location
Scarborough, Ontario
I always thought that Southwest’s procedure was so so efficient. No “gate lice” hanging around, waiting to budge in. I was so sorry to hear that they are going to assigned seating.

Dori
 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,448
Reaction score
5,394
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
I always thought that Southwest’s procedure was so so efficient. No “gate lice” hanging around, waiting to budge in. I was so sorry to hear that they are going to assigned seating.

Dori
Most airlines have assigned seating, and yet have boarding groups, and the bugs. Not sure if SWA will get rid of the boarding positions, but no requirement to do so despite having assigned seats.

Saw the below article about the new system dinging people still trying to board early. I can almost hear the ding . . .

 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,448
Reaction score
5,394
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
I always thought that Southwest’s procedure was so so efficient. No “gate lice” hanging around, waiting to budge in. I was so sorry to hear that they are going to assigned seating.

Dori
Many of the lice (not all, relax people), already boarded in their paid-by-SWA wheelchair.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,779
Reaction score
10,638
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
Most airlines have assigned seating, and yet have boarding groups, and the bugs. Not sure if SWA will get rid of the boarding positions, but no requirement to do so despite having assigned seats.

Saw the below article about the new system dinging people still trying to board early. I can almost hear the ding . . .

So far from what I've seen even though SW will have assigned seats they will continue to have the A,B, C boarding groups.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,779
Reaction score
10,638
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
Many of the lice (not all, relax people), already boarded in their paid-by-SWA wheelchair.
I don't know when/where you fly SW but I have never noticed more than a couple of pre-boarders on flights we've taken.
 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,448
Reaction score
5,394
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
I don't know when/where you fly SW but I have never noticed more than a couple of pre-boarders on flights we've taken.
We generally fly SWA short haul flights on the west coast: SD, Vegas, Bay Area, Reno. Lots of wheelchairs that are full before boarding, and not used on arrival. There are also a myriad of articles (and threads here) about it.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,779
Reaction score
10,638
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
We generally fly SWA short haul flights on the west coast: SD, Vegas, Bay Area, Reno. Lots of wheelchairs that are full before boarding, and not used on arrival. There are also a myriad of articles (and threads here) about it.
I know. I've seen all of the posts here complaining about it. While I'm sure there are some people who take advantage of this, there are many that truly need it. And those who truly need it don't always look like they do.
 

slip

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
12,114
Reaction score
16,739
Location
U'alapue/Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Resorts Owned
Pono Kai, 16 wks; Maui Schooner, 1 EOY Wk; 1 week Ke Nani Kai; WaveCrest Condo, Molokai, HI
I know. I've seen all of the posts here complaining about it. While I'm sure there are some people who take advantage of this, there are many that truly need it. And those who truly need it don't always look like they do.
I definitely agree with this, especially after everything my wife has been through. Looking at her at times, yiu would think there were no issues but just getting through the airport never easy.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,779
Reaction score
10,638
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
I definitely agree with this, especially after everything my wife has been through. Looking at her at times, yiu would think there were no issues but just getting through the airport never easy.
People can be so judgemental. Our daughter broke her arm in NYC a couple of years ago. She was wearing a sling (she didn't have a cast yet, needed to see a doctor at home for that). She was still quite shaky and wanted wheelchair assist. We had no issues with Jet Blue at JFK, but in Albuquerque when we landed the young man who I guess was in charge of the wheelchairs looked at her and said "Why do you need a wheelchair? It's just your arm." Luckily the women who actually pushed her wheelchair was wonderful.
 

slip

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
12,114
Reaction score
16,739
Location
U'alapue/Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Resorts Owned
Pono Kai, 16 wks; Maui Schooner, 1 EOY Wk; 1 week Ke Nani Kai; WaveCrest Condo, Molokai, HI
People can be so judgemental. Our daughter broke her arm in NYC a couple of years ago. She was wearing a sling (she didn't have a cast yet, needed to see a doctor at home for that). She was still quite shaky and wanted wheelchair assist. We had no issues with Jet Blue at JFK, but in Albuquerque when we landed the young man who I guess was in charge of the wheelchairs looked at her and said "Why do you need a wheelchair? It's just your arm." Luckily the women who actually pushed her wheelchair was wonderful.
It's too easy to be cynical I suppose and I'm sure some people take advantage but it's not a big deal in the long run.
 

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
50,782
Reaction score
22,287
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
People can be so judgemental. Our daughter broke her arm in NYC a couple of years ago. She was wearing a sling (she didn't have a cast yet, needed to see a doctor at home for that). She was still quite shaky and wanted wheelchair assist. We had no issues with Jet Blue at JFK, but in Albuquerque when we landed the young man who I guess was in charge of the wheelchairs looked at her and said "Why do you need a wheelchair? It's just your arm." Luckily the women who actually pushed her wheelchair was wonderful.
People are mostly judgmental of those that need a wheelchair to get on the plan but not one to get off.
 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,448
Reaction score
5,394
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
People are mostly judgmental of those that need a wheelchair to get on the plan but not one to get off.
And coincidentally are in Group C. :ROFLMAO:
 

slip

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
12,114
Reaction score
16,739
Location
U'alapue/Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Resorts Owned
Pono Kai, 16 wks; Maui Schooner, 1 EOY Wk; 1 week Ke Nani Kai; WaveCrest Condo, Molokai, HI
People are mostly judgmental of those that need a wheelchair to get on the plan but not one to get off.
What I have learned with my wife's situation and I'm sure others are the same, is that there is a big difference in getting through TSA and the airport to get to your gate and on your plane compared to sitting on a flight and then getting up to get off the plane.
 

dougp26364

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
14,688
Reaction score
3,483
Location
Kansas
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grand Chateau
Marriott Shadow Ridge
Marriott Ocean Pointe
Marriott Destination Club Points
Hilton Grand Vacation Club Las Vegas Blvd
Grand Colorado on Peak 8
Spinnaker French Quarter Resort Branson
To be honest, I don’t hang around the gate long enough to see how many were miraculously cured on flights.
 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,448
Reaction score
5,394
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
What I have learned with my wife's situation and I'm sure others are the same, is that there is a big difference in getting through TSA and the airport to get to your gate and on your plane compared to sitting on a flight and then getting up to get off the plane.
Of course. Does you wife take a wheelchair only one way? If so, do you tell the airline she doesn't need it on arrival?
 

slip

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
12,114
Reaction score
16,739
Location
U'alapue/Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Resorts Owned
Pono Kai, 16 wks; Maui Schooner, 1 EOY Wk; 1 week Ke Nani Kai; WaveCrest Condo, Molokai, HI
Of course. Does you wife take a wheelchair only one way? If so, do you tell the airline she doesn't need it on arrival?
From how we have done it, we make the arrangement with the airline when we purchase the tickets and we would tell them if we didn't need it on arrival. When she was really bad, of course, she used it both ways.
 

slip

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
12,114
Reaction score
16,739
Location
U'alapue/Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Resorts Owned
Pono Kai, 16 wks; Maui Schooner, 1 EOY Wk; 1 week Ke Nani Kai; WaveCrest Condo, Molokai, HI
My wife also has times where we board early because she couldn't stand that long in the boarding line to board with our group but she can walk onto the plane by herself. We are usually always group two otherwise.
 

moonstone

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,972
Reaction score
3,104
Location
Moonstone, ON
Resorts Owned
The Beach Club at St. Augustine Beach, FL (1 floating week, purchased in 1982)

77,000 RCI points (Sunrise Ridge Resort, TN)
What I have learned with my wife's situation and I'm sure others are the same, is that there is a big difference in getting through TSA and the airport to get to your gate and on your plane compared to sitting on a flight and then getting up to get off the plane.
Same with me. While awaiting for my knee replacement I have resorted to requesting a WC in the airport. DH insisted on it a year ago last January when we got to our gate with just minutes to spare for our Belize flight because of the distance I had to walk, and length of time standing, at Toronto's Pearson Airport, going through security, then US Customs then walking to the gate. I was almost in tears with the pain and was walking very slowly. The gate agent added WC assistance at the Belize end and it was a godsend as the lineup for customs would have meant me standing for well over an hour. I also get a WC on the jetway or immediately inside the terminal when departing the plane. The last few flights we have taken when landing at Pearson it is about a half mile walk from the plane down to the Immigration Hall, then further to baggage, then several hundred yards out to the passenger pick-up area. I can stand for a couple minutes, or walk a hundred yards or so, then it feels like somebody has a hot knife and is trying to pry off my kneecap! I also get off the plane last because after I've been sitting a while my knee is very stiff and feels like it is going to bend inside out. It takes me a while to get it moving and I don't want to hold anybody up.

~Diane
 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,448
Reaction score
5,394
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
Looks like we are just repeating (almost verbatim) the almost 200 posts in the Southwest thread:

 

Ken555

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
14,885
Reaction score
5,996
Location
Los Angeles
Resorts Owned
Westin Kierland
Sheraton Desert Oasis
I was on an American Airlines flight a couple of days ago. Boarding was slow and somewhat chaotic, largely due to the scanner not working for electronic boarding passes. Once I checked in, I waited for at least ten minutes just past the check-in area, as people took their time stowing their luggage and getting seated. We departed about ten minutes late but made up the time during the flight and even arrived a few minutes early.

It’s worth mentioning that the boarding process was also delayed. So, it's not always the passengers who cause slowdowns, as was evident on this flight.

Call me crazy, but I think boarding might be faster if a crew member assisted every passenger with stowing their luggage.
 
Top