MSE News: British Airways to launch new boarding policy - here's what you need to...

Jimmithecat

I think it’s a very odd policy as you get to spend less time on the plane and as the seats are allocated there’s no rush for ‘better’ seats.

I would be extremely proud to do the walk of shame up to the last seat in the back of the plane - knowing I had paid the least for the same flight as others.

In fact if I wasn’t the last one on I would be likely to ask the person In the back row how they had got the seat cheaper than me!

bagand96

If airlines had any sense they would load planes from the back - that way passengers are out of the way and you can board the next lot quicker instead of having people part way down the plane sticking things in lockers and slowing up boarding for those heading further back. However I have yet to see an airline adopt the sensible approach.

A lot of the charter airlines used to do this, especially when they operated Boeing 757s... the length of them and them being single aisle compounded the problem, so boarding by blocks of rows was common.

Unfortunately it relies on the punters understanding "Boarding Rows 30-40" from the screens, interpreting the boarding pass and correlating what row they're in. Unsurprising that the general public in an airport often found this mind blowing.

malkie76

zagfles wrote: »

Is this really an issue on BA, or any non "budget" airline, these days? Only time I've seen people told they'll need to put hand luggage in the hold is on budget airlines eg Ryanair, EasyJet.

Very much so due to BA's generous carry on allowance, and unwillingness of gate staff to police it, combined with their new handbaggage only fares.

jpsartre

Jimmithecat wrote: »

I think it’s a very odd policy as you get to spend less time on the plane and as the seats are allocated there’s no rush for ‘better’ seats.

Lots of people disagree with you which is why priority boarding is a frequent flyer perk with most airlines (or something you have to pay extra for on budget airlines).

jimjames

EssexExile wrote: »

If you're going to be in the crowded bit at the back, why would you want to get on any earlier than you have to?

I agree. I really can't see what the fuss is about - unless I'd paid extra for priority and it means I've got to wait on the plane longer.

glider3560

Having flown with BA quite a bit recently, I discovered they allow you to check in your hand luggage *before* security. Sometimes they "invite" you to do this by text message, other times I just asked and was never refused.

Unless I'm in a rush at my destination, I don't mind my hand luggage going in the hold, provided I don't have to carry it round the airport. What I do mind is when you have to carry it through security, all round the airport, then get it taken away at the aircraft door.

With all this in mind, I really don't care whether I'm the first or last on the plane, provided my luggage is all in order.

JezR

Boarding in batches of rows from back to front actually isn't the most effective method - it is worse than random or no assigned seating for queues. What is more efficient is window-middle-aisle or more complex variants thereof.

The BA method will be fairly random as not all in upper tiers of the Executive Club will turn up early, preferring to linger in the Lounge. The group number system is fairly commonly used in the USA - the number of them sometimes stretching up to 9.

What BA will need to do though is to rigorously enforce it, which is not something that they have not tended to have done hitherto.

marsman802

Hand baggage is the reason this is being introduced really.
If you have BA status then most expect to be able to put their bag in the overhead locker and get off quickly.
Given that it seems the majority of passengers on short haul have status these days it needed something like this as the non status lanes were actually shorter on non leisure routes!

Business and First passengers get on first anyway although I have seen a struggle on locker space in Business even then sometimes.
My rush to get onboard on long haul is to get a drink and kick back.

zagfles

malkie76 wrote: »

Very much so due to BA's generous carry on allowance, and unwillingness of gate staff to police it, combined with their new handbaggage only fares.

Thanks - I've just booked one of them - I was going to take a trolleybag but I'll do what I usually do on the budget airlines and take a bag that fits under the seat in front (not that I'll actually put it there, it'll go in the overhead locker with coat etc as it always does ).

dickydonkin

EssexExile wrote: »

If you're going to be in the crowded bit at the back, why would you want to get on any earlier than you have to?

Even if you are sat in the pointy end, especially row 1 on BA short haul, you are not guaranteed space in the overhead bins.

Cabin crew have the annoying habit of using overhead bins for their own baggage. Furthermore, and this happens quite frequently, passengers who are seated down the back will plonk their bags in the overhead bins in Club Europe and proceed to sit in their seats down the back of the bus.

A few weeks ago, I saw someone place a guitar in a Club Europe overhead and then walk to his seat down the back.

HBO fares and condensed cabins have only exacerbated the problem.

The existing boarding policy would work fine if enforced, but it seems that ground staff seem unwilling to police it and are quite content to allow a free for all.

I cannot see the new proposed policy being any different.