Help returning on Delta for the first time

[vacationclub]

That's something new. Cool!

US Airways also has something like this.

 

[LWQuestie]

You are joking, right? That was a joke? Southwest is the only airline that forces you to stand in a line. To "line up" early per their instructions.

Actually, Southwest encourages their passengers to stay seated until the groups are called to line up and board. I don't think I've stood in line 5 minutes before the boarding process began for the group called (A or B, never been in C). It's far more orderly than you try to make it seem.

You seem to refer back to the way out-of-date method of cattle call boarding that they eliminated at least 5 yrs ago. That lead to long waits in the chute to hold your space in line.

I've experienced the exact same behavior that DebbieB described on all other airlines flown in the past several years (US Air, Delta, and JetBlue). When there is Zone boarding, people jockey for the best position in that group. I do it myself. I want to put my overhead bag as close to my seat as possible.

Obviously, you can say "excuse me" to get through, but it is aggravating to have people who can't board for 20 minutes standing in the way.

 

[vacationclub]

Actually, Southwest encourages their passengers to stay seated until the groups are called to line up .

Yes, they tell them not to line up, until its time to line up. Which means they line up. And, they only tell you can't line up if you're not in the next group to be boarded. A's can line up anytime they want, they aren't discouraging that. They don't tell you that you cant hover near the line up area either (the same thing you're describing at other airlines). They are simply saying not to occupy the line up area until your group is next to line up.

They are the only airline that forces you to line up. That was my point. Regardless of how long you stand in this line, you are still in a line that they mandated. You still had to make your way to that spot when they tell you to, and perhaps even say "excuse me" on the way there.

It's far more orderly than you try to make it seem.

I didn't say anything about how orderly it was, I said that they force you to stand in a line, as opposed to the description that "at least there's no reason to line up early". You line up early because they require you to stand in a line....they've created areas with numbers just for this line.

You seem to refer back to the way out-of-date method of cattle call boarding that they eliminated at least 5 yrs ago. That lead to long waits in the chute to hold your space in line.

When did I do that? I'm describing exactly what happens today....when they force you to stand in a line at a specific time that they tell you. No other airline does this.

I've experienced the exact same behavior that DebbieB described on all other airlines flown in the past several years (US Air, Delta, and JetBlue). When there is Zone boarding, people jockey for the best position in that group. I do it myself. I want to put my overhead bag as close to my seat as possible.

Obviously, you can say "excuse me" to get through, but it is aggravating to have people who can't board for 20 minutes standing in the way.

It's just as aggravating when you have to say excuse me to get to position A26 and stake your claim there. What's the difference? At least with non-SW airlines people can naturally space themselves apart as they feel comfortable, SW forces you to be closer to be in the right number position. Sometimes people are standing at the posts before boarding begins...the same "space claim" you describe on other airlines. They don't want to fight the crowds when the line up is called. People do what people do.

It's aggravating when anyone is my way when I'm in the grocery store, or at Disney, or at the luggage carousel. I don't choose a different grocery store or vacation or form or travel because of it. You're describing the natural movements of people and blaming an airline for it, and dismissing an airlines specific requirements for people make their way to a specific place at a specific time. (the SW line with numbers). In the end it's all the same, except you don't have any idea where you will sit, or if your party can sit together on SW....that's what it all comes down to.

 

[LWQuestie]

A's can line up anytime they want, they aren't discouraging that.

My point was that yes, Southwest does discourage people from standing up and clog the boarding area until it's time to actually board the plane.

Sometimes people are standing at the posts before boarding begins...the same "space claim" you describe on other airlines.

I don't think I've ever seen that happen. Maybe your experience differs from mine.

You're describing the natural movements of people and blaming an airline for it, and dismissing an airlines specific requirements for people make their way to a specific place at a specific time.

First, I'm not blaming an airline for anything. I'm sharing my experiences, which happen to match other users and apparently completely contradict yours. Second, all airlines have requirements to be in a specific place at a specific time!

I think we all get it by now. You don't like Southwest's boarding procedure.

 

[NC State]

Thank you for all the information.
I'll report on which one I thought was the best on boarding when we return. 30 days and counting.

 

[vacationclub]

My point was that yes, Southwest does discourage people from standing up and clog the boarding area until it's time to actually board the plane.

No, they only discourage people who aren't next to be boarded from standing next to a number. B's can't line up until A's have passed, etc. A's can stand there anytime they want, and often do, usually because there is no place left in the terminal to sit since SW tears out rows of seats to make room for the line up area. People naturally anticipate the eventual walk they have to a specific spot where they might have to say "excuse me" to people, so some A's do it ahead of time before the mass moving begins at the line up announcement. I've done it myself.

all airlines have requirements to be in a specific place at a specific time!

Yes, eventually, every airline requires you to be on the plane before they close the door. Duly noted. But we are talking about being in the line next to your number when, and exactly when, SW tells you to. Otherwise you risk an even worse seating outcome. This is not a risk or requirement on other airlines, including Delta, that the OP asked about. I was simply pointing that out.

I think we all get it by now. You don't like Southwest's boarding procedure.

And I think we get that you do like Southwest's boarding proceedure. So, what was the point of that sentence other than stating the obvious?

I was simply responding to the OP's questions about the difference between what they've had with SW and what will happen at Delta. When the "pushing and shoving" claims come up from other posters is when I go further in this discussion, and question their claims....and outright bias for SW.

At the end of the day, people are all told to go somewhere at sometime, and regardless of whether they are heading to the plane at their leisure once a group is called, or told to go to a specific spot next to a number at a specific time first, either way they may have to say "excuse me" as they encounter others in their way. In the end, its the same people eventually going through the same door to the same plane. Only difference.....as I said in my first post.....is that the other airlines figure out where you will sit before you board, as opposed to SW's policy of letting people figure it out for themselves based on what's left as they enter the aircraft in a line who's order is dictated to them by Southwest.

Like it or not, it is what it is.

 

[DebbieB]

And I think we get that you do like Southwest's boarding proceedure. So, what was the point of that sentence other than stating the obvious?

I was simply responding to the OP's questions about the difference between what they've had with SW and what will happen at Delta. When the "pushing and shoving" claims come up from other posters is when I go further in this discussion, and question their claims....and outright bias for SW.

Actually, I have not flown SW in a couple years, I don't have a bias. Delta & USAir better serves my business travel needs and I used miles earned for my vacation travel. Just because I have an opinion that I like their more organized boarding system vs the chaos of the legacy airlines does not make me biased. I consider the legacy airlines more "running of the bulls" than SW. That's my opinion. You have your opinion, I have mine. But don't imply that I'm lying or biased because I have my opinion.

 

[NC State]

We will have two large pieces for check bagage and one carryon (laptop) leaving the resort for home. Where/when do I paid the bagage fees?