Today, my parents went to Rome(FCO) and I got permission from TSA to escort them to the gate
And they were cool about, but the real reason for this post is when the time came for boarding the gate agents announce the rows1 thru five to be boarded first, and all of sudden everybody gets up and approach the gate agent, she looks at the boarding pass and tells the person it is not your turn yet and this went on and on so, she gets back on the pa and make the same announcement boarding rows one thru five this time she was aggressive. This is why I say the nerve of passengers, the same people got up and approached the gate agent again, this time she gave in and let them pass.

I have a lot of respect for gate agents who have to deal with this ordeal all day long.

Quoting Aileron11 (Thread starter): I have a lot of respect for gate agents who have to deal with this ordeal all day long.

thx mate! 

This is an age old problem. I don't think there is a solution to this one.

People are stupid...and rude!!

This suprised you? The same thing happens just about every day on most flights worldwide. The gate agent makes the first boarding call (maybe its only F class boarding only, maybe it preboarding for special pax, etc) and every gets up and heads to the doorway.....no one listens. Some gate agents try harder than others to enforce borading procedure.

Being that you are from NJ, and you mentioned rows 1-5........I am going to take a wild guess that your parents were flying a CO 762 from EWR to FCO. I am surprised that the CO agent ""gave in"" ......the CO gang at EWR is rather strict on issues such as this (bullshit is not tolerated by these men and women), probably he or she was exhausted after the Easter rush and just said "what the hell".

Also consider that sometimes language is an issue on international flight: could be that the pax really did not understand the announcement, saw people starting to board, and approached the gate......CO does not do gate announcements in alternate languages at EWR (except for Spanish sometime) and they should. I fly CO 060 EWR-BRU about once per month and sometimes the same things occur (everyone charges the gate even though only BFirst has been called).....frequently its a language thing (or pax simply making believe that its a language thing.) Regards......hope that your parents have a good trip.

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 3): Being that you are from NJ, and you mentioned rows 1-5........I am going to take a wild guess that your parents were flying a CO 762 from EWR to FCO

Dutchjet, you are correct.

Yes, I get real ticked when I see people crowd around a few yards away from the podium even 30 minutes before the flight boards and wait for the flight to board. I have seen people stand there for over an hour. It is extremely annoying. Then when they finally do call boarding, everyone gets up and joins the mass. When it's your turn to board, and you leisurely get up from your seat, you can't tell who the fu** is in the line or not. Airlines should make a line designating how far back you can stand before you wait for a flight to reduce congestion. The nerve!

I've never really got why people are so desperate to get on a plane.
yes, First, Business, even premium i can understand, you get your welcome rinks etc. and are generally made to feel welcomed.
But why rush to economy? Your just going to spend even more time sitting in the narrow seat, with your 28" legroom.
The planes not going to leave without you if your at the gate ready for departure, and for airlines with assigned seating... your seat is reserved!

Kev.

[Edited 2007-04-07 01:42:01]

Quoting Aileron11 (Thread starter): Today, my parents went to Rome(FCO) and I got permission from TSA to escort them to the gate And they were cool about

That's pretty worrying, do you work at the airport or anything?   

What you saw is nothing out of the ordinary! It happens on a lot of flights I've been on.

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): But why rush to economy? Your just going to spend even more time sitting in the narrow seat, with your 28" legroom. The planes not going to leave without you if your at the gate ready for departure, and for airlines with assigned seating... your seat is reserved!

To make sure you have some overhead cabin space for your carry-ons, or at least some within the same general area as your seat.

I strictly enforce the proper boarding method and will turn away anyone (unless let's say a Platinum is traveling with his/her family and they are in different groups, etc.), even families that want to preboard or are in group 6 and want to board with Group 1. We don't preboard families in our station and I flat out tell them when they come up with their 100 children and strollers and car seats ("I did not call your group") and they cop the biggest attitude.

Also, in my preboarding announcement about three minutes prior to boarding, I advise everyone about the group boarding method and say "take this time to identify your group number on your boarding pass and you may only approach the agent at the doorway when your group number has been called."

I find that when agents make their PA announcements and don't provide an option for them to board (by using certain words), they won't approach. However, again, morning flights are easier than afternoons. People are more anxious in the afternoons to get on board and usually have to repeat the phrase "You may only board when your group number has been called" after calling a group to board.

Quoting Daleaholic (Reply 7): That's pretty worrying, do you work at the airport or anything?

What is the worry, my parents needed assistants to the gate, so the TSA granted me permission, whats wrong with that.

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): But why rush to economy?

So that they can use the toilet, stand in the aisle and the list goes on....

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 8): To make sure you have some overhead cabin space for your carry-ons

There's your problem. You used the plural for carry-on. Too many bags. Check the damn things. Odds are very much with you that your bag will arrive with you. I love it when agents enforce the carry-on limits and check the third, fourth and fifth item. People act like you are taking their children.

Quoting Aileron11 (Reply 10): What is the worry, my parents needed assistants to the gate, so the TSA granted me permission

If the TSA gave you permission without having you obtain a gate escort pass from the airline on which your parents travelled, then they broke the law. Did they run your name against the no fly list???? United enters your name and birth date into their system after you give them your government issued ID. If their system issues a gate pass then you can accompany elderly parents (only those needing assistance, not everyone's grandparents who are healthy and able) and parents meeting unaccompanied minors.

Quoting Bicoastal (Reply 12): There's your problem. You used the plural for carry-on. Too many bags. Check the damn things. Odds are very much with you that your bag will arrive with you. I love it when agents enforce the carry-on limits and check the third, fourth and fifth item. People act like you are taking their children.

It might be his problem, or it might be that someone else has brought too much carryon and it becomes his problem but not of his making.

The only one to blame here is the gate agent(s). If they follow the rules and refuse boarding to those not called, there wouldn't be a problem at all. If this happened often enough, people would stop trying to get on before their time. And if they followed the rules with regards to carry on, the problem of space would go away too. Either way, the blame is with the gate agent.

And, for the record, it's human nature to try to bend the rules a bit. Everyone likes the idea of getting away with something. If you're a conformist and always do what you are told, you're a (fill in the blank). And in this day and age getting on board the plane to sit in the narrow economy seat for longer than you otherwise would if you had waited your turn is a big victory. Sad, but true.

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): But why rush to economy? Your just going to spend even more time sitting in the narrow seat, with your 28" legroom.

Quoting Bicoastal (Reply 12): Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 8): To make sure you have some overhead cabin space for your carry-ons There's your problem. You used the plural for carry-on. Too many bags. Check the damn things. Odds are very much with you that your bag will arrive with you. I love it when agents enforce the carry-on limits and check the third, fourth and fifth item. People act like you are taking their children.

But even if you only have one carry-on, and smaller than average, as I normally do, it can be difficult to find space to stow it if you board late especially during the winter when passengers have bulky coats etc. If they can't find room for it there's a good chance they will take it and check it, which isn't good if it contains valuables like a laptop etc

Afraid I don't fully agree that your checked bags will arrive with you. While statistically that is correct, on about 50% of my recent trips with a checked bag, it has not arrived with me after I made a connection but my checked bag didn't. It's always shown up later the same day (except once 30 hours later) but it's a major hassle.

That's one reason I like flyiing on small regional jets where (at least in Europe) you can normally leave your carry-on bag on a cart at the bottom of the aircraft steps, knowing it's going to be put on your aircraft. They unload those bags first at the other end and you pick it up at the bottom of the steps as you deplane with no need to hang around the baggage claim belt wondering whether you're going to be one of the lucky ones.

Another thing that annoys me is when economy class passengers put their carry-on in the first or business class bins as they're walking down the aisle, knowing there's probably a good chance there won't be room in the bins when they finally get to their seat in row 35. Flight attendants sometimes see that and ask them to remove it and take it with with them to their own seat but they often aren't paying attention and the passenger gets away with it.

I fully agree that carriers should enforce carry-on limits for those who make it to the gate with half their worldy possessions.

Quoting Bicoastal (Reply 12): There's your problem. You used the plural for carry-on. Too many bags. Check the damn things. Odds are very much with you that your bag will arrive with you. I love it when agents enforce the carry-on limits and check the third, fourth and fifth item. People act like you are taking their children.

Even if you are well with in your limits, space is very limited. Don't forget you have your jacket/coat as well, and they take up quite a bit of room especially in the winter months.

Personally, I don't rush the gate. However, I do try to make sure that when my row number is called, I am one of the first in line so I can get onboard the aircraft, place my stuff in the overhead compartment, sit down and relax.

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 15): ven if you are well with in your limits, space is very limited. Don't forget you have your jacket/coat as well, and they take up quite a bit of room especially in the winter months.

I usually hang my jacket on the hanger on the tray table clip(only on some a/c). I don't understand why people don't do this more often.

[Edited 2007-04-07 03:28:10]

Quoting COERJ145 (Reply 16): I usually hang my jacket on the hanger on the tray table clip(only on some a/c). I don't understand why people don't do this more often.

On a short flight, I do this as well, or just hold on to it. But on a 10 hour plus longhaul, it just gets in the way.

Can you imagine an A380, boarding mass of humanity blocking the jet bridge area(s).....now those are going to be some agents, I really do not envy !!

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 3): I am surprised that the CO agent ""gave in""

And the very same agent will probably act surprised when the next group of boorish pax do the same thing.

Quoting Evan767 (Reply 5): Yes, I get real ticked when I see people crowd around a few yards away from the podium even 30 minutes before the flight boards and wait for the flight to board.

But I thought that this only happens with Southwest's "cattle call" boarding process. Could the legacy-lovers among us actually be misleading us on this point? 

Quoting Aileron11 (Thread starter): got permission from TSA to escort them to the gate

I did this a couple of times at TPA with my Dad (after he told me he was lined up at the wrong gate at BDL for a WN flight.) Bur each time it was with the airline's permission. Never heard of going to TSA to get through Delta printed out a pass for me on regular ticket stock..with my name on it, the date and number and time of the flight....Southwest gave me a hand-torn quarter of a sheet of paper which had been mimeographed.with the information written in by hand . But they both got me through the TSA and to his gate, ( Where on one flight, security selected him for the pre-bording search, shoes off, etc. I asked the guy in charge why they selected a man in his late eighties for the procedure. He gently grabbed the sleeve of my shirt..pulled me out of the immediate area..and said
'because I work with FXXXing idiots without am ounce of common sense...")
TPAnx

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): But why rush to economy? Your just going to spend even more time sitting in the narrow seat, with your 28" legroom. The planes not going to leave without you if your at the gate ready for departure, and for airlines with assigned

I think I can shed some light on this.
Often times I am in a hurry to get on. The main reason is because the longer it takes to get on the less overhead bin real estate there is. I personally do not like having to stow my carry-on under neath the seat infront of me. That really makes the 28'' even smaller.

Quoting AIR757200 (Reply 9): We don't preboard families in our station and I flat out tell them when they come up with their 100 children and strollers and car seats ("I did not call your group") and they cop the biggest attitude.

Gee, I wonder why. You sound like the typical 'agent on a power trip' yourself and should expect to be treated as such when you treat your customers (the ones paying your salary) with such disdain.

People like you are the reason AA has become the Aeroflot of the US. Congratulations.

Thank You! Now, I'm wondering if the gate agent said Zones 1 to 5? When she told other pax it was not their turn, they could have had a higher zone. But, more than likley you were correct and again I appreciate your appreciation. What was the departure airport? Not to get on my soapbox again but, let me guess, it was EWR, JFK or BOS.
A lot of folks don't pay attention to all our announcements. So, when I can, I spice things up with sound effects or an off the wall but clean comment or statement to capture their attention. Then most passengers get with the program.

Working at an airport for almost three years has taught me how to behave when I fly and I am serious. I notice this stuff just sitting at gates on my lunch or break. From what I see its not always a language barrier people just get up like doofies!

I have flown only 3 round trips in my adult life and I have never been bothered with being the first on or off a plane. Why can't people just RELAX and take their time when boarding? The plane won't leave them at the gate....unless something just silly happens lol

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): I've never really got why people are so desperate to get on a plane.

I have three reasons
1) To get to my seat first (99.995% of the time I'm in a window seat and I hate crawling over people if it can be avoided) and ensure I don't have to deal with a squatter.
2) To get settled in and maximize the time I have to complete any last minute phone calls, etc. before the door closes
3) To not get stuck behind the travelers who take years moving down the asile. Just like rush hour traffic boarding a plane is one of those thing where if you're on first you can get there in 30 seconds, but if you wait even 5 minutes it can take 10 to get to your seat.

While I never carry on anything other than my laptop, as noted above overhead bin space can also be a factor.

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 14): If they can't find room for it there's a good chance they will take it and check it, which isn't good if it contains valuables like a laptop etc

"Ma'am your airline's contract of carriage specifically tells me not to check [laptop computers][valuables][electronic equipment] and excludes your liability for its loss or damage. Unless you can provide a waiver of those provisions and assumption of liability signed by an officer of the company*, I will not be checking it."

(Not that I've ever had to use that line as my laptop case fits securely under the seatback in front of me)

Quoting PurpleBeetle (Reply 22): You sound like the typical 'agent on a power trip' yourself and should expect to be treated as such when you treat your customers (the ones paying your salary) with such disdain.

...what's wrong with expecting a passenger to follow the rules? The family with 100 kids is (in most cases) not the airline's most valuable customer (ie the ones paying a higher percentage of the salary -- either via higher frequency or yield). One of the reasons I fly with one airline exclusively is to enjoy the benefits of priority boarding -- if they're going to just let anyone board at any time, one of the reasons for my loyalty no longer exists.

Lincoln
(In addition to being a SkyTeam elite, and exclusive to CO, I also purchase full-fare (Y-class) for company travel)

* Generally an officer of the company (i.e. president, director, etc.) and/or general counsel are the only people permitted to alter the terms of a contract with that company.

[Edited 2007-04-07 06:18:22]

Quoting Aileron11 (Thread starter): I have a lot of respect for gate agents who have to deal with this ordeal all day long.

This is n-o-t-h-i-n-g. It is incomprehensible what some folks will do and/or ask for.

I know I catch hell and am accused of "customer bashing" all the time in this forum, but the antics of some of the flying public would curl your hair.

I've had people ask me to dispose of used IV injection syringes (with needles attached), for money, for a ride home, for various parts of my uniform, for "seconds" during meal service, for extra amenities (back in the day) so they could take a few items with them when they left...it goes on and on and on.

Quoting Lincoln (Reply 25): Quoting PurpleBeetle (Reply 22): You sound like the typical 'agent on a power trip' yourself and should expect to be treated as such when you treat your customers (the ones paying your salary) with such disdain. ...what's wrong with expecting a passenger to follow the rules? The family with 100 kids is (in most cases) not the airline's most valuable customer (ie the ones paying a higher percentage of the salary -- either via higher frequency or yield). One of the reasons I fly with one airline exclusively is to enjoy the benefits of priority boarding -- if they're going to just let anyone board at any time, one of the reasons for my loyalty no longer exists.

So you're saying that customers who are not the 'most valuable' ones in any business deserve to be barked at and treated with disrespect? No, wrong.

But maybe you should consider a career in the airline industry.

Quoting Zippyjet (Reply 23): I'm wondering if the gate agent said Zones 1 to 5?

The OP noted in a reply that this was a CO flight and since CO doesn't utilize zone boarding me thinks this is unlikely.

I will note, though that based on casual observation leisure-oriented passengers seem less likely to stampeed with zone boarding than row boarding. It doesn't seem to have any effect on business travelers who will stampeed at the first sign of boarding.

Lincoln

Quoting PurpleBeetle (Reply 27): So you're saying that customers who are not the 'most valuable' ones in any business deserve to be barked at and treated with disrespect?

No. I'm saying that the agents should enforce the policies of their airlines, and many of these policies are biased twoards customers businesses perceive to be more valuable. I fail to see how "Your row has not been called" is "barking at" a customer or "treating them with disrespect"

And one of the facts of life in any service oriented industry is more 'valuable'* customers tend to receive higher levels of service than those who aren't as valuable -- be it at a restaurant, mechanic, dry cleaner, whatever. I expect that a customer who eats at a restaurant daily will be treated somewhat better than I am if I'm only there once a month.

If the agent was screaming "You stupid bitch, I have not called your row" or throwing projectiles at the errant passengers that would be a problem but "I have not called your row"? The only way it could be more respectful would be to tack on an "Sir" or "Ma'am" ("I'm sorry" would be wholly inapproperate as why should the agent be sorry that the passenger is incapible of following simple directions)

Lincoln
*- Note that valuable does not necessarially equate to money; loyalty and other factors also tend to play a part in the judgement of 'valuable'

(Edited to correct quote)

[Edited 2007-04-07 06:34:24]

Quoting Daleaholic (Reply 7): That's pretty worrying, do you work at the airport or anything?

Worrying? Why? Presuming the guy was allowed by the airline and went through security with everyone else what is the big deal? I know sometimes people conduct meetings in airport lounges and go airside just for this reason, only to leave and go home again. Happened a lot before 9/11, less so now.

Quoting AIR757200 (Reply 9): I strictly enforce the proper boarding method and will turn away anyone

Kudos to you.    It gets on my tits when the first boarding call is made and everyone rushes to the gate. As I'm heading onboard a quick glance around notes the majority are in groups 3.4 and 5!! ARGH!! I guess most GAs don't enforce the rules strongly enough...

The Flyertalk term for those that leap for the podium the second the GA hits the PA button is gate lice   

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): But why rush to economy?

My only guess is overhead space. Plus for some anxious flyers getting away from the 'stress' of the terminal building.

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 14): Another thing that annoys me is when economy class passengers put their carry-on in the first or business class bins as they're walking down the aisle, knowing there's probably a good chance there won't be room in the bins when they finally get to their seat in row 35.

I don't get why people do this! Do they want access to their bags during the flight? Do they care that their bags are out sight or out of reach?

Quoting TPAnx (Reply 20): He gently grabbed the sleeve of my shirt..pulled me out of the immediate area..and said 'because I work with FXXXing idiots without am ounce of common sense...")

  

Quoting Bicoastal (Reply 12): If the TSA gave you permission without having you obtain a gate escort pass from the airline on which your parents travelled, then they broke the law

Bicostal, TSA did follow proper procedure, and yes got permission from the airline sorry i forgot to mention.

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): I've never really got why people are so desperate to get on a plane.

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 8): To make sure you have some overhead cabin space for your carry-ons, or at least some within the same general area as your seat.

correct.

Quoting Bicoastal (Reply 12): There's your problem. You used the plural for carry-on. Too many bags. Check the damn things. Odds are very much with you that your bag will arrive with you.

Nope. It's all the other people bringing 3-4 bags, al of them oversized.
I normally bring 1 bag, and if you're not in front of the line you're likely to find that it needs to be stored halfway across the cabin and by the time you get to your seat someone else has taken it and refuses to be dislodged until the head purser comes up with the passenger manifest.

I see that time and again.

It's a specific type of passenger that is most guilty of that, a type I won't describe or I'll be branded a racist...

Quoting Bicoastal (Reply 12): There's your problem. You used the plural for carry-on. Too many bags. Check the damn things. Odds are very much with you that your bag will arrive with you. I love it when agents enforce the carry-on limits and check the third, fourth and fifth item. People act like you are taking their children.

I love what you mentioned. It's damn true. Check the damn things. I hate those people with lots of carry-on especially in the US flights. Sometimes those carry-on items are as big as the checked ones. Geese...check those things. The overhead bin is so small and it might make the aircraft crash. I think there should be real and strict regulations about the carry-on items.

Also...those people who stand right after that aircraft stop around the gate (seatbelt sign is still on). I wish the captain stop the a/c real hard and those psgr were knocked out on the floor because of the hard brake.

These are psgr I totally get my nerve on!!  

I work as a gate controller and you just get used to people coming up before their row number has been called. You can make announcement after announcement an it still wont help. I usually just let people through otherwise you just hold up boarding anyway.


You shouldnt "bark" at passengers, you just put them in least desirable seating!!  

Oh come on people! The only PA's passenger's hear are those PA's with the words "DELAY" or "MECHANICAL." Let's get real! They don't listen to the shared overhead bin space, wait for connecting pax to deplane, or fasten your seatbelt PA's. It just doesn't happen often.

Its the Mentality of most Pax.  

regds
MEL

I was on an AA flight MIA to EZE last month. I was in line to board (F) when a guy actually bumped into me trying to cut in front of me. He looked at me with a measure of disgust then looked at my boarding pass, and realized I was in F and he was J. He said he was sorry and I said, "dont worry about it, we are going to be in BsAs within a second of each other, regardless."

I recently flew with my family back from AGP and the board agent calls familys to board first. Its also allocated seating ( BA ) so we joined the line. There was about 3 or 4 businessmen on there own struggling to get the last phone call before the dreaded 2:30 starvation. Its really bad espically as its allocated if it was FR or EZY it might be diffrent.

What amazes me, is that any the vast majority of airlines, these people have an assigned seat. And here they are freaking out that it may not be there when they get on board. What's the point of sitting on the plane for 20 minutes? Then people complain about how crammed the aisle ways are... If people would take their time, and wait their turn, the aisles wouldn't be so damn crammed!  

Quoting S12PPL (Reply 39): What amazes me, is that any the vast majority of airlines, these people have an assigned seat. And here they are freaking out that it may not be there when they get on board. What's the point of sitting on the plane for 20 minutes? Then people complain about how crammed the aisle ways are... If people would take their time, and wait their turn, the aisles wouldn't be so damn crammed!

Very true, what is the rush?

On the other hand, consider the following:

1. The gate chargers, in many cases (per personal experience), are leisure travellers who are not frequent flyers and just dont get the system, or simply are not interested in understanding boarding system....they just want to get on the airplane and have no interest in row number, zones, FFs, premium cabins, etc. Sometimes leisure travellers are nervous when flying, and can act a bit awkward because of this. Or, the gate charges are just rude.

2. Some of the gate chargers are families with children or older passengers, who expect to be the first on board because they need or want extra time to board.....some airlines accommodate pre-boards, others dont, and the result is confusion. Years ago, just about anyone over 65 or with a minor disability or any family with kids could board early by asking the agent.....those days are gone with 30 minute turn times and the average traveller does not understand that there is no longer time for gate agents to accommodate lots of special needs pax.

3. The carry-on space issue is out of control on most US domestic flights......and overhead bin paranoia is a big problem: Quick, get on the plane fast, there wont be room for my 8 pieces of carry-on luggage are words that are often heard in US airports. Its really gotta stop.

4. As I mentioned above, language is often a problem...some pax, especially on international flights out of US airports, dont understand the announcment being made, or the details that are being said by the gate agent. The pax hear their flight number and charge the gate. Announcements are rarely made in any language other than English (expect for Spanish in some cases) and people can forget that not everyone understands English. Unless and until an english speaker takes a regional flight in Asia or Russia, and realizes how difficult it is when you really have no idea what the gate agent is saying, its hard to understand why some pax behave so oddly during boarding.

5. Its a cultural thing.....actually, I find the pax on US domestic flights, on average, handle boarding better than pax in some other nations. In many parts of the world, boarding is a simple free-for-all and everyone accepts it.

Quoting FlyKev (Reply 6): I've never really got why people are so desperate to get on a plane.

Two words - Overhead space.

Quoting Bicoastal (Reply 12): Too many bags. Check the damn things

...and before anyone starts telling me to check my bag, I will do that when airlines get their baggage connection processes better and can absolutely guarantee my bag will be there at the other end. A 20 minute MCT at MUC is a guarantee that your bag won't be there when you arrive, and through-checking a bag via LHR means a 75% chance of it going bye-bye, per my experience. That's unacceptible.

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 40): The gate chargers, in many cases (per personal experience), are leisure travellers who are not frequent flyers and just dont get the system, or simply are not interested in understanding boarding system....they just want to get on the airplane and have no interest in row number, zones, FFs, premium cabins, etc. Sometimes leisure travellers are nervous when flying, and can act a bit awkward because of this. Or, the gate charges are just rude.

Wrong on all counts - people just want to get on the plane and get going. None of the zone or row-based methods speed up the process, they just annoy people. Let the prems on first, then let the herd stampede, everyone gets on in their own time anyway. Would the airlines prefer everyone to stay sat in the bar until the final boarding call for them personally by name ? We can if you like - just say the word.

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 41): Wrong on all counts - people just want to get on the plane and get going. None of the zone or row-based methods speed up the process

Many will disagree here, especially on larger airplanes.

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 41): they just annoy people.

And many will agree with you on this point.  

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 41): Let the prems on first, then let the herd stampede, everyone gets on in their own time anyway.

Could be the simpliest approach?

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 41): Would the airlines prefer everyone to stay sat in the bar until the final boarding call for them personally by name ? We can if you like - just say the word.

I see you too have been on European charter flights to/from beach destinations.

Regards.

No system of boarding order will please everybody or all circumstances as well noted in previous posts.
Another issue as to boarding that sometimes happens is that when delays due various issues and the a/c needs to get away from the gate or face further delays taking off. Minor mechanical or service problems, catering issues, late arriving crew members and so on can all add to the need to do less selective boarding. That also makes pax more anxious and cause them to mob at the first chance to board.

It's a prickly little reminder of the class system.

Not to mince words with you, but when your parents got permission for you to go to the gate with them, you had already checked in with CO hadn't you? Did you not ask the CO agent for a gate pass? If so, please credit the CO agent with the courtesy of allowing you to go with your parents and not our lovable TSA. According to my husband who is a supervisor with DL, that is the only way it should have happened, unless of course you work for TSA.

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 42): I see you too have been on European charter flights to/from beach destinations.

Would I be caught dead on a charter ? Dear me, no !   But I get your point - and I have no sympathy for pax who board late either, if they're not on board 10 minutes prior to doors close, off they come, off their bags come, bye bye, nice knowing you, good luck getting your refund.

Has it been scientifically proven that boarding by row numbers or zones really helps ? I doubt it can be more than a few minutes per turnaround at most, big deal. Any benefit will usually be wiped out by late transfer pax, late transfer bags, last minute catering or loadsheet changes, the usual things. Those doors only ever close the second before the aircraft is due to push back, that's just reality.

Well if you are flying on TED....you want to get one the two blankets and one of the three pillows on the aircraft!  

Quoting Nethkt (Reply 33): Geese...check those things. The overhead bin is so small and it might make the aircraft crash. I think there should be real and strict regulations about the carry-on items.

No Load Controller worth his salt will make that mistake...

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 41): ...and before anyone starts telling me to check my bag, I will do that when airlines get their baggage connection processes better and can absolutely guarantee my bag will be there at the other end. A 20 minute MCT at MUC is a guarantee that your bag won't be there when you arrive, and through-checking a bag via LHR means a 75% chance of it going bye-bye, per my experience. That's unacceptible.

Then don't fly. Baggage getting lost is life, just like tax and death. Not a good excuse to bring everything into the cabin and take OTHER PEOPLE's space.

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 41): Would the airlines prefer everyone to stay sat in the bar until the final boarding call for them personally by name ? We can if you like - just say the word.

Sure, just make sure you're at the gate by departure time - and not a minute late. Otherwise kiss your flight goodbye and say hello to reservation change fee.

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 42): Many will disagree here, especially on larger airplanes.

I was shocked when QF called a general boarding call for their 743 flight SYD-PER. All those people just lined up to board without any regard for row number.

What was more surprising was that the boarding was very fast! Getting all the way to the back of the plane took no time even though I was in the middle of the boarding pack.

I was in nearly the last row (the window seat with space to put your bag between you and the window even though the sign says not to...)