V-Flyer

We will shortly be flying on our first UC trip from LHR. What is the protocol for UC passengers re the security queueing to enter the holding lounge for boarding?

Do we line up with everyone else, or just boldly stroll to the front and expect to be let in?

Thanks!

Originally posted by DaviesUK
...or just boldly stroll to the front and expect to be let in?

That is what you are told to do when boarding is announced in the Clubhouse.

Having said that, on my last few flights, by the time boarding is announced in the Clubhouse, everyone else seems to be on the plane, so it hasn't been a problem.

Nick

DaviesUk

on my first UC flight we were in huge queue and bloke who'd been in Clubhouse with us made himself look like a right t****r, fill in your own letters, by barging to front passed people he obviously deemed to be inferior, we stood and waited our turn and got in our seats literally moments after aforesaid gentleman. Second time we flew we waited for announcement in Clubhouse, wandered along to gate, no queues, straight on to plane, moments later glass champagne in hand, so would definately recommend the latter!

Lynne

I find an electric cattle prod can be quite effective...

Originally posted by billybob
on my first UC flight we were in huge queue and bloke who'd been in Clubhouse with us made himself look like a right t****r, fill in your own letters, by barging to front passed people he obviously deemed to be inferior

You have travelled with Richard? [:)]

Seriously though, as Nick says, passengers are instructed to go to the front of the queue which isnt the best course of action. Those who barge to the front appear rude and pushy, and those who join the queue at the back feel undervalued. Seperate boarding lanes really should be in effect at all times, its not that difficult.

Second time we flew we waited for announcement in Clubhouse

You can also wait for the second boarding call in the Clubhouse. By that time there is rarely a line of boarding passengers so you can pretty much walk straight onboard.

Have a great flight.

Thanks,
Sarah

For some reason Priority Boarding is one thing VS is unable to master consistently. On some flight there are 2 queues and everything works well, another it's a complete free-for-all in a survival of the fittest way.

As other have suggested, stay in the CH, finish your waffles, quaff another champagne, then stroll to the gate to board immediately and enjoy more champagne.

Even pushing to the front of the queue doesn't always work.

I tried this on my last VS flight to DXB. The annoucment was made in the Clubhouse and so the J and Au pax made thier way to gate 3 or 4 (the newer ones) and there was quite a long queue to enter the boarding area, I pushed to the front and was sent back by VS ground staff. There where 2 entrances to the gate area but they where only using 1 which meant hat the the J and AU pax had to join the back of an already longish queue [V] [V]

We then had to wait a further 10-15 mins in the gate area before boarding the A/C. Only then was priority boarding in operation.

I'm sorry to say but IMO the VS priority boarding system often fails(at LHR anyway)

Regards

When I travel, unless there is a clearly marked priority boarding lane, I just get in line like everyone else. I wouldn't embarress myself by pushing to the front, just because I'm in UC.

Personally it doesnt really bother me to wait in a queue for a bit, you don't get to your destination any quicker and Im quite happy to stretch my legs prior to a long flight.

Just my 2c worth.

Mark

But you do get to be seated and comfortable more quickly. Fortunatley in all of the lines we've joined we've never had to push to the front. We just walk around the queue and present ourselves at the front. Only once have we had to let ourselves through the tensa barrier.

Although priority boarding often seems to fail, some fault lays squarely at the feet of people who refuse to queue only when called to do so.

My last UC flight, we were called in the CH. By the time we got to the gate (LHR 35 I think), some problem had arose. We all had to wait in the gate seating area. After 15 or so minutes the announcement was made 'priority boarding, special assistacne and those with children was about to commence. Please could all other passengers remain seated until called by row'

In the blink of an eye, there was a rush to be head of the queue. UC was going to be busy it seemed, as 300 people were getting ready to baord.

Again an announcement was made to stay seated until called by row. Maybe 15 people sat back down. A third announcement was made, again only a few people sat down.

Eventually the UC, AU and special assistance were told to go to the head of the queue.

I must say, it is a pet hate of mine, no matter what cabin I am in, when people rush to queue up before being called.

Originally posted by nevadakaz

I must say, it is a pet hate of mine, no matter what cabin I am in, when people rush to queue up before being called.

And what is the desperation to get into a 12 hour tin can prison? Do they think they'll miss out on something? Human nature ... [:?]

I think we know where I stand on this matter. [B)]

Of course, if on a LHR config B747, there are 52 J seats, 64 PE seats and then Gold members sat in Y class allowed to use the priority queue (along with the special assistance cases also sat in Y) so there are roughly half the passengers ENTITLED to get on first.....

[:0]

Originally posted by nevadakaz
I must say, it is a pet hate of mine, no matter what cabin I am in, when people rush to queue up before being called.

It just us Brits, we are frightened to death we will miss out on something if we aren't at the front of the queue.

I personally think on this matter that if VS advertise it as a perk and you are told by the Ch to go to the front of the queue then you have every right too. It can be done without pushing and being rude thought that is just having a lack of courtesy.

Originally posted by McMaddog

Originally posted by nevadakaz

I must say, it is a pet hate of mine, no matter what cabin I am in, when people rush to queue up before being called.

And what is the desperation to get into a 12 hour tin can prison? Do they think they'll miss out on something? Human nature ... [:?]

I blame Ryanair myself[:w][}:)][}:)][:w]

buns

Originally posted by Juliet
Of course, if on a LHR config B747, there are 52 J seats, 64 PE seats and then Gold members sat in Y class allowed to use the priority queue (along with the special assistance cases also sat in Y) so there are roughly half the passengers ENTITLED to get on first.....

[:0]

You missed the people with children off that list.... [xx(]

Originally posted by buns4vs

Originally posted by McMaddog

Originally posted by nevadakaz

I must say, it is a pet hate of mine, no matter what cabin I am in, when people rush to queue up before being called.

And what is the desperation to get into a 12 hour tin can prison? Do they think they'll miss out on something? Human nature ... [:?]

I blame Ryanair myself[:w][}:)][}:)][:w]

buns

Ryanair seems very civilised compared to Southwest A,B,C.

I was flying Southwest from LAX-LAS once and was shocked at how people queued, over an hour before the inbound flight had even landed !!
I was quite happy sitting down, reading my book, boarding virtually last and finding a seat. As it happened, there was a middle seat in the fron row, so I took that.

Originally posted by HighFlyer

Originally posted by billybob
on my first UC flight we were in huge queue and bloke who'd been in Clubhouse with us made himself look like a right t****r, fill in your own letters, by barging to front passed people he obviously deemed to be inferior

You have travelled with Richard? [:)]

Fell off my seat laughing (FOMSL) [oo]

Originally posted by buns4vs

Originally posted by McMaddog

Originally posted by nevadakaz

I must say, it is a pet hate of mine, no matter what cabin I am in, when people rush to queue up before being called.

And what is the desperation to get into a 12 hour tin can prison? Do they think they'll miss out on something? Human nature ... [:?]

I blame Ryanair myself[:w][}:)][}:)][:w]

buns

Me too. Before FR started charging for priority boarding, you should have seen the queues at the gates when they called for pax needing extra time to board. People travelling with a 15yr old 'child' would happily take advantage of priority boarding due to the minor they had with them who needed extra time to get seated.

Sorry, but I am bang in Ryanair's favour on this one - them charging for priority boarding will stop a lot of people from taking the p155.

Back OT, why Virgin cannot manage a proper priority boarding operation at their main UK base is beyond me. Some of their out-sourced downroute bases can do this no problem!

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by Juliet
Of course, if on a LHR config B747, there are 52 J seats, 64 PE seats and then Gold members sat in Y class allowed to use the priority queue (along with the special assistance cases also sat in Y) so there are roughly half the passengers ENTITLED to get on first.....

[:0]

You missed the people with children off that list.... [xx(]

Richard, that's closer to the truth than you think. I once flew from LGW during school holidays, when they called for anyone with special needs or children to board first my GF and I were the only people not to move.[;)]

-Steve

I find that barging to the front waving my purple boarding card under noses while shouting 'back you peasant!!' very loudly has the desired effect. [}:)]

All those admiring glances and ladies falling into a swoon at brash confidence.[;)]

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
I find that barging to the front waving my purple boarding card under noses while shouting 'back you peasant!!' very loudly has the desired effect. [}:)]

Quality[^] I think that is def the approach I am going to take for our first UC flights.

After all this discussion, I have a simple question: why, in its home airport, can VS not get priority boarding regularised and efficient? Any one of us could rearrange things and provide the training in a few days that would sort this out, so why can't they? This is a bit worrying. I only hope that the inefficiency of this side of airport ops doesn't reflect on their safety and tech team! One has faith that blind, continual incompetence is allowed in non-tech ops in a way it wouldn't be in life-or-death situations, but it is just faith.

'cos it's not VS staff?

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
I find that barging to the front waving my purple boarding card under noses while shouting 'back you peasant!!' very loudly has the desired effect. [}:)]

All those admiring glances and ladies falling into a swoon at brash confidence.[;)]

ROFLMAO thats post is a 'classic'[oo]