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Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 06:26
by Missy-Tank
Morning,

At Gatwick where the gates necessitate queuing to go through the passport and secondary security checks is there a seperate line for PE/ UC before getting into the gate area.

Don't want to be jumping the queue if there isn't.

Thanks

Gavin

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 07:44
by buns
ISTBC but VS have dedicated Upper/PE / AU lines at all Gates across the Globe

How effectively they operate is of course a different matter - at Gatwick, Gates 13 - 21 have an efficient system in place

buns

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 08:39
by honey lamb
buns wrote:ISTBC but VS have dedicated Upper/PE / AU lines at all Gates across the Globe

How effectively they operate is of course a different matter - at Gatwick, Gates 13 - 21 have an efficient system in place

buns

Hmm, buns, I read the post as asking if there were PE/UC lines before they got to the gate area, i.e. a bit like the private security channel at LHR :? It is a bit confusing and I'm still not sure which of us had read the question correctly.

Perhaps Missy-Tank could come back and clarify?

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 10:03
by clarkeysntfc
If possible, if in PE/UC just (politely and quietly) make your way to the front of the queue.

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 10:50
by jodash
we have had no problems at Gatwick last time a bit late getting to the gate but seperate line for UC/PE and straight through

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 11:01
by honey lamb
honey lamb wrote:
buns wrote:ISTBC but VS have dedicated Upper/PE / AU lines at all Gates across the Globe

How effectively they operate is of course a different matter - at Gatwick, Gates 13 - 21 have an efficient system in place

buns

Hmm, buns, I read the post as asking if there were PE/UC lines before they got to the gate area, i.e. a bit like the private security channel at LHR :? It is a bit confusing and I'm still not sure which of us had read the question correctly.

Perhaps Missy-Tank could come back and clarify?

I've just re-read the query and now realise exactly what was being asked. I'd forgotten about the extra security that is sometimes at the gates. My bad!

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 11:09
by David
Here's a follow on from the original question - what do you do in the tunnel to the plane ?

Do you join the end of the queue or do you make your way to the front - thats assuming you arrive after boarding has started.

(I wait, but would be interesting to find out what others do)

thanks

David

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 11:15
by clarkeysntfc
If there is a queue in the jet way itself, I always stay in line.

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 11:32
by tontybear
ditto.

I always take the view that if you missed the actual priority boarding call for UC/PE etc then even though they might scan your BP etc before some pax in Y then you should join the end of the queue on the jet way

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 12:49
by Darren Wheeler
For me, Priority Boarding only really applies at the very first call. This is your chance to board ahead of everyone else. Once the normal boarding has started, you're pretty much in the queue, especially in Y or a single jetway.

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 13:14
by pjh
tontybear wrote:ditto.

I always take the view that if you missed the actual priority boarding call for UC/PE etc then even though they might scan your BP etc before some pax in Y then you should join the end of the queue on the jet way


Double ditto

How do you know the status of everyone else on the jetway? They may all be UC and PE :)

Re: Gatwick - Queue to enter the gate area

PostPosted: 21 May 2012, 13:37
by slinky09
Darren Wheeler wrote:For me, Priority Boarding only really applies at the very first call. This is your chance to board ahead of everyone else. Once the normal boarding has started, you're pretty much in the queue, especially in Y or a single jetway.


Must be different for you, my experience at LHR certainly, and also SFO etc. is that where two jet bridges are in operation, the announcement for boarding generally comes after boarding has commenced for most passengers. So while it is priority, it's not necessarily before.