Priority Boarding

Just wondering how Upper/PE priority boarding is actually supposed to work.
We just returned from Bridgetown where boarding of the aircraft was carried out in order. Those requiring assistance were invited to board first, then Upper and PE passengers were invited to board together. This resulted in a fairly small queue forming at the departure gate which was a mix of upper and PE passengers. The passengers were filing through in an orderly manner when a young woman and her other half marched right up to the front of the queue waving her upper ticket in the air stating "priority boarding - Upper Class". She tried to push straight in at the front of the queue, but thankfully other passengers gave her short shrift and sent her packing, much to her disgust (and everyone else's amusement!). She seemed to think that she had a right to march straight to the front, so the question is, if Upper do have priority over PE, why do Virgin call both to board at the same time through a single gate? Sounds like (and is) a recipie for arguments.

[Neil]

Upper do not have priority over PE when it is called like that and the way you had it called is how it tends to be done as non UK airports.The priority is that you are called to board the a/c first, so basically before the Y pax.

At UK airports, they do tend to call Au/UC pax slightly before PE pax (both after special assistance) and also at UK airports they do often have a separate lane for UC/PE pax.

If they have started boarding Y pax by the time you arrive at the gate, you can board at any time if travelling PE/UC, and some people do go right to the front if there is a long queue.

Neil

There was quite a discussion/thread about this issue just recently (I'm on iPhone so can't track it down)
Unless there are 2 jetways in operation I think if you arrive at the gate once general boarding has started then I think you should queue like everybody else.

I don't really know why everyone likes priority boarding. I'd consider priority boarding being allowed on the plane last, at least you get to sit in the terminal rather than on the plane for a bit longer!

[honey lamb]

I don't really know why everyone likes priority boarding. I'd consider priority boarding being allowed on the plane last, at least you get to sit in the terminal rather than on the plane for a bit longer!

I like it for several reasons such as being able to get space in the overhead bins, having plenty of time to settle down and sorting out my bits and bobs for a long-haul flight including in changing into a sleep suit if appropriate, and having time to enjoy my pre-flight drink (and possibly have a second one :w )

[Neil]

I don't really know why everyone likes priority boarding. I'd consider priority boarding being allowed on the plane last, at least you get to sit in the terminal rather than on the plane for a bit longer!

I like it for several reasons such as being able to get space in the overhead bins, having plenty of time to settle down and sorting out my bits and bobs for a long-haul flight including in changing into a sleep suit if appropriate, and having time to enjoy my pre-flight drink (and possibly have a second one :w )

Exactly, there is a massive different between wanting to board eary in UC or in Y. In UC I like to be in nice and early to get settled and have a drink or two, in Y I want to be on as late as possible.

Please excuse my ignorance here, but am flying PE (Y) for the first time end of Aug. Can somebody please explain to me what does the'Y' actually refer to? Am I right in assuming that other passengers in PE may have priority over me, and if so, in what way?

Regards,
Pat

[honey lamb]

Please excuse my ignorance here, but am flying PE (Y) for the first time end of Aug. Can somebody please explain to me what does the'Y' actually refer to? Am I right in assuming that other passengers in PE may have priority over me, and if so, in what way?

Regards,
Pat

Erm, if your booking says you are in Y then you are not flying in PE but in the most flexible fare in Economy. The fare codes for PE are W, S, K (and is there another one I can't remember?)

The passengers were filing through in an orderly manner when a young woman and her other half marched right up to the front of the queue waving her upper ticket in the air stating "priority boarding - Upper Class". She tried to push straight in at the front of the queue, but thankfully other passengers gave her short shrift and sent her packing, much to her disgust (and everyone else's amusement!). She seemed to think that she had a right to march straight to the front, so the question is, if Upper do have priority over PE, why do Virgin call both to board at the same time through a single gate? Sounds like (and is) a recipie for arguments.

This has happened to me too - at JFK, at the end of a very long day, boarding the VS10. I was bundled out of the way by a teenage peroxide blonde who barged through, with her mother close behind, announcing that they were in the priority lane, as indeed was everyone in the queue they were jumping. I just don't understand people sometimes - I don't mind if she wanted to get past me (she could have just asked) but it was the shoving that irritated me. So rude - and so pointless really.

the other fare code is H ! (and P for reward seats)

But once you are in the cabin you will receive the same level of service, sit in the same seat, watch the same films and eat the same food as everyone else.

The fare codes withing a cabin class are to do with how flexible the ticket is re changes and cancellations and if you get miles and tier point bonuses. So a flexible W is more expensive than a less flexible/refundable K fare.

She was able to go to the front if she wanted, in fact I have been told in the club house if there is a queue just to go straight to the front and show the boarding pass ( not that I did ).
Not sure which is worse snobbily charging ahead or others being amuzed a passenger who had paid up to 10 times more for a ticket not being able to. When you buy a UCS ticket it says priority, never seen any caveats to the advertising about when you can or can not turn up.
On the airbridge is a different story.

[Neil]

She was able to go to the front if she wanted, in fact I have been told in the club house if there is a queue just to go straight to the front and show the boarding pass ( not that I did ).
Not sure which is worse snobbily charging ahead or others being amuzed a passenger who had paid up to 10 times more for a ticket not being able to. When you buy a UCS ticket it says priority, never seen any caveats to the advertising about when you can or can not turn up.
On the airbridge is a different story.

But if the queue is full of all UC pax then you have to wait.
I think the issue is lack of common courtesy by some people who just demand to be boarded first without checking who is in front of them.

She was able to go to the front if she wanted, in fact I have been told in the club house if there is a queue just to go straight to the front and show the boarding pass ( not that I did ).
Not sure which is worse snobbily charging ahead or others being amuzed a passenger who had paid up to 10 times more for a ticket not being able to. When you buy a UCS ticket it says priority, never seen any caveats to the advertising about when you can or can not turn up.
On the airbridge is a different story.

But if the queue is full of all UC pax then you have to wait.
I think the issue is lack of common courtesy by some people who just demand to be boarded first without checking who is in front of them.

Mmmm that did happen to me on the airbridge last year.

I like it for several reasons such as being able to get space in the overhead bins, having plenty of time to settle down and sorting out my bits and bobs for a long-haul flight including in changing into a sleep suit if appropriate, and having time to enjoy my pre-flight drink (and possibly have a second one :w )

silly question alert - but how does one change into ones sleep suit (pjs) preflight? ?|

In the loo!

In the loo!

oh :0 I didnt think that you were allowed to use the loo preflight?

[Neil]

In the loo!

oh :0 I didnt think that you were allowed to use the loo preflight?

Yep - they are open until the doors are shut and the crew lock them.

In the loo!

oh :0 I didnt think that you were allowed to use the loo preflight?

Yep - they are open until the doors are shut and the crew lock them.

wow. thanks Neil
thats good to know. I have had a few edgy moments preflight due to overzealous consumption of liquids before boarding lol

Agree totally, that common courtesy and manners are at the root of this problem. If UC and PE pax go to board when it is called then yes, they have priority boarding over Y pax but if Y pax have been called then, IMHO, it's rude to barge past regardless - the ac isn't going to depart without you. However, last time I flew home from Cancun, there was, as always a bit of a scrum around the borading gate so when UC and PE (me on this occasion) were called forward there was a lot of disagreeable verbal comments from a younger posse of Y pax travellers along the lines of "who the (unreadble!) do they think they are?". Very hard not to reply to them in a similar, juvenile fashion! Thank heavens for a left turn at the aircraft.

Agree totally, that common courtesy and manners are at the root of this problem. If UC and PE pax go to board when it is called then yes, they have priority boarding over Y pax but if Y pax have been called then, IMHO, it's rude to barge past regardless - the ac isn't going to depart without you. However, last time I flew home from Cancun, there was, as always a bit of a scrum around the borading gate so when UC and PE (me on this occasion) were called forward there was a lot of disagreeable verbal comments from a younger posse of Y pax travellers along the lines of "who the (unreadble!) do they think they are?". Very hard not to reply to them in a similar, juvenile fashion! Thank heavens for a left turn at the aircraft.

One of the worst boarding 'scrums' has got to be at Orlando Airport. Over many years, we have been both verbally and virtually physically abused just trying to get through to the gangway when UC & PE boarding has been announced ii)

One of the worst boarding 'scrums' has got to be at Orlando Airport. Over many years, we have been both verbally and virtually physically abused just trying to get through to the gangway when UC & PE boarding has been announced ii)

Wow. What is wrong with some people.
I remember even until very recently at boarding watching UC pax boarding and simply thinking "how do they afford it" or "will I ever be able to do that one day"
Guess what - I work hard, I save hard.
Maybe I won't always be able to fly UC but I certainly don't begrudge others who can. If they work hard they deserve it.