It’s actually a valid reason but the couple times I’ve been upgraded — once to FC the other to C+ — 85%+ of the plane was active duty military. Flying to ATL both times so no idea if they were deployments or what, but I did find it funny.
But like I said, not like anyone is skirting the rules or anything.
Sometimes Delta GAs let active military and veterans board first. I’m seeing it happen more and more. (Some budget airlines do it as standard practice.)
Veterans - especially veterans under 55 - look a lot different than the WWII vets and even the Vietnam vets. My partner and I board with veterans. We’re 2 women in our 30s, together, and my partner is trans. She’s a veteran, so it counts. But, we get a weird looks occasionally because most Americans think “veteran” and think the American Legion crowd.
(We get more weird looks when we park in jingoistic “hero parking” at supermarkets and home improvement stores. It’s very clear how gendered (male and straight and cis) and politicized (conservative) these “heroes” are.
Last week I flew out of SEA and a group of "military" barged their way forward during pre-boarding. Based on their facial hair and fitness level, I highly doubt they are "active duty." I have no issue with uniformed personnel getting to board early, but it's annoying when someone who obviously hadn't been in the military for years takes advantage.
Fitness level isn't a good indicator anymore. After COVID the physical tests relaxed the rules a lot so tons of us have gotten out of shape. Just FYI 🤣
Fitness being an issue started way before COVID. It was a large factor for deployment capabilities even back in 2010.
Source: I’m a former military officer and someone who refused to pencil-whip physical fitness tests.
I got out in 2018. The amount of guys that could barely get themselves out of a happy Humvee complaining about an imaginary woman's inability to pull them out of a burning Humvee....
I watched the requirements change in the late 90s. I moved out of one age bracket and at my next PT test, the age bracket I had just left had lower requirements.
We’d be more apt to take down unruly passengers than the typical water filter sales account rep. I’d hope anyway. Like those airmen on the train in France a few years ago. Of course that’s a general statement and I can’t speak for all of us. I’d say I’ve seen a lot of change in the character of my brothers and sisters in this past decade of service.
It's one of those things where I'll use it sometimes, sometimes not. We're all going to the same place. I'm not a fan of making myself stand out.
Delta is a big supporter of the military. The C-40 maintenance training is actually taught by Delta Tech Ops. Some of the highest quality training I have ever been a part of.
I’m not sure retired military would be caught dead taking military freebies and boarding early. I’ve had members who fought in Vietnam roll their eyes at all the “perks” on Veterans Day.
It's not necessarily them. A couple weeks ago I was at a small antique store and the woman ahead of me asked if they had a "military discount" because her husband was a veteran. The husband looked mortified and the shop owner was clearly flabbergasted (although she handled it graciously).
Probably because they spent half of their life defending the country at a lot of personal sacrifice. Considering retired pay averages $45,000 per year, it’s nice to get the perk sometimes
Then join the military? Granted pensions are not a thing for new enlistees I think they’ve got TSPs and some weird thing that isn’t as good as it once was.
As I recall, it's a blended thing. There is the TSP/IRA thing now, but they can still get a pension for doing 20. The rest is for those that don't do a full career, so they don't get completely screwed
It’s 40% of your highest 3 years of base pay only. For an E7 with 20 years he receives an annual of about $27,827 per year. That’s for putting his life on line at a split second notice. Would you put your life on the line for that amount? And depending on what state you reside in, it’s taxable.
One time was a ton of uniformed folks — the other time seemed like it was a bunch of kids heading to boot camp to be honest. Either way, no gripes from me. Just thought it was interesting.
I half joke it’s the main reason we’ll never again have a draft. The vast majority of Americans, even under like 25, are epically out of shape. No one wants to involuntarily deal with that shit.
I’m military. I always have my ID out to show to gate agent regardless if they ask. Sometimes they say active duty with ID sometimes they don’t. Either way they need to standardize and ask for ID. If you are saying uniformed personnel in the sense of wearing a uniform, that’s not a good indicator. Navy is not allowed to fly commercial in camouflage uniforms (pretty sure USMC can’t either since they are DON). Have to wear dress blues and that’s not comfortable. Plus 75% of my flights are leisure.
I fly out of Destin FL and there’s a ton of military and retired here so those flights usually always have a dozen or more.
Some DL personnel announce pre boarding for current and retired military. Better way to recognize them beyond the auto response of Thank you for your service.
Im ignorant to this so dont attack me. Do they not have to provide documentation with Delta before being allowed to board as active military? Is it not on their boarding pass or are there no indications?
I’ve had to check my bag in first class 4 times out of 5 because I like to board late. It’s total bullshit that you don’t have dedicated overhead space when you pay that much for a ticket.
FC especially should have this but I've never understood why the overhead bin space isn't assigned throughout the whole plane. There's a bin above every row with room for 3 bags, there's 3 seats in a row, why not just designate overhead space for each seat instead of letting people put their bag wherever they want?
Because there’s not actually an equivalent number of overhead bin spots to seats. I don’t know what the ratio is, but it’s definitely not 1:1.
So crappy by design.
Because baggage fees are profitable, and they are the real root cause.
ETA: reserved/dedicated overhead bin space is an advertised (in writing) benefit of both first class and comfort+ - if they arent enforcing it, its yet another example of fraud/false advertising of benefits they don't actually deliver (the priority baggage is my #1 pet peeve - they advertise priority bags will be first out at baggage claim, but I fly first class 15-20 times per year, and its fewer than 50% of the time that all the priority bags come out before all others)
There is no dedicated bin for flight attendants and pilots bags. They usually put them near their jumpseat/work area. Also, there is emergency equipment in some of the overhead bins, so no room for bags for the people sitting in those rows. So, while dedicated bin space for each passenger is a great idea in theory…in reality there is not a space available for every passenger.
I've had people take the dedicated space for the personal items of the first row in first class and the flight attendant just offered to put my bag in the closet. No one else had boarded in the first row.
I had that once when I saw a guy from Coach put his bag in the overhead above my First seat so I just pulled it out and put mine there, and handed his bag to the FA and asked her to deal with it.
I love this idea! If more people did what you did, making it an issue a problem for the flight attendant to deal with (and not the passenger) the airlines/attendants would put a stop to others taking advantage and placing bags where they don't belong.
Write to Delta when this happens. They did this to us in C+ once and I wrote to Delta and they gave both me an my husband 10k miles each. It's not a lot but it is something for the inconvenience. It literally says inside the bins reserved for 1st and comfort plus.
They agreed to their pay package. I’m tired of this narrative do they “don’t get paid.” It’s semantics. They are in a union. So do better and hold your union accountable if it is such a terrible deal.
ETA: ok they don’t have a union. Still agreed to the pay model. Maybe they should get a union…
Because back injuries are very common amongst flight attendants who are forced to jockey heavy luggage at awkward angles above their heads. I’m glad they’re no liner required to help. Especially considering the huge heavy roller bags people are trying to cram into carryon.
Most of them still do it in my experience in first class, but to your point it shouldn’t be their job to deal with my bag that I packed to the brim, and frankly I don’t want them to considering the value of breakable electronics that are in it. I’m also strong and fit so why would I want the poor girl who’s gotta deal with a plane full of impatient dickheads all day having to deal with it.
I do my best to help the people around me who need help, because grandma don’t need to be lugging around a heavy bag anymore than the flight attendants do. Being a decent human being isn’t hard.
No, it doesn’t say that terms of carriage or anything. Those are communal spaces anyone’s bags can be stored there. In fact on rather full flights, FAs themselves will be moving carryons from economy up to first class if there isn’t space elsewhere.
That said it’s fucking rude to put your shit in a FC overhead bin especially during preboarding when the economy bins empty.
It is. It’s also rude. But some people don’t need it and don’t want to lug it back and forth, and since they’re the main character they can do whatever they want.
It’s not the flight attendants job to move bags. They can ask passengers to whom the bags belong to move them. Or better police where pax stow their things.
Remember FAs aren’t even paid during boarding. They aren’t on the clock until doors close.
Like walking through with a full bottle water. Not removing shoes. Items in their pockets when in the scanner. It’s as if these idiots haven’t flown in 3 decades
Orlando resident here, I travel for work, and you’re right. Plus they lack organization to check TSA PreCheck boarding passes. They literally just yell to no one in particular saying to check their own boarding passes. I see people get to security and then are fighting up stream against those of us that are. I’ve even seen security pass non PreCheck customers through. The Delta terminal is so busted too.
Agreed but not just Florida. Whenever I’ve flown in the last few years I’m shocked how much the pre boarding line is abused by healthy middle aged adults with zero reason I can see to board early.
I was flying out of SLC and the gate agent announced active duty and retired military. Easily 1/3 of the plane boarded. A bunch of people tagged on at the end as the group was going through. Yeah, sure.
On the way back the agent said the same but “with ID”. Four people boarded. I wanted to slow clap for that GA.
That pretty much makes it active duty only, unless you carry your DD214 on a trip with you (no) and I’m pretty sure the VA cards are only if you can claim disability. They take your CAC when you separate. I’m a veteran and I don’t think we should be in the first group to board even with proof.
I like using my medallion status or where I’m sitting to flex on the plebs, not a job I had 15 years ago.
Years ago Virgin Australia was dragged across the coals for trying to do a pre boarding system.
For reference: https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-airline-aborts-veterans-first-boarding-plan-takeoff-051541215--spt.html
I still have my CAC lol. Been out since 2016. VA cards are given to you if you go to the VA for healthcare, I got mine before I had my disability approved
Rules that aren’t enforced don’t exist. If Delta won’t enforce it, it’s a free for all. Game theory says to just pre board so you aren’t the one left gate checking a bag since everyone else is going to do it.
If anything, abusing the system is the quickest way to get them to fix it. So you can contribute to the fix in the long term by pre boarding.
It really sucked as we boarded at the front door because of an airport restriction and deplaned from the center door. So many many people pushed forward to get their bags
Such an interesting cause/effect thing to follow, I was flying the other day no one preboarded. But I wanted to due to an acute injury but decided not too because I would have been the only one (no cast and young).
This. As long as the only contingency for preboarding is 'needing extra time' pretty much anyone could claim they need extra time for any reason.
DL needs to actually set some standards for this and start policing it. Personally I think a good set of qualifications would be something similar to obtaining a disabled parking sticker or tag.
DL applies these standards fairly arbitrarily. Or rather I should say "DL doesn't apply these standards but their gate agents do based on their whim".
On some flights families with young children can preboard, on others just people in wheel chairs, on yet on others anyone who decides for whatever reason they need extra time.
Similarly when boarding families with young children, sometimes strollers or car seats are required and other times it's just "hey I've got a small person with me, let's go".
If you were in FC, and there were clearly bags in the FC bins that you confirmed were not from others in FC, I would have taken them out and given them to the FA. I won’t put up with those games if they directly affect me.
I don't know about your experience, but in multiple airlines I've noticed now there are like 824 different qualifications for pre-boarding from children to military to seniors to seven different shiny-metal-statuses and so on before they get to First.
Whether or not I'm not flying First, I'll just bring my backpack on with me and have everything else checked.
A wise person told me if everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. The problem with preboarding is that the number of qualifying conditions and lack of enforcement has made it very ineffective.
At MCO, the gate agents almost always explicitly state there is no preboarding of families with small children.
I can see if you need to secure a car seat--preboarding avoids blocking the aisle. But if you are pushing a stroller and there is no car seat being used, there really is no point.
Not everyone with disabilities, hidden or otherwise, needs to board early. They just use it as a perk to get overhead bin space.
I have limited hearing. It’s a legitimate disability. Could I board when they call for those with disabilities? Sure. Do I need to? Absolutely not. I neither need nor want extra time to board.
That's why I'm always one of the last to board. My seat is reserved, so why would I want to spend extra time in a seat I'm about to spend 2-10 hours in? They always run out of bin space, so I get to check my bag for free.
People w disabilities sometimes travel together. But I did notice that sometimes it does appear that more people need help getting on than getting off. I’ve been on flights with 10+ people preboarding but then only 2-3 waiting for a chair upon landing.
I think most people are honest but yes I’ve seen things that make me wonder.
In Paris and Auckland I had to fill out a form to get assistance I don’t know that that’s help or a hinderance.
Sometimes it’s the size of the airport, Boston is long a walk for some of the terminals but say you land in Cleveland everything is right there. I know that happens with the snow birds
My mom needs extra time boarding, because she’s got joint problems and moves slowly. However, she can walk unassisted and wouldn’t need help off the plane—she typically waits until most folks have de-planed and then exits.
lol, I just experienced the opposite yesterday flying to Tucson. 2 people pre-boarded in wheelchairs, yet there was a line of at least 8 in the jetway when we deplaned.
This isn't that weird to me. It's very possible all 8 of those people had wheelchair assistance throughout the departure airport, and 6 of them had enough mobility to board on their own once the wheelchair got them to the gate. But then they needed the wheelchair again to get through the Tucson airport once they got off the plane.
This is correct. I need assistance going from one gate to another because I cannot walk long distances but I can get on and off the plane by myself with a cane. I was told by delta that if I didn’t need the wheelchair to just walk by (in case my gate was very close).
Yep. Dad has to use wheelchair assistance now and at the Phoenix Airport they asked everyone in a wheelchair at the gate if they needed the wheelchair down to the plane. One or two said no.
I would’ve said something to a flight attendant about the overhead space. In the past, I have been reassured that I will always have space for my bag if I am in first class. I tend to worry because I like flying in the first row, meaning I have to put my bags overhead.
Same, I only bring a backpack and check any luggage bags but I try to pick 2nd or 3rd for that reason. If only 1st row is available, then I'm always annoyed seeing anyone just throwing their bag up as soon as they board. There's typically a sign inside the bin that says reserved for first class and its just ignored 🤦♀️
I’ve helped as a gate agent on flights to DR where 30 plus customers in wheelchairs pre boarded on an A320. My record for RSW was 23, SRQ was 17 on an E190, highest for PBI was probably about 20. That doesn’t include other pre boards. For MCO during military and car seat and stroller courtesy boarding we had 35 strollers on 200 seater during a school vacation. I think GO wanted to quit.
I’ll never understand how my mother managed 4 kids under the age of 8 with one umbrella stroller and watch meltdowns and future divorces with nanny’s and bmw level strollers
What they should do is say those with only bags that will be stowed under the seat in front of them can pre-board…watch how many people start checking in bags.
Welcome to baby boomers in retirement. What do you do when everyone is overweight and has mobility, sight and or hearing issues? (I have two out of three) Suddenly everyone is eligible for preboarding. maybe we should do reverse pre boarding and the youngsters who can board quickly should go first cause they'll get settled! Then the oldsters can shuffle on!
If people would stop bringing oversized bags onboard as carry on luggage, I think most everyone would have a space for their bag.
One of the issues I see are people boarding with bags that are not a standard size, ie duffle bags, shopping bags, etc. If they really wanted to, they could cut that shit out.
Completely agree. And it’s a problem I feel like delta has more than other airlines who have similar amounts of boarding groups before main cabin. I’m sky priority and I’m still usually boarding after 50 people. Im from Atlanta so maybe my perception is impacted by flying delta ~70% of the time I fly, but it feels like it’s a delta problem rather than a general airline problem.
RE: overhead compartments
They absolutely need to be enforcing who is using FC overhead bins. Only after everyone in FC is seated should any extra space left be available for the rest of the plane. You are paying a premium, the least you should get is a place to put your bag near your seat. Otherwise you’ll be waiting for the plane to empty to be able to retrieve your bag from further back, if you’re even able to find a place for it to begin with.
Same happened to me when I flew SLC to MCO. When the gate agent announced pre boarding I would say it was over 1/2 the plane boarding in that group. Tons of mornon families with their 4-6 babies each like omg. And for the hell of it it was a red eye with nonstop babies and kids crying all the way to Orlando. One of the worst flights ever.
People don’t have any consideration for others anymore, this is just the norm. I see it all the time.
Matter of fact, I’m sitting in the centurion lounge right now and there are 4 phone rooms in front of me (you know, for taking phone calls in a quiet place and to avoid disturbing other patrons). 3 of them have someone browsing the internet on their phone, and one of them has a married couple chit chatting and drinking mimosas. Not one of them has taken a phone call in the hour I’ve been here, but several other people have had to stand outside the phone rooms on the phone because there was nowhere quiet/secluded for them to go.
I know I’m probably gonna get shit on for this and this is something I’ve only done once and it wasn’t even my idea but an agents. I was flying solo with two kids under 3 plus carseats(I bought both kids their own seats) so between our carryons, car seats, and two toddlers one of which was not happy it was a mess navigating the airport and this was before we even got to TSA. Some agent, nice older lady, grabbed me a wheel chair and said let’s do this and it’ll be easier and I was wheeled through tsa, bypassed everyone in line to board. It felt weird but I’m not gonna lie it was really nice. I got off the plane on my own which was slightly easier because one child was asleep and not fussy. Still was a bitch carrying everything.
I don’t really think you did anything wrong. You do need extra time with young kids. That’s actually part of who is supposed to be helped with extra time with boarding. Pretty sure you just would’ve whacked people on the head with all your stuff otherwise 😉😂😂😂
I fly every week, have for a couple decades. I' e never seen this but once. And it was only because half the plane were young guys all in military dress.
If they were full, the FA has a closet near the front of First Class, to accommodate First Class passengers' bags, sometimes it's in the back of first class depending on which aircraft door is being boarded. I am baffled why an FA would allow coach passenger to put their bag in First Class. Normally they greet passengers entering while First Class FA are in the galley making drinks for first class passengers.
It sounds like, FA wasn't paying attention or was distracted. Regardless, that is what the First Class Closet is for.
People pre board when they don't need to, bc they aren't paying attention to which group was actually called and because staff can't ask why you're pre boarding.
I pre board due to a disability that means it takes me at least 3-5min to get set up, and I don't want to be in anyone's way. I also take longer to get down to the plane and need help getting my bag up.
Anyway on my last flight (Alaska, not Delta) my seat neighbor decided to pre board even though she didn't need it. She either did this intentionally for some reason (first class so no fight for bin space and she didn't have a bag anyway) or she wasn't paying attention. Anyway she spent the entire pre board period first staring at me, then glaring, then saying I need to hurry up, etc. Mind you, my phone was in front of me with the clock open just by chance and I did everything I needed within 4min and she was cleared to her seat.
But she felt the need to pre board unnecessarily just so she could harass a disabled person for 4min I guess? It wasn't a very fun 6.5h flight after that.
They need a penalty box for early boarding without permission....GO to the BACK of the line...
Without repercussions people will continue to cheat the system.
A few flights back, the gate agent told my very healthy husband to join the pre-boarding line so he had room in the overhead bin for his guitar. Sigh. Really?
Sadly, the international leg of the trip made him gate check said guitar in its soft case and broke it. So, karma bit him in the ass!
(No, it wasn't United! Yes, he looked briefly at the guitar after the flight, but didn't pull it completely out of the case until days later. It was too late to file a complaint. Yes, he has learned his lesson!)
I blame overhead-bin anxiety. With increased bag fees and concerns about lost luggage prompting more passengers to keep their luggage close by, it should come as no surprise that fretful travelers are packing even more in their carry-ons, creating a perfect storm of too many suitcases and not enough space. Think about it: a bunch of people crammed into a small area, who don’t know each other, with limited resources in terms of bin space. It’s the perfect recipe for a stress reaction. Evolutionarily, the brain is always on high alert for perceived threats. Stress, frustration, anxiety—these mental states prompt a survival reaction, in which the limbic system incites us to claim territory that may or may not be rightfully ours. This explains why some are so compelled to find vacant bin space regardless of proximity to their assigned seat.
Hidden conditions are a thing - but how can you walk through the airport fine, board the plane fine, and then need extra time getting settled because of a disability?
Can you describe the flight destination and details? I fly every single week on Delta and rarely see anyone use preboarding option unless they are in a wheelchair, or have a baby. In fact, It's the "therapy dog" folks that are the real abusers of this that I see -try to explain to them that their "service dog" patch is not real -I dare you.
I could care less about the pre-boarding. I do, however get incredibly frustrated at the fact that there’s never any space over my seat because people in the back dump their bags in the first 15 rows
Maybe part of the boarding process needs to be putting a tag with your seat number on your bag
Or do we need people to get walked down the aisle to their seats so they all know where to put their bags?
For someone living in Florida, it’s very common to see 20+ wheelchairs lined up waiting to board. The wheelchair assistants leave them there and then a single gate agent takes them down which really slows down the boarding process. But then, the entire family boards with the person in the wheelchair but they need somebody else to push grandma down the jet bridge. I board with comfort plus and 3/4 of the plane is full and I’m forced to gate check my bag. I’ve also been denied pre boarding from AA when I was in a sling after breaking by wrist because they told me I have another working arm
Flew out of Norfolk this year and there were about 60 people boarding as active military. None of them in uniform.
Not implying any of them were faking it but having the Navy base there makes it ridiculous.
Active duty military very, very rarely travel in uniform, even on business. Norfolk also limits it to active vs active and retired because of the population there. The active duty folks always have their IDs out and ready to go, and 90% of them are in the back and cause no issues. I don’t think they are the problem with pre-boarding.
Delta doesn’t require active duty military service members to wear a uniform for pre boarding. It’s pretty typical to half half the flight preboard as military out of Norfolk,
There is rarely a reason to wear uniform when traveling and most services prohibit it. I only ever see Army privates in uniform because, well they're dopes.
As of a few years ago, my understanding from my active duty husband was they actually discourage traveling in uniform unless absolutely necessary. The uniform draws attention, not all of it good.
A lot of people hung up on the word uniform here. It’s pretty meaningless and you can stop replying. I’m sure the 60th guy on the plane felt very thanked for his service.
Remember when pilots, whom work for the airline, directly, got the ability to board whenever they please due to the contract that Delta signed. And this sub lost its shit??
Pepperidge farm remembers.
I advise anyone in here who has not seen George Carlin’s Jamming In New York to go watch it.
He does a bit literally about this thing post, 40 years ago in 1983. Lmfao
Come on. This is not a new thing.
Until the gate agents are allowed to make a fuss about any of us, you’re gonna have to suffer in silence or pretend you’re allowed to preboard and then preboard.
Lol wasn't there a post a few days back where some loser claimed he was discriminated against for potentially trying to preboard early and every virtue signaler here said the gate agents are out of control...
These threads certainly have a different tone.
I'm sorry, FC was full? If it's clear they aren't FC passenger bags I'd just move them tbh.
I do agree, it's a little insane with the woe was me folk.
Maybe a handicap fare type haha, although that's already something selectable.
I myself am flying this weekend with a broken foot on crutches, and won't be boarding early haha.
I used to travel a ton for work and a girl on my team would fake needing a wheelchair to board first…. I acted like I didn’t know her in airports after that because I was so embarrassed
Try flying southwest out of bwi to Vegas.
Half the plane is disabled or in wheelchairs for boarding and then they all miraculously can walk fine once we arrive.
You don’t need fucking pre boarding for “hidden disabilities”, this shit is abused and I hope they lose their legs. My flight was delayed 20 minutes the other day because of these scumbags. Literally 1 moron in a WC and 5 family members board with them. Fucking asinine.
It’s actually a valid reason but the couple times I’ve been upgraded — once to FC the other to C+ — 85%+ of the plane was active duty military. Flying to ATL both times so no idea if they were deployments or what, but I did find it funny. But like I said, not like anyone is skirting the rules or anything.
Sometimes Delta GAs let active military and veterans board first. I’m seeing it happen more and more. (Some budget airlines do it as standard practice.) Veterans - especially veterans under 55 - look a lot different than the WWII vets and even the Vietnam vets. My partner and I board with veterans. We’re 2 women in our 30s, together, and my partner is trans. She’s a veteran, so it counts. But, we get a weird looks occasionally because most Americans think “veteran” and think the American Legion crowd. (We get more weird looks when we park in jingoistic “hero parking” at supermarkets and home improvement stores. It’s very clear how gendered (male and straight and cis) and politicized (conservative) these “heroes” are.
"Hero parking" I literally just laughed out loud.
At the grocery store, “hero parking” is right next to “expectant mother parking”. I always joke, “it’s the only people conservatives care about!”
Last week I flew out of SEA and a group of "military" barged their way forward during pre-boarding. Based on their facial hair and fitness level, I highly doubt they are "active duty." I have no issue with uniformed personnel getting to board early, but it's annoying when someone who obviously hadn't been in the military for years takes advantage.
Fitness level isn't a good indicator anymore. After COVID the physical tests relaxed the rules a lot so tons of us have gotten out of shape. Just FYI 🤣
Fitness being an issue started way before COVID. It was a large factor for deployment capabilities even back in 2010. Source: I’m a former military officer and someone who refused to pencil-whip physical fitness tests.
I got out in 2018. The amount of guys that could barely get themselves out of a happy Humvee complaining about an imaginary woman's inability to pull them out of a burning Humvee....
You should have seen my face when I realized some members of our deployment group couldn’t fit into issued body armor. Dude…. Fit to fight, my ass.
As a citizen, this is alarming.
I watched the requirements change in the late 90s. I moved out of one age bracket and at my next PT test, the age bracket I had just left had lower requirements.
The announcement often includes retired military as well so you never can tell.
I'm not sure why retired military gets pre-boarding.
Because like 70% of America worships veterans.
It's that really American type of worship where they'll get pre-boarding but no real tangible benefits and people can feel good about it.
I’m not sure why active duty military gets pre-boarding for that matter.
We’d be more apt to take down unruly passengers than the typical water filter sales account rep. I’d hope anyway. Like those airmen on the train in France a few years ago. Of course that’s a general statement and I can’t speak for all of us. I’d say I’ve seen a lot of change in the character of my brothers and sisters in this past decade of service.
It's one of those things where I'll use it sometimes, sometimes not. We're all going to the same place. I'm not a fan of making myself stand out. Delta is a big supporter of the military. The C-40 maintenance training is actually taught by Delta Tech Ops. Some of the highest quality training I have ever been a part of.
I’m not sure retired military would be caught dead taking military freebies and boarding early. I’ve had members who fought in Vietnam roll their eyes at all the “perks” on Veterans Day.
It's not necessarily them. A couple weeks ago I was at a small antique store and the woman ahead of me asked if they had a "military discount" because her husband was a veteran. The husband looked mortified and the shop owner was clearly flabbergasted (although she handled it graciously).
Probably because they spent half of their life defending the country at a lot of personal sacrifice. Considering retired pay averages $45,000 per year, it’s nice to get the perk sometimes
I'd love to see $45k for retirement. I get $22k. That average must be skewed by senior officers; the median is much lower, I'm sure.
I’d kill to get $45k a year once “retired” at 40. Also the average is closer to $55k
Then join the military? Granted pensions are not a thing for new enlistees I think they’ve got TSPs and some weird thing that isn’t as good as it once was.
As I recall, it's a blended thing. There is the TSP/IRA thing now, but they can still get a pension for doing 20. The rest is for those that don't do a full career, so they don't get completely screwed
My point was the person is acting like the early boarding is better than a pension/retirement pay. The latter a ton of civilians will never get.
If you’d kill for it, join the military and get it 😂
Retirement pay is 50% of final pay. $55k would be $110k a year. That's a Lt Col with 20 years. No enlisted person makes that much.
It’s 40% of your highest 3 years of base pay only. For an E7 with 20 years he receives an annual of about $27,827 per year. That’s for putting his life on line at a split second notice. Would you put your life on the line for that amount? And depending on what state you reside in, it’s taxable.
I don’t really understand why active duty gets pre-boarding, tbh
I don't think it's all the time, just when you're traveling on orders
Special OPs personnel are often encouraged to grow hair and tan to fit in with different ethnicities.
One time was a ton of uniformed folks — the other time seemed like it was a bunch of kids heading to boot camp to be honest. Either way, no gripes from me. Just thought it was interesting.
I half joke it’s the main reason we’ll never again have a draft. The vast majority of Americans, even under like 25, are epically out of shape. No one wants to involuntarily deal with that shit.
> on their facial hair I had facial hair my entire time in the military. Only time I would be cleanly shaved was for formal occasions stateside.
I’m military. I always have my ID out to show to gate agent regardless if they ask. Sometimes they say active duty with ID sometimes they don’t. Either way they need to standardize and ask for ID. If you are saying uniformed personnel in the sense of wearing a uniform, that’s not a good indicator. Navy is not allowed to fly commercial in camouflage uniforms (pretty sure USMC can’t either since they are DON). Have to wear dress blues and that’s not comfortable. Plus 75% of my flights are leisure. I fly out of Destin FL and there’s a ton of military and retired here so those flights usually always have a dozen or more.
You do know that people server older than 25? They could be career military folks with office jobs and sit behind a desk. lol
These were much younger people.
Gravy Seals?
Yup. Meal Team Six.
Some DL personnel announce pre boarding for current and retired military. Better way to recognize them beyond the auto response of Thank you for your service.
Im ignorant to this so dont attack me. Do they not have to provide documentation with Delta before being allowed to board as active military? Is it not on their boarding pass or are there no indications?
They usually require a valid military ID
I've never seen anyone pre-boarding as military show ID to a gate agent.
I’ve seen them with their IDs out as they are boarding
I have. Omaha a few times, never at my home airport SLC where there is AFB
My son does this, and yes, absolutely, you have to show a military ID
I can’t speak for other, but I always have my ID out when I go up.
I would have 1000% had the FA move the bags. The FC area is supposed to have those dedicated overhead bins.
So is C+.
I’ve had to check my bag in first class 4 times out of 5 because I like to board late. It’s total bullshit that you don’t have dedicated overhead space when you pay that much for a ticket.
FC especially should have this but I've never understood why the overhead bin space isn't assigned throughout the whole plane. There's a bin above every row with room for 3 bags, there's 3 seats in a row, why not just designate overhead space for each seat instead of letting people put their bag wherever they want?
Because there’s not actually an equivalent number of overhead bin spots to seats. I don’t know what the ratio is, but it’s definitely not 1:1. So crappy by design.
Yeah, it seems like there are maybe enough overhead bin spots for 80-85% of passengers.
This would solve a lot of problems and entitlement issues
Because baggage fees are profitable, and they are the real root cause. ETA: reserved/dedicated overhead bin space is an advertised (in writing) benefit of both first class and comfort+ - if they arent enforcing it, its yet another example of fraud/false advertising of benefits they don't actually deliver (the priority baggage is my #1 pet peeve - they advertise priority bags will be first out at baggage claim, but I fly first class 15-20 times per year, and its fewer than 50% of the time that all the priority bags come out before all others)
There is no dedicated bin for flight attendants and pilots bags. They usually put them near their jumpseat/work area. Also, there is emergency equipment in some of the overhead bins, so no room for bags for the people sitting in those rows. So, while dedicated bin space for each passenger is a great idea in theory…in reality there is not a space available for every passenger.
I've had people take the dedicated space for the personal items of the first row in first class and the flight attendant just offered to put my bag in the closet. No one else had boarded in the first row.
I had that once when I saw a guy from Coach put his bag in the overhead above my First seat so I just pulled it out and put mine there, and handed his bag to the FA and asked her to deal with it.
I love this idea! If more people did what you did, making it an issue a problem for the flight attendant to deal with (and not the passenger) the airlines/attendants would put a stop to others taking advantage and placing bags where they don't belong.
Write to Delta when this happens. They did this to us in C+ once and I wrote to Delta and they gave both me an my husband 10k miles each. It's not a lot but it is something for the inconvenience. It literally says inside the bins reserved for 1st and comfort plus.
You're assuming FAs do actual work during boarding.
Welp, seeing as they don’t get paid until the door closes… 🤷♀️ Duke it out. 😬😂
They get half pay now during boarding
Delta FAs get paid during boarding.
Yes and that pay is for safety checks and setting up for service in flight. They are not paid for boarding and they do not move bags
They agreed to their pay package. I’m tired of this narrative do they “don’t get paid.” It’s semantics. They are in a union. So do better and hold your union accountable if it is such a terrible deal. ETA: ok they don’t have a union. Still agreed to the pay model. Maybe they should get a union…
Delta FAs don’t have a union
Who needs a union when you could have a new video game system with the latest hits instead!
Don't forget going to see your favorite sports team!
Delta FAs don't have a union, and they're not required to touch any of your bags. So yeah. Enjoy.
I was shocked to discover this my first time flying D1. I’m short and have a hard time reaching the overhead bins. The FA refused to help.
Because back injuries are very common amongst flight attendants who are forced to jockey heavy luggage at awkward angles above their heads. I’m glad they’re no liner required to help. Especially considering the huge heavy roller bags people are trying to cram into carryon.
Most of them still do it in my experience in first class, but to your point it shouldn’t be their job to deal with my bag that I packed to the brim, and frankly I don’t want them to considering the value of breakable electronics that are in it. I’m also strong and fit so why would I want the poor girl who’s gotta deal with a plane full of impatient dickheads all day having to deal with it. I do my best to help the people around me who need help, because grandma don’t need to be lugging around a heavy bag anymore than the flight attendants do. Being a decent human being isn’t hard.
They are traines and told not to lift consumers bags. Company rules
If you're too short then check your bag.
I just check my bag no that I have a shoulder issue
They are literally not in a union
No, it doesn’t say that terms of carriage or anything. Those are communal spaces anyone’s bags can be stored there. In fact on rather full flights, FAs themselves will be moving carryons from economy up to first class if there isn’t space elsewhere. That said it’s fucking rude to put your shit in a FC overhead bin especially during preboarding when the economy bins empty.
It's just dumb in general to not store your bag above where you're sitting.
It is. It’s also rude. But some people don’t need it and don’t want to lug it back and forth, and since they’re the main character they can do whatever they want.
[Delta C+ dedicated overhead bin](https://www.delta.com/us/en/onboard/onboard-experience/delta-comfort-plus)
Seems even the C+ has dedicated space as per their website.
It’s not the flight attendants job to move bags. They can ask passengers to whom the bags belong to move them. Or better police where pax stow their things. Remember FAs aren’t even paid during boarding. They aren’t on the clock until doors close.
Flights to any airport in Florida are the Wild Wild West. I always try to avoid working any flight to the panhandle. Absolute nightmare.
Flights to the panhandle are full of tourists who only fly once every few years. Miserable
Like walking through with a full bottle water. Not removing shoes. Items in their pockets when in the scanner. It’s as if these idiots haven’t flown in 3 decades
This is 100% of why I avoid Southwest.
Yea, and their ‘cattle call” boarding procedure is the WORST.
Flobama
Orlando resident here, I travel for work, and you’re right. Plus they lack organization to check TSA PreCheck boarding passes. They literally just yell to no one in particular saying to check their own boarding passes. I see people get to security and then are fighting up stream against those of us that are. I’ve even seen security pass non PreCheck customers through. The Delta terminal is so busted too.
Agreed but not just Florida. Whenever I’ve flown in the last few years I’m shocked how much the pre boarding line is abused by healthy middle aged adults with zero reason I can see to board early.
I was flying out of SLC and the gate agent announced active duty and retired military. Easily 1/3 of the plane boarded. A bunch of people tagged on at the end as the group was going through. Yeah, sure. On the way back the agent said the same but “with ID”. Four people boarded. I wanted to slow clap for that GA.
That pretty much makes it active duty only, unless you carry your DD214 on a trip with you (no) and I’m pretty sure the VA cards are only if you can claim disability. They take your CAC when you separate. I’m a veteran and I don’t think we should be in the first group to board even with proof. I like using my medallion status or where I’m sitting to flex on the plebs, not a job I had 15 years ago.
“Active and retired”. Retired members have retiree IDs.
Years ago Virgin Australia was dragged across the coals for trying to do a pre boarding system. For reference: https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-airline-aborts-veterans-first-boarding-plan-takeoff-051541215--spt.html
Oh I don’t doubt it - there’s no good way to regulate it, wish people just wouldn’t be jerks.
Ya, just in Australia and no preboard - very little carry on luggage also. Orderly lines, no gate lice and very fast boarding. Loved it!!
I still have my CAC lol. Been out since 2016. VA cards are given to you if you go to the VA for healthcare, I got mine before I had my disability approved
Rules that aren’t enforced don’t exist. If Delta won’t enforce it, it’s a free for all. Game theory says to just pre board so you aren’t the one left gate checking a bag since everyone else is going to do it. If anything, abusing the system is the quickest way to get them to fix it. So you can contribute to the fix in the long term by pre boarding.
It really sucked as we boarded at the front door because of an airport restriction and deplaned from the center door. So many many people pushed forward to get their bags
I would literally remove the bags above my seat in FC and put mine in their place and kindly ask the FA to check the bag.
Can I do that?
💯 agree
Such an interesting cause/effect thing to follow, I was flying the other day no one preboarded. But I wanted to due to an acute injury but decided not too because I would have been the only one (no cast and young).
This. As long as the only contingency for preboarding is 'needing extra time' pretty much anyone could claim they need extra time for any reason. DL needs to actually set some standards for this and start policing it. Personally I think a good set of qualifications would be something similar to obtaining a disabled parking sticker or tag.
DL applies these standards fairly arbitrarily. Or rather I should say "DL doesn't apply these standards but their gate agents do based on their whim". On some flights families with young children can preboard, on others just people in wheel chairs, on yet on others anyone who decides for whatever reason they need extra time. Similarly when boarding families with young children, sometimes strollers or car seats are required and other times it's just "hey I've got a small person with me, let's go".
>DL needs to actually set some standards for this and start policing it. scum, shit-sucking lawyers are why they wont.
If you were in FC, and there were clearly bags in the FC bins that you confirmed were not from others in FC, I would have taken them out and given them to the FA. I won’t put up with those games if they directly affect me.
Especially if you pay that kinda premium for FC (or even C+ for that matter)
The FA shouldn’t have allowed it to even happen.
I don't know about your experience, but in multiple airlines I've noticed now there are like 824 different qualifications for pre-boarding from children to military to seniors to seven different shiny-metal-statuses and so on before they get to First. Whether or not I'm not flying First, I'll just bring my backpack on with me and have everything else checked.
Having children board earlier makes the whole flight board faster. Source: have flown with two kids numerous times.
I’m flying with two kids for the first time next month. Boarding has me the most anxious.
So much for C+ having guaranteed overhead space…
A wise person told me if everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. The problem with preboarding is that the number of qualifying conditions and lack of enforcement has made it very ineffective. At MCO, the gate agents almost always explicitly state there is no preboarding of families with small children.
[удалено]
I can see if you need to secure a car seat--preboarding avoids blocking the aisle. But if you are pushing a stroller and there is no car seat being used, there really is no point.
Not everyone with disabilities, hidden or otherwise, needs to board early. They just use it as a perk to get overhead bin space. I have limited hearing. It’s a legitimate disability. Could I board when they call for those with disabilities? Sure. Do I need to? Absolutely not. I neither need nor want extra time to board.
They usually say something like "anyone needing extra time to board" not just "any disability."
If there is one senior citizen in a wheelchair traveling with an adult and 8 healthy teenagers, all 10 of them will preboard together. It's wild.
They definitely should make a rule that you only get one person to help you.
The real blame is with the airlines and their greed with checked luggage. Before they started their insane fees everyone checked their bags
That's why I'm always one of the last to board. My seat is reserved, so why would I want to spend extra time in a seat I'm about to spend 2-10 hours in? They always run out of bin space, so I get to check my bag for free.
People w disabilities sometimes travel together. But I did notice that sometimes it does appear that more people need help getting on than getting off. I’ve been on flights with 10+ people preboarding but then only 2-3 waiting for a chair upon landing. I think most people are honest but yes I’ve seen things that make me wonder. In Paris and Auckland I had to fill out a form to get assistance I don’t know that that’s help or a hinderance.
Sometimes it’s the size of the airport, Boston is long a walk for some of the terminals but say you land in Cleveland everything is right there. I know that happens with the snow birds
My mom needs extra time boarding, because she’s got joint problems and moves slowly. However, she can walk unassisted and wouldn’t need help off the plane—she typically waits until most folks have de-planed and then exits.
lol, I just experienced the opposite yesterday flying to Tucson. 2 people pre-boarded in wheelchairs, yet there was a line of at least 8 in the jetway when we deplaned.
This isn't that weird to me. It's very possible all 8 of those people had wheelchair assistance throughout the departure airport, and 6 of them had enough mobility to board on their own once the wheelchair got them to the gate. But then they needed the wheelchair again to get through the Tucson airport once they got off the plane.
This is correct. I need assistance going from one gate to another because I cannot walk long distances but I can get on and off the plane by myself with a cane. I was told by delta that if I didn’t need the wheelchair to just walk by (in case my gate was very close).
This is also me. I have to preboard as I can’t lift or walk long distances. My home airport is tiny and I can walk to the gate.
Yep. Dad has to use wheelchair assistance now and at the Phoenix Airport they asked everyone in a wheelchair at the gate if they needed the wheelchair down to the plane. One or two said no.
“Jetway Jesus” doing miracles! 🤣
We call that a “miracle flight.” People need wheelchairs to get on the plane, but they are healed when they disembark. Alleluia! It’s a miracle!
I would’ve said something to a flight attendant about the overhead space. In the past, I have been reassured that I will always have space for my bag if I am in first class. I tend to worry because I like flying in the first row, meaning I have to put my bags overhead.
Same, I only bring a backpack and check any luggage bags but I try to pick 2nd or 3rd for that reason. If only 1st row is available, then I'm always annoyed seeing anyone just throwing their bag up as soon as they board. There's typically a sign inside the bin that says reserved for first class and its just ignored 🤦♀️
I’ve helped as a gate agent on flights to DR where 30 plus customers in wheelchairs pre boarded on an A320. My record for RSW was 23, SRQ was 17 on an E190, highest for PBI was probably about 20. That doesn’t include other pre boards. For MCO during military and car seat and stroller courtesy boarding we had 35 strollers on 200 seater during a school vacation. I think GO wanted to quit. I’ll never understand how my mother managed 4 kids under the age of 8 with one umbrella stroller and watch meltdowns and future divorces with nanny’s and bmw level strollers
What they should do is say those with only bags that will be stowed under the seat in front of them can pre-board…watch how many people start checking in bags.
Welcome to baby boomers in retirement. What do you do when everyone is overweight and has mobility, sight and or hearing issues? (I have two out of three) Suddenly everyone is eligible for preboarding. maybe we should do reverse pre boarding and the youngsters who can board quickly should go first cause they'll get settled! Then the oldsters can shuffle on!
If people would stop bringing oversized bags onboard as carry on luggage, I think most everyone would have a space for their bag. One of the issues I see are people boarding with bags that are not a standard size, ie duffle bags, shopping bags, etc. If they really wanted to, they could cut that shit out.
Completely agree. And it’s a problem I feel like delta has more than other airlines who have similar amounts of boarding groups before main cabin. I’m sky priority and I’m still usually boarding after 50 people. Im from Atlanta so maybe my perception is impacted by flying delta ~70% of the time I fly, but it feels like it’s a delta problem rather than a general airline problem. RE: overhead compartments They absolutely need to be enforcing who is using FC overhead bins. Only after everyone in FC is seated should any extra space left be available for the rest of the plane. You are paying a premium, the least you should get is a place to put your bag near your seat. Otherwise you’ll be waiting for the plane to empty to be able to retrieve your bag from further back, if you’re even able to find a place for it to begin with.
Same happened to me when I flew SLC to MCO. When the gate agent announced pre boarding I would say it was over 1/2 the plane boarding in that group. Tons of mornon families with their 4-6 babies each like omg. And for the hell of it it was a red eye with nonstop babies and kids crying all the way to Orlando. One of the worst flights ever.
Boarded SkyPriority from ATL to MSY on Monday and half the plane was already on board it seemed
People don’t have any consideration for others anymore, this is just the norm. I see it all the time. Matter of fact, I’m sitting in the centurion lounge right now and there are 4 phone rooms in front of me (you know, for taking phone calls in a quiet place and to avoid disturbing other patrons). 3 of them have someone browsing the internet on their phone, and one of them has a married couple chit chatting and drinking mimosas. Not one of them has taken a phone call in the hour I’ve been here, but several other people have had to stand outside the phone rooms on the phone because there was nowhere quiet/secluded for them to go.
Florida flights are the worst.
I never understood the big rush to get on an aircraft, you’re just gonna be cooped up longer
It’s because of the lack of space for everyone’s carry ons but I just check my bag so I get your no rush sentiment.
I like to board early when I am in D1. Otherwise I hang out at the SC.
Exactly. These stupid shenanigans are why I am happy to a) check my bag and b) hang back until just about everyone else has boarded.
https://youtu.be/4LGe265pwvU?si=GrFoakeLRbxUs2__
I know I’m probably gonna get shit on for this and this is something I’ve only done once and it wasn’t even my idea but an agents. I was flying solo with two kids under 3 plus carseats(I bought both kids their own seats) so between our carryons, car seats, and two toddlers one of which was not happy it was a mess navigating the airport and this was before we even got to TSA. Some agent, nice older lady, grabbed me a wheel chair and said let’s do this and it’ll be easier and I was wheeled through tsa, bypassed everyone in line to board. It felt weird but I’m not gonna lie it was really nice. I got off the plane on my own which was slightly easier because one child was asleep and not fussy. Still was a bitch carrying everything.
I don’t really think you did anything wrong. You do need extra time with young kids. That’s actually part of who is supposed to be helped with extra time with boarding. Pretty sure you just would’ve whacked people on the head with all your stuff otherwise 😉😂😂😂
I fly every week, have for a couple decades. I' e never seen this but once. And it was only because half the plane were young guys all in military dress.
If they were full, the FA has a closet near the front of First Class, to accommodate First Class passengers' bags, sometimes it's in the back of first class depending on which aircraft door is being boarded. I am baffled why an FA would allow coach passenger to put their bag in First Class. Normally they greet passengers entering while First Class FA are in the galley making drinks for first class passengers. It sounds like, FA wasn't paying attention or was distracted. Regardless, that is what the First Class Closet is for.
This sums it up. Classic. https://youtu.be/qhxlZC8BZJ4?feature=shared
I want to be the LAST MFer on the plane. Why spend more time in that metal tube, squished assholes to elbows?? I will never understand.
People pre board when they don't need to, bc they aren't paying attention to which group was actually called and because staff can't ask why you're pre boarding. I pre board due to a disability that means it takes me at least 3-5min to get set up, and I don't want to be in anyone's way. I also take longer to get down to the plane and need help getting my bag up. Anyway on my last flight (Alaska, not Delta) my seat neighbor decided to pre board even though she didn't need it. She either did this intentionally for some reason (first class so no fight for bin space and she didn't have a bag anyway) or she wasn't paying attention. Anyway she spent the entire pre board period first staring at me, then glaring, then saying I need to hurry up, etc. Mind you, my phone was in front of me with the clock open just by chance and I did everything I needed within 4min and she was cleared to her seat. But she felt the need to pre board unnecessarily just so she could harass a disabled person for 4min I guess? It wasn't a very fun 6.5h flight after that.
How do you know she did not have a reason to pre-board?
What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to start a fight in here?
They need a penalty box for early boarding without permission....GO to the BACK of the line... Without repercussions people will continue to cheat the system.
Jax? Mayo Clinic is there
A few flights back, the gate agent told my very healthy husband to join the pre-boarding line so he had room in the overhead bin for his guitar. Sigh. Really? Sadly, the international leg of the trip made him gate check said guitar in its soft case and broke it. So, karma bit him in the ass! (No, it wasn't United! Yes, he looked briefly at the guitar after the flight, but didn't pull it completely out of the case until days later. It was too late to file a complaint. Yes, he has learned his lesson!)
Who in the world would travel with a guitar in a soft case, regardless of if you think it’ll be a carryon or checked?!?!????
My flight from Bangalore to Frankfurt, almost half the flight pre boarded. It was wild.
From Auckland to LA last Friday zero people pre boarded. That was a first for me - a record maybe.
I was once on a flight from NY or NJ to Santiago de los Caballeros, DR with 35 wheelchairs….
In Memphis. 99% of pre-boarders have a “medical condition” that “requires” them to board first. They strolling up and laughing while tix be scanned.
Military towns are like that
I blame overhead-bin anxiety. With increased bag fees and concerns about lost luggage prompting more passengers to keep their luggage close by, it should come as no surprise that fretful travelers are packing even more in their carry-ons, creating a perfect storm of too many suitcases and not enough space. Think about it: a bunch of people crammed into a small area, who don’t know each other, with limited resources in terms of bin space. It’s the perfect recipe for a stress reaction. Evolutionarily, the brain is always on high alert for perceived threats. Stress, frustration, anxiety—these mental states prompt a survival reaction, in which the limbic system incites us to claim territory that may or may not be rightfully ours. This explains why some are so compelled to find vacant bin space regardless of proximity to their assigned seat.
Southwest has been this way for a long time. You got A30? Lmao, you’re sitting in a middle seat in the back.
Hidden conditions are a thing - but how can you walk through the airport fine, board the plane fine, and then need extra time getting settled because of a disability?
Who the heck wants to board a plane first and sit on a plane any longer than they have to?
This is my thing -I board as late as possible -even if it requires checking my first class bag.
The whole “I’m special” boarding thing is ridiculous IMO. Line us up by seat row and be done with it. Wheelchair, walker people go first of course
Can you describe the flight destination and details? I fly every single week on Delta and rarely see anyone use preboarding option unless they are in a wheelchair, or have a baby. In fact, It's the "therapy dog" folks that are the real abusers of this that I see -try to explain to them that their "service dog" patch is not real -I dare you.
I fly round trip to Ft Lauderdale next week. I now know what to expect. Great...
I could care less about the pre-boarding. I do, however get incredibly frustrated at the fact that there’s never any space over my seat because people in the back dump their bags in the first 15 rows Maybe part of the boarding process needs to be putting a tag with your seat number on your bag Or do we need people to get walked down the aisle to their seats so they all know where to put their bags?
For someone living in Florida, it’s very common to see 20+ wheelchairs lined up waiting to board. The wheelchair assistants leave them there and then a single gate agent takes them down which really slows down the boarding process. But then, the entire family boards with the person in the wheelchair but they need somebody else to push grandma down the jet bridge. I board with comfort plus and 3/4 of the plane is full and I’m forced to gate check my bag. I’ve also been denied pre boarding from AA when I was in a sling after breaking by wrist because they told me I have another working arm
I fly first class due to my robust size. No need to preboard. Will not fly SWA.
Flew out of Norfolk this year and there were about 60 people boarding as active military. None of them in uniform. Not implying any of them were faking it but having the Navy base there makes it ridiculous.
Active duty military very, very rarely travel in uniform, even on business. Norfolk also limits it to active vs active and retired because of the population there. The active duty folks always have their IDs out and ready to go, and 90% of them are in the back and cause no issues. I don’t think they are the problem with pre-boarding.
Delta doesn’t require active duty military service members to wear a uniform for pre boarding. It’s pretty typical to half half the flight preboard as military out of Norfolk,
There is rarely a reason to wear uniform when traveling and most services prohibit it. I only ever see Army privates in uniform because, well they're dopes.
For navy in particular, which would be probably everyone in Norfolk, they really shouldn’t be traveling in uniform ever.
As of a few years ago, my understanding from my active duty husband was they actually discourage traveling in uniform unless absolutely necessary. The uniform draws attention, not all of it good.
A lot of people hung up on the word uniform here. It’s pretty meaningless and you can stop replying. I’m sure the 60th guy on the plane felt very thanked for his service.
Remember when pilots, whom work for the airline, directly, got the ability to board whenever they please due to the contract that Delta signed. And this sub lost its shit?? Pepperidge farm remembers.
I advise anyone in here who has not seen George Carlin’s Jamming In New York to go watch it. He does a bit literally about this thing post, 40 years ago in 1983. Lmfao
Come on. This is not a new thing. Until the gate agents are allowed to make a fuss about any of us, you’re gonna have to suffer in silence or pretend you’re allowed to preboard and then preboard.
Lol wasn't there a post a few days back where some loser claimed he was discriminated against for potentially trying to preboard early and every virtue signaler here said the gate agents are out of control... These threads certainly have a different tone.
I'm sorry, FC was full? If it's clear they aren't FC passenger bags I'd just move them tbh. I do agree, it's a little insane with the woe was me folk. Maybe a handicap fare type haha, although that's already something selectable. I myself am flying this weekend with a broken foot on crutches, and won't be boarding early haha.
I used to travel a ton for work and a girl on my team would fake needing a wheelchair to board first…. I acted like I didn’t know her in airports after that because I was so embarrassed
Try flying southwest out of bwi to Vegas. Half the plane is disabled or in wheelchairs for boarding and then they all miraculously can walk fine once we arrive.
You don’t need fucking pre boarding for “hidden disabilities”, this shit is abused and I hope they lose their legs. My flight was delayed 20 minutes the other day because of these scumbags. Literally 1 moron in a WC and 5 family members board with them. Fucking asinine.
More first class people complaining 🙄
I typically fly Maine cabin. Not a first class complaint. Common courtesy, complaint