First read is on us.

Subscribe today to keep up with the latest travel industry news.

American and Delta Are Mixing Up Their Boarding Procedures


Skift Take

Passengers flying on American and Delta may notice new boarding procedures this month. Now's a good time to double check that boarding pass.

Both American and Delta made changes to their boarding process within the past month in an effort to simplify and expedite the passenger loading.

American's changes, which officially went into effect on March 1st, were made to better segment the numerous priority travelers that were formally grouped into one or two boarding zones. Moving forward, American now separates travelers into nine boarding groups starting with First Class and active military members in group one and concluding with discount economy fares at the back of the pack.

Elite members of American's AAdvantage loyalty program (including AAdvantage members who have the cobranded credit card) will now largely board with groups two through four, while premium economy passengers with no status will load in group five. Passengers with basic economy fares, which just went on sale, will board last.

Delta's new boarding process, which is still in its test phase, is more focused on organizing passengers in the gate area. The airline is currently trialing a system of pillars across several gate areas at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport, a Delta hub, that clearly label boarding groups and queues. Used properly, the pillars will better organize passengers prior to loading and expedite the process for ground crew.

Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, among other carriers, currently use a similar system. If Delta's new pillars receive positive feedback from consumers at Hartsfield-Jackson, it'll expand to other venues.

Currently, Delta Air Lines boards passengers across seven groups and with simple priority and non-priority lanes at the gate.

Though American and Delta are each applying different initiatives this month, each has the same goal of bringing more efficiency to the boarding process. Operationally, airlines have recently underscored efforts to reduce aircraft time on the ground and maximize flight time and revenue. If these campaigns succeed -- if only by shaving a minute or two off the process -- the carriers can potentially save millions each year.

Up Next

Experiences

How Travel Brands Can Seize the ‘Q5’ Opportunity on TikTok

Driven by increased spending on experiences and the digital habits of younger audiences, TikTok has emerged as a key platform for inspiring and shaping travel decisions. Leveraging the platform’s reach early in the year presents a unique opportunity for travel brands to connect with eager travelers.
Sponsored
Hotels

Skift India Forum Video: The Evolution of India’s High-End Hospitality

India’s luxury hospitality boom presents huge global potential. In this talk, the CEOs of Global Hotel Alliance and The Leela Palaces explain why hotels must deliver hyper-personalized, immersive experiences and leverage strategic alliances to build lasting loyalty and cut costly dependence on OTAs.
Sponsored
Hotels

How 'Live Tourism' Events Can Drive Business for Hotels

The ongoing live tourism boom provides compelling opportunities for hotels to maximize revenue by boosting average daily rates, extending stays, increasing guest volumes, and building long-term growth and loyalty.