USAirways to let military board first

[SS255]

I flew to PHX and back today for a meeting. I took the 6:30AM flight out of LAX. I got to the gate 5 minutes before boarding was to start, and the GA was already calling F. Then they called PP, GP, *G. I didn't see any families with young children, so I don't know if the new boarding procedures were followed.

On the flight back from PHX: The GA started making the preliminary boarding announcement on top of another (louder) announcement at a neighboring gate. It sounded like he was explaining the procedure, but I couldn't hear most of it. Finally, the other gate's announcement ended, and boarding for our flight began. The GA called uniformed military. (Nobody boarded.) Then they called F, in the midst of which an employee wheeled a wheelchair passenger up to the gate, and F boarding stopped while she boarded. Then they called PP, GP, *G.

I did not see any FastPath lanes anywhere in PHX (although I only looked at my gate, and a couple of gates around me).

There did not seem to be any confusion in the boarding process on my return flight, but then again, I didn't notice any children in the boarding area. I do think that there will be a lot of confusion when the families with young children take to the skies beginning this weekend. I'd be interested in reading others' reports.

 

[Phoenix]

I can not speak for the mgt of this company... I don't know how they decide how to let Members use their miles... I can not speak as to how they let people board...
I work on the a/c.... I just wait for the folks to board and I welcome them... but I do try to take care of our military... and I do what I can to accommodate them. If I can move
them to a f/c seat I will... I have never asked a f/c pax to give up their seat. But when I see the f/c pax offer it I do not get involved.... I just thank him/ or her and give them what they
need in the back of the a/c.... as well as I do when I have Chairman pax in the back... there are many times that Chairman are back there too.... and I try to take care of them as if they
are in f/c.... but there are many times that I have as many as 30 preferred pax in the back and I can't do it....

but If there is a person in uniform... I do it ... no questions asked.... and if a regular pax has a problem with it... ???? who cares... this guy has given us our freedom... if he did not...
many others have done it as well.... I must say... I have worked many, many HONOR AIR flights... (WW2 ) veterans... and... you would come down off of your cloud to be with these Men..
It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my 30 years working here.... I live for these flights...
So when you talk about veterans.... just get up and PRAISE them.... PS.... there will be lots coming home now!!! PTL....

All very laudable!! And it didn't take some bureaucrat to come up with a mandatory policy so they could take credit for having the foresight to make USAir a better airline. Imagine that, the employees and customers did it all. 😀