Air Canada Zone boarding. Aisle seat means you are boarded last. Anyone find this annoying?

[CanadaGirl]

I recently flew back to Canada to settle my mom's affairs. Stressful enough. But Air Canada's new Zone boarding means as a preferred aisle seat, I am boarded last. Which means a number of things - I was in the LAST aisle of a smaller plane and had to bump by everyone with their winter coats, already seated to get to my last row and lo and behold, said winter coats and luggage meant NO room for my things. I only had a carry on from Australia to Canada with important items I didn't want to risk losing. Thankfully, crew managed to slide it under the seat but the generous (thankfully shorter than me) person agreed to give up their legroom.

Secondly, on my return from YVR to SYD they told me as I was boarding (last) that my bag must now be checked as there was no more room on the plane. Imagine my dismay, as I was carrying my mother home with me. So, in a crowded airport floor, with everyone looking annoyed at me, I had to disassemble my carry on to "remove" my mother. It was undignified. I asked them to ask the person before me to check their baggage, as I could not check mine due to Air Canada rules for human remains, but they were not interested in helping me. I sweated the entire 15 hrs home fearing my carry on, with treasured, irreplaceable items, might be lost. Insult to injury, there WAS plenty of room on the plane for my carry on.

Gosh, long story, but so upset as I was constantly inconvenienced for all legs of my flights - Sydney to YVR, to YYZ, then to YSB and back again. Just because I choose an aisle seat.

Comments?

 

[RooFlyer]

Hi CanadaGirl

I haven't heard of that boarding arrangement before, but to be honest, it does make a bit of sense, as those seated early in the aisle seat don't have to get up to let the others through, slowing things down.

But it resulted in a awful result for you, at the worst possible time. I'm also an aisle seater; If I fly AC again, I'll reconsider my carry-on (which you of course couldn't). Winter coats definitely need to be shoved under the seat in front!!

 

[Warks]

I can see the logic in it (as mentioned above) but as you found, the reason people rush the gates on every North American flight is to stow their oversized bags that should have been checked. If you board late, you miss out. If they'd police the amount of luggage people brought on board that would improve but can't see that happening.

 

[CanadaGirl]

I haven't heard of that boarding arrangement before, but to be honest, it does make a bit of sense, as those seated early in the aisle seat don't have to get up to let the others through, slowing things down.

Very true, but I just found back of the plane first, working to front rows so much more convenient.

 

[djkelly69]

the reason people rush the gates on every North American flight is to stow their oversized bags that should have been checked.

Not just oversized - it seems like every person on US domestic flights at least has a max carryon-size wheeled suitcase plus a large backpack (presumably to avoid paying for baggage and/or it getting lost).