looks like the business class crowd control has thankfully come to an end..

[Lowgoz]

I've noticed on 4 flights this week, FA's are not standing guard to prevent the lower class passengers bumrushing the business class suits before they can amble their way up the airobridge and into the terminal.

Thank god. Seems like sanity has taken over.

Anyone else seen the same? Well played virgin. Well played.

 

[bullerdude]

I've noticed on 4 flights this week, FA's are not standing guard to prevent the lower class passengers bumrushing the business class suits before they can amble their way up the airobridge and into the terminal.

Thank god. Seems like sanity has taken over.

Anyone else seen the same? Well played virgin. Well played.

Poor move in my view - not that I disagree with your point above - its more that this is the last kind of thing they should be doing given all the criticism their business class is currently receiving.

 

[dzinh]

On both of my flights MEL OOL MEL one of the FA's did block off the Y pax so the J class pax could
leave first! We there any J pax in the cabin?

 

[tuapekastar]

If indeed this ('protection' of J pax disembarking first) is the sole reason for the FA 'standing guard' at the border between J and Y, then good riddance. It is unnecessary and offensive. I have never seen (I'm sure there's been the odd exception though) a case where Y pax have pushed in front of J pax for disembarkation.

 

[medhead]

It was stated by FAs, within my hearing a number of times, as being used to ensure passenger had started disembarking from the rear door before from the front door. Protection of J passenger is a half joking reason made up in the imagination of some DYKWIAs in row 3. ie the same person who asked the FAs about it also said something about protection precious J passengers.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have never seen (I'm sure there's been the odd exception though) a case where Y pax have pushed in front of J pax for disembarkation.

I have seen it a few times this year....particularly on the A330's......That said it is not particularly necessary for DJ FA's to block Y pax. I have also seen pax in J fannying around and effectively blocking Y pax from disembarking. It should sort itself out without the need for policing.

 

[markis10]

It was stated by FAs, within my hearing a number of times, as being used to ensure passenger had started disembarking from the rear door before from the front door. Protection of J passenger is a half joking reason made up in the imagination of some DYKWIAs in row 3. ie the same person who asked the FAs about it also said something about protection precious J passengers.

Agree, and I think you will find there has been a procedure change where the front door is now not opened until after the rear door.

 

[TonyHancock]

Does QF still block Y pax on the 380 until F/JY+ pax have disembarked?

 

[ReLoad]

Flew DJ to OOL yesterday morning, nobody in J so the poor FA couldn't block anything

Was in row 3, next to a guy who took off his shoes put his holy socks and feet up against the bulkhead. I really didn't need to see his toe nail fungus.

Seriously not cool

 

[RWJ777]

I would be much saddened to see come to an end the occasional practice, especially on full flights, that FAs stand between J and Y till the J pax are on their way. Like many here, I have flown both classes and contrary to a comment here have had Y pax push past me while leaving my seat in J. I do not dilly dally; like everyone. I want off ASAP. But push past me they have. I therefore strongly support the practice of FAs standing between the classes to enable J pax to leave without delay. An important point here: airline travel is not a democracy; pax in J are paying 3-4 times on average more than Y pax. They are therefore entitled additional benefits. These include food, service, designated toilet (without it being used by Y pax too lazy to walk up the back), priority boarding and unimpeded disemarkation. Absent these benefits the attraction of J, at its vastly additional cost, reduces. QF has already whittled away many of these benefits through inactive and inattentive supervision (ie Y pax putting their handluggage in J bins before proceeding to their seats). It is entirely appropriate that these systemic benefits are retained to justify the extra expense of J.I'd be very sorry to see this remaining benefit discarded.

 

[oz_mark]

If indeed this ('protection' of J pax disembarking first) is the sole reason for the FA 'standing guard' at the border between J and Y, then good riddance. It is unnecessary and offensive. I have never seen (I'm sure there's been the odd exception though) a case where Y pax have pushed in front of J pax for disembarkation.

Virgin are hardly the only airline that do this. I've had it on Qantas. Malaysian sometimes even closes the curtain.

Having said that I do think in virgin's case it is about waiting fir the rear passengers to start disembarkation.

 

[KCMil]

Medhead is correct, it was / is nothing to do with stopping Y pax from rushing past J pax. Firstly the CC member that goes to row 2 is supposed to assist J pax with return of jackets / coats hung on rails at rear of row 2. Secondly and most importantly there was a requirement on 737-800 for 12 pax to dissembark prior to main pax flow from front door to avoid the a/c becoming tail heavy. Prior to j class you may remember that often pax at front would be held by CS for some time after front door opened.
Once J class was introduced it was altered to allow J class to disembark but main cabin had to be held until 15 pax left rear door. This was standardised across fleet to avoid confusion.

So you prob will / should still see a CC member go to row two, but only if there are J pax with jackets / coats hung up.

On A330 the procedure is to allow J pax disembarkation prior to Y pax, but if they are 'fluffing' around then there should be no delay to commencing Y pax disembarkation. I guess they figure you deserve that extra touch when you've paid that much money for your ticket, and it is standard practice throughout the industry where only one door is used for disembarkation.

OT, has anyone else noticed at the SYD terminal extension one of the gates has a dual aerobridge installed? I'm guessing that is for A330 so that the holding of Y pax wont occur!

 

[IainF]

I have had Y pax try to push past whilst I am grabbing my bag in J, but I am very happy to ask them to wait... What really irritates me is the old "Y hand luggage in J bins" deal.
Two pax in J and no space for my bag ? That's a far bigger issue for me.

 

[dzinh]

Flew DJ to OOL yesterday morning, nobody in J so the poor FA couldn't block anything

Was in row 3, next to a guy who took off his shoes put his holy socks and feet up against the bulkhead. I really didn't need to see his toe nail fungus.

Seriously not cool

had a guy do that on my flight up to OOL in J... A sight I don't want to see again!

 

[jazza1971]

I had it blocked on my two flights over the weekend, not a big deal..

 

[EuroFlyer]

have seen people rush for the door a few times, was on a delayed flight back to Melbourne one time and a lady pushed right through giving out about the plane being late.
doesn't bother me if i have to wait for the J people to get off first as iv probably paid at least half the price of the ticket. never really took much notice of the FA standing there before but now that you mention it I can remember it now on most my flights. Im normally in row 3 so dont mind the extra wait anyhow.

If indeed this ('protection' of J pax disembarking first) is the sole reason for the FA 'standing guard' at the border between J and Y, then good riddance. It is unnecessary and offensive. I have never seen (I'm sure there's been the odd exception though) a case where Y pax have pushed in front of J pax for disembarkation.

 

[muppet]

I expect the cabin crew to block the path for J. Just until J get off.

Once one peasant pushes through it starts a flow, then you have to fight traffic to get bags down.

It's not limited to J though. The number of row 20 pax pushing past row 3 pax rather than letting those in front disembark first is high on every flight.

 

[DC3]

.. It's not limited to J though. The number of row 20 pax pushing past row 3 pax rather than letting those in front disembark first is high on every flight.

On arrival, I always allow those ahead of me to move out of their row and into the aisle, collect their carry-on, and then I follow. Is this the proper etiquette?

 

[muppet]

On arrival, I always allow those ahead of me to move out of their row and into the aisle, collect their carry-on, and then I follow. Is this the proper etiquette?

haha yes.
i detect sarcasm.

it's not etiquette, it's courtesy.
the reason i hate it so much, the lack of courtesy, is my own reaction when it occurs. I become dis-courteous just to escape the aircraft. I push out into the aisle with my back to people. I hate that i do it, but the peasants won't just freaking wait.

 

[Fruitcake]

haha yes.
I push out into the aisle with my back to people. I hate that i do it, but the peasants won't just freaking wait.

I was going to post an anecdote about the muppet in row 3 on my last flight who tried to physically push me out of the way to get his jacket, which the FAs had hung on the front of the J bulkhead for him. But then I saw your username, so I'll need to think of a new epithet!