Boarding Gate No No's - 8 Things You NEVER DO at the Airport Gates

Travel is amazing and flying is part of travel, but there are a few things you should know when you are at the boarding gate at the airport that will keep you from having a bad experience waiting to get onto the plane. Things that gate agents want you to know.
Filmed at the airport

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#airport #boardinggate #traveladvice
Copyright Mark Wolters 2024

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[guidoferri]

90% of these tips can be summarized with: don't be a jerk

[KayakTN]

The people who need this aren't watching Wolters World.

[StamfordBridge]

My request for gate agents: if you’re announcing boarding by group, please enforce the process and turn away those who attempt to board before their group is called. I can’t tell you how many times I am, say, Group F, and I dutifully wait for my group to be called, only to discover that I somehow am the ONLY person left for groups D, E, and F (because I was the only one waiting for my group to be called).

[jcnlaw]

I will never forget something I saw at the gate flying out of Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. All flights were delayed due to weather. In coming snowstorm. Everyone at the gate wanted to get out of town before we were buried in snow. Flight delayed multiple times over the course of three hours. At about 8 pm the flight was cancelled. Some idiot started yelling at the gate agent saying he had to get home. He eventually picked up the keyboard and smashed it against the counter. He got arrested. Don’t be that guy.

[mikejankowski]

Not only is this channel full of practical information, I especially appreciate the encouragement of niceness and civility. It helps to give the world an outside chance of actually being a worthwhile place to live.

[enzof]

As a seasoned traveler, I’ve noticed that most check-in, gate, and boarding problems are “User-based Problems” (AKA passengers).

[jturie]

During my 150K miles per year as a consultant, it was amazing how far a smile went. One time I followed a couple who screamed at the gate agent for 5 minutes. I smiled and made a comment something like "that is a tough act to follow" to get a laugh out of her. Funny, my request to upgrade to first class was granted.

[hassanalihusseini]

My request: Please show the boarding groups on a monitor as it is sometimes difficult to understand especially for non native English speakers to understand. Or use a AI-generated anouncement.

And: Don't anounce that "boarding will start soon" when in reality you have to wait 20min or half an hour longer. That is so annoying.

[Demetri]

Don't place your carry on bags in spaces at the front of the plane when your seat is at the back.
That happened to me once, where I had to walk to the back to get my bag and believe me I walked and said excuse me quite a bit while people were trying to get around me. It's disrespectful for people to inconvenience people for their own convenience.

[koenven]

One of the reasons I often stand closer to the gate agents is because I can't understand the announcements made over the PA system. In most airports, it's a crappy system and the noise and acoustics of the airport don't help either. And if you're in a country where the native language is not English and you don't understand (much) of the native language, it can make it even more difficult to understand. Not the gate agent's fault of course, but the reason I sometimes stand closer. Just to get the messages.

[rickybobby]

I never understood why people sometimes are so rude to not only the employees but to everyone. When im flying i am always in the best mood because im going some place i have never been before.

[amritawhitman]

"Gate Lice" 🤣 Too funny! This is one of my pet peeves.

[oldbroadabroad]

Unless I'm flying business I wait right until just about everyone has gone through the gate. The plane is not leaving any sooner. Travelling is a privilege that millions in their life will never experience. We should all be grateful.

[brovold]

"Brightness all the way up" is a good little reminder - I typically have my phone at like 40%

[kristenclarkin]

Air Canada was enforcing the boarding groups on my most recent trip a few weeks ago. They repeatedly announced at all three airports I was at that they would send you back to the line if you try to board with the wrong group. Also enforcing the two items only (1 personal and 1 carryon). I just wish they’d go back to boarding the zones from back to front. This front to back seems so much slower.

[wilsonryan]

Everyone that takes a flight anywhere should be required to watch this video. Unfortunately the folks that NEED to hear this, likey will not. Geat video as always

[rk]

As a gate agent, this is very accurate. Pax are usually a bit nuts.
A few minor things you didn't mention:

When I as a gate agent come to the gate, and I immediately get thrown at questions, but I haven't even logged in, and then they get mad that I can't answer their question.

When pax scans their ticket, but then doesn't enter the jet bridge or the bus (waiting for someone).

When pax don't scan their tickets.

When pax come late to the gate obviously.

...And many more...

[BobSmith-rfph]

Always remember one of life's great golden rules: Never mess with someone who can directly impact the service you desire, if you're a jerk to a gate agent, that can quickly escalate into situations you don't want (and that counts for so many situations in life not just at a boarding gate!), they don't want that, they just want to get you on quickly & gone because that's what their boss wants.

[elliotsmith]

Its tough when you run through the airport on account of a late first flight and the connection closes the door early.

[Cali--ica]

I’m a former gate agent. One thing that drove me insane was people who would want to change their seats to sit next to friends or family. In some cases, the small children would not be sitting next to parents….. RESERVE YOUR SEATS WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR RESERVATION! If you fly on an airline which charges for pre reserved seat assignment, PAY IT! Don’t all of a sudden be cheap.