Unit 9 Boarding procedures

Boarding procedures are airline procedures that process passengers and allow them onto the correct aircraft for their destination. Boarding procedures ensure that only ticketed passengers board the correct aircraft for their destination. Boarding procedures ensure on time departures by taking place within a scheduled time period.

Boarding planning first considers the kind of flight that is being processed. Flight departures can be of two types: one in which an aircraft is coming from another location and proceeding on to its destination or one in which the departure is the flight’s origination point. Operations departments determine whether the flight is on schedule, what gate will be assigned for the departure, and the expected number of passengers. Passengers are of three types: first, local passengers are those beginning their trip; second, connecting passengers are those arriving on other aircraft to continue their trip on the departing flight; and third, continuing passengers are those arriving and continuing onto the flight’s destinations. If the flight is oversold, or overbooked, oversale procedures are initiated.

Keeping in mind that a departure may involve an arriving aircraft, gate agents report to the assigned gate typically thirty minutes before an aircraft’s arrival or one hour before its departure. They prepare and post signs that indicate departure information such as the flight number, the destination, and the scheduled or adjusted departure time, if necessary.

When passenger counts are low, all of the boarding procedures can be performed by one person. When twenty five or more passengers are expected, it is customary to have two gate agents. Three to four gate agents are needed for flights of larger aircraft in which two to three hundred passengers are expected.

Boarding responsibilities are divided into two functions, known by a variety of titles. The boarding agent, or coordinator, is responsible for all announcements, for the actual taking of tickets and boarding passes from passengers, and for all communication with the crew. The gate, or control, agent is responsible for checking passengers in if needed, for producing all needed reports, and for making the entries that calculate and finalize how many passengers are on board.

Within the hour before departure, passengers begin to arrive at the gate. Some need to be checked in and given their seat assignments. Most already have been checked in at a ticket counter or in their originating location if they are on a connecting flight. Different aircraft have different boarding requirements and time frames that take into account the aircraft’s size and the number of passengers. A full medium-sized aircraft may take as much time as a half-full large aircraft. Boarding may begin as much as one hour or as little as fifteen minutes before departure.

Boarding begins with a consultation and agreement with the flight crew that all is in order on board the aircraft. Boarding is managed and coordinated by announcements usually made through a public-address system. The first announcements identify the airline, the flight number, the destination, the departure time, and also include certain reminders regarding the size and the number of carryon items allowed. Recognizing that certain passengers have special needs and that certain passengers enjoy the privileges of being preferred customers, the second announcement is called the preboarding announcement.

Row numbers, normally in sets of five, are called to board, starting with the back rows and progressing toward the front. Boarding from the rear rows to the front eliminates congestion on board the aircraft and allows passengers to proceed without interruption to their assigned seats.

After preboarding and while general boarding is conducted, other steps leading to final passenger and departure documentation take place. Almost every airline makes what is called a cutoff announcement twenty minutes prior to departure. Computer entries are then made releasing the advance seat assignments of passengers who have not already checked in. Other entries are then made to assign seats to standby passengers. Standby passengers are of two kinds, revenue and space available.

Exercises

1. You should check the pronunciation of key words. Transcribe the words:

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 1209