Fastpathing

[Kendhni]

it appears that the concept of 'fastpathing' is becoming a good money maker for many companies ... whether that be getting on the plane first; getting on the ship first; getting in the tender first; getting to a ride at an amusement park first etc. etc.

Elsewhere a question has arisen about the morality of this ... is it right that you should be allowed to pay your way to the front?

[Kendhni]

My own opinion is that there is nothing wrong with it .. we already do it in all sorts of different ways e.g. private medical insurance. If people wish to pay extra for something that is important to them then so be it.

I usually pay to upgrade the seats on a flight because Julie has to be able to sit forward ... which is not possible if the person in front has reclined ... on many flights that means I get to board first (in amongst the plethora of walking sticks, zimmer frames and crutches that suddenly appear at boarding time and are nowhere to be seen at disembarkation time ).

[david63]

On the basis that everyone has the same opportunity to "fast-track" then I can see nothing wrong with it - not that I have ever done this specifically. There have been occasions when it has been a "perk" when bought with something else.

The interesting question comes though when everyone "fast-tracks" what happens then? Super fast-track where you pay a premium over and above the premium?

[Dark Knight]

those we can afford it or get it paid for via work etc will say, no it is fine
those who can't or won't pay the extra will complain and start harping on about equality
and soon it will be an argument about class, money and no doubt cruise fares

[oldbluefox]

I wouldn't pay for it personally as the ship or aeroplane is not going to leave without me and I'm not worried whether I am first on or last on.

It always amuses me how some people, upon hearing the boarding notice, are up and literally scrabbling to get there first. It's particularly noticeable on coaches where people feel the need to be up as soon as the coach pulls in and then take an age to get down the steps. Why not wait until the quicker ones have got off and then take their time negotiating the steps?

[Kendhni]

I can't remember which island it was on, but the tour guide insisted that it was taken turn about as to how people got off the bus. At one stop it would be the left hand side working forward to back and then the right hand side working back to forward ... at the next stop it would be the opposite way around.

It certainly made a few people who had scrambled and pushed and shoved their way to be at the the front complain.

[Kendhni]

The interesting question comes though when everyone "fast-tracks" what happens then? Super fast-track where you pay a premium over and above the premium?

I was thinking the same .. apparently some people have said EasyJet can be a bit like this already .. so many people have paid for fast boarding that it negates the benefit.

[ChesterfieldJohn]

I wouldn't pay for it personally as the ship or aeroplane is not going to leave without me and I'm not worried whether I am first on or last on.

It always amuses me how some people, upon hearing the boarding notice, are up and literally scrabbling to get there first. It's particularly noticeable on coaches where people feel the need to be up as soon as the coach pulls in and then take an age to get down the steps. Why not wait until the quicker ones have got off and then take their time negotiating the steps?

I agree completely, we always laugh at the people who shoot up as soon as they can when a plane lands and then see them queuing for their cases.

My wife is sometimes in a wheel chair due' to her illness, and when we took the kids to Disneyland America we never had to queue at all.

They had different entrances for disabled people and just took them through.

Can you imagine some of the moaning if they did this in this country.



John

[Kendhni]

CJ, they do in many of the theme parks in the UK ... disabled people can be fastpathed with up to 3 carers (depending on the park) ... I believe it works on a wrist band system.

[Boris+]

Yes, I can identify with the pushy-pushy lark on the excursion coaches - we had a bad dose of people doing that in Hawaii. On one island the coach driver insisted using the system you mention, and it was great - especially when the pushy people complained, and other people told them to shut up in no uncertain terms.

Due to a knee injury I find it difficult on coaches and like to stand up as soon as possible when the coach comes to a stop. I don't want to push my way off the coach and get in the way of other people, I just want to straighten my leg. Some people understand that, some people don't.

Nowadays we don't do as many excursions anyway, and we also now try and sit so that I am in an aisle seat on the correct side.

However, getting back to topic, yes I am happy for people to pay and get to the front; what I don't like is people who haven't paid trying to jump the queue.

In mitigation I will say that sometimes being in a queue is smashing, and you get to meet the most wonderful people.

Em

[david63]

Just a couple of points.

Sometimes I find it quite amusing when you see that the "fast-track" line is moving slower (due to more people in it) than the "normal" lane

In respect of people getting up on coaches and planes I think, well it is in my case, that it is the ability to stretch your legs after having been sat in a cramped position for a few hours, more than the need to get off first.

As for getting on a plane first then there is a perfectly valid reason for doing so - (old Chinese proverb) he who gets on first claims all the locker space

[towny44]

As a Yorkshireman I would rarely pay extra just to be one of the first, but that's a personal choice.
I always thought it strange when completing the boarding card process with Jet2, they would offer you a choice of seats so you could all sit together, at something like £5 per person, if you declined then their system would allocate your seats which were always together! Couldn't work out why anyone would pay in the circumstances.

[jay-ell71]

There is now no "Speedy Boarding" on Easy Jet. Your seat is allocated. However there is a graduated charging system so you pay more for a front seat than for one at the back!!!!

[welshynurse]

Last time I flew with Easy Jet they still had speedy boarding. A que of people who had paid extra went through the gate first, got on the bus to take us to plane, then the rest of us hopped on, and we all got to the plane at the same time!

[Silver_Shiney]

The inlaws were entitled to fast-track boarding last time they cruised, by virtue of their loyalty points.

Problem was, there were so many similarly entitled pax, that it was quicker to check in at the "serfs and peasants" desks.....