British Airways created a little controversy this week when it unveiled a new policy that breaks down the boarding process into how much travellers pay for their airfares.
A new financial divide will see British Airways allocate boarding numbers to its Economy guests that are based on how much they paid for their ticket.
Flyers who forked out the most for an Economy airfare will receive a ‘one’ indicating that they’re to board the plane ahead of those who receive the numbers ‘two’, ‘three’, ‘four’ and ‘five’.
According to the airline, the new system is designed to simply the boarding process and reduce queues at the airport.
Despite the good intention, the new system has sparked a bit of an online debate ,with some welcoming the policy and others declaring it as “ridiculous”.
Among those disapproving of the new system is this Twitter user who couldn’t believe the airline would introduce a class system to Economy:
ridiculous. can't believe that they've doing it.
— julesibeme 🇿🇦 🌞 (@julesibeme) November 20, 2017
While this Twitter user was concerned over baggage space for those boarding last:
This is an interesting headline, people buying seat only fares on BA shouldn't be entitled to luxuries such as the pick of space in overhead lockers, this is no different to low cost carriers in my opinion #BritishAirways #Flights #Travelnews #lowcost
— Mark Beattie (@MarkBeattie1989) November 21, 2017
There were a few social media users who saw the new system as an opportunity for those who paid the least to brag about their savings as they board the aircraft:
#britishairways I'm a #cheapskate at least I don't have to sit on a plane waiting for everyone to board ….my smug face 😃knowing I paid the least for my flight 💃
British Airways to board passengers in cheap seats last – https://t.co/YVwQmOxmfi
— MrsScotVegas (@Jacis69) November 20, 2017
British Airways is now boarding people who buy cheap tickets lasthttps://t.co/MFddRDwhd8
This will end when those last to board announce what they paid as they strut down the aisle to their seats. #BritishAirways
— Robert Lawton (@Rklawton) November 21, 2017
The whole #britishairways make the cheaper seats get on last…I assume so they can brag 2 every1 they got the same trip 4 less? #winning
— Kathryn Benjamin (@kathrynbenjamin) November 21, 2017
And then there are those (similar to us) who don’t understand why people would create a fuss about spending more time on a plane than they have to:
Never understood why people care so much about boarding a plane first, you have a seat, it won’t go without you. #BritishAirways
— TomDUK (@TomDUK1) November 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/NoodleScott/status/932740038319857664
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