EliteAccess / Velvet Ropes / etc

[dbaker]

EliteAccess
I can report that the program was in full effect on Tuesday evening, both at AUS and IAH. I checked in after walking across “EliteAccess” carpet and received a boarding pass with “ELITEACCESS” and “EA” printed all over it. Additionally, they said that they replaced the elite priority tags (I have a plastic one on all my bags) with paper EliteAccess tags that they adhere to the normal baggage tag.

At both IAH and AUS, there were separate EliteAccess boarding entrances. I arrived at the AUS gate early and walked up when they called for first class passengers. But I arrived at the gate about halfway through boarding at IAH for my connecting flight. It was sort of weird to walk to the separate entrance. Unlike the BusinessFirst separate entrances, the EA ones are combined with the regular boarding line so that one gate agent handles both lines. You’re not just in a separate line, but you’re cutting in front of everyone else. It was sort of awkward, but I didn’t want to have to wait forever. The girl at the front of the other line kind of held back as I handed my boarding pass to the gate agent.

Velvet Ropes
I can confirm the “velvet” (they’re not actually velvet) ropes between FC and Y on both of my flights.

Beef Brisket
I am happy to say that I did nto receive the beef brisket sandwich for dinner. Instead, I got the turkey sandwich. It’s almost as bad. At least the vegetable soup was good.

[NWgoldelite]

Any news on whether EA will be for NW elites too?

[dbaker]

I would expect so, since it applies to all current elites.