A cool, new function to the Fly Delta app tells you not only when your flight is boarding — but when it’s your specific zone’s turn to get on the plane! 
(Photo courtesy of Delta News Hub)Delta calls it “virtual queuing” and compares the messages to “being notified by a restaurant with a pager when your table is ready, so you can relax close by instead of waiting at a crowded entrance or lobby.”
The feature is available on the new version (5.2) of the Fly Delta app. which the airline is making a “digital concierge.”
Cue My Thoughts About Virtual Queuing
I really like this idea and applaud Delta for making it happen.
This gives people more time to enjoy an airport lounge, restaurant or bar, children’s play area with their kids, or someplace else. People sitting in Main Cabin 2, for example, can chill out somewhere nearby until they see SkyPriority boarding — and then make their way to the gate.
I have an upcoming trip from LAX to JFK. Those flights almost always depart from Terminal 2. I’m sitting in a main cabin exit row (nothing good in C+ and upgrades are hard to get on that route) and board with the Sky Priority group. So I’ll hang out in the T2 Sky Club until Comfort+ is called and then head downstairs.
Will this cut down on gate lice? Likely not. But I can see it at least somewhat enhancing (in a good way!) the travel experience.
What Do You Think About This Feature?
Please share your thoughts below in the Comments section!
–Chris
Featured image: ©iStock.com/m-imagephotography
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How about actually enforcing boarding groups? GA does nothing when people just go before their group is called.
How about adding a red indicator on the boarding pass that turns green when your zone is boarding. Then the GA can turn away the reds and tell them to come back when it’s green.
I really don’t trust their data on boarding zones. They regularly forget to mark a flight as boarding, and once they’ve done it, they can’t undo it (I’ve seen a flight board for 10 hours on a mechanical delay). Unless they make it actually accurate, this just adds to the confusion.
I’ve had the update for at least a week now, been on 10+ flights and this feature has never worked yet. Will be interested when it actually works though.