Flying ORD-LAS tomorrow and unfortunately my *G status on *A doesn't reflect (yet) on AW (booked at US, operated by AW).

Booked in 6C on the outbound and 6A on the return later this weekend. What is the boarding procedure like on AW? Does it board windows, middle, aisle? Or does it board front to back, back to front, cattle call ( ;) )? Any help would be appreciated.

Flying ORD-LAS tomorrow and unfortunately my *G status on *A doesn't reflect (yet) on AW (booked at US, operated by AW).

Booked in 6C on the outbound and 6A on the return later this weekend. What is the boarding procedure like on AW? Does it board windows, middle, aisle? Or does it board front to back, back to front, cattle call ( ;) )? Any help would be appreciated.

Usually it goes like this:

1st: Families traveling with small children < age of 5 & First Class
2nd: Plat/Gold/Silver Elites + Group 1
3rd: Group 2
4th: Group 3
5th: Group 4

I may have the last groups a little out of order so my apologies. This is b/c 99.9% of the time I have already boarded by the first call.

Hope this helps.

1st: Families traveling with small children < age of 5 & First Class
2nd: Plat/Gold/Silver Elites + Group 1
3rd: Group 2
4th: Group 3
5th: Group 4

Who gets grouped into Group 2, 3 & 4?

I think I read somewhere they do the Window, Middle, Aisle thing (not sure how they factor in front of the plane vs. back). I can tell you from personal experience, the one & only time I've flown w/them last fall, I was in 5A & boarded very early, which makes me think the WMA thing is part of their process.

Who gets grouped into Group 2, 3 & 4?

It's normally window, middle, aisle. But there are usually 6 groups or zones, so I'm not sure if back to front also comes into play as well.

Regardless of the group/zone printed on your boarding pass though, you will be able to board with Group 1 if you are *Gold and have your *Gold card with you. In accordance with *A procedures, HP (America West) welcomes *Golds to board along with HP elites and US preferreds.

Not sure if they still follow this, but here's the article:

http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special40/articles/0501airlineseating01.html

Groups 2 thru 6 are by location of aircraft and location of setat (i.e. window, middle, aisle) at leatst that is what was told to me my a gate agent...but being elite, I get to be one of the 1st to board.

OK, nobody has got this right yet. Last week I was 5C and boarded in group2???
It is an algorithm developed by ASU. I think the premise is basicly inside out front to back but if that was all there is to it my 5C should not have been in group 2. I belive there is some mixing going on that makes the process even more effeciant. I recently read where one of the other airlines that was studing this determined complete randomness is actually the quickest way to board. I do think the US system is designed to spread out the plane in each group.

I was on a HP 757 - there were 7 zones. The first 2 included J, FF and those needing assistance. I was in Zone 7 - this was aisle seats in the front part of Y. Zone 6 is the middle section of Y on the aisle. Zone 3-5 are the windows and middles back to front. Then there are all those whose connections were late...

*G should board as part of Zone 1 AFTER F and special pax, along with HP1-3 and US1-3 not flying F. I've actually even heard (ONCE only) one agent welcoming all HP/US Elites, *G, AND *S (!!) to board as elites... as part of group 1 IIRC.

Yes, * GOLD board in Zone 1.. I have heard the invitiation in PHX several times now.. just show your card or something that proves it...

OK, nobody has got this right yet. Last week I was 5C and boarded in group2???
It is an algorithm developed by ASU. I think the premise is basicly inside out front to back but if that was all there is to it my 5C should not have been in group 2. I belive there is some mixing going on that makes the process even more effeciant. I recently read where one of the other airlines that was studing this determined complete randomness is actually the quickest way to board. I do think the US system is designed to spread out the plane in each group.

The system is basically from the outside in, and then back to front. But remember, elites/preferreds (including all *A Golds) board first regardless of where they're sitting and regardless of the zone on the boarding pass -- just show your card. Also, non-elites who hold the DM/FF MasterCards and Visa cards board in the second group, regardless of where their assigned seats are (again making things look more mixed than the underlying windows-to-aisle, back-to-front plan).

In addition, people traveling together get to board at the lowest zone level in their party. So if you have a Zone 2 and a Zone 4 traveling together, they can both board at Zone 2. Further visual deviation from the basic plan.

And yes, all *Golds get to board with the first group, regardless of what's printed on your boarding pass -- just show your card with *Gold status if Zone 1 isn't already printed on your BP.

Just OT but a conceptual question ... does anyone know if *S has any privileges to board... probably not zone 1 but if a *S boarded with zone 2 would they reject you?

I flew BUR-PHX-PIT yesterday. BUR-PHX I had seat 8A, I was zone 4. PHX-PIT I had seat 15F, I was zone 2. I have the new MasterCard, I boarded successfully with zone 2 in BUR.

I've always boarded HP flights with Zone 1 or 2 (when I wasn't upgraded, that is). On RJ flights, I've been #1 on the ac more times than not. :p