United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Self serve boarding?

Greetings:

This morning on a EWR-BOS flight, the GA had pax scan their own BPs rather than her taking and scanning them as usual. Is this a new boarding procedure (a la LH in Europe) or just a lazy GA?

Of course it took twice as long to board since it took each PAX several trials until BPs got properly scanned. If UA is going to implement this, then I suggest that they get better scanners, with more tolerance for misalignments.

Safe travels to all

Was this the standard hang over type scanner by the agents desk or a subway turnstile type device?

Some time last year, they were trying out subway type turnstile self scanners at the back of the E-Terminal in IAH. The 'test' gates each had 2 turnstiles that had retracting blocks that opened once you had successfully scanned your BP. I tried it once and it took several attempts to get it to scan, but others scanned the first time. Did not pay much attention at the time and since they went away soon after, never thought much about it. The agents still had the overhang one at their station to deal with problem boarding passes.

They only lasted about 4-6 weeks and then disappeared.

I live in Germany and I like this process. Maybe slower because new in the US. I think it is quicker overall once people get use to it. In Europe they even have self scanning process before going through security. For most flights within Europe you dont have to show an ID to go through security or board (which is a bit worrisome for those of us use to the TSA process).

The drawback to this, is it may create a free-for-all at the gate when everyone tries to board at the same time. In most places in Europe, Elites do not board first, everyone boards at the same time. They are used to this, so boarding is usually done with some sense of order.

I am not sure how well this will be handles in the US where everyone is rushing to be on the plan first to get the overhead bin space.

The drawback to this, is it may create a free-for-all at the gate when everyone tries to board at the same time. In most places in Europe, Elites do not board first, everyone boards at the same time. They are used to this, so boarding is usually done with some sense of order.

I am not sure how well this will be handles in the US where everyone is rushing to be on the plan first to get the overhead bin space.

I just returned from Europe and if I recall correctly, business class boarded first; I even recall a line-jumper getting called out by the GA and pulled out because she wasn't in business class...

Was this the standard hang over type scanner by the agents desk or a subway turnstile type device?

Some time last year, they were trying out subway type turnstile self scanners at the back of the E-Terminal in IAH. The 'test' gates each had 2 turnstiles that had retracting blocks that opened once you had successfully scanned your BP. I tried it once and it took several attempts to get it to scan, but others scanned the first time. Did not pay much attention at the time and since they went away soon after, never thought much about it. The agents still had the overhang one at their station to deal with problem boarding passes.

They only lasted about 4-6 weeks and then disappeared.

Just to clarify. This was the standard scanner and quite sensitive to BP positioning. This is different from say LH in Europe where your BP opens the gate. In my experience, those scanners are more robust to BP position. This is the first time I have seen a GA refusing to take Bps and directing PAXs to scan them themselves. Hence the question of whether this is a new procedure effective 8/1 or just an EWR thing.

I love it when GAs just start to make up their own rules, always makes for an interesting few minutes while boarding!

I'm sure part of the reason the experiement at IAH failed is due the incredibly poor job that COs printers do when printing barcodes on BPs. My latest set wouldn't read at any step in the process, security, UC, the gate. Not once.

I just returned from Europe and if I recall correctly, business class boarded first; I even recall a line-jumper getting called out by the GA and pulled out because she wasn't in business class...

Yup. At least on LH, business and pre-boards board first (this seems to take under five minutes), then the rest of the plane. The whole process seems to be quite quick and orderly (perhaps in part because -- again, at least on LH -- they are watching the carry-ons like hawks, and anything that is not going to make the size requirements does not get very far at all).

Yup. At least on LH, business and pre-boards board first (this seems to take under five minutes), then the rest of the plane. The whole process seems to be quite quick and orderly (perhaps in part because -- again, at least on LH -- they are watching the carry-ons like hawks, and anything that is not going to make the size requirements does not get very far at all).

Yes, I also like this (occasionally heartless, but efficient) boarding process - God help you if you try and sneak on those giant bags that some business flyers try here in the USA! :)

Almost every time I've flown through NRT, the UA staff there ask pax to scan their own BPs.

Yup. At least on LH, business and pre-boards board first (this seems to take under five minutes), then the rest of the plane.
Intra-Europe yes but then I find 5 minutes to be quite a long time to fill the tiny Biz section on a 320.

On long haul flights boarding chez LH is a mess. First the lengthy boarding ritual for all people with a sense of entitlement ....... then nothing .... then First, Biz, Gold, then seat rows.
The cumbersome boarding process is the reason why LH elite always show up at the very last second.

But yes, they can hold their BPs at the reader themselves and it very often doesn't work.
The whole process seems to be quite quick and orderly...
My last 'automated' boarding when Biz was called was stalled because a family (with the sense of entitlement but not the correct BPs) stalled my line. The machine did just not let them in with no error message and the GA could not be bothered to step in.
Not my view of efficiency.

Just to clarify. This was the standard scanner and quite sensitive to BP positioning. This is different from say LH in Europe where your BP opens the gate. In my experience, those scanners are more robust to BP position. This is the first time I have seen a GA refusing to take Bps and directing PAXs to scan them themselves. Hence the question of whether this is a new procedure effective 8/1 or just an EWR thing.

Was it all BPs or just electronic ones? I have been told by a few GA and Club Agents they are not allowed to touch customer's phones so they generally ask you to scan it yourself (execpt a few LAX cub agents who demand a paper BP or Club Card).

Was it all BPs or just electronic ones? I have been told by a few GA and Club Agents they are not allowed to touch customer's phones so they generally ask you to scan it yourself (execpt a few LAX cub agents who demand a paper BP or Club Card).

All BPs, including the ones printed at home and crumpled on the way to the gate. That is why it took ages for each one to scan.

On long haul flights boarding chez LH is a mess. First the lengthy boarding ritual for all people with a sense of entitlement ....... then nothing .... then First, Biz, Gold, then seat rows.
The cumbersome boarding process is the reason why LH elite always show up at the very last second.

Of course if you are in LH long-haul first and boarding at the turnstile, you have already made a major strategic mistake. LH F long haul boarding, when done correctly, is a marvel.

I remember newspaper articles (or maybe an article in the Business Traveler magazine?) when LH started this in Europe. I also remember articles when CO tested this in IAH.

If it works out well (and I hope it does), I wonder if other airlines will follow to save $$?

Of course if you are in LH long-haul first and boarding at the turnstile, you have already made a major strategic mistake. LH F long haul boarding, when done correctly, is a marvel.
You mean if they have the capacity and the mood to shuttle you to the plane?

At how many airports is that offered (often FRA and sometimes MUC)? This is more a marketing gimmick than a guaranteed service IMHO.

You mean if they have the capacity and the mood to shuttle you to the plane?

At how many airports is that offered (often FRA and sometimes MUC)? This is more a marketing gimmick than a guaranteed service IMHO.

If you're at the FRA FCT, then mood and capacity don't come into play. It's the only way to get to the plane. I go to the FCT even when connecting.
Now at other LH stations, and especially out stations, boarding can vary from OK to awful.

Just went through security at LAX; there's apparently a separate line where you don't have to take articles of clothing (belts, shoes, etc) to go through scanner.

Anyone know what this is about? Thanks!

It's called TSA PreCheck, it's a trusted traveller programme.

Yes, I also like this (occasionally heartless, but efficient) boarding process - God help you if you try and sneak on those giant bags that some business flyers try here in the USA! :)

Aaaaand.... This is why qantas allows 20 minutes to board a domestic 767. Without fail it works. To be fair, I like it partially because I have no OW status, but would be open to it if the passengers on UA (or any us domestic carrier) didn't act like they were fighting for the last seat on the plane (though they are fighting for the last overhead bin, partially brought on by stupid bag fees).

..UA (or any us domestic carrier) didn't act like they were fighting for the last seat on the plane (though they are fighting for the last overhead bin, partially brought on by stupid bag fees).
The overhead chaos was exactly the same in the good ol'days before the bag fees.

I blame it on the odd factoid that US airports think it is in order to spend 30-45 minutes to deliver bags on the carrousel. If the bags were there when the passengers pass the belts, the overhead mania would have never grown to these proportions.