Does UA Provided Escorted Passenger Service from the GFL to Flights?
Sep 14, 2014, 10:29 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
+1. A true joy to start or connect on an IFL qualifying trip out of LAX.
Last edited by LAXOGG; Sep 14, 2014 at 11:32 pm Reason: SP
Sep 14, 2014, 11:05 pm
#18
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
In numerous international GF flights out of SFO, I've never been escorted. Ditto for NRT. Ditto for LH, where I was refused the auto transfer because "the flight's in the same terminal."
I must be regarded as really evil by UA staff, given all you folks above who were escorted!
I must be regarded as really evil by UA staff, given all you folks above who were escorted!
Sep 15, 2014, 3:27 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,688
In numerous international GF flights out of SFO, I've never been escorted. Ditto for NRT. Ditto for LH, where I was refused the auto transfer because "the flight's in the same terminal."
I must be regarded as really evil by UA staff, given all you folks above who were escorted!
I must be regarded as really evil by UA staff, given all you folks above who were escorted!
Sep 15, 2014, 6:14 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
Never experienced this with UA but consistently with LH.
I'd loooove this service since on UA GF is lumped into boarding with Group 1. On an SFO-HKG flight, that can be 100+ people with 1K status, FC, and Business!
What I like most about the service, however, is that they don't come get you until it's time to actually board. You can maximize your working or relaxing time in the lounge without having to guess if the flight is boarding or not (since the monitors are useless) and/or having to get there early enough to stand around in the herd so that as GF, you're not pax 142 in line in Group 1.
With mass Group 1 boarding, I'd like this service more from UA than any European airline, who always board FC separately.
I'd loooove this service since on UA GF is lumped into boarding with Group 1. On an SFO-HKG flight, that can be 100+ people with 1K status, FC, and Business!
What I like most about the service, however, is that they don't come get you until it's time to actually board. You can maximize your working or relaxing time in the lounge without having to guess if the flight is boarding or not (since the monitors are useless) and/or having to get there early enough to stand around in the herd so that as GF, you're not pax 142 in line in Group 1.
With mass Group 1 boarding, I'd like this service more from UA than any European airline, who always board FC separately.
Sep 15, 2014, 7:10 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP (LT Pt)
Posts: 236
I haven't been escorted to any flights in the last two years when coming from the GFL. But I also never ask and would likely try to politely decline if offered (once; if they insist, I have no problem with it but see no need for it). But I also don't jump the queue even when preboarding/group 1 is already done so its of no value other than being social.
Sep 15, 2014, 8:48 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 217
No, I know I've arrived. Wife has new hip and doesn't need a gate lice scrum.
Sep 15, 2014, 9:20 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
I was escorted Saturday for the ORD-PEK flight out of C18 which has a back door from the UC.
Agent came around the GFL asking for passengers to PEK and asked me if I was ready or wanted 5 more minutes. I said 5 more minutes, so she escorted another passenger to the gate and then came to get me. We walked through the door from GFL through UC and then the back door to the gate, between the boarding pass scanners and the door to the jet bridge. Agent scanned my boarding pass and sent me through the gate.
Agent came around the GFL asking for passengers to PEK and asked me if I was ready or wanted 5 more minutes. I said 5 more minutes, so she escorted another passenger to the gate and then came to get me. We walked through the door from GFL through UC and then the back door to the gate, between the boarding pass scanners and the door to the jet bridge. Agent scanned my boarding pass and sent me through the gate.
Sep 15, 2014, 12:44 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
I would say that at the LAX lounge, an escort happens much more often than not. Perhaps a little over the top, but can be exciting for noobs. My family still talks about this when I took them to AKL & SYD in F about 12 years ago.
Sep 15, 2014, 1:38 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
She was absolutely lovely, I didn't say she was Smaug.
FWIW I thought the FT lexicon was that everyone guarding the gate to the precious gold of an airline lounge was a "Dragon" be it if they are young, old, mean, nice, etc.
I've also never had a negative experience with anyone at any lounge.
FWIW I thought the FT lexicon was that everyone guarding the gate to the precious gold of an airline lounge was a "Dragon" be it if they are young, old, mean, nice, etc.
I've also never had a negative experience with anyone at any lounge.
Along with the nice woman at LAX there was also the Hispanic lady who was very intent on making sure everyone was comfortable and was happy to "welcome me back...it's been like a year right?" (it was my first time but I've been confused a few times with someone on stage & screen that could fly out of LAX GF often)
Sep 15, 2014, 4:10 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sydney, NSW Australia
Posts: 895
Last month at LAX the six revenue passengers were called by the PA in the GFL and escorted to the aeroplane in perfect time for the line to have diminished and walked on without fanfare or attracting attention. I am a dawdler so I was last out of the lounge and took the stairs but caught up with them at the gate.
Sep 16, 2014, 3:08 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,688
Curious. I've often found a lack of escort services around when I travel with my spouse too.