"Preferred Access" boarding to begin in Feb.
Jan 9, 2012, 3:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PHX
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"Preferred Access" boarding to begin in Feb.
Just got word at work today that come february, something called "Preferred Access" boarding will begin. Being told it will be similar to the dual lane boarding we tested last year with more details to be coming.
Jan 9, 2012, 4:06 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Looking forward to hearing more details when they are announced. It will be nice to not have to push through tons of people to board anymore (I hope).
Jan 9, 2012, 4:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Or they could save time and name it "Priority AAccess" from the go-ahead.
Jan 9, 2012, 8:09 pm
#4
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Jan 10, 2012, 12:12 am
#5
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Jan 10, 2012, 9:44 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2011
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This is great news! Always nice to see US doing things that all of the other legacy carriers in the country do...
Jan 10, 2012, 10:08 am
#7
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I do hope that US learns from its competitors' error by simply numbering the Zones from 1 to whatever. For UA, Zone 1 is often the third or fourth actual zone called for boarding. For people who aren't experienced travelers or, more likely, traveling from abroad, seeing "Zone 1" means that you think that you are first.
I don't particularly care if there are 10 zones, I just thing you pick a simple system and help people count through it (until there is an IQ test linked to BP issuance).
Jan 11, 2012, 11:56 am
#8
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Jan 11, 2012, 1:00 pm
#9
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Jan 11, 2012, 3:41 pm
#10
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Jan 12, 2012, 2:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tempe, AZ
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As we know, US is always looking for ways to up-sell things (ala "Choice Seats"). And now it's early boarding. My guess is "Preferred Access" will allow non-Preferreds to buy-up to an earlier boarding position.
Jan 12, 2012, 2:43 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: PHL
Posts: 352
I'm sure it'll just get wrapped into choice seats since they get zone 2 already. I really don't see anyone biting for priority boarding alone for more than 5 or 10 bucks.
Jan 12, 2012, 8:50 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2008
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Posts: 325
WN does pretty well selling their early check-in product for $10. I wouldn't put it past US to try the same thing.
Jan 13, 2012, 1:06 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
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That was my thought at first, too. But I'd imagine that the existence of a Preferred lane will make it obvious to non-Preferreds that there is indeed another access point that should remain accessible. In my experience flying *A awards in J class on several airlines, the crowd typically leaves space open for the status lanes. When there is only one access point (like with many TG flights), it's the same mob scene that we get with US.
Jan 13, 2012, 6:44 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: PHL
Posts: 352
On US the difference between zone 2 and zone 3 is you might have to wait more. It's usually not until zone 4 or 5 that overhead space even matters.
On WN you are fighting to get a decent seat. If you aren't in the first boarding group you probably won't be getting that aisle seat you want, so to me boarding first on WN is far more valuable than US. You get better seats AND better overhead availability. Pretty good deal for $10.