Originally Posted by
EWRFlyerAL
I'm saying that when I buy First, I should get to board first and not have to worry about bin space.
I think concerns about preboarders who are sitting in coach taking the bins in F is overblown. For one, the bins in Y will be empty, so they'll have no issue stowing their bags. Second, this is something relatively easy for FAs to enforce. It makes no sense to ignore real issues to stoke the entitlement of a F passenger who MUST. BE. ON. FIRST.
Originally Posted by
halls120
Not speaking for the OP (I'm not taking a position on the procreation issue)
, but one of the benefits of paying for F and status IS the ability to board first. UA promotes it as a benefit, so when they make procedure changes that diminish the benefit, why are you surprised that people complain? Since UA generally does a poor job of enforcing overhead storage and excess cabin baggage rules, it does matter how many people board first - especially on a 319/320 where the F cabin overhead storage is tight to begin with.
The problem with UA's whole approach to boarding began in 2012 when they abandoned the simple process that worked - preboarding for people who really need assistance, then GS/1K/F/C board first through the red carpet lane - and throughout the boarding process - then star alliance gold and silver, and then general boarding. The more groups they add, the worse boarding gets.
IF UA followed the BA approach to ruthlessly enforcing carry on rules, people like me would stay in the UC longer, because we wouldn't worry about having room for our rules-compliant carry on, and the pressure to board first would significantly abate.
Actually, I don't see anything promoting boarding first as a benefit of F. Besides, there were always preboarders before F...
The placement of Y bags in the F bins is a separate issue that can be addressed separately from preboarding.