Where does United promise Boarding Group 1 boards first? Where’s the fraud? Your assumption (or desire) doesn’t constitute fraud.

UA has decided a 1K is an important customer who generates a reliable source of continuing revenue (which may last for years). A one-off First buyer still gets to board before most of the passengers on the plane.

There are lengthy threads debating pluses and minuses of how UA boards. Same old arguments either way. Obviously, UA wants to do it this way.

A lot of airlines board families with children under age 2 early. You make it sound like UA is boarding children (any age) and family first.

I think a 1K who has spent $40K with UA in last 12 should be treated better than some one who buys one $200 first ticket from SFO to LAS (or whatever).

if you’re a big cheese at AA, I guess it won’t take too much time to replicate your “importance” at UA. You might try a 1K challenge.