Jan 9, 2018, 5:44 am
Last edit by: KARFA
Please use this thread for discussion, conjecture and speculation about the Group Boarding Process.
Experiences of the actual process in airports should be made in the dedicated thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...periences.html
Group Boarding Summary (courtesy chris1979)
NB. Customers with additional needs will be offered pre-boarding ahead of all the groups listed above.
Boarding priority for Executive Club Gold, Silver or Bronze Members or oneworld equivalents, will automatically be reflected in the group number given on their boarding pass. If they arrive after their group has been called, they can use the priority boarding lane to go through before the flight closes.
Please note that priority boarding will not be reflected for any other people travelling with an Executive Club Member on the same booking at the moment, but will be introduced in the coming months. In the meantime, the whole party can use the priority boarding lane and our staff will endeavour to board everyone together.
Pre-boarding
Families with small children
We invite families with infants under two and young children in pushchairs to board first, so that the whole family can settle in. Customers must arrive by the time specified on their boarding pass so that they are ready to board and we have enough time
to load their pushchair into the hold.
Customers requiring disability or mobility assistance
We will assist customers on to the aircraft ahead of other passengers so that they have time to settle in and get comfortable. Please contact us at least 48 hours before their flight so that we can make the necessary arrangements.
Experiences of the actual process in airports should be made in the dedicated thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...periences.html
Group Boarding Summary (courtesy chris1979)
NB. Customers with additional needs will be offered pre-boarding ahead of all the groups listed above.
Boarding priority for Executive Club Gold, Silver or Bronze Members or oneworld equivalents, will automatically be reflected in the group number given on their boarding pass. If they arrive after their group has been called, they can use the priority boarding lane to go through before the flight closes.
Please note that priority boarding will not be reflected for any other people travelling with an Executive Club Member on the same booking at the moment, but will be introduced in the coming months. In the meantime, the whole party can use the priority boarding lane and our staff will endeavour to board everyone together.
Pre-boarding
Families with small children
We invite families with infants under two and young children in pushchairs to board first, so that the whole family can settle in. Customers must arrive by the time specified on their boarding pass so that they are ready to board and we have enough time
to load their pushchair into the hold.
Customers requiring disability or mobility assistance
We will assist customers on to the aircraft ahead of other passengers so that they have time to settle in and get comfortable. Please contact us at least 48 hours before their flight so that we can make the necessary arrangements.
Boarding by group to be introduced [general discussion]
Nov 26, 2017, 7:41 am
#346
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
Too right ! Perfect opportunity surely for his favourite topics : Qatar and ex-EU’s.
That said, I don’t think HIDDY is at all troubled one way or the other by revised boarding procedures (whether improved or not), given that most of his ‘flying’ these days is keyboard-based. And any real-world stuff is proudly status-less and down the back of the bus
That said, I don’t think HIDDY is at all troubled one way or the other by revised boarding procedures (whether improved or not), given that most of his ‘flying’ these days is keyboard-based. And any real-world stuff is proudly status-less and down the back of the bus
That's how boarding was done until they started to board from the back first which I thought seemed to work okay. This group method sounds a bit too complicated to me but we'll have to wait and see how it goes. As long as I reach my seat before departure I'll be happy.
Nov 26, 2017, 8:25 am
#347
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
Programs: BA Gold , Mucci recipient. Coffee Drinker, Blue Sky Thinker
Posts: 2,112
However, I have often seen mindful people stepping out of the aisle to let boarding pax getting past them effectivly trapped in them in thier own row with their remaing bag in their hands.. Just a few seconds pass whilst they wait patiently and somebody else snaffles "their" overhead locker space.
Nov 26, 2017, 8:43 am
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,076
Joining the choir welcoming this planned change, almost copying AA's group boarding procedures.
TBH, it has been a strange anomaly to find the Priority Boarding area obstructed 5-15 min before boarding with some 50+ pax already lined up, the majority having bag tags or BPs showing lesser priority. One can only hope the group boarding will be enforced as planned.
TBH, it has been a strange anomaly to find the Priority Boarding area obstructed 5-15 min before boarding with some 50+ pax already lined up, the majority having bag tags or BPs showing lesser priority. One can only hope the group boarding will be enforced as planned.
Nov 26, 2017, 10:02 am
#349
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
As already alluded to up-thread, there are some farcical pre-boarding scenarios on Caribbean routes. One person in wheelchairor or hobbling on 2 sticks, and then the extended family of 10 (3-4 generations) following. Unsurprisingly, they all end up standing on the airbridge as the unfortunate individual struggles aboard, and the recently-released "Group 1" boarders stand on the airbridge behind them!!
Nov 26, 2017, 10:41 am
#350
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Nov 26, 2017, 11:37 am
#351
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
I really wish a airline would do this. I really don't understand why no-one has, it can still use group numbers so is perfectly straightforward for passengers. Obviously passengers sat next to each other would have to be allowed to board together and be placed in the same group or it would never be accepted, but as they wouldn't need to get past each other that shouldn't significantly slow it down.
The elephant in the room is of course, do too many people get priority boarding for any efficient process to work? And when so many people have it, is it even priority, or just a fig leaf airlines throw to make people feel special? Would it not be better to limit it to fewer people and make the whole process more efficient?
The elephant in the room is of course, do too many people get priority boarding for any efficient process to work? And when so many people have it, is it even priority, or just a fig leaf airlines throw to make people feel special? Would it not be better to limit it to fewer people and make the whole process more efficient?
Nov 27, 2017, 5:03 am
#353
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 935
What makes the difference with AA group boarding for status passengers is that they keep the priority lane clear.
I often stroll up in the middle of general boarding and I have always had a clear priority lane and boarded by the gate agent immediately.
I often stroll up in the middle of general boarding and I have always had a clear priority lane and boarded by the gate agent immediately.
Nov 27, 2017, 5:11 am
#354
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 251
Is there a standard time for BA flights to start boarding?
Nov 27, 2017, 5:31 am
#355
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,770
Agreed. I also like that, in my experience, you mostly know when AA flights are going to start boarding. Means that even if the priority lane was to get clogged up if you turn up late (which I’ve seen a few times on BA) it’s easy to time your lounge departure so you arrive when your group is called. For me this takes a lot of hassle out of the process.
Is there a standard time for BA flights to start boarding?
Is there a standard time for BA flights to start boarding?
I always assume 30 minutes as with AA, but even they sometimes board 10-20 minutes earlier than that on certain ex-MIA flights or a few minutes later depending on the status of the incoming plane.
Nov 27, 2017, 5:37 am
#356
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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For BA boarding should start at 30 minutes before departure for short haul & domestic, and I think 40-45 minutes for long haul.
Nov 27, 2017, 7:41 am
#357
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US/UK - and elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,559
Nov 27, 2017, 8:05 am
#358
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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I assume the gate didn't actually close at -60 minutes?
Nov 27, 2017, 8:21 am
#359
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Agreed. I also like that, in my experience, you mostly know when AA flights are going to start boarding. Means that even if the priority lane was to get clogged up if you turn up late (which I’ve seen a few times on BA) it’s easy to time your lounge departure so you arrive when your group is called. For me this takes a lot of hassle out of the process.
.
Nov 27, 2017, 8:29 am
#360
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
I don't see how this helps with the congested access to priority boarding though. Whether its Tier (G/S/B) or Group (1/2/3 ) those further down the order can still block the entrance, unless it's a separate line for each and they are processes one by one until empty. Something like Gate 6 (IIRC) @ EDI will still be in a narrow corner with lots of milling around.