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 19, 2017, 4:20 am
#196
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 38
I think the main hope is that it means that pax with the lowest place in the pecking order are most likely to have their compliant hand luggage checked in if there is not enough room. We have had several threads where status pax complained that their luggage was checked in despite being compliant, but if things are enforced properly now, this should presumably occur much less frequently.
Nov 19, 2017, 4:43 am
#197
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
If you can get every airline and airport in the world to agree on a new size, then no. Until then, shared equipment (e.g. printers and scanners) at the majority of airports requires a certain commonality of standards across all carriers.
Nov 19, 2017, 5:11 am
#198
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: London, UK / (TLV), Israel
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR), *A Gold - TAP, SkyTeam E+, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Diamond, Sixt PL, GE/TSA Pre
Posts: 1,663
A morning smile for all of you who have not seen this
https://www.simonarmitage.com/thank-you-for-waiting/
https://www.simonarmitage.com/thank-you-for-waiting/
Nov 19, 2017, 6:38 am
#200
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 38
The BP doesn't say anything any more. There is still a sign clearly displayed in one of the lounges though (apologies I don't have a photo) saying gates close at -20, so publicly BA is still willing to acknowledge that this is policy.
The boarding pass now shows 'Boarding time' instead of gate close time. BA were the only carrier using a Gate Close time (some use both but we currently do not have that functionality) . We all want boarding finished as soon as possible as it helps drive punctuality. The sooner we get the doors closed, the sooner you can be on your way and yes coaching does close at -20.
If you can get every airline and airport in the world to agree on a new size, then no. Until then, shared equipment (e.g. printers and scanners) at the majority of airports requires a certain commonality of standards across all carriers.
The boarding pass now shows 'Boarding time' instead of gate close time. BA were the only carrier using a Gate Close time (some use both but we currently do not have that functionality) . We all want boarding finished as soon as possible as it helps drive punctuality. The sooner we get the doors closed, the sooner you can be on your way and yes coaching does close at -20.
If you can get every airline and airport in the world to agree on a new size, then no. Until then, shared equipment (e.g. printers and scanners) at the majority of airports requires a certain commonality of standards across all carriers.
Nov 19, 2017, 9:18 am
#201
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Glasgow and Asia
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 510
Just of the GLA LGW @13.30
boarfib gold, silver and CE. Then bronze then two sets of rows depending on seat row.
very orderly.
Gate crew were pre check in the line and enforcing it.
boarfib gold, silver and CE. Then bronze then two sets of rows depending on seat row.
very orderly.
Gate crew were pre check in the line and enforcing it.
Nov 19, 2017, 9:18 am
#202
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,982
On Long haul
Group 1 will be Gold/Emerald/First.
Group 2 will be Silver/Sapphire/Club.
Group 3 will be Bronze/Ruby/Premium Economy.
Groups 4 and 5 will be economy.
On Short haul
Group 1 will be Gold/Emerald/Club Europe.
Group 2 will be Silver/Sapphire.
Group 3 will be Bronze/Ruby.
Group 4 is Economy.
Group 5 is Economy customers who have purchased a hand baggage only fare.
Group 1 will be Gold/Emerald/First.
Group 2 will be Silver/Sapphire/Club.
Group 3 will be Bronze/Ruby/Premium Economy.
Groups 4 and 5 will be economy.
On Short haul
Group 1 will be Gold/Emerald/Club Europe.
Group 2 will be Silver/Sapphire.
Group 3 will be Bronze/Ruby.
Group 4 is Economy.
Group 5 is Economy customers who have purchased a hand baggage only fare.
Nov 19, 2017, 9:23 am
#203
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK.
Programs: SQ LPPS, A3 *G, BA Silver aiming for Bronze
Posts: 1,506
Boarding groups are great but as everyone else says they need to be enforced to work, somehow I don't see that happening.
Where I have seen them work, TK work really well, Group 1 is premium class passengers, there aren't really enough people in the premium cabins to cause a problem or need to subdivide the group so except for top end DYKWIA golds who feel entitled to board first but don't get that priority over others everyone is quite speedy and it works.
Group 2 is gold, 3 is silver and then no status by row numbers.
TK really do enforce this especially at IST and it works like a dream, the flow of people coming aboard is smooth and you rarely see congestion in the aisles - though of course they also police hand baggage very stricly too which helps no end.
I do wonder if hand baggage was policed would anyone feel the need to rush aboard?
Where I have seen them work, TK work really well, Group 1 is premium class passengers, there aren't really enough people in the premium cabins to cause a problem or need to subdivide the group so except for top end DYKWIA golds who feel entitled to board first but don't get that priority over others everyone is quite speedy and it works.
Group 2 is gold, 3 is silver and then no status by row numbers.
TK really do enforce this especially at IST and it works like a dream, the flow of people coming aboard is smooth and you rarely see congestion in the aisles - though of course they also police hand baggage very stricly too which helps no end.
I do wonder if hand baggage was policed would anyone feel the need to rush aboard?
Nov 19, 2017, 10:48 am
#205
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
As ScruttonStreet mentions, this doesn't appear that big a change from BA's current stated policy. What needs to change is for consistency to be brought in, so this is actually a change in how local and remote agents are trained and compliance is enforced more than anything else. Call my a cynic, but I'm not sure that the BA management will be looking at it this way.
I had a BA agent actively encouraging anyone traveling with a minor to board first. Even parents with two older teens waited around and the gate agent walked over to them to tell them that they could board now.
Nov 19, 2017, 11:36 am
#206
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
I would not try try to get pre-boarding with my oldest daughter (8 but looks more like 12!) but she would easily be entitled to it due to her disability. I can more or less get her to wait for priority boarding but woe betide anybody who attempts to push in front of her. She is likely to engage in a full on DYKWIA moment. Group boarding should help this but if they make the numbers too big and she sees a number 4 on somebody’s boarding pass next to her in the queue and she is group 2 she will say something - and rather loudly!
Nov 19, 2017, 11:49 am
#207
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,350
Nov 19, 2017, 12:06 pm
#208
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,930
On AA who also operate a group system I think they make announcements at the gate that if you have no group number to join a specific group. I guess if it is an issue you could always take the opportunity at check-in/lounge/gate to get a bp printed by BA which should have a group number on it.
Nov 19, 2017, 1:19 pm
#209
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,761
I'm guessing, but those passing via Flight Connections could have their boarding passes reprinted by the BA agent there, should it be missing. Doesn't assist those going via landside but presumably they are a minority. I guess there is always the AA fallback: if there is no Group shown on your boarding pass then you are in Group 5!
Nov 19, 2017, 2:07 pm
#210
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Basingstoke, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 54
I've seen it happen at a couple of outstations where those requiring extra assistance were asked to wait until the very end and in some situations this makes sense - there isn't the pressure of having everyone else behind you plus if worked well into FLY it would in theory be possible to give everyone in this category a precise boarding time and minimize waiting at the gate (and subsequent waiting around on the plane before close up and push back)
I guess there are pros and cons to both approaches.