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]
#286
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: UK
Programs: AVIS presidents club, BA GGL, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 277
I really hope that the BA staff dont just fob this off and get lazy and revert to just saying, We are now calling forward Groups 1,2&3 to board via the priority lane!
#287
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
Companion
Curious. Im booked in a companion voucher flight on 13th Dec, and Ive currently dropped back down to silver (1140 points). I wonder if Ill be in group 5 on the basis I paid nada for my flight
#288
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Northumberland (The big bit between Newcastle & Scotland).
Programs: BAEC & VS.
Posts: 224
According to the BBC yes, but in the real world I imagine as long as your silver exec club number is in the booking you will be group 2.
#289
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,046
Interesting the press have picked up on this
my partner, non FT just said what happened to boarding by seat row number !
This new system has been described as the last preserve of the Bristish class system !
Having said that I think it works very well on AA !
my partner, non FT just said what happened to boarding by seat row number !
This new system has been described as the last preserve of the Bristish class system !
Having said that I think it works very well on AA !
#290
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, HH Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 6,510
This new system has been described as the last preserve of the Bristish class system !
#291
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,912
#292
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ARN
Programs: SK EBG, BAEC Gold, LH FTL, FBP, CCG, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,533
This is a total trigger for me. Why on earth can't airlines do this right? Just have a straight order for EVERYONE, including people that get "pre-boarding". Essentially, just add a group for pre-boarding and assign it to the people that should be boarded first. Instead, the fools create a nice ordered system and break it at once by introducing exceptions... That is the sort of thing that causes confusion in the end.
#293
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,124
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!!
#294
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,177
#295
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 304
This is a total trigger for me. Why on earth can't airlines do this right? Just have a straight order for EVERYONE, including people that get "pre-boarding". Essentially, just add a group for pre-boarding and assign it to the people that should be boarded first. Instead, the fools create a nice ordered system and break it at once by introducing exceptions... That is the sort of thing that causes confusion in the end.
#296
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,500
You don't, but you request assistance using manage my booking prior to departure. Hence my surprise there wasn't a group 0 on boarding passes, consisting of families with kids under 10 and those with assistance requests.
#298
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: 63,465
Oh yes so it does, City flights too.
#300
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Glasgow or London or elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Rewards Spire Ambassador
Posts: 141
thats exactly what the staff do at Glasgow. They never invite CE, Gold and Emerald. They always group CE, Gold, Emerald with Silver and Bronze, even though ALL the signs at ALL the boarding gates clearly state that the aircraft will be boarded in strict order starting with CE, Gold and Emerald (SH obviously).
I really hope that the BA staff dont just fob this off and get lazy and revert to just saying, We are now calling forward Groups 1,2&3 to board via the priority lane!
I really hope that the BA staff dont just fob this off and get lazy and revert to just saying, We are now calling forward Groups 1,2&3 to board via the priority lane!
Totally agree with the experience in Glasgow - it's a real rarity that they do it properly. I fear that on short haul they will basically announce 1,2 and 3 at pretty much the same time . On most short haul I wouldn't have a problem with 1&2 at the same time so long as there is reasonable gap before 3 (as that's where the real lack of priority hits). I am hoping they will still have proper fast track lanes so that those of us in 1 or 2 who arrive later don't get stuck at the back. Selfish - a bit - but that's what we pay for.