Jan 9, 2018, 5:46 am
Last edit by: Genius1
Please use this thread to document experiences of the new Group Boarding process in airports. I think it's well known how the previous boarding system works, so just the new process please, so that other travellers can gauge its effectiveness.
For discussion, conjecture and speculation about the scheme, please use this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1878043-boarding-group-introduced-general-discussion.html
For discussion, conjecture and speculation about the scheme, please use this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1878043-boarding-group-introduced-general-discussion.html
Group Boarding 2018 - first hand experiences
Jan 20, 2018, 12:52 am
#136
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,992
LHR to TXL, 19/01/2018, T5 Gate 12
Thanks to "severe delays" on the Piccadilly Line (i.e. a 35-minute gap between trains to T5), boarding was already well underway as I got to the gate but it appears to have been done by the book.
Three separate lanes, clearly signed as "Group 1", "Groups 2/3" and "Groups 4/5". The first two lanes were empty and there was a queue at the third. I walked up the empty lane 1 and was called forward immediately. As I went down the escalator the gate agent announced "If we could now have Group 4... Group 4 only, please come forward".
Very pleasantly surprised.
Thanks to "severe delays" on the Piccadilly Line (i.e. a 35-minute gap between trains to T5), boarding was already well underway as I got to the gate but it appears to have been done by the book.
Three separate lanes, clearly signed as "Group 1", "Groups 2/3" and "Groups 4/5". The first two lanes were empty and there was a queue at the third. I walked up the empty lane 1 and was called forward immediately. As I went down the escalator the gate agent announced "If we could now have Group 4... Group 4 only, please come forward".
Very pleasantly surprised.
Jan 20, 2018, 2:51 am
#137
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: The Hague/London
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, BA LTG, Hilton Diamond, FB Platinum, EK Gold
Posts: 366
Yesterday LHR-AMS from gate A9: arrived at the gate just as `group 1 was being called. The separate lanes were clearly marked and there was staff checking boarding passes in front of the 4-5 boarding lane. No scrum, walked into an empty lane 1, cruised to the aircraft, easiest boarding in a long time.
Not sure what happened after, but boarding was complete 15 min before departure time...on a Friday evening. Must be a record for a full flight to AMS. Very impressed.
Not sure what happened after, but boarding was complete 15 min before departure time...on a Friday evening. Must be a record for a full flight to AMS. Very impressed.
Jan 20, 2018, 3:26 am
#138
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Scotland & London
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Mucci des Salons Ouvrants
Posts: 3,036
No new signs at 10A but called by Groups and enforced. Seemed a bit pointless to get on one bus though for the EDI flight 1458.
Regards
aks120
Regards
aks120
Jan 20, 2018, 5:12 am
#139
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
LHR-MAN yesterday evening.
Got to the gate a couple of minutes before boarding started and I think the new process was in place, but cant be sure as there didn't seem to be much difference.
Group 1 queue was a mile long, group 2 had two people in and a couple of others in the other lanes. Group 1 was announced and there didn't appear to be any enforcement (nobody checked my boarding pass or anyone elses as far as I could see) - just a guy directing people towards the auto gates.
I was the last person through the group 1 lane and group 2 was called after I's passed through.
Got to the gate a couple of minutes before boarding started and I think the new process was in place, but cant be sure as there didn't seem to be much difference.
Group 1 queue was a mile long, group 2 had two people in and a couple of others in the other lanes. Group 1 was announced and there didn't appear to be any enforcement (nobody checked my boarding pass or anyone elses as far as I could see) - just a guy directing people towards the auto gates.
I was the last person through the group 1 lane and group 2 was called after I's passed through.
Jan 21, 2018, 4:51 am
#141
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London and Brussels
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 170
Today I will have a departure to BRU, and on my Android device I clearly see the Group 1 label on my app boarding pass. However, when I load the same boarding pass on my iPad, there is no mention of group anywhere on the whole boarding pass .... it just looks like the old version of the boarding pass still on the iPad .... Looks like a software bug to me, I can’t imagine they forgot to add it to the iPad version of the BA app.
Jan 21, 2018, 6:39 am
#143
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Berkshire, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Starwood Platinum, Hhonors Gold, Sirius Silver, Amex Platinum, BA Amex PP
Posts: 89
GLA-LHR BA1495 20th Jan. When I arrived at the gate there were about five people in the priority queue and too many to count in the general boarding queue. After no more than a few minutes a call was made for Groups 1, 2 and 3 together to board using the priority lane.
Jan 21, 2018, 8:06 am
#144
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 11
LHR-LUX 21st Jan BA418
”Those in Club World, Gold, Silver, and Bronze members” all called to board at once. When I asked why we weren’t called by group the reply was “we’ve been told groups are coming soon”.
So so someone should tell the guys in T3 if this is supposed to be live.
”Those in Club World, Gold, Silver, and Bronze members” all called to board at once. When I asked why we weren’t called by group the reply was “we’ve been told groups are coming soon”.
So so someone should tell the guys in T3 if this is supposed to be live.
Jan 21, 2018, 8:17 am
#145
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 246
Friday at EDI - LCY - called Club and Gold (and OW E), then after a while said "any more Priority". I haven't flown BA for a while so waited to be called (Silver) as did a few others. The next announcement was for general boarding. I should have assumed that "any more priority" meant Silver but it wasn't clear.
Jan 21, 2018, 8:45 am
#147
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,094
Jan 21, 2018, 9:27 am
#148
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,620
LHR-LUX 21st Jan BA418
”Those in Club World, Gold, Silver, and Bronze members” all called to board at once. When I asked why we weren’t called by group the reply was “we’ve been told groups are coming soon”.
So so someone should tell the guys in T3 if this is supposed to be live.
”Those in Club World, Gold, Silver, and Bronze members” all called to board at once. When I asked why we weren’t called by group the reply was “we’ve been told groups are coming soon”.
So so someone should tell the guys in T3 if this is supposed to be live.
For LHR specifically, all T5A departures are now Group Boarding. T5B and T3 should start next week 22 January. Out stations are moving over gradually.
Jan 21, 2018, 1:27 pm
#149
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
Following on from my less than brilliant experience at LHR on Friday night... MAN-SZG yesterday, group 1 boarding was announced but of course nobody had any group numbers printed on their boarding passes. A few moments of confusion later, groups 1,2 and 3 were announced. Still more confusion and a few of the less frequent flyers then asked if the numbers he was mentioning meant seat numbers (which could potentially be an issue anywhere for those not familiar with their boarding passes).
Eventually, the gate agent gave up and called everyone forward.
Top marks for trying I suppose.
Eventually, the gate agent gave up and called everyone forward.
Top marks for trying I suppose.
Jan 21, 2018, 3:54 pm
#150
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 847
LHR to MAN on Friday - three lines at the gate (group 1, groups 2&3 and groups 4&5). All very orderly and clearly explained with announcements - I was near the front of the group 1 line so didn't see what happened after I boarded. Auto boarding gates at gate 7 also worked well.
MAN to LHR today, two lines at the gate (groups 1,2&3 and groups 4&5) presumably due to lack of space in the narrow corridor by gate 142. Clearly announced again, including "anyone without a group number please join the queue for groups 4&5" which I thought was a little odd. Again, very orderly. I'm actually hopeful that this is going to work well!
MAN to LHR today, two lines at the gate (groups 1,2&3 and groups 4&5) presumably due to lack of space in the narrow corridor by gate 142. Clearly announced again, including "anyone without a group number please join the queue for groups 4&5" which I thought was a little odd. Again, very orderly. I'm actually hopeful that this is going to work well!