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 23, 2018, 2:28 am
#166
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,619
That's because it hadn't started yet. Please check the Wiki.
Jan 23, 2018, 3:23 am
#168
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,164
Jan 23, 2018, 4:37 am
#170
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Fyvie
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 22
My own experience of Group Boarding:
Aberdeen - Heathrow Tuesday 16/1 No Group Boarding yet at Aberdeen, just the usual rummel.
Heathrow - Innsbruck Wednesday 17/1 T5A Gate A23 Just one person 'queued' (can you have a queue of one?) at the entrance to Group 1 lane, quite a few in the Group 3-5 lane. Boarding delayed by about 10 minutes and then started with a few pre-boarders then Group 1 called. As I got to the desk, several passengers started to move from Group 3 lane towards the desks but were promptly sent back. From a Priority Boarder (Group 1) aspect, the process was far superior to the previous push/shove through the people standing around, waiting their turn.
Munich - Heathrow. Sunday 21/1 No Group Boarding yet - No Pre-board just a call for CE/Gold/Silver and OW equivalents, which caused a bit of a rugby scrum.
Heathrow - Aberdeen Sunday 21/1 T5A Gate A5 (self boarding pass scanners). 4 people standing at entrance to Group 1 lane, a lot at 3-5 lane. Boarding call was pre-boarders then Group 1.
Overall, I am very impressed at the difference Group boarding has made at T5A from a 'Priority' boarding perspective - can't wait for a more system wide rollout, especially Aberdeen
Aberdeen - Heathrow Tuesday 16/1 No Group Boarding yet at Aberdeen, just the usual rummel.
Heathrow - Innsbruck Wednesday 17/1 T5A Gate A23 Just one person 'queued' (can you have a queue of one?) at the entrance to Group 1 lane, quite a few in the Group 3-5 lane. Boarding delayed by about 10 minutes and then started with a few pre-boarders then Group 1 called. As I got to the desk, several passengers started to move from Group 3 lane towards the desks but were promptly sent back. From a Priority Boarder (Group 1) aspect, the process was far superior to the previous push/shove through the people standing around, waiting their turn.
Munich - Heathrow. Sunday 21/1 No Group Boarding yet - No Pre-board just a call for CE/Gold/Silver and OW equivalents, which caused a bit of a rugby scrum.
Heathrow - Aberdeen Sunday 21/1 T5A Gate A5 (self boarding pass scanners). 4 people standing at entrance to Group 1 lane, a lot at 3-5 lane. Boarding call was pre-boarders then Group 1.
Overall, I am very impressed at the difference Group boarding has made at T5A from a 'Priority' boarding perspective - can't wait for a more system wide rollout, especially Aberdeen
Jan 23, 2018, 5:03 am
#171
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: MUC
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver
Posts: 108
Had an interesting boarding experience on BA268 in LAX on Jan 20. Boarding was late by 25 minutes or so. But due to the group boarding they still managed to board an almost full A380 in less then 20 minutes. Boarding begann at 20.30, boarding completed announced at 20.47 and pushback was at 20.55 for an ontime 21.05 departure. Great effort LAX staff.
Jan 23, 2018, 7:28 am
#172
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,780
LHR-GOT, gate A3.
Priority first and then group 1. Bit over zealous with the yellow bag tags.
Only a couple of people stood next to the group 1 Tensa barriers and even then, only a couple of minutes before boarding commenced. Nice to the area free of "gate lice".
Priority first and then group 1. Bit over zealous with the yellow bag tags.
Only a couple of people stood next to the group 1 Tensa barriers and even then, only a couple of minutes before boarding commenced. Nice to the area free of "gate lice".
Jan 23, 2018, 9:18 am
#174
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
LHR-VCE this morning - gate A13.
Three queues clearly marked out as expected and no people hanging around.
They called 'We welcome group 1 to queue in the group 1 queue and for group 2-3 to join the other queue".
Unfortunately they then added "boarding will commence in 10 minutes" - but only after we'd moved into the queues.
So we had the group 1s queued up and waiting. Eventually they moved us forward.
However because they had us standing in the queues - and group 1 was longer than the tensa barriers, the sign was masked - so several people joined at the back looking confused wondering where they should be.
I did note that the people who joined confused ended up coming in to the plane *after* the people at the front of the group 2/3 queue - so I assume they either self corrected or did the walk of shame.
But I liked the lack of gate hangers and the signs/queues were clear (in my opinion) - announcements were also clear. Just could have done without being asked to queue 10 minutes before boarding.
Three queues clearly marked out as expected and no people hanging around.
They called 'We welcome group 1 to queue in the group 1 queue and for group 2-3 to join the other queue".
Unfortunately they then added "boarding will commence in 10 minutes" - but only after we'd moved into the queues.
So we had the group 1s queued up and waiting. Eventually they moved us forward.
However because they had us standing in the queues - and group 1 was longer than the tensa barriers, the sign was masked - so several people joined at the back looking confused wondering where they should be.
I did note that the people who joined confused ended up coming in to the plane *after* the people at the front of the group 2/3 queue - so I assume they either self corrected or did the walk of shame.
But I liked the lack of gate hangers and the signs/queues were clear (in my opinion) - announcements were also clear. Just could have done without being asked to queue 10 minutes before boarding.
Jan 23, 2018, 10:45 am
#175
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Berkshire, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, VS Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 117
BA974 LHR-HAM from gate A8 this morning.
Got to the gate about 5 mins before boarding having experienced GF for the first time having made Gold (busy, but quiet/relaxing enough!).
Some folk were already queued in the 3 tensa'd lanes, but everyone else was hanging back . When they called group 1, the boarding process was quick and smooth - much better than my previous experiences.
Got to the gate about 5 mins before boarding having experienced GF for the first time having made Gold (busy, but quiet/relaxing enough!).
Some folk were already queued in the 3 tensa'd lanes, but everyone else was hanging back . When they called group 1, the boarding process was quick and smooth - much better than my previous experiences.
Jan 23, 2018, 11:39 am
#176
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Starbucks Gold,
Posts: 624
I did LHR-NCE on Friday evening with a GCH, SCH and 2 non BAECs - we had Group 1, 2 and 4 on BPs. All were allowed to come through with me in Group 1 and it was fairly easy. On the way back from NCE on Sunday, whilst it was not Group Boarding, they seemed more proactive at doing Gold and CE first, then Silver, then Bronze as opposed to the usual 'any card will do' approach.
Jan 23, 2018, 11:41 am
#177
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 525
LHR-YVR last week. They didn't call by group but called by status. This was strictly enforced despite the congregating. I felt like I was at some sort of government agency and people were just funnelling to try their luck at each announcement. "Maybe they will not notice I have no status and let me on the plane!"
Jan 23, 2018, 11:48 am
#179
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
Jan 23, 2018, 12:05 pm
#180
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA silver, VS, Jet, Carlson gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 614
They have already announced that this is going to be fixed a little later in the year as they have to do an update to FLY. In the mean time agents are supposed to allow people on the same PNR to board together in the highest group. I can see this leading to unpleasant situations though if the staff haven't been fully informed.