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
Feb 9, 2018, 9:02 am
#347
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Gold Amb.
Posts: 159
Shocking attempt at this yesterday morning at LHR gate A13, flight to Berlin.
A13 has the lanes set up for 1, 2-3, 4-5
people were starting to queue up at the relevant line. so far so good.
then the person from BA started walking down the lines saying that the lane signposted 1 would be for all priority gold and silver members. so people moved from lane 2 to lane 1.. as instructed.
then the call over the tannoy was for group 1 to board, so people who had been told to queue in the line by the person from BA were then told at the desk that they were in the wrong line.
then they started to board 1 and 2 from both lanes at the same time.
at this gate, the system had the perfect opportunity to work, as it has the lanes and signed set up.
it just fell down with the training of the BA staff instructing silver and gold to both queue in lane 1.
A13 has the lanes set up for 1, 2-3, 4-5
people were starting to queue up at the relevant line. so far so good.
then the person from BA started walking down the lines saying that the lane signposted 1 would be for all priority gold and silver members. so people moved from lane 2 to lane 1.. as instructed.
then the call over the tannoy was for group 1 to board, so people who had been told to queue in the line by the person from BA were then told at the desk that they were in the wrong line.
then they started to board 1 and 2 from both lanes at the same time.
at this gate, the system had the perfect opportunity to work, as it has the lanes and signed set up.
it just fell down with the training of the BA staff instructing silver and gold to both queue in lane 1.
Feb 9, 2018, 12:03 pm
#348
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,527
BA952 Gate 17 today. Was in group one but behinds what seemed like a lot of passengers with additional needs.
boarding was timely certainly Group 1 called first. What I noticed was that despite being full there was lots of space in the ET overhead bins.
boarding was timely certainly Group 1 called first. What I noticed was that despite being full there was lots of space in the ET overhead bins.
Feb 9, 2018, 1:46 pm
#349
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
Group boarding did not happen at gate 27 at LGW for ACE on Thursday am. They just called those who need more time to board/families first, then Club Europe. Although that is clearly group 1, the expression was not used.
Feb 9, 2018, 2:03 pm
#350
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Berkshire / London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Nandos
Posts: 1,004
Experience from BA 961 MUC-LHR yesterday night: first time I've noticed "an attempt" at group boarding in Munich (I usually go there once a week). No lanes or any equipment to close off / open areas by the gate B 03), likely due to space constraints. Boarding was delayed due to snow so quite a large crowd was waiting in front and near the gate already. Announcement of group boarding by gate staff, quite a lot of people rushed forward when Group 1 was called. Grouping was enforced partially, i.e. they briefly looked at every 5th-10th persons BP. It felt like an unusually high number of Group 1 passengers just from glancing at boarding passes and the fact that there were 5/6 rows of CE on the plane but nevertheless it is good to see that they're trying to implement it in MUC as well...in previous weeks it simply was the old style CE/Gold/Silver/Bronze first and then everyone else
group 2 and 3 together and there weren’t that many. People in group 4 and 5 seemed satisfied enough to wait.
Feb 9, 2018, 3:10 pm
#351
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,981
LHR to Basel today. Boarding went smoothly. And they made a point of telling everyone to pay attention to the new boarding procedure. And then someone patrolled the queue in the Group 1 line- which was shorter than the priority line under the old system. If BA can do this consistently then it's certainly an improvement.
Feb 9, 2018, 3:17 pm
#352
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, Hyatt Prive, Hilton Impressario, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Roswood Elite, MO Fan Club
Posts: 557
Lacklustre attempt at Group Boarding at FRA today on the 1505 to LHR.
Group numbers clearly printed on boarding pass
Boarding by group was announced and everyone surged forward to board. The two gate agents just le everyone through. Towards the end of boarding they called for Groups 2-3 to board...I mean come on!! You could see that 90% of passengers had boarded...so why are you calling for group 2-3? And why didnt you turn people away when you specifically called for group 1 only?
Group numbers clearly printed on boarding pass
Boarding by group was announced and everyone surged forward to board. The two gate agents just le everyone through. Towards the end of boarding they called for Groups 2-3 to board...I mean come on!! You could see that 90% of passengers had boarded...so why are you calling for group 2-3? And why didnt you turn people away when you specifically called for group 1 only?
Feb 10, 2018, 2:08 am
#353
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,573
Last edited by bisonrav; Feb 10, 2018 at 2:16 am
Feb 10, 2018, 7:37 am
#355
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Fyvie
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 22
Saturday 10/2 BA1307 ABZ-LHR
A pleasant surprise at my 'local' this morning. Group boarding has arrived at Aberdeen. Gate 5 has 3 tensa barrier lanes clearly marked Group 1, Group 2&3 and Group 4&5. On arriving at the gate a couple of minutes ahead of boarding it was noticeably clear of people. There was a pre-boarding announcement of the process and asking customers to check their Group number. Boarding then started with Group 1 called - about 8 or 9 of us headed down the lane. The guy immediately behind me was sent back as he was Group 3.
The whole 'experience' was vastly better (from a Group 1 perspective) than the previous melee that always occurred.
I would add a photo but it seems I don't have enough posts yet.
A pleasant surprise at my 'local' this morning. Group boarding has arrived at Aberdeen. Gate 5 has 3 tensa barrier lanes clearly marked Group 1, Group 2&3 and Group 4&5. On arriving at the gate a couple of minutes ahead of boarding it was noticeably clear of people. There was a pre-boarding announcement of the process and asking customers to check their Group number. Boarding then started with Group 1 called - about 8 or 9 of us headed down the lane. The guy immediately behind me was sent back as he was Group 3.
The whole 'experience' was vastly better (from a Group 1 perspective) than the previous melee that always occurred.
I would add a photo but it seems I don't have enough posts yet.
Feb 10, 2018, 8:02 am
#356
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GGL, BA Amex PP
Posts: 1,051
Not much evidence of this for flight to LUX departing from Gate 7 at T3 this afternoon- there were 2 separate queues (one for anyone bronze and up, other for non) where passes and passports were checked in order to enter the general boarding gate pen.
For boarding, wheelchairs and families with children called first. Then a call for priority boarders (Club Europe and anyone above blue I think) with no checks whatsoever- a walk straight through to the inevitable line of chairs and buggies on the jetty meaning any group could have boarded at will.
For boarding, wheelchairs and families with children called first. Then a call for priority boarders (Club Europe and anyone above blue I think) with no checks whatsoever- a walk straight through to the inevitable line of chairs and buggies on the jetty meaning any group could have boarded at will.
No tensa barriers, signs or mentions of specific group numbers in the boarding calls
Feb 10, 2018, 9:43 am
#358
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
9th Feb - group boarding at Aberdeen. First time I have had it so must be a relatively new thing here. Much better system. A few chancers in the Group 1 line but got told to go into the group noted on their boarding pass by the girls manning the queues. Felt like a much speedier boarding process too.
Feb 10, 2018, 11:17 am
#359
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,988
I'm not going to go into excruciatingly boring detail, but group boarding at T5 gate A13 yesterday (BA0988 to TXL) was a master class in how it should be done. Imaginative, clear and efficient. I'm starting to think that BA might finally be getting the hang of this boarding thing.
Feb 10, 2018, 12:38 pm
#360
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 9
CPH last night. There's a 2-stage boarding process much like many gates at LGW; the first process is two lines where the BPs are checked, with the "old" style priority line and standard line, which then brings you into a boarding area with seating etc.
Then there's a set of tensabarriers with 2 lines - Group 1,2,3 and Group 4,5 - limited to 2 lines due to space constraints.
The boarding order was announced early and then we were called in order by Group - but there was no check at this stage as to individual Group eligibility. I'd give them an 8/10
Then there's a set of tensabarriers with 2 lines - Group 1,2,3 and Group 4,5 - limited to 2 lines due to space constraints.
The boarding order was announced early and then we were called in order by Group - but there was no check at this stage as to individual Group eligibility. I'd give them an 8/10
