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
Apr 10, 2018, 12:36 pm
#601
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
PSA-LHR a total joke. two lines, 1-2-3 and 4-5. 1-2-3 called together 
so basically worse than before, when they used to call Club before status. now just a typically Italian clusterf%&@. One country in Europe guaranteed to take a process improvement and find a way to make it work less well than before.
so basically worse than before, when they used to call Club before status. now just a typically Italian clusterf%&@. One country in Europe guaranteed to take a process improvement and find a way to make it work less well than before.
Apr 10, 2018, 1:27 pm
#602
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
PSA-LHR a total joke. two lines, 1-2-3 and 4-5. 1-2-3 called together so basically worse than before, when they used to call Club before status. now just a typically Italian clusterf%&@. One country in Europe guaranteed to take a process improvement and find a way to make it work less well than before.
so basically worse than before, when they used to call Club before status. now just a typically Italian clusterf%&@. One country in Europe guaranteed to take a process improvement and find a way to make it work less well than before.
Apr 12, 2018, 2:58 pm
#603
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
Apr 12, 2018, 11:46 pm
#604
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Berkshire
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 75
12 April, AMS: BA441 (A320), 2 scrums, huge crush, no order. Complete cluster. How much would it cost to buy queuing ropes like what Madrid has and get the boarding area organised better?
My score: 2 points out of 10
My score: 2 points out of 10
Apr 13, 2018, 1:28 am
#605
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
Not that it stopped people angling in from all sides once boarding started 
Apr 14, 2018, 10:26 am
#606
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: LHR, JFK, FRA
Programs: BAEC, HHonours, IHG, Bonvoy, KFC Colonel's club
Posts: 36
15/04 LHR-LUX
boarded from 24b in T3. Gate agent announced that the first bus is for people with children or Group 1 only. The second bus is for all other groups. However everyone just stood up and squeezed on to the first bus.
To be fair, the poor gate agent had a rough time as there was a system error and all screens showed "Please wait" for the gate number. Only a few turned up ten minutes before departure and she couldn't get hold of the control centre. Eventually it did work and the rest of the passengers all turned up at once.
boarded from 24b in T3. Gate agent announced that the first bus is for people with children or Group 1 only. The second bus is for all other groups. However everyone just stood up and squeezed on to the first bus.
To be fair, the poor gate agent had a rough time as there was a system error and all screens showed "Please wait" for the gate number. Only a few turned up ten minutes before departure and she couldn't get hold of the control centre. Eventually it did work and the rest of the passengers all turned up at once.
Apr 14, 2018, 1:30 pm
#608
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 408
Chaos last weekend at CDG. Even though the staff kept making announcement for only first group to come forward, people simply stood in the way and blocked other people from getting through. Some people actually queued in the Group 1-2-3 even though they were not part of that group, just stood there looking dumbfounded as to why they can't go through! Staff could do more in pushing away the non 1-3 Group from anywhere near the boarding area even before they make the boarding announcement. 
Apr 15, 2018, 12:39 am
#609
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Geneva/Sydney
Programs: Mucci; BA, LT GGL; QF, platinum; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 926
GVA's got it!!! After my lousy groups 1-2-3 boarding a couple of weeks ago (see above somewhere!), it is now group 1 then Group 2 then Group 3. Bravo, DNATA!!
Apr 15, 2018, 9:41 am
#610
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,598
At LIN today the setup was Groups 1, 2 and 3 called together. Then 4 and 5.
The first bus left half empty, which makes me wonder whether it was only for people who had “priority boarding”.
The first bus left half empty, which makes me wonder whether it was only for people who had “priority boarding”.
Last edited by ringingup; Apr 16, 2018 at 7:58 am
Apr 15, 2018, 4:25 pm
#611
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,456
Pathetic attempt at PRG this evening for the LCY flight. No room at A9 for tensas of any sort. Correct call about boarding by groups, then skip straight to 1&2. 21 J pax, so a decent scrum anyway and they’re dawdling rather.
Then before the visible group of 1s & 2s has boarded we had 1-3 called, then 1-4 then a recorded “everybody go” before my companion and I had managed to board from the edge of the original 1&2 scrum!
Saw no one turned away, but most of the plane would have boarded after the white flag anyway.
That said, all aboard for a prompt takeoff at T+6m and not many issues moving wheelies around due to the reasonable size of the Embraer bins for rows of two. So all’s well that ends well...?
Then before the visible group of 1s & 2s has boarded we had 1-3 called, then 1-4 then a recorded “everybody go” before my companion and I had managed to board from the edge of the original 1&2 scrum!
Saw no one turned away, but most of the plane would have boarded after the white flag anyway.
That said, all aboard for a prompt takeoff at T+6m and not many issues moving wheelies around due to the reasonable size of the Embraer bins for rows of two. So all’s well that ends well...?
Apr 15, 2018, 5:22 pm
#612
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Programs: BA Gold, AVIS Presidents Club
Posts: 165
FCO to LHR today and the group 1/ Priority line was held up by a passenger with an issue (Dont know what).
Agent was dealing with this customer whilst other agent proceeded to call group 2 then 3 then 4 without calling the group 1 line over to the second desk. pointless having a group 1 line.
Agent was dealing with this customer whilst other agent proceeded to call group 2 then 3 then 4 without calling the group 1 line over to the second desk. pointless having a group 1 line.
Apr 16, 2018, 2:35 am
#613
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,874
Despite the 2 lines, I found the process at ARN to be pretty efficient on Friday with group boarding clearly announced. There were quite a few in Group 1 on my flight but then I realised that there was a pretty full CE cabin - probably more than 40 pax in C.
Apr 16, 2018, 2:47 am
#614
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: London - SW4
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 320
To be fair, they did call groups separately but it was a mess of people trying to figure out who in the queue actually was group 1 etc. A bit of a mess, I thought, as a smallish gate area and 767 with large CE cabin.
Apr 16, 2018, 3:08 am
#615
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 276
A new take on Group Boarding at LAX last Tuesday evening. Group 1 called and waiting then four young guys just turn up - they weren't part of the queue - go straight to the gate and two of them get processed and go straight on the plane. The other two then just walked away. Group 1 still waiting there !!
I also thought it was very amusing that of the two who boarded, only one seemed able to manage the passports and BC's so whoever it was must have been REALLY important if they can't even be trusted to carry their own passport !!!!
I also thought it was very amusing that of the two who boarded, only one seemed able to manage the passports and BC's so whoever it was must have been REALLY important if they can't even be trusted to carry their own passport !!!!