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
May 26, 2018, 2:07 am
#706
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 653
I really don’t know why they bother. Boarding at LHR a few moments ago - gate agent announced group 1 boarding now, while the second agent opens the flood gates for all groups to use the eGates at once.
Guess thier incentive is to board everyone ASAP and never mind the procedures.
Guess thier incentive is to board everyone ASAP and never mind the procedures.
May 26, 2018, 2:47 am
#707
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA SL, CX GR, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 576
I really don’t know why they bother. Boarding at LHR a few moments ago - gate agent announced group 1 boarding now, while the second agent opens the flood gates for all groups to use the eGates at once.
Guess thier incentive is to board everyone ASAP and never mind the procedures.
Guess thier incentive is to board everyone ASAP and never mind the procedures.
May 26, 2018, 3:20 am
#708
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
Whichever manager at Waterside HQ proposed the (perfectly sensible) plan to implement Group Boarding would have done so with high hopes of bringing a long-awaited efficiency - and simplicity - to what had become a frustratingly inconsistent procedure.
Clearly, this did not happen and the inconsistency remains ; perhaps more so than ever.
But that manager can take just a little solace from the fact that ground staff, both at LHR and around the network, now have the opportunity to show personal initiative and imagination by applying their own individual interpretation of boarding by numbers.
May 27, 2018, 6:53 am
#709
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,181
LCY-GLA 25 May, Gate 3
My first time out of LCY so wasn't sure what to expect. GA announced groups 1 to 3 so most people stood up. They then said only group 1 could move forward so it was an annoying case of having to elbow your way past group 2 and 3 passengers. Doors closed on time, sat around for ages waiting for not a lot. Even the pilot on arrival wasn't sure what the hold up was.
GLA-LCY 27 May, Gate 23
No group lanes just priority to the right and standard to the left. Announced group boarding, asking people to check their tickets. Group 1 only called. Group 2 was called just as I was walking down the jetty.
EDIT: Flight only had 46 pax on board - could have done us all together
My first time out of LCY so wasn't sure what to expect. GA announced groups 1 to 3 so most people stood up. They then said only group 1 could move forward so it was an annoying case of having to elbow your way past group 2 and 3 passengers. Doors closed on time, sat around for ages waiting for not a lot. Even the pilot on arrival wasn't sure what the hold up was.
GLA-LCY 27 May, Gate 23
No group lanes just priority to the right and standard to the left. Announced group boarding, asking people to check their tickets. Group 1 only called. Group 2 was called just as I was walking down the jetty.
EDIT: Flight only had 46 pax on board - could have done us all together
Last edited by fluffymitten; May 27, 2018 at 10:32 am Reason: post-flight update
May 27, 2018, 7:01 am
#711
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
Worked reasonably well yersterday at A11 from LHR-OTP.
(Some passengers from Groups 4/5 boarded early as they allowed their hand baggage to be loaded...or not, as the case may be. I was at the back of the Group 1 queue so did not see what happened
At OTP, the Priority line sign says Groups 1 -3, so no distinction within these Groups.
(Some passengers from Groups 4/5 boarded early as they allowed their hand baggage to be loaded...or not, as the case may be. I was at the back of the Group 1 queue so did not see what happened
At OTP, the Priority line sign says Groups 1 -3, so no distinction within these Groups.
May 27, 2018, 8:35 am
#712
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,126
I really don’t know why they bother. Boarding at LHR a few moments ago - gate agent announced group 1 boarding now, while the second agent opens the flood gates for all groups to use the eGates at once.
Guess thier incentive is to board everyone ASAP and never mind the procedures.
Guess thier incentive is to board everyone ASAP and never mind the procedures.
I don't think any company would incentivise not following procedures.
May 27, 2018, 9:46 am
#714
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,345
LGW to Verona on Friday. No boarding gate signs at gate 28. Staff announced it was a full flight so they would be boarding strictly by Group number - promptly followed by a call for Groups 1 & 2 together. No idea what happened after that, but another example of how pointless it seems to be to have 5 groups. At least everyone who gate checked their bags wasn't given priority for once.
May 29, 2018, 12:18 am
#715
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
Boarding by group still doesn’t work if the aircraft is parked at a remote stand, eg a bus journey. Farce at EDI this morning. Any decent airline would operate two buses, groups 1+2 on first bus etc.
May 29, 2018, 12:33 am
#716
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Lausanne Switzerland
Programs: BA Gold; Swiss Blue
Posts: 1,244
Or as EasyJet manages at Geneva, they have a one way system on the bus, you load at the back on the right hand side of the bus and unload at the front on the left hand side. "Speedy Boarding" still get to board first.
May 29, 2018, 12:56 am
#718
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: London, Strathaven
Programs: BA (Gold). Various other statuses
Posts: 1,466
GLA-LCY 27 May, Gate 23
No group lanes just priority to the right and standard to the left. Announced group boarding, asking people to check their tickets. Group 1 only called. Group 2 was called just as I was walking down the jetty.
EDIT: Flight only had 46 pax on board - could have done us all together
May 29, 2018, 1:29 am
#719
Moderator, Emirates
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Where My Heart Is
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue
Posts: 3,385
This is another example of inconsistency at the same airport .As note above Gate 19 is perfectly set up with individual lanes for groups 1, 2 and 3. I think 4&5 are grouped together. Last night I flew GLA-LCY from Gate 17 where groups 1-3 were group together and then 4&5. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were called at the same time.
S
May 29, 2018, 1:41 am
#720
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
LGW-NAP
Gate 13, which is a cattle pen with group lanes to enter the pen which is fairly pointless. Boarding announcement specified boarding by group number but no one was checking BPs.