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
Jun 25, 2018, 7:25 pm
#752
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
Out station interpretation of the Group Boarding process is pretty shoddy at best.
LUX-LHR last weekend, they called group 1-3 which caused quite a skirmish (I think the mob mentality even meant that 4 & 5 were also piling in) and as it was a B2B I witnessed the carnage first hand (albeit sitting back waiting until last to stroll on to my 1A seat that I'd left 20 minutes earlier)
MUN-LHR on Saturday evening was another mess, a huge queue formed at the gate even when told to take a seat, and when Group 1 was called the queue just surged forward and crowded out the desk area. I'd always thought Germans liked queuing more than the English ?!?
LUX-LHR last weekend, they called group 1-3 which caused quite a skirmish (I think the mob mentality even meant that 4 & 5 were also piling in) and as it was a B2B I witnessed the carnage first hand (albeit sitting back waiting until last to stroll on to my 1A seat that I'd left 20 minutes earlier)
MUN-LHR on Saturday evening was another mess, a huge queue formed at the gate even when told to take a seat, and when Group 1 was called the queue just surged forward and crowded out the desk area. I'd always thought Germans liked queuing more than the English ?!?
With regard to the Germans liking queueing while i'd generally agree this seems to evaporate when it comes to boarding a plane( in my experience anyway). Often all around Deutschland I've found myself wondering why they dont have apply for the 6 Nations as they, often, seem to love a good scrum at the gate.
Jun 26, 2018, 12:18 am
#753
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
BA1386 LHR-MAN today (Gate A7)
Well organised, good signage, proactive BP check - one lady in G1 line sent away to G4
Auto gates switched on promptly but then I got bounced for being in an exit row - no issue though, sorted in seconds and still within the first 10 to board...
Good job today, BA !
Well organised, good signage, proactive BP check - one lady in G1 line sent away to G4
Auto gates switched on promptly but then I got bounced for being in an exit row - no issue though, sorted in seconds and still within the first 10 to board...
Good job today, BA !
After speeding through Security (very quiet, friendly staff) , I spent a couple of hours in the (very nice) Terraces lounge, then headed down to the gate as soon as it was shown on the app.
The gate is off a fairly narrow corridor so tensa lanes had been set up for G1-3 and G4-5. Boarding call was made for G1-3 but interestingly enough, not for families with small children. I was the 3rd person to board so didn't see the rest of the process, but in the end we departed early...
So overall experience into and out of MAN v.good
Jun 26, 2018, 12:20 am
#754
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
Presume he means MUC / Munich.
With regard to the Germans liking queueing while i'd generally agree this seems to evaporate when it comes to boarding a plane( in my experience anyway). Often all around Deutschland I've found myself wondering why they dont have apply for the 6 Nations as they, often, seem to love a good scrum at the gate.
With regard to the Germans liking queueing while i'd generally agree this seems to evaporate when it comes to boarding a plane( in my experience anyway). Often all around Deutschland I've found myself wondering why they dont have apply for the 6 Nations as they, often, seem to love a good scrum at the gate.
Jun 26, 2018, 3:10 pm
#755
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: KLM, BA Silver, Etihad
Posts: 918
LGW - MAH - plenty of gate lice but all went well, GP1 called first.
I almost made a bit of prat of myself as the other half behind me said but I'm GP4, I said no your not come on. She was but it was fine. I thought they would have sorted that out by now
I almost made a bit of prat of myself as the other half behind me said but I'm GP4, I said no your not come on. She was but it was fine. I thought they would have sorted that out by now
Jun 26, 2018, 4:45 pm
#756
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver,, Oman Air Gold
Posts: 747
LGW-MLA
Had my first bad experience of boarding last week LGW - MLA. All boarding cards and passports were checked going into the gate (with a priority lane for CE and Gold and Silver passengers). When the announcement to board came we were told it would be boarding by groups. The door was opened and Group 1 was invited to come forward but as the attendant had them walked away leaving no-one to verify Group numbers it was, of course, a free for all.
Coming back from MLA to GTW it was slightly better but Groups 1-3 were all called at the same time.
Coming back from MLA to GTW it was slightly better but Groups 1-3 were all called at the same time.
Jun 26, 2018, 7:16 pm
#757
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI
Programs: BAEC GGL
Posts: 181
EDI is very inconsistent. I was at at Group 1,2,3 line tonight at EDI and you have to wonder what the point is. Typically they call Group 1, but the Bronzes started queuing and there were more than 30 people in front of me. By the time I got to 2F there was no locker space within 2 rows of my seat.
Why did I pay all of that money for a CE seat?
Why did I pay all of that money for a CE seat?
Jun 27, 2018, 12:40 am
#758
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: KLM, BA Silver, Etihad
Posts: 918
EDI is very inconsistent. I was at at Group 1,2,3 line tonight at EDI and you have to wonder what the point is. Typically they call Group 1, but the Bronzes started queuing and there were more than 30 people in front of me. By the time I got to 2F there was no locker space within 2 rows of my seat.
Why did I pay all of that money for a CE seat?
Why did I pay all of that money for a CE seat?
Jun 29, 2018, 3:36 am
#759
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: London, Strathaven
Programs: BA (Gold). Various other statuses
Posts: 1,466
Yestrday morning LGW-EDI. No tensa-barriers of course; no boarding by Group but "will passengers sitting in rows 15 to [larger number] please board first. Everyone in Group 1 who were at the front of the queue, tutted, looked each other and boarded anyway. We weren't close to take-off time so I have no idea why they did that.
Jul 12, 2018, 4:57 am
#761
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,235
Jul 26, 2018, 4:45 pm
#762
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 219
My recent LHR to NCL flight was a decent effort for group boarding.
I was group 2, waited until it was called before standing up and advancing.
Most people on lower groups were already lined up and waited patiently but there were several G4 chancers in the G1/2 line who wandered on anyway.
Perhaps it's a judgement from the gate staff. If the numbers in each group look roughly about right, there's little point in intervening. If everyone is piling on in one big line, it might be best to step in.
The BPs are scanned by machine and don't care which group you're in, so if you manage to get in the queue you'll be fine.
I was group 2, waited until it was called before standing up and advancing.
Most people on lower groups were already lined up and waited patiently but there were several G4 chancers in the G1/2 line who wandered on anyway.
Perhaps it's a judgement from the gate staff. If the numbers in each group look roughly about right, there's little point in intervening. If everyone is piling on in one big line, it might be best to step in.
The BPs are scanned by machine and don't care which group you're in, so if you manage to get in the queue you'll be fine.
Aug 16, 2018, 9:41 am
#764
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
Gatwick to Limoges 16 AUG 18
Gate 24
Group 1 and 2 invited to board at once, so despite being in Seat 1A I am about 20th to board, also delayed as the agent had an I depth conversation with the person in front of me about his Blackberry phone.
Banged my head three times against the cupboard in mock frustration...
Gate 24
Group 1 and 2 invited to board at once, so despite being in Seat 1A I am about 20th to board, also delayed as the agent had an I depth conversation with the person in front of me about his Blackberry phone.
Banged my head three times against the cupboard in mock frustration...
Aug 16, 2018, 9:41 am
#765
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
Gatwick to Limoges 16 AUG 18
Gate 24
Group 1 and 2 invited to board at once, so despite being in Seat 1A I am about 20th to board, also delayed as the agent had an I depth conversation with the person in front of me about his Blackberry phone.
Banged my head three times against the cupboard in mock frustration...
Gate 24
Group 1 and 2 invited to board at once, so despite being in Seat 1A I am about 20th to board, also delayed as the agent had an I depth conversation with the person in front of me about his Blackberry phone.
Banged my head three times against the cupboard in mock frustration...