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
Mar 29, 2018, 6:04 pm
#571
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,235
Mar 30, 2018, 3:46 am
#572
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,184
BA1486 LHR-GLA 28/03
In group 1, turned up after boarding had started. The lane was empty as they were processing G2 and just announced G3 as I arrived. Strolled into the G1 lane, scanned myself on the automated gates and straight through. Not challenged by any gate staff as to whether I had a right to be there. Much more civilized than my previous experience. Not sure if the gate was programmed to only allow the right group through?
In group 1, turned up after boarding had started. The lane was empty as they were processing G2 and just announced G3 as I arrived. Strolled into the G1 lane, scanned myself on the automated gates and straight through. Not challenged by any gate staff as to whether I had a right to be there. Much more civilized than my previous experience. Not sure if the gate was programmed to only allow the right group through?
Mar 30, 2018, 3:56 am
#573
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
Checked with the gate agent that they would allow us to board as a single group per the guidance (reply: "yes, absolutely no problem") and the biometric gates let them sail through
Mar 30, 2018, 4:14 am
#574
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Geneva/Sydney
Programs: Mucci; BA, LT GGL; QF, platinum; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 926
GVA exactly the same. What is the point of boarding Groups 1-3 together? I really don't see the point since it tends to include the majority of passengers. A few days ago at GVA, I was in the huge 1-3 queue when they opened 4-5, so I changed lines and got on earlier!! BRU last week was even worse since there is no room at the gate for a large queue. T5 seems to work but forget it in most other airports!
Mar 30, 2018, 10:08 am
#575
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 61
LGW to GLA Gate 12
Priority line to get into the waiting lounge. Then gate agent approached the boarding door saying "if you are not group 1 or 2 please sit down". Nobody took any notice. He opened the door to the jetway and announced Boarding Group 1 and Group 2 only. He then legged it before he got tangled up with the immediate surge of all waiting pax. Absolutely no check of group numbers. No sign of any pax hanging back to let groups 1 and 2 board - just a general free for all.
Priority line to get into the waiting lounge. Then gate agent approached the boarding door saying "if you are not group 1 or 2 please sit down". Nobody took any notice. He opened the door to the jetway and announced Boarding Group 1 and Group 2 only. He then legged it before he got tangled up with the immediate surge of all waiting pax. Absolutely no check of group numbers. No sign of any pax hanging back to let groups 1 and 2 board - just a general free for all.
Mar 30, 2018, 10:23 am
#576
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: BA GGL/CCR/GFL
Posts: 103
Boarding to MIA last week wasn’t great. I think they had merged groups from memory. Trying not to be too judgemental as the plane was downsized from an A380 to a 747.
The problem with this system for me has been that when arriving later from the lounge, the merged groups mean it isn’t as convenient as having the old fast track lane open. It’s busy and looks a right mess.
Will see how it is on Sunday.
The problem with this system for me has been that when arriving later from the lounge, the merged groups mean it isn’t as convenient as having the old fast track lane open. It’s busy and looks a right mess.
Will see how it is on Sunday.
Mar 30, 2018, 11:50 am
#577
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
LGW to GLA Gate 12
Priority line to get into the waiting lounge. Then gate agent approached the boarding door saying "if you are not group 1 or 2 please sit down". Nobody took any notice. He opened the door to the jetway and announced Boarding Group 1 and Group 2 only. He then legged it before he got tangled up with the immediate surge of all waiting pax. Absolutely no check of group numbers. No sign of any pax hanging back to let groups 1 and 2 board - just a general free for all.
Priority line to get into the waiting lounge. Then gate agent approached the boarding door saying "if you are not group 1 or 2 please sit down". Nobody took any notice. He opened the door to the jetway and announced Boarding Group 1 and Group 2 only. He then legged it before he got tangled up with the immediate surge of all waiting pax. Absolutely no check of group numbers. No sign of any pax hanging back to let groups 1 and 2 board - just a general free for all.
Next time the same pax hear anyone state ‘please sit down’ prior to boarding ...... they obviously will take no more notice than described above - simply because, clearly, the agent doesn’t actually mean it ........
Mar 30, 2018, 6:43 pm
#578
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
I unfortunately added to a breakdown in process at EDI Gate 10 yesterday 
.
The Tannoy is very tinny, and I have a hearing challenge although I'm not sure others could hear it very well either. Whilst waiting at back of G 1/2/3 (on rear path past gates) line I could hear an announcement that I thought was first one, but could have been later. Seeing perfectly able travellers approaching gate from nearby seating I assumed it was a G1 announcement and passed by the queue to find myself on jet bridge behind a set of G5 passengers (from glancing at BP). Turns out the 6-8 pax ahead were all accompanying the 8-10yo in their group.
Got seated easily of course, but a but wish the announcement was clearer and perhaps clarification on how many pax an adolescent need in their comfort group. Enforcement to turn me back would have been fine presumably wouldn't have changed much.
.The Tannoy is very tinny, and I have a hearing challenge although I'm not sure others could hear it very well either. Whilst waiting at back of G 1/2/3 (on rear path past gates) line I could hear an announcement that I thought was first one, but could have been later. Seeing perfectly able travellers approaching gate from nearby seating I assumed it was a G1 announcement and passed by the queue to find myself on jet bridge behind a set of G5 passengers (from glancing at BP). Turns out the 6-8 pax ahead were all accompanying the 8-10yo in their group.
Got seated easily of course, but a but wish the announcement was clearer and perhaps clarification on how many pax an adolescent need in their comfort group. Enforcement to turn me back would have been fine presumably wouldn't have changed much.
Mar 31, 2018, 12:39 am
#579
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: somewhere north of stateside...
Posts: 4,153
YYC is set up with the new signage and lanes, but the Group 1 signage is combined with Group 2, and boarding for both groups is announced at the same time. No F on the route, but the aircraft is often up-gauged to a 789, so the combined announcement mean that Golds/Emeralds board at the same time as up to 50 Club passengers, plus Silvers/Sapphires in PE/E.
Mar 31, 2018, 3:33 am
#580
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Frozen north
Programs: BAEC Silver, HiltonH
Posts: 49
We have experienced 8 flights within the past month, all with varying degrees of success, or otherwise, at group boarding. Even as Group 1 we have not had much success at being able to board amongst the first surge, mainly due to unclear announcements or no policing at the entrance to the jetbridge.
We have now given up our previous strategy of travelling with hand baggage only (we travel light anyway) and now check in our small, cabin-sized rollaboards as we prefer the moments of nervous tension at the baggage carousel, waiting to see if our bags have made it intact with us, to the stress of being crushed in the scrum to board and secure some overhead locker space.
We have now given up our previous strategy of travelling with hand baggage only (we travel light anyway) and now check in our small, cabin-sized rollaboards as we prefer the moments of nervous tension at the baggage carousel, waiting to see if our bags have made it intact with us, to the stress of being crushed in the scrum to board and secure some overhead locker space.
Mar 31, 2018, 6:25 am
#581
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 31
For what it's worth,
Being Edinburgh based and frequenting LHR with transit connections means enduring the boarding process at least twice on any given journey. I have experienced group boarding at , Edi, Lhr, Ath and all went smoothly. Experienced Ath late January and again this afternoon. The gate area there permits clear lines for Groups 1&2 / 3-5 with barriers along the length of the line of sufficient length for the usual number who wish to hover near the gate rather than remain seated.
T 5 A on the other hand lacks the space for such organisation and is generally chaotic by comparison. That said I do believe it works better simply by having group numbers. Previously gate announcements listing the range of qualifiers to board by ticket type or BA status or One World status or any other seemed beyond the attention span of many. How oftentimes have you overheard " What was that? Was that us? Dunno, let's just go up anyway"...
Like I said Fwiw.
Being Edinburgh based and frequenting LHR with transit connections means enduring the boarding process at least twice on any given journey. I have experienced group boarding at , Edi, Lhr, Ath and all went smoothly. Experienced Ath late January and again this afternoon. The gate area there permits clear lines for Groups 1&2 / 3-5 with barriers along the length of the line of sufficient length for the usual number who wish to hover near the gate rather than remain seated.
T 5 A on the other hand lacks the space for such organisation and is generally chaotic by comparison. That said I do believe it works better simply by having group numbers. Previously gate announcements listing the range of qualifiers to board by ticket type or BA status or One World status or any other seemed beyond the attention span of many. How oftentimes have you overheard " What was that? Was that us? Dunno, let's just go up anyway"...
Like I said Fwiw.
T5 yesterday to ABZ, lines clearly staked out as 1, 2/3, 4/5. People being bribed to put their luggage in the hold
with a promise of being the first to board, then group 1 called. Completely different to LGW earlier this month when groups 1/2 called,
but nobody checking the tickets, so anyone could have boarded with these groups.
with a promise of being the first to board, then group 1 called. Completely different to LGW earlier this month when groups 1/2 called,
but nobody checking the tickets, so anyone could have boarded with these groups.
Mar 31, 2018, 6:50 am
#582
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: E14, LON
Programs: Virtuoso TA; SELECT TA; BAEC Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond; IHG Plantinum Amb
Posts: 238
LHR - MAD from C gates today: arrived just after boarding commenced and heard the correct announcement for group 1 boarding, the gate agents then immediately began boarding groups 1 and 3 (from the separate lanes) at the same time. There were a few confused people in the group 2 line who were not allowed to board - seemed to be a case of the two gate agents in front of the group 1 line enforcing policy correctly but the gate agent in front of group 3 line inviting those passengers to board straight away. Very odd.
Mar 31, 2018, 10:54 am
#583
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
Bit of a shambles last Thursday night too (BA522 LHR-MAD from C56). An IB-operated service (on the A340, very nice in Business, when we eventually got on 
)
We arrived just as the queues started to form so were at front of the Group 1 lane.
Rather chaotic scenes when announcement was made that Iberia were insisting ALL hand baggage would be gate-checked
... to loud moans and groans from all around, at which point the GA tried again "hand luggage for all Group 4 & 5 passengers must go in the hold" at which a vast number of people surged forward to volunteer their bags...
Then it transpired there had been an aircraft swap and a consequent randomisation of seat allocations Cue further wailing and gnashing of teeth and a good deal of flapping by the gate staff.
THEN we were told the airbridge had broken so it was to be a genuine Ryanair experience ... in the rain
We had spent a couple of hours in the CCR so were more amused than anything... in the end, we were probably about the 30th or so to board (from being first in the G1 queue mind) and barely got wet...
All in all a very sub par boarding experience, though in fairness most of the problems were down to HAL and /or IB !!
)We arrived just as the queues started to form so were at front of the Group 1 lane.
Rather chaotic scenes when announcement was made that Iberia were insisting ALL hand baggage would be gate-checked
... to loud moans and groans from all around, at which point the GA tried again "hand luggage for all Group 4 & 5 passengers must go in the hold" at which a vast number of people surged forward to volunteer their bags...Then it transpired there had been an aircraft swap and a consequent randomisation of seat allocations
Cue further wailing and gnashing of teeth and a good deal of flapping by the gate staff.THEN we were told the airbridge had broken so it was to be a genuine Ryanair experience ... in the rain
We had spent a couple of hours in the CCR so were more amused than anything... in the end, we were probably about the 30th or so to board (from being first in the G1 queue mind) and barely got wet...
All in all a very sub par boarding experience, though in fairness most of the problems were down to HAL and /or IB !!