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 19, 2018, 9:29 am
#631
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/Gold, Flying Blue Silver, All Accor Gold, Hilton Honours Diamond,
Posts: 527
AUH - after gate security check gate lounge split into two by tensa barriers. Group 1 & 2 to the right, groups 3, 4 and 5 to the left.
Families with infants and young children called first which seemed interpreted as any group with children under 12 boarding from the group 3, 4 and 5 side of the lounge with any families on the 1 & 2 side having to duck under the barriers to get to the other side and board.
Then group 1 called to board from the right hand side, after first few group 1 passengers boarded, simultaneous boarding commenced on both sides of the lounge for everyone.
Families with infants and young children called first which seemed interpreted as any group with children under 12 boarding from the group 3, 4 and 5 side of the lounge with any families on the 1 & 2 side having to duck under the barriers to get to the other side and board.
Then group 1 called to board from the right hand side, after first few group 1 passengers boarded, simultaneous boarding commenced on both sides of the lounge for everyone.
Apr 19, 2018, 3:40 pm
#632
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Berkshire
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 75
BA 987 (19 APR) TXL-LHR
Boarded groups 1-3 at the very same time. Signs pointed priority passengers to left of desks, they boarded passengers from both sides. Passenger in front of me was Group 5 and was not with someone else, walked straight on. Gate area is a mess anyway, some discipline would help.
This flight's score: 1 point out of 10
Running average: 1.5 out of 10
Boarded groups 1-3 at the very same time. Signs pointed priority passengers to left of desks, they boarded passengers from both sides. Passenger in front of me was Group 5 and was not with someone else, walked straight on. Gate area is a mess anyway, some discipline would help.
This flight's score: 1 point out of 10
Running average: 1.5 out of 10
Apr 22, 2018, 10:25 am
#634
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
A bit of a shambles to board to OTP at Gate 7 yesterday.
Only one entrance to the area, which was blocked with people. The Group 1-2 was pointing away from the entrance. A staff member checked everyone, but once the line for 3-5 stretch back to the entrance, she stopped. I mentioned I was in Group 1 and managed to get through, but not great. I gave some gentle customer feedback....
Only one entrance to the area, which was blocked with people. The Group 1-2 was pointing away from the entrance. A staff member checked everyone, but once the line for 3-5 stretch back to the entrance, she stopped. I mentioned I was in Group 1 and managed to get through, but not great. I gave some gentle customer feedback....
Apr 22, 2018, 1:05 pm
#635
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Europe
Programs: BAEC Silver; AerClub Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 315
Gate A8 to DUB today after a correct announcement explaining the groups boarding process they asked for volunteers to check in trolleys as the plane was full.
While tagging trolleys they actually were boarding several people before group1, Then total chaos as all groups boarded...
While tagging trolleys they actually were boarding several people before group1, Then total chaos as all groups boarded...
Apr 22, 2018, 1:38 pm
#636
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
As I was departing from gate A10 yesterday I was able to over hear the announcement for the adjacent flight to ARN.
"Group 1 & 2" followed about 10 seconds later by "All remaining passengers". Admittedly, I don't know how full the flight was, but it does seem as though the ground staff are starting to slip a bit.
Can't really comment on my own flight to FRA as there wasn't any queueing at all - so I was able to walk straight on to the bus as soon as they called group 1. If only it can be that relaxed every flight...
"Group 1 & 2" followed about 10 seconds later by "All remaining passengers". Admittedly, I don't know how full the flight was, but it does seem as though the ground staff are starting to slip a bit.
Can't really comment on my own flight to FRA as there wasn't any queueing at all - so I was able to walk straight on to the bus as soon as they called group 1. If only it can be that relaxed every flight...
Apr 23, 2018, 7:37 am
#637
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH DIAMOND, AVIS Presidents Club, Karahi Express
Posts: 1,229
Blue Barriers at Gate
EDIT ...
LHR T5 ... Gate Agent at A7 , checking boarding passes and passports at entrance to new blue barrier area. And directing people into Correct group line. Group 2 line full, so asked them to wait outside blue cordoned of area. No further passport check.
Last edited by deboyzoned; Apr 23, 2018 at 8:19 am
Apr 23, 2018, 10:03 am
#638
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,297
STN-TXL yesterday. I was in group 2 (silver), OH was in 5. Arrived very shortly after the start of boarding to find 2 unmarked lanes, one empty, one with a fairly long queue. Boarding was being managed by just one member of staff and she looked busy so we decided to join the single queue. No announcements were made after we arrived. A couple of passengers successfully used the other lane while we were waiting, but others in our queue looked confused . One person in front of us who had queued patiently must have queried the boarding process, because I heard the gate agent telling him he could have used the other lane.
It turned out that everyone in front of us had been held in a bus, so we would have gained no advantage in using the empty lane. But a sign (or further announcements) might have made the process less confusing, and might have helped high-group people behind us in the queue who would have ended up on the second bus.
It turned out that everyone in front of us had been held in a bus, so we would have gained no advantage in using the empty lane. But a sign (or further announcements) might have made the process less confusing, and might have helped high-group people behind us in the queue who would have ended up on the second bus.
Apr 23, 2018, 11:38 pm
#639
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 16
Totally pointless having group 2 if the boarding lane is plugged up with group 3 customers like today at gate A10. The staff clearly don’t care to implement the rules given the brush off to my comment. Still, they went through the motions and called group 2 twenty seconds before group 3.
Apr 23, 2018, 11:56 pm
#640
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA LTG/GFL, Honors Diamond, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 718
B34 to AUH. Calls made for mobility restricted and children under 2. People then started going through the gates so I stood and joined into the group 1 line. Still no calls made. Group 2 then called as I was stepping onto the escalator and people were still in the group 1 line (I don’t know if they were group 1). I gave Feedback of incorrect boarding procedures used via .com. Assumes BA care whether or not the correct boarding procedure is used, which they may not as long as it’s an on-time departure.
Apr 24, 2018, 12:25 am
#641
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 81
I’m yet to (on the 10 or so sectors ive done this year) see group 4 and 5 split up, even when 1.2.3 are separate (which feels fairly pointless given how few people are in 1 and 2 on most of the flights I take)
Id be much less inclined to book HBO fares if the ‘board last’ was rigorously enforced as I hate having to check my carry on at the gate.
Id be much less inclined to book HBO fares if the ‘board last’ was rigorously enforced as I hate having to check my carry on at the gate.
Apr 24, 2018, 6:08 am
#643
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC (blue), VS Flying Club (red), Hotels.com (silver!), IHG, Amex, TopCashback, Tesco...
Posts: 83
Funchal FNC Saturday afternoon - aircraft delayed inbound by 2 hours+ due wind and diversion to Porto Santo. Flight was called first to gate 9 (Schengen) - but once we Funchal first-timers realised this was probably just to get people downstairs we went back up onto the terrace to watch the landing - uneventful phew...
Once through passport check we arrive at the actual gate at the back of a plane-load worth of queue - no-one being boarded but only a very few taking a seat. We dare to approach the "priority boarding" sign, which is next to the groups 4-5 lane, and then slip apologetically through to the other side of the queue to the empty groups 1-2-3 lane. Announcements may have already been made and someone is now being boarded so hubby says "bye-bye" to me as he's group 1 and me 3...I say "but it says 1-2-3!" and sure enough I am allowed to board with no delay...
Was just glad the a/c was not heading back towards Gatwick tbh.
Once through passport check we arrive at the actual gate at the back of a plane-load worth of queue - no-one being boarded but only a very few taking a seat. We dare to approach the "priority boarding" sign, which is next to the groups 4-5 lane, and then slip apologetically through to the other side of the queue to the empty groups 1-2-3 lane. Announcements may have already been made and someone is now being boarded so hubby says "bye-bye" to me as he's group 1 and me 3...I say "but it says 1-2-3!" and sure enough I am allowed to board with no delay...
Was just glad the a/c was not heading back towards Gatwick tbh.
Apr 24, 2018, 5:01 pm
#644
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,153
EDI @ Gate 4 - 2 lines, Gp 1, 2 and 3 and a sign, separate lane for 4 & 5.
Strict enforcement and Gp1 called on it's own, then Gp 2 on it's own. I then lost track of the rest of it.
LHR - Gate 9 - Gp 1 lane empty, 2 and 3 moving forward as straight through.
GOT - Gold, SIlver and Bronze called with no mention of group numbers. It was a very quiet flight anyhow, probably about a 20% load at most.
Strict enforcement and Gp1 called on it's own, then Gp 2 on it's own. I then lost track of the rest of it.
LHR - Gate 9 - Gp 1 lane empty, 2 and 3 moving forward as straight through.
GOT - Gold, SIlver and Bronze called with no mention of group numbers. It was a very quiet flight anyhow, probably about a 20% load at most.
Apr 24, 2018, 6:30 pm
#645
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Northern Ireland
Programs: BA Silver, A3
Posts: 1,101
Yesterday, that is Tuesday, on the BA1426 to BHD, gate A1 pre boarders called, no one.
Everyone told that it would be by group number and to remain seated, everyone did.
Group 1 called and those people walked forward.
I prepared for group 2 and got up when it was called.
I have never seen such an orderly process.
Just, still, why, b a, do you have 5 groups and only have lanes for 1, 2&3, 4&5 (or sometimes 1&2&3, 4&5). If everyone does remain seated, one lane works. If not, having 2 groups in one lane is just daft.
Everyone told that it would be by group number and to remain seated, everyone did.
Group 1 called and those people walked forward.
I prepared for group 2 and got up when it was called.
I have never seen such an orderly process.
Just, still, why, b a, do you have 5 groups and only have lanes for 1, 2&3, 4&5 (or sometimes 1&2&3, 4&5). If everyone does remain seated, one lane works. If not, having 2 groups in one lane is just daft.