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 28, 2018, 9:01 am
#661
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
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....
and to prove the grass isn’t always greener my boarding for QR at ARN last night was pretty poor - once in boarding lounge there was basically no control, they announced business boarding but so many people had congregated around the narrow entrance to airbridge it was almost comical...
Apr 28, 2018, 9:21 am
#662
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,680
Just completed a couple of days ago a ARN HEL LHR JFK LAX SFO and return. Boarding the AA flights was very straight forward and organised. Far and away the worse boarding was the final positioning after the above from ARN back to LHR. The whole access to the lane was clogged by non group 1 people, when group 1 was called. They call group 1, and lots of people close to the barrier sort of shuffle without actually attempting to enter the lane to the gate staff. You end up not wanting to be a DYKWIA, but anything less than pushing through means the group system is failing. It was BA0781 which was a 767, on Tues 24th. I think an emergency exit had failed and people in the exit row had been moved, this further ruffled feathers which the crew had to deal with.
May 1, 2018, 3:14 am
#664
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,551
Just wondering what the deal is now when there is one status holder on a PNR with others. My wife (Silver) is flying to DUB tomorrow in ET with her mum, two sister and nephew. She has group two on her BP, and the others have group 5. Can she take any of them through fast-track and/or priority boarding? Obviously it's just one for the lounge.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
May 1, 2018, 3:17 am
#665
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,598
Just wondering what the deal is now when there is one status holder on a PNR with others. My wife (Silver) is flying to DUB tomorrow in ET with her mum, two sister and nephew. She has group two on her BP, and the others have group 5. Can she take any of them through fast-track and/or priority boarding?
May 1, 2018, 3:18 am
#666
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
Just wondering what the deal is now when there is one status holder on a PNR with others. My wife (Silver) is flying to DUB tomorrow in ET with her mum, two sister and nephew. She has group two on her BP, and the others have group 5. Can she take any of them through fast-track and/or priority boarding? Obviously it's just one for the lounge.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
May 1, 2018, 3:19 am
#667
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,551
May 1, 2018, 3:22 am
#668
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
More specifically, the advice is contained here (hat tip to whoever posted this first? KARFA?)
https://www.speedbirdclub.com/mediaL...-27Nov2017.pdf
Quoting from same:
In fairness, they say "will endeavour" but I've never had issues.
https://www.speedbirdclub.com/mediaL...-27Nov2017.pdf
Quoting from same:
Executive Club priority boarding Boarding priority for Executive Club Gold, Silver or Bronze Members or oneworld® equivalents, will automatically be reflected in the group number given on their boarding pass. If they arrive after their group has been called, they can use the priority boarding lane to go through before the flight closes. Please note that priority boarding will not be reflected for any other people travelling with an Executive Club Member on the same booking at the moment, but will be introduced in the coming months. In the meantime, the whole party can use the priority boarding lane and our staff will endeavour to board everyone together.
May 1, 2018, 3:25 am
#669
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
For fast track, assuming she is starting at LHR (?), I'm afraid it is +1 only. See:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...rt/heathrow-t5
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...rt/heathrow-t5
Fast Track security lanes are available to:
- customers travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe (plus one guest)
- Executive Club Gold and Silver Members (plus one guest)
- oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (plus one guest)
May 1, 2018, 3:30 am
#670
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,551
For fast track, assuming she is starting at LHR (?), I'm afraid it is +1 only. See:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...rt/heathrow-t5
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...rt/heathrow-t5
May 1, 2018, 3:31 am
#671
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: London, Strathaven
Programs: BA (Gold). Various other statuses
Posts: 1,466
Very well organised at Gate 19 at Glasgow on Sunday. Individual lanes for Groups 1,2 and 3 and one lane for 4 and 5. Gate agent made it quite clear which was which and the boarding announcement also made it clear. The only downside was for disembarking passengers on the inbound flight as they all had to exit via lane 2 which was quite narrow, made worse by people (legitimately) sitting there.
May 1, 2018, 3:40 am
#672
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,598
As far as priority boarding is concerned, they will be fine.
May 2, 2018, 10:23 pm
#673
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: London - SW4
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 320
Today the BA 293 to Washington - offered pre-boarding if checked one's (oversised) hand baggage... another gentleman jumped the group 1 queue, told to go back, just stood at the front with nothing mentioned. A bit frustrating, which multiple fellow members of the group 1 queue expressed.
May 3, 2018, 1:22 am
#674
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,989
Group boarding has now been implemented at London City - previously, there was priority boarding for CE and Gold only.
Due to lack of space at the gates, there are only two lanes. The first says "Group 1 followed by Groups 2 and 3", with the "followed by" in quite small type, leading to inevitable crowding; the second says "Groups 4 and 5". The gate agent's announcement, however, was quite clear and explained the boarding process. (Gate 10 to TXL, 02/05/2018).
Due to lack of space at the gates, there are only two lanes. The first says "Group 1 followed by Groups 2 and 3", with the "followed by" in quite small type, leading to inevitable crowding; the second says "Groups 4 and 5". The gate agent's announcement, however, was quite clear and explained the boarding process. (Gate 10 to TXL, 02/05/2018).
May 9, 2018, 11:18 am
#675
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,291
OSL-LHR on May 7th. First time both OH and I had Group 1 on our boarding cards. However there was no attempt to prioritise passengers by status, class of travel or group number. Basically just a single boarding announcement followed by a free-for-all, with no checks on size or number of carry-ons. I felt a bit aggrieved to hear an announcement, once on board, for everyone to remove smaller items from the overhead lockers so larger ones could be put in first, then try to fit the smaller ones above or around them. Maybe the woman with two large cases plus a handbag and shopping is a frequent traveller on the route and knows she can get away with it.
There seems little incentive to play by the rules.
CE felt like cattle class compared to flying QR earlier in the day.
There seems little incentive to play by the rules.
CE felt like cattle class compared to flying QR earlier in the day.