What’s the point of boarding group 1?
Sep 30, 2021, 3:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 690
What’s the point of boarding group 1?
Not sure if I’ve just been unlucky but every single flight I’ve taken in the last 18 months going into LHR has always called groups 1&2 or groups 1,2&3 at the same time for boarding. So why do BA even bother with the differentiation? On a recent flight from YYZ-LHR half the plane seemed to be 1,2 or 3!
Sep 30, 2021, 4:05 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,185
I think this was commented on when groups were first introduced. There's so many in Group 1 on UK domestic routes that it really is a mockery at key commuting times.
I really liked the boarding by rows that they were doing over the past year and I struggle to see why boarding by group is more efficient (hopefully a staffer can explain!).
I really liked the boarding by rows that they were doing over the past year and I struggle to see why boarding by group is more efficient (hopefully a staffer can explain!).
Sep 30, 2021, 4:17 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 187
I think this was commented on when groups were first introduced. There's so many in Group 1 on UK domestic routes that it really is a mockery at key commuting times.
I really liked the boarding by rows that they were doing over the past year and I struggle to see why boarding by group is more efficient (hopefully a staffer can explain!).
I really liked the boarding by rows that they were doing over the past year and I struggle to see why boarding by group is more efficient (hopefully a staffer can explain!).
as has been touched on, certain flights, especially some domestic services or those with big CE cabins or a lot of card holders. Some flights it appears Like everyone is boarding in 1/2 but that is just the demographic of certain flights.
as to how groups are called for boarding, unless there has been a change behind the scenes, group 1 and 2 should not be called at the same time.
Sep 30, 2021, 4:20 am
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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One thing US airlines have got right is the gate arrangement for boarding (if one believes in the whole thing of segregated boarding.). Pre-boarding for top elites, then clear tense-barriered 1/2/3/4/5. An additional benefit is that there is a lane for you to go through if your group has already boarded so you don't appear to be jumping the queue.
It irritates me when, for example, LH and LX call groups 1 and 2 together, and a huge scrum ensues that includes plenty of people outside of these groups.
It irritates me when, for example, LH and LX call groups 1 and 2 together, and a huge scrum ensues that includes plenty of people outside of these groups.
Sep 30, 2021, 4:22 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,347
Flew LCY-DUB-LHR last week, Group 1 called separately for boarding on both flights, although that is indeed very rare and most of the time it seems to be lumped together with 2 and 3. You would think it would be a useful tool to help reduce congestion at the gate in these Covid times, but clearly not.
Sep 30, 2021, 4:25 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, UK
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One thing US airlines have got right is the gate arrangement for boarding (if one believes in the whole thing of segregated boarding.). Pre-boarding for top elites, then clear tense-barriered 1/2/3/4/5. An additional benefit is that there is a lane for you to go through if your group has already boarded so you don't appear to be jumping the queue.
It irritates me when, for example, LH and LX call groups 1 and 2 together, and a huge scrum ensues that includes plenty of people outside of these groups.
It irritates me when, for example, LH and LX call groups 1 and 2 together, and a huge scrum ensues that includes plenty of people outside of these groups.
Sep 30, 2021, 4:28 am
#9
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Another thing that isn't done nearly enough is sending people back to the scrum if they try to board outside their group, whether this is done intentionally or not. Again, the segregated lines setup is useful for this because it trains people into understanding that there is a process to follow.
Sep 30, 2021, 4:30 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Posts: 3,578
Nothing to do with efficiency and all to do with making Gold, Silver, Bronze, First, Club, Premium Economy feeling valued and treasured.
Sep 30, 2021, 4:32 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: EU
Posts: 454
Not sure if I’ve just been unlucky but every single flight I’ve taken in the last 18 months going into LHR has always called groups 1&2 or groups 1,2&3 at the same time for boarding. So why do BA even bother with the differentiation? On a recent flight from YYZ-LHR half the plane seemed to be 1,2 or 3!
Sep 30, 2021, 4:36 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
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Flight on Tuesday morning (full flight) ex LHR called Groups 1&2 together. I am used to this at MAN but not LHR.
It's not what the marketing promises...
It's not what the marketing promises...
Sep 30, 2021, 4:51 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2012
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Sep 30, 2021, 5:38 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold for Life
Posts: 469
Well of course those tags don't work more often than not. At some airports it seems as if the 'priority' luggage is offloaded last. It certainly seems pot luck and hit and miss. Can anyone identify airports where this is done well? There are plenty where it isn't done well....or simply doesn't happen