Non-CX OWR never got priority boarding with CX (ironically unlike BA)

OIC, and W is G3? So under the new system, if they do merge G2 & G3, W pax boards with J? Weird....?

CX did have trial at a certain extent before full implementation. I wonder why all these problems were not encountered before.

Because they suddenly decide to implement in a different way from the trial. Eg. Joint queues for Group 2/3, removal of coloured signs. I still don’t understand why they didn’t test this out in another trial if they decide to change.

CX100 from SYD on 30/11 was definitely using group boarding. The queue for groups 4-7 was ginormous understandably, with groups 1-3 hidden behind, but group boarding was respected and orderly as a OWE flying in PY

Group number wasn't present on the boarding pass (either electronic or paper)

This is the problem. Group 2 boards before Group 3 (2 comes before 3) but there is only one queue for Group 2 and Group 3. So it causes confusion when staff have to yell at Group 3 to stand aside.

You wouldn’t even need a trial to tell you having a single queue for group 2 and group 3 would cause confusion. It is what is called “obvious on its face”.

The irony is that CX had a perfectly civilised, well thought out system before this with clearly defined F,J,W and Y lines. If they wanted to refine Y boarding to go from back to front, they could have just implemented subgroups in Y. Instead they have reinvented the wheel, made the whole thing worse and messier and less premium (staff yelling at pax hardly says five star airline) and it is absolutely astounding how anyone with any ounce of common sense could have let this happen.

Complete chaos to me, there are 4 lines that are moving at the same time and I don’t know where I should go. No one mentioned this at the check in counter too. Colour coding is essential to know where I should go.

If they think this will help a more efficient boarding. The real life experience is no - and there are gaps in between groups or even in-groups.

Feel like one of those decisions from someone trying to create something because they are paid to do something. There is no costs saving nor revenue generating in this change, and it takes away the exclusivity of CX own membership programme and probably counteract the introduction of DM EX (if DM EX, DM, or OWE will all be called ‘Group 1’).

There were standees for groups 1 2 3 and 4 5 6 at KIX. Staff member holds up laminated print out for individual groups. This probably mitigates the 123 and 456 bunching issue.

clearly you haven't been around long enough, they are called "enhancements" around here ;)

Elevation

This issue I observed, from an airport staff perspective who walks pass CX gates everyday, is that they do not have any staff for manage the crowd and the queue before and during boarding.

Group boarding is not the main issue, but how to execute it. CX should assign at least a staff to check the eligibility and whether the passenger is indeed belongs the group, ask the others to be seated or queue at the correct later group.

LAX today , no sign and nothing .
just call out group 1 , and saying that only group 1 can pass the gate , non group 1 will not go through.
staff do check if your ticket is group 1 before starting.

During boarding the gate will not open when your face is scanned if one was boarding out of order.
They are then told by staff and sent to the proper group.

Agreed that the gate area feels more chaotic now for some reason, but tentseller says is right: manual "policing" is no longer necessary because the machine does it, I think that is the CX idea too. The gate simply flashes red and won't open if you board out of turn.

Ideally, the crowd will thin out over the next 6-12 months once passengers realize cheating is futile, and all of us humans are successfully "retrained'.

In theory Cx has the right idea I think. In reality who knows!

Confirmed, this is how it works. Last week I tried guesting a colleague (Y) when traveling J. In the past, I could just tell staff we were together and the humans allowed it. This time, the system flagged us, he got red, gate didn't open. Staff made the point of loudly saying we'd get a "one-time exception," but lesson learned: you must link bookings at the counter beforehand to avoid the embarrassment.

Is the new group boarding implemented across all airports already?

But only HKG have the face scan boarding right? How is this implemented without the face scan gates?