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-   -   Group Boarding Trials (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-cathay/2184614-group-boarding-trials.html)

djsflynn Jan 28, 2025 1:37 am

FYI, the group boarding trial will be introduced on selected flights from HKG next month – more at https://www.executivetraveller.com/c...group-boarding

HarbourGent Jan 28, 2025 2:54 am

The only place I think group boarding beats Cathay's current system is Japan in terms of boarding window seats first, middle seats next, then aisle seats (although I would keep premium priority boarding for prestige reasons).
Beyond that, the zoo that is U.S. (i.e. endless group) boarding? No thank you.
Cathay may do better (less aggressive passengers and staff, fewer worries about fitting bags in hat racks) but still, I've never heard a fellow flyer rave about how much more efficient and/or civilised the U.S.-style group concept made the boarding process.

GE90-115B Jan 28, 2025 7:50 pm


Originally Posted by QRC3288 (Post 36847016)
Follow up question: If status and/or J/F pax arrive at gate late (as I tend to do, at least), will there still be a well-guarded line just for those pax?

One of the things I've long appreciated about CX is how the front of the gate is usually very well maintained for F/J/status pax until the end. So you can show up 20 minutes before and even if there's still a long line for economy, there's no problem boarding. Hopefully this isn't lost with the group boarding change.

I also value the F/J/status pax line being guarded. Most of the time I couldn't care less about priority boarding as a status pax. I usually wait around at the gate and only walk over to the priority queue for boarding when I see that the non-priority line has almost finished. I do this particularly often if I fly Y to reduce the elapsed time I have to spend in my Y seat. I'm also the type who likes to stay in the lounge until as late as possible so again it helps to have this F/J/status line guarded.

The only exceptions for boarding early for me personally is when I'm in J and I'm tired and/or I want to enjoy that pre-flight champagne.

Hope that F/J/status line continues to be guarded regardless of how group boarding goes.

royng Feb 3, 2025 10:01 pm


Originally Posted by cxwaterboy (Post 36845577)
I agree. I’m curious how did the Swire MTs come up with this decision. It just doesn’t make sense by complicating things.

They will call the trial a success no matter what to save their faces.

percysmith Feb 3, 2025 10:47 pm


Originally Posted by pf007 (Post 36845970)
As always the age old question is, if you show your physical / electronic membership card at the gate, without the FFP# being on your boarding pass, will the staff & system allow you through?

Can forsee a lot of problems when ppl want to accrue to one FFP but use the benefits of another

Oh heck, that's the granddaddy question.

My expected answer is no, if implemented in the automated way.

benyiu Feb 5, 2025 9:59 pm

Well, just had this boarding group thing..
I believe aged group has higher priority now? (Group 1?)
Sliver is now part of premium econ line (Group 3) Green seems to further grouped into 4,5,6,7..
When compared to JAL, “boarding group x” font in the boarding pass is too small. CX should improve this.
Also for JAL flight, people wouldn’t line up if they are in later group. JAL has less line up lane.
For CX flight everyone is used to lining up since they already put up signage for each group.

It is ridiculous a lane is for group 4,5,6,7. They had to ask group 5 to stop lining up.


lixiaojuventus Feb 5, 2025 10:54 pm


Originally Posted by benyiu (Post 36873590)
Well, just had this boarding group thing..
I believe aged group has higher priority now? (Group 1?)
Sliver is now part of premium econ line (Group 3) Green seems to further grouped into 4,5,6,7..
When compared to JAL, “boarding group x” font in the boarding pass is too small. CX should improve this.
Also for JAL flight, people wouldn’t line up if they are in later group. JAL has less line up lane.
For CX flight everyone is used to lining up since they already put up signage for each group.

It is ridiculous a lane is for group 4,5,6,7. They had to ask group 5 to stop lining up.

Oh, this is new! So SL members get screwed! I guess DM is Group 1, GO is Group 2?

abielp Feb 6, 2025 3:45 am

Where does OWS line up now? Group 4?

US HK UK flyer Feb 18, 2025 5:33 am

Took CX253 from HKG the other day and there was no sign of group boarding; same big long line as always.

midlevels Feb 20, 2025 3:06 am

On the OLCI boarding passes sent by email, the text now reads as:

BOARDING TIME / GROUP

But there is no group number listed, just a boarding time.

Top of climb Feb 22, 2025 1:41 am


Originally Posted by abielp (Post 36874216)
Where does OWS line up now? Group 4?

Business, CX GO and OWS are group 2.

Top of climb Feb 22, 2025 1:43 am


Originally Posted by midlevels (Post 36907611)
On the OLCI boarding passes sent by email, the text now reads as:

BOARDING TIME / GROUP

But there is no group number listed, just a boarding time.

If you are not departing from a port which is trialling boarding groups then there will be no group number listed.

MeltingAlf Feb 22, 2025 11:05 pm


Originally Posted by US HK UK flyer (Post 36902989)
Took CX253 from HKG the other day and there was no sign of group boarding; same big long line as always.

CX isn't trialling group boarding from HKG en masse at the moment as far as I understand.

​​​​​

secretalcoholic Feb 23, 2025 2:22 am

SFO did this and i swear it creates more chaos than before.

also they called group 1 and 2 at the same time so there wasn’t any difference in that front.

another thing is that Apple mobile BP didn’t show boarding group for me. Only if you do boarding pass by email or printed.

cxwaterboy Feb 23, 2025 2:38 am


Originally Posted by secretalcoholic (Post 36914017)
SFO did this and i swear it creates more chaos than before.

also they called group 1 and 2 at the same time so there wasn’t any difference in that front.

another thing is that Apple mobile BP didn’t show boarding group for me. Only if you do boarding pass by email or printed.

Which outports are having a trial? I’ve yet to see that happen irl


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