Feb 6, 2017, 2:07 am
Last edit by: lkrt
Here we try to keep an up-to-date list of who-goes-where. Finnair may have tuned the boarding groups since the first introduction, so some entries here are not confirmed.
Pre-boarding (those in need of assistance, UM, travellers with children of any age)
Group 1: J-pax, AY Lumo, AY Plat, Oneworld Emerald
Group 2: AY Gold, Oneworld Sapphire
Group 3: AY Silver, Oneworld Ruby
Group 4–5: Other customers, depending on seating
Assignment of group
Group is assigned based on ticket type and status of individual frequent flyer card attached to booking. All customers on the same booking are assigned the same group, i.e., based on the highest tier in the party.
The boarding groups are printed on paper boarding pass on every route with capital letters "GROUP 1". The group also appears on digital boarding passes.
Enforcement of Boarding order
Enforcement of groups is haphazard. Sometimes groups are called out, sometimes a call like "we invite our priority customers to board first or at any time". Groups are rarely checked on boarding though and on shorthaul no aids (like ribbons, signs) are used either. At HEL automatic boarding gates have been introduced which means "priority boarding" in now enforced.
Pre-boarding (those in need of assistance, UM, travellers with children of any age)
Group 1: J-pax, AY Lumo, AY Plat, Oneworld Emerald
Group 2: AY Gold, Oneworld Sapphire
Group 3: AY Silver, Oneworld Ruby
Group 4–5: Other customers, depending on seating
Assignment of group
Group is assigned based on ticket type and status of individual frequent flyer card attached to booking. All customers on the same booking are assigned the same group, i.e., based on the highest tier in the party.
The boarding groups are printed on paper boarding pass on every route with capital letters "GROUP 1". The group also appears on digital boarding passes.
Enforcement of Boarding order
Enforcement of groups is haphazard. Sometimes groups are called out, sometimes a call like "we invite our priority customers to board first or at any time". Groups are rarely checked on boarding though and on shorthaul no aids (like ribbons, signs) are used either. At HEL automatic boarding gates have been introduced which means "priority boarding" in now enforced.
Boarding groups - finally?
Aug 22, 2016, 8:47 am
#106
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat (OWE)
Posts: 493
Was flying back to HEL yesterday from BUD and was all prepared for the usual ZOO at the boarding. Of course they were not using the boarding groups, BUT to my biggest surprise, J pax and AY+ Silver/Gold/Plat (and guessing OW R/S/E) could use a separate "priority boarding" line, which they actually strictly enforced and sent away anyone, who was not entitled to use it! ^
Similar experience last week ex BUD and HEL-FRA with boarding groups enforced, not that strictly but to some extent. I have a feeling this is case by case and can never be sure what to expect.
Aug 23, 2016, 3:06 am
#108
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY Platinum
Posts: 303
It looks like the boarding procedure for silvers has been downgraded: Just checked in for a intra-Europe flight for tomorrow. We're 4 people in the same booking. AY Gold got boarding group 1, Silver is in 2 and the white card holders are in 4. On our outbound fligt from HEL I was in group 1 and the rest of us were in 2.
How this all will be put in action at the gates is of course another question.
How this all will be put in action at the gates is of course another question.
Aug 24, 2016, 2:32 am
#109
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,669
It looks like the boarding procedure for silvers has been downgraded: Just checked in for a intra-Europe flight for tomorrow. We're 4 people in the same booking. AY Gold got boarding group 1, Silver is in 2 and the white card holders are in 4. On our outbound fligt from HEL I was in group 1 and the rest of us were in 2.
How this all will be put in action at the gates is of course another question.
How this all will be put in action at the gates is of course another question.
Aug 24, 2016, 2:40 am
#110
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KUO
Programs: HH Diam, AY/AX/KQ/IHG/VISA Plat, SK/Bonvoy/Melia/Strawberry Gold, Radisson Prem, PP Prest
Posts: 2,266
This is a very clever move from AY! How about Emeralds and businetic flyers in 1, Sapphires in 2, and the rest in whateva?
Aug 24, 2016, 3:44 am
#111
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,189
If they think they can manage 4 groups, then I'd rather see
1 - J, Juniors, Platinum and Emerald.
2 - Gold, Sapphire, Comfort
3 - Silver, Ruby
4 - Non status
Aug 24, 2016, 4:02 am
#113
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,669
It is a benefit cut.
Yeah, clever indeed! A lot of criticism against the boarding group system and AY responds by making it worse. They can hardly manage 3 groups and they add a forth one.
If they think they can manage 4 groups, then I'd rather see
1 - J, Juniors, Platinum and Emerald.
2 - Gold, Sapphire, Comfort
3 - Silver, Ruby
4 - Non status
Yeah, clever indeed! A lot of criticism against the boarding group system and AY responds by making it worse. They can hardly manage 3 groups and they add a forth one.
If they think they can manage 4 groups, then I'd rather see
1 - J, Juniors, Platinum and Emerald.
2 - Gold, Sapphire, Comfort
3 - Silver, Ruby
4 - Non status
4. Should be white card members
5 and onwards, board by seat rows.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:23 am
#114
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: Finnair (AY) Platinum, Air France Silver, Tallink Club One Silver :)
Posts: 1,655
As a Gold / Sapphire I would get to group 2 even with your "strictest" proposals, so I would still be fine with that, but I think you guys are now living in a "bubble"...
In my mind, boarding groups are there not only as a perk, but to facilitate the actual boarding, so that not everyone is trying to get on the plane at the same time. Now when I see proposals of first 3(!) groups being only just status pax, and one for everyone else, it makes me think that we here collectively believe that almost everyone has a ff status, while actually the vast majority has a basic card, or maybe not even that... I personally don't really see the reason for "oversegmenting" the status pax and then letting everyone else to attack the plane as a good solution.
If you ask me, I see the non-enforcement of the boarding groups a much bigger issue over the "who is in what group" question.
In my mind, boarding groups are there not only as a perk, but to facilitate the actual boarding, so that not everyone is trying to get on the plane at the same time. Now when I see proposals of first 3(!) groups being only just status pax, and one for everyone else, it makes me think that we here collectively believe that almost everyone has a ff status, while actually the vast majority has a basic card, or maybe not even that... I personally don't really see the reason for "oversegmenting" the status pax and then letting everyone else to attack the plane as a good solution.
If you ask me, I see the non-enforcement of the boarding groups a much bigger issue over the "who is in what group" question.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:25 am
#115
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,189
The reason I put junior in group one is
A) it is good for the airline and the travellers to have 12 y.o. travelling alone without UM service onboard early
B) it is one perk you can give them, costs nothing, has obvious pros and fosters loyalty
But i think AY sees young frequent flyers as divorce kids that now and then fly a domestic segment over weekend/holiday. Stuck in this vision of the world, they might think this group has no choice and no frequent flyer needs so they keep on doing nothing for the group
A) it is good for the airline and the travellers to have 12 y.o. travelling alone without UM service onboard early
B) it is one perk you can give them, costs nothing, has obvious pros and fosters loyalty
But i think AY sees young frequent flyers as divorce kids that now and then fly a domestic segment over weekend/holiday. Stuck in this vision of the world, they might think this group has no choice and no frequent flyer needs so they keep on doing nothing for the group
Aug 24, 2016, 4:28 am
#116
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,669
As a Gold / Sapphire I would get to group 2 even with your "strictest" proposals, so I would still be fine with that, but I think you guys are now living in a "bubble"...
In my mind, boarding groups are there not only as a perk, but to facilitate the actual boarding, so that not everyone is trying to get on the plane at the same time. Now when I see proposals of first 3(!) groups being only just status pax, and one for everyone else, it makes me think that we here collectively believe that almost everyone has a ff status, while actually the vast majority has a basic card, or maybe not even that... I personally don't really see the reason for "oversegmenting" the status pax and then letting everyone else to attack the plane as a good solution.
If you ask me, I see the non-enforcement of the boarding groups a much bigger issue over the "who is in what group" question.
In my mind, boarding groups are there not only as a perk, but to facilitate the actual boarding, so that not everyone is trying to get on the plane at the same time. Now when I see proposals of first 3(!) groups being only just status pax, and one for everyone else, it makes me think that we here collectively believe that almost everyone has a ff status, while actually the vast majority has a basic card, or maybe not even that... I personally don't really see the reason for "oversegmenting" the status pax and then letting everyone else to attack the plane as a good solution.
If you ask me, I see the non-enforcement of the boarding groups a much bigger issue over the "who is in what group" question.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:38 am
#117
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat
Posts: 3,158
Apparently the Juniors that actually fly a lot are already placed higher on the boarding groups. I don't know how this is measured or what the actual limits are, but apparently it works.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:39 am
#118
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,669
Seems very interesting. Maybe they measure it by how many segments has the Junior taken that year or something.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:43 am
#119
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,189
As a Gold / Sapphire I would get to group 2 even with your "strictest" proposals, so I would still be fine with that, but I think you guys are now living in a "bubble"...
In my mind, boarding groups are there not only as a perk, but to facilitate the actual boarding, so that not everyone is trying to get on the plane at the same time. Now when I see proposals of first 3(!) groups being only just status pax, and one for everyone else, it makes me think that we here collectively believe that almost everyone has a ff status, while actually the vast majority has a basic card, or maybe not even that... I personally don't really see the reason for "oversegmenting" the status pax and then letting everyone else to attack the plane as a good solution.
If you ask me, I see the non-enforcement of the boarding groups a much bigger issue over the "who is in what group" question.
In my mind, boarding groups are there not only as a perk, but to facilitate the actual boarding, so that not everyone is trying to get on the plane at the same time. Now when I see proposals of first 3(!) groups being only just status pax, and one for everyone else, it makes me think that we here collectively believe that almost everyone has a ff status, while actually the vast majority has a basic card, or maybe not even that... I personally don't really see the reason for "oversegmenting" the status pax and then letting everyone else to attack the plane as a good solution.
If you ask me, I see the non-enforcement of the boarding groups a much bigger issue over the "who is in what group" question.
Though, one reason we discuss it as a perk is that AY sells it as a perk.
As for "everyone has ff status", yes you are right it is easy to do that mistake.
But as for actual numbers of travellers with tier status, I think we all have seen how many people lining up for "priority boarding" there can be. Perhaps because it isn't policed, perhaps because there really is a large number of silvers/ruby.
Boarding priority also has a major impact on travel life since the light tickets were introduced. I the LCC / Light / HBO logic, priority boarding equals securing your bag stays in a overhead above your seat.
The feeling of boarding late with a carry on bag in the "pay-for-checked-baggage-era" has been accurately described by Nelson Muntz:
Aug 24, 2016, 4:47 am
#120
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AY+, SK EB
Posts: 2,971
But i think AY sees young frequent flyers as divorce kids that now and then fly a domestic segment over weekend/holiday. Stuck in this vision of the world, they might think this group has no choice and no frequent flyer needs so they keep on doing nothing for the group