Correct boarding order?
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott LFT PLT, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,542
Correct boarding order?
So what order are the GA's supposed to board in?
Flew 374 DEN-MKE on Thurs & paid for stretch seating (will not think about how many weeks, phone calls, & e-mails it took to get a receipt for it from F9, either).
GA at the gate next door, boarding DEN-ABQ, boarded Ascent, Summit, & Rows 1-4, then families w/small kids, people needing extra time, etc.
My GA boarded Ascent, Summit, uniformed military.
Then re-boarded everyone who had been on the plane from SEA & was continuing to MKE.
Then families w/kids & people needing extra time (actually had to stop the entire boarding process for one woman who needed a wheelchair.
THEN finally called rows 1-4.
Thanks to the FA who filled up the bins over rows 1 & 2 on the ABC side w/all of her stuff, plus everyone else who boarded already, my bag ended up way back around row 10.
I was soooo glad I paid extra for that
Clearly one of the GA's went out of order-which one?
Flew 374 DEN-MKE on Thurs & paid for stretch seating (will not think about how many weeks, phone calls, & e-mails it took to get a receipt for it from F9, either).
GA at the gate next door, boarding DEN-ABQ, boarded Ascent, Summit, & Rows 1-4, then families w/small kids, people needing extra time, etc.
My GA boarded Ascent, Summit, uniformed military.
Then re-boarded everyone who had been on the plane from SEA & was continuing to MKE.
Then families w/kids & people needing extra time (actually had to stop the entire boarding process for one woman who needed a wheelchair.
THEN finally called rows 1-4.
Thanks to the FA who filled up the bins over rows 1 & 2 on the ABC side w/all of her stuff, plus everyone else who boarded already, my bag ended up way back around row 10.
I was soooo glad I paid extra for that

Clearly one of the GA's went out of order-which one?
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 185
I asked the same question, because it seems that every agent does it their own way. According to the company policy boarding should be in the following order:
1) Summit, Ascent, & Classic Plus passengers.
2) Rows 1-4 and pre-boarding for families and people needing extra time
3) "Express Boarding" for people not using overhead bin space. The purpose is to keep the
aisles clear during regular boarding.
4) The back half of the aircraft.
5) The front half of the aircraft (starting with row 5).
Now, I don't know if it depends on the type of aircraft or if they have other variables. I've also noticed that lots of gate agents really have no idea what their boarding priority is supposed to be.
1) Summit, Ascent, & Classic Plus passengers.
2) Rows 1-4 and pre-boarding for families and people needing extra time
3) "Express Boarding" for people not using overhead bin space. The purpose is to keep the
aisles clear during regular boarding.
4) The back half of the aircraft.
5) The front half of the aircraft (starting with row 5).
Now, I don't know if it depends on the type of aircraft or if they have other variables. I've also noticed that lots of gate agents really have no idea what their boarding priority is supposed to be.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: MKE
Programs: Midwest Miles, AirTran A+ Rewards
Posts: 1,445
Exact same thing happened to me TXRUS... only difference is, there was no overhead bin space available on the whole plane and I had to gate check my bag. I feel if you pay extra for a seat and it is reserved, you should be able to board at any time.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Arizona
Programs: AA, F9, UA, WN
Posts: 23
I asked the same question, because it seems that every agent does it their own way. According to the company policy boarding should be in the following order:
1) Summit, Ascent, & Classic Plus passengers.
2) Rows 1-4 and pre-boarding for families and people needing extra time
3) "Express Boarding" for people not using overhead bin space. The purpose is to keep the
aisles clear during regular boarding.
4) The back half of the aircraft.
5) The front half of the aircraft (starting with row 5).
Now, I don't know if it depends on the type of aircraft or if they have other variables. I've also noticed that lots of gate agents really have no idea what their boarding priority is supposed to be.
1) Summit, Ascent, & Classic Plus passengers.
2) Rows 1-4 and pre-boarding for families and people needing extra time
3) "Express Boarding" for people not using overhead bin space. The purpose is to keep the
aisles clear during regular boarding.
4) The back half of the aircraft.
5) The front half of the aircraft (starting with row 5).
Now, I don't know if it depends on the type of aircraft or if they have other variables. I've also noticed that lots of gate agents really have no idea what their boarding priority is supposed to be.

