It was less of a gong show before 1Ks got preboarding. By making 1Ks a BG1, they have a clear place to line up. Now it is varying degrees of chaos depending on the gate.

Whay is the downside of 1K BG1? other than a small ego deflation.

Which airport is this? My last time flying with UA was in January to Singapore from SFO. There was already a crowd near the lines as boarding commenced. It's always chaotic as even people with the last boarding group want to secure their place in the line even if they can't board yet.

But then you've got paid business class/first class passengers boarding in the "2nd group", which is a bad look (even though it would be exactly the same order as today, just named differently). You can't move business/first to the new BG1, because Star Alliance rules say that *G needs to board with business/first class, so all *G (including UA Platinum/Gold) need to be in that group too.

I agree that the current system is a bit silly (although as a 1K I do like it!), but other than getting rid of GS/1K priority I don't think there's a sensible idea that works from both a logistics and marketing perspective.

Whilst I agree it was a complete mess when they first introduced it, in my experience it's gotten better. At the start you had 1K people in the group 1 line, and when they asked them to pre-board they had to get out of the line and somehow get to the front. Now most 1K's seem to know what's going to happen, so hang around outside of the lines. Still not pretty, but better than it was at first.

OK, so, maybe 1MMs pre-boarding isn't the way to go. But I feel that it would be nice if there were some more meaningful perk for me to being a MM. Most of us who have MM status shoot for status higher than gold. And, yes, I get to nominate someone else to share that status (which isn't nothing; I think it's the best part of it). But what do I get other than an occasional thank you? Honestly, I would be happy with free drink and a snack in E like 1Ks enjoy. That can't hurt United's bottom line too much, and it wouldn't really impact anyone else.

I agree with this - it�s become chaos at many stations, and on my last two sectors I�ve been the only GS battling through a crowded pre-board area, with routinely some 1Ks refusing to create way for Military or GS.

1K and First Class should board together as G1. I actually have no status on Delta or Alaska, but I like the fact I can book a paid F when I need to and be called first to board - even before a Diamond in Y on DL.

(bolding mine)

This might be looking at it from the wrong perspective though:
While you're not wrong in your assessment regarding this not making a difference to 1Ks and likely improve the overall process, IT WILL NEVER happen in my opinion because United knows full well that it can't drop everyone from the current Boarding Group #1 to Boarding Group #2.
Someone paying $20,000 for a ticket in Polaris won't be happy to see BG2 on their boarding pass. This is more psychological than anything else, but if United would implement this 'system' they'd be pissing off a whole bunch of people with this one simple change. I just can't see that happening, ever.

This is probably the reason why they went with the current system in the first place: United wants as many passengers to be a perceived winner and have "pre-boarding" privileges or be in "Group 1" in recognition of their awesomeness.
Telling all Premier Platinum members, Premier Gold members, Star Alliance Gold members, United Polaris passengers, United First passengers and United Business passengers that they are lowly number twos would not go down too well, I could imagine.

No to MMers getting pre-boarding solely on that basis. They already get Group 1 even if they fly only one UA flight a year (due to automatic Gold status). Get to 3 or 4 MM, then you get pre-boarding solely on that basis. Pre-boarding groups are already too big. Any more and there might be only one passenger in the boarding area after all the pre-boards get on

UA wants to reward passengers who have more recently given them loads of money. UA loves 1 MMers who still fly at 1K and GS levels - and they get pre-board. A 1MM who isn�t flying at that level? Group 1 is still a good deal.

I find the whole boarding process to be a bit complicated for the average Joe to understand. On flights that aren't full, and especially on the 787, I don't mind not boarding first since my phone barely works. The cellular signal is so weak even when I sit by the window. On a full flight, I do care since I want to make sure I get overhead bin space.

I'm against adding MM to preboard. You get guaranteed annual *A Gold access, guaranteed access to E+ at time of booking, luggage allowance, CPU qualification (albeit hard to clear). I don't think 1MM is worth nothing. I would happily trade lifetime *A Gold access and guaranteed UA E+ at booking over a drink and snack or preboarding.

Perhaps aim for a higher MM tier…then you can actually board with the Premier 1K and GS members as a 3MM+

I don’t get it. 1MMs are Gold. That’s your status level. You get to board with the other Golds. If OP thinks they should get special privileges above that, then fly more.

As a MM who doesn't make it to 1K, I'm in group 1 consistently I've never had a problem with overhead space when I board as group 1, even if I am the last person in BG1, which I sometimes plan. Don't see an advantage in boarding earlier, except reduce standing around time I suppose. But sometimes I sit til the group 1 line is short, so even that doesn't have to be a problem.

Maybe UA could print up some gold paper crowns (lke Burger King's) that say "1MM", "2MM", "3MM", and "4+MM" and make them available at the boarding area for those who qualify. I can guarantee everyone will notice. Will not add to pre-boards AND provides recognition - win-win. Not only that, but MM status doesn't expire, so UA doesn't have to worry about people wearing the crowns if they fall in status. I guess there's the chance some MMers would actually allow someone else to wear them during boarding - sort a stolen valor violation.

I like it and it's apropos since every flight already comes with a Crappy Meal.

"What have you done for me lately," asks United.

Million miler is an impressive milestone and it comes with benefits already.