Consolidated "United Airlines' Boarding Process (2012)" Thread [Merged]
Jan 2, 2012, 8:01 pm
#1
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Consolidated "United Airlines' Boarding Process (2012)" Thread [Merged]
Edit: So I am the first post for the 2012 Thread. Below are the finalized details (in both text and image form) for the New United Boarding Process. Please note that there are some confusion with GAs and not all boarding procedures are implemented uniformly.
Anyone have any status updates on getting zoned boarding for CO?
Customers who have requested physical assistance and those customers with disabilities are invited to board the aircraft first.
Pre-boarding comes next. This group includes uniformed military personnel and Global ServicesSM members.
After pre-boarding is complete, listen for your boarding group number to be called. To get an idea of what your group number will be, here’s the list for aircraft with two cabins — organized by Premier Access member level.
Group 1 – Premier Access boarding
o Premier® 1K®
o United First® (This is referred to as United Global First® on aircraft with three cabins on certain international routes.)
Note: On aircraft with three cabins, United Business® members also board in this group. (United Business® is referred to as United BusinessFirst® on certain international routes.)
Group 2 – Premier Access boarding
o Premier® Platinum
o Premier® Gold
o Star Alliance Gold
Group 3 – Premier Access boarding
o Premier® Silver
o Star Alliance Silver
o Presidential Plus℠ Card members
o MileagePlus® Club Card members
Group 4 – Priority boarding
o MileagePlus® Explorer Card members
o OnePass® Plus Card members
At this time, the gate agent will invite families with infants or with children who are under the age of 4 to board the aircraft.
Groups 5, 6, 7 – General boarding
Tip: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both can board
Pre-boarding comes next. This group includes uniformed military personnel and Global ServicesSM members.
After pre-boarding is complete, listen for your boarding group number to be called. To get an idea of what your group number will be, here’s the list for aircraft with two cabins — organized by Premier Access member level.
Group 1 – Premier Access boarding
o Premier® 1K®
o United First® (This is referred to as United Global First® on aircraft with three cabins on certain international routes.)
Note: On aircraft with three cabins, United Business® members also board in this group. (United Business® is referred to as United BusinessFirst® on certain international routes.)
Group 2 – Premier Access boarding
o Premier® Platinum
o Premier® Gold
o Star Alliance Gold
Group 3 – Premier Access boarding
o Premier® Silver
o Star Alliance Silver
o Presidential Plus℠ Card members
o MileagePlus® Club Card members
Group 4 – Priority boarding
o MileagePlus® Explorer Card members
o OnePass® Plus Card members
At this time, the gate agent will invite families with infants or with children who are under the age of 4 to board the aircraft.
Groups 5, 6, 7 – General boarding
Tip: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both can board
Hi Everyone, Thank you for all of your feedback regarding our recent changes to the boarding process. Let there be no question - we are listening to you and our co-workers, and will continue to make changes to our business as a direct result. The new boarding process we recently rolled out will be one of those examples.
Here’s what we’re doing, starting next week…
Also in the coming months, we’ll be in the field testing some concepts aimed at further reducing congestion on the carpet during Elite boarding. We’re committed to making this process work, and we hear you loud and clear.
Thanks as always for your feedback.
Scott O’Leary
Managing Director, Customer Solutions
United Airlines
Here’s what we’re doing, starting next week…
- We’re reinstating zone boarding on the United side. Beginning Jun. 8, United will return to boarding by zones. Among other things, this should directly improve the experience for the folks who purchase Economy Plus by ensuring they aren’t in the last boarding group. In addition, we’ve found a way for our combined airline to support zone boarding, and expect to introduce zone boarding to Continental in the coming year.
- We’re simplifying the announcements. Also on Jun. 8, we’ll be adjusting our announcements to be simpler, shorter, and create better separation throughout the Elite boarding process. While all premier customers will continue to use the carpeted lane, we intend to manage this better through these new announcements. Uniformed Military and Global Services members will be invited to board as part of the preliminary announcement. Then we will board First Class along with 1K and Platinum members, followed by Business Class (on three-cabin aircraft), followed by Premier Executive and Gold members, followed by Premier and Silver members.
Thanks as always for your feedback.
Scott O’Leary
Managing Director, Customer Solutions
United Airlines
Last edited by edcho; May 1, 2012 at 11:59 am
Jan 3, 2012, 5:39 am
#2
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And has anyone let the GAs know that this is how boarding should work? Was on a flight from ORD-DFW a few weeks ago, GA called GS, First Class then anyone premier or higher. On a flight Monday morning at 6:30? 90% of the plane was elite. It was absurd, and a complete waste of time.
Jan 3, 2012, 5:42 am
#3
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And has anyone let the GAs know that this is how boarding should work? Was on a flight from ORD-DFW a few weeks ago, GA called GS, First Class then anyone premier or higher. On a flight Monday morning at 6:30? 90% of the plane was elite. It was absurd, and a complete waste of time.
Jan 3, 2012, 10:01 am
#4
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And has anyone let the GAs know that this is how boarding should work? Was on a flight from ORD-DFW a few weeks ago, GA called GS, First Class then anyone premier or higher. On a flight Monday morning at 6:30? 90% of the plane was elite. It was absurd, and a complete waste of time.
Jan 3, 2012, 10:28 am
#5
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On SFO-PDX last week, the GA announced that F was boarding first (it apparently "was requested by the crew", which is bizarre), and a GS (saw his BP) with a +1 had a fit - looks like it was because he was in Y.
Oh for simpler days...
Oh for simpler days...
Jan 3, 2012, 2:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
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Data point concerning the morning flight to SAN on 3 Jan.
The last 2 flights for the night SFO-SAN were canceled due to fog in SAN on 2 Jan. This may explain the large number military on the flight.
The last 2 flights for the night SFO-SAN were canceled due to fog in SAN on 2 Jan. This may explain the large number military on the flight.
Jan 16, 2012, 4:30 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,309
What's with this awful boarding process?
Leaving DCA now and it took the agent many minutes trying to explain this convoluted boarding process. Why do military in uniform go before first class and global services? Why is this such a convoluted horrible process that seems to come up with a TON of groups? It's too complicated! End the insanity!
Jan 16, 2012, 5:24 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO
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I prefer boarding groups to boarding rows, which I believe we temporarily discovered, isn't the fastest or most popular way to load a United Airlines plane.
Jan 16, 2012, 5:29 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Posts: 2
I dont mind Military boarding infront of me, I dont care how many miles/status I accumulate.
I flew out throuh IAH/EWR/IAD last week and never noticed this new method, it was business as usual. Military-First Class-1K or Platinum-Rows
I flew out throuh IAH/EWR/IAD last week and never noticed this new method, it was business as usual. Military-First Class-1K or Platinum-Rows
Jan 16, 2012, 5:57 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 529
Peter Greenberg mentioned the long boarding announcements in one of his podcasts. They should simplify it, because the poor GA has to announce the whole laundry list. Some passengers get confused, and you end up with a crowd of people jockeying for position in front of the gate. Some airports are able to place Premier Access lines at a 90 angle to the regular line, so one doesn't need to claw through a wall of bewildered flyers.
Also +1 regarding military. I'll let them board with me/in front of me anytime.
Also +1 regarding military. I'll let them board with me/in front of me anytime.
Jan 16, 2012, 6:30 am
#11
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Leaving DCA now and it took the agent many minutes trying to explain this convoluted boarding process. Why do military in uniform go before first class and global services? Why is this such a convoluted horrible process that seems to come up with a TON of groups? It's too complicated! End the insanity!
Last edited by Doug 1029; Jan 16, 2012 at 6:31 am Reason: spelling
Jan 16, 2012, 7:14 am
#13
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Now, no one seems quite able to commit to lining up on either. 1K/F/GS hang back so as not to be scolded by the GA for not letting military through first. 1Ks hang back unsure whether they'll be scolded for lining up before GS or F. F hang back, unsure whether they'll be called first or after GS. 1Ks push forward for fear the GA goes straight from "Military and GS" to "All elites" (I've had that happen SEVERAL times of late
).And before the inevitable, "It's a problem with consistency by the UA GAs," from the COol Ade drinkers, the sanctity of the red carpet before would have eliminated 99% of the problem.
Jan 16, 2012, 7:29 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,309
Well
Besides that, I just switched to flying united. I was on AA before and DL before that. I've never seen such crowds of people jockeying for position so far before departure. It just seems confused and disorderly.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jan 16, 2012 at 1:58 pm Reason: OMNI
Jan 16, 2012, 7:35 am
#15
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Leaving DCA now and it took the agent many minutes trying to explain this convoluted boarding process. Why do military in uniform go before first class and global services? Why is this such a convoluted horrible process that seems to come up with a TON of groups? It's too complicated! End the insanity!