exerda

At ANC we boarded a nearly-full PMUA 752 in 14 minutes on Sunday afternoon. We still left late (MX issue). No GS boarded, and Group 1 was fairly small.

Baze

And the explorer card benefits page still says priority boarding after premiers yet UA lumped them into group 2. So, as they shaft elite fliers they give CC holder better benefits than they are supposed to get. Way to go UA.

Crazyboutflying

I remember a time when I was happy to board as a premier. The cc holders should definitely be after elites.

manstein58

OK. I am GS- what is consensus on proper boarding protocol when two, three or four FC non-GS PAX are standing in the queue ahead of me? Is a polite "excuse me" sufficient? Am I "entitled" to go ahead [hate that word-sorry]?Last week, while trying to board EWR/MXP flight, I did that and got an ugly comment that "I'm in Business".

Looking for guidance

UA2PEK

In my experience you have to go around or under the ropes if boarding a wide body or push your way through. If someone gave me the "I'm in business" BS I would either ignore them, or say "so I'm GS and I get to board before you" or "not impressed", depending on my mood.

wxguy

My new modus operandi: If the GA isn't too busy before boarding, I quietly ask, "Where would you prefer GS to wait for boarding?" More times than not I'm asked to wait somewhere that's not in the Group 1 line, and the GA just motions me over when it's time. This works especially well in ORD for international widebodies, where sometimes there's also a dedicated GS agent who forms a separate queue.

RedElmo

Yes, excuse me is enough. If you are challenged then you can tell them you're GS. in your scenario
I would reply and say "then you must know that GS boards before business"

Time traveller

This question has come up numerous times in this thread, when the GA doesn't make a pre-boarding call for GS and military members. As others mentioned, probably talking with a GA will be the most diplomatic way of going about it, rather than confronting other passengers in Group 1. I think UA should pre-board GF passengers along with GS members, but United doesn't value their GF passengers as other airlines do.

aisleorwindow

Is it really that big of a deal? Can you not live with being the 5th or 6th person to board?

jbsay

Yesterday I flew US Airways Express, where I'm zone 1 as a *G - ahead of US Air's own cardholders. (Granted, I didn't need early boarding, as my bag doesn't fit overhead on an E-Jet.)

Compare this to UA, whose Golds board with cardholders and *S. It really stings when an alliance partner treats you better than your own airline.

Bosche

I just started business travel last year and feel really burned by this new procedure. I called customer service and actually received a mailed letter stating I have immediate silver status. Issue is, they didn't actually give me silver in the system so I'm stuck in group 5 and checking my bag every time.

I'll get silver soon enough but I'm really wondering if United is the Best choice, I played the customer support circles this morning and between the one lady that immediately transferred me and the other girl who didn't know how the mute button worked on her headset I'm concerned on what will happen to me if I ever get stranded.

My 1K friend referred me to this site, does anyone know a 'good' cust support number to call to get this worked out? This new boarding policy is adding a few extra hours to my flights when the opt to fully check the bag and I'm strongly considering just getting the delta card and jumping ship.

aacharya

FT policy isn't to give out CS numbers publicly.

As for being Silver, what happens when you look up your status in your account? If not Silver there, then call the MileagePlus Service CEnter.

As for "adding a few extra hours" - that's for you to mitigate. Just gate-check your bag upfront if the flight is full - the GA will thank you for it, and you save the $25 you're paying now (if not being treated as Silver).

nb: I'm a 1K, and I check bags every single time. Adds at most 10 minutes to my check-in time upfront, and 20-25 at the end. Half an hour total.

mgcsinc

I'm very, very confused.

How would the old system have treated you better? What does it have to do with checking a bag?

You should call again about the Silver thing. But I don't quite understand how not getting something that was a free accommodation, and that most airlines wouldn't give you, has you so hot and bothered.

If you want BG2, you can just get the credit card.

SFO 1K

Or why not get the Explorer Card from United?

meducate

Some of you may simply think that I am just one of those who feels "entitled" and so be it. It is my opinion that having earned my GS status by traveling too much, missing family obligations, having to hear that my dog died over the phone because I couldn't be there that if I am given the opportunity to pre-board, I take it.

I like being able to NOT have to wait in line, walk on comfortably and place my things where I want them.

When there is a queue forming, I try to talk with a GA and ask if they prefer me to stand back or close to the front, or if I should approach when they make the announcement. Otherwise, I simply walk past the people that have lined up and ask nicely if any of them are GS and if not, I say "excuse me" and I walk through.

I will say that in the airports that I frequent often (EWR, LGA, JFK and LHR) the GS agents know me by name or face and actually wave me up or come get me and pre-board (often before the announcement that pre-boarding has begun).