May 21, 2013, 10:43 am
Last edit by: aacharya
Source: https://hub.united.com/en-us/News/Co...g-process.aspx
Pre-Boarding
Premier Access Boarding
*A Star Alliance Silver who is not a Premier Silver is not eligible for Premier Access boarding.
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
Note: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both may board with the earlier group.
Note: Self Boarding Gates are being tested at the following gates...
sUA Boarding Times by Aircraft (AFA)
Pre-Boarding
- Customers with Disabilities
- Global Services
- Uniformed Military Personnel
- Families with Children Age Two and Under
Premier Access Boarding
- Group 1: Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, BusinessFirst, and First.
- Group 2: Premier Gold, Star Gold, Premier Silver*, MileagePlus Presidential Plus, Club, Explorer and Awards, purchased Premier Access
*A Star Alliance Silver who is not a Premier Silver is not eligible for Premier Access boarding.
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
- Group 3 - Window Seats
- Group 4 - Middle Seats (Aisle Seats on UA Express)
- Group 5 - Aisle Seats
Note: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both may board with the earlier group.
Note: Self Boarding Gates are being tested at the following gates...
- IAH - Gate C25/C26 - See Post 2960, Includes YouTube video from CO777DAL
- IAH - Gate E4 - Old test from pmCO days, See Thread Here
- BOS - Self boarding gates are now back in *LIMITED* use at least at gates B25 and B26
sUA Boarding Times by Aircraft (AFA)
United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [Revised, May 2013]
Jul 21, 2013, 4:11 am
#3031
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,822
Jul 21, 2013, 8:39 pm
#3032
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 84
Don't you think y'all are overanalyzing this a bit. If you want to board early, get an explorer card, or maintain status. In general it's a perk for customers who are more profitable to the airline. Sometime when I fly other airlines, and have anxiety about finding bin space, I pick a seat near the back, and then I get on earlier. Simple.
I'm also surprised at how so many posters feel they should get this perk for nothing. Loyalty has always been about revenue, but under the terms of the old the airline felt that there were too many perks given to unprofitable flyers who earn huge amounts of points on cheap fares. They're simply trying to offer more to those who pay more, and I think that's fair. The bar really isn't that high, as I do a few transcons, and it's $2500.
In addition, I've seen perfectly great people get really upset at airports over boarding order, when those with less status board earlier. In the law of large numbers, there will be some travelers who ostensibly wind up in the wrong line on purpose or otherwise, but overall those with status get on earlier. At the end of the day it's about transportation, not really about quelling one's need to feel special that they've realized every perk to the fullest. As an elite, I've had the pleasure of flying in the middle seat of the back row, and my alternative was to take a seat in the boarding lounge. When you look at it that way, I got to where I was going and on time.
I'm also surprised at how so many posters feel they should get this perk for nothing. Loyalty has always been about revenue, but under the terms of the old the airline felt that there were too many perks given to unprofitable flyers who earn huge amounts of points on cheap fares. They're simply trying to offer more to those who pay more, and I think that's fair. The bar really isn't that high, as I do a few transcons, and it's $2500.
In addition, I've seen perfectly great people get really upset at airports over boarding order, when those with less status board earlier. In the law of large numbers, there will be some travelers who ostensibly wind up in the wrong line on purpose or otherwise, but overall those with status get on earlier. At the end of the day it's about transportation, not really about quelling one's need to feel special that they've realized every perk to the fullest. As an elite, I've had the pleasure of flying in the middle seat of the back row, and my alternative was to take a seat in the boarding lounge. When you look at it that way, I got to where I was going and on time.
Jul 22, 2013, 11:59 am
#3033
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
While waiting to board a flight, I came up with this alternative boarding annoucement, to help the BG2 people with their little tendency to try to board with BG1:
"If you have a United-branded credit card, you'll be boarding with group 2. The reason for this is that there are a lot of people who are more important than you. A lot of you think that you're one of only two or three people on the plane with any significant relationship with United, but you'll be surprised to learn that that's not true! See, before you, we'll be boarding disabled people, followed by military people -- who give their lives for this country -- followed by Global Services members -- who give us $40,000 a year -- followed by 1K's -- who fly 100,000 whole miles in a year! -- followed by Platinums -- who fly 75,000 whole miles in a year! We know that you might be confused about how many miles that is, so to help you understand, think of all the flights you've ever taken, and then multiply that by two."
"If you have a United-branded credit card, you'll be boarding with group 2. The reason for this is that there are a lot of people who are more important than you. A lot of you think that you're one of only two or three people on the plane with any significant relationship with United, but you'll be surprised to learn that that's not true! See, before you, we'll be boarding disabled people, followed by military people -- who give their lives for this country -- followed by Global Services members -- who give us $40,000 a year -- followed by 1K's -- who fly 100,000 whole miles in a year! -- followed by Platinums -- who fly 75,000 whole miles in a year! We know that you might be confused about how many miles that is, so to help you understand, think of all the flights you've ever taken, and then multiply that by two."
Jul 22, 2013, 12:11 pm
#3034
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
While waiting to board a flight, I came up with this alternative boarding annoucement, to help the BG2 people with their little tendency to try to board with BG1:
"If you have a United-branded credit card, you'll be boarding with group 2. The reason for this is that there are a lot of people who are more important than you. A lot of you think that you're one of only two or three people on the plane with any significant relationship with United, but you'll be surprised to learn that that's not true! See, before you, we'll be boarding disabled people, followed by military people -- who give their lives for this country -- followed by Global Services members -- who give us $40,000 a year -- followed by 1K's -- who fly 100,000 whole miles in a year! -- followed by Platinums -- who fly 75,000 whole miles in a year! We know that you might be confused about how many miles that is, so to help you understand, think of all the flights you've ever taken, and then multiply that by two."
"If you have a United-branded credit card, you'll be boarding with group 2. The reason for this is that there are a lot of people who are more important than you. A lot of you think that you're one of only two or three people on the plane with any significant relationship with United, but you'll be surprised to learn that that's not true! See, before you, we'll be boarding disabled people, followed by military people -- who give their lives for this country -- followed by Global Services members -- who give us $40,000 a year -- followed by 1K's -- who fly 100,000 whole miles in a year! -- followed by Platinums -- who fly 75,000 whole miles in a year! We know that you might be confused about how many miles that is, so to help you understand, think of all the flights you've ever taken, and then multiply that by two."
I'd suggest an additional few stanzas to the announcement:
"Please note, by contrast, the fact that you'll be boarding simultaneously with passengers who have flown as much as 74,999 miles with us and our "Star Alliance Partners," as well as people who may have flown as many as 1,999,999 miles with United, which may be a couple hundred times more miles than you've ever flown.
That's because we value you and the maybe $150 of revenue we receive from your bank as much as we value the many tens of thousands of dollars of revenues that we could be receiving from them this year and the hundreds of thousands of dollars we've probably received from them in the past.
Please also note that if you had flown with us last year, you probably would have seen more of these people. The missing passengers are now to be found at AA and DL gates on a different concourse, making more room for your comfort. We look forward to further increasing your comfort in this fashion in 2014 and beyond, as we really need to try to replace the revenue they're now providing to AA and DL. Our crack team of MBA's have assured us that this will work.
Enjoy your flight."
Greg
Jul 22, 2013, 4:20 pm
#3035
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: ORD/IND
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Preferred, Hertz PC, Hyatt Discoverist , Marriott Titanium
Posts: 742
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).
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).
I really like how in HKG the GAs walk along the group 1 line asking for GS/GF, and politely pull them out of the line escorting them to the front.
Jul 22, 2013, 4:28 pm
#3036
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YWG
Posts: 2,272
Does Group 1 carry over across segments (even if one segment is a one-class cabin) if one is travelling in F or C?
Jul 22, 2013, 4:30 pm
#3037
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Hyatt GLOB, Marriott Lifetime PLT, UA 1K 1MM.
Posts: 1,728
was on UA 303 (the one that diverted) SAN-EWR. group 1 was called. what seemed around 100 people lined up. ugh.
Jul 22, 2013, 4:34 pm
#3038
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Sometimes. Try different methods of getting the boarding pass for the other flight (OLCI, App, airport kiosk, GA, etc.), and one of them seems likely to pop out as BG1.
Jul 22, 2013, 6:56 pm
#3039
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,595
That's because we value you and the maybe $150 of revenue we receive from your bank as much as we value the many tens of thousands of dollars of revenues that we could be receiving from them this year and the hundreds of thousands of dollars we've probably received from them in the past.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:00 am
#3040
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Boulder, CO and Waimea, HI
Programs: UAL 1K MM
Posts: 748
While waiting to board a flight, I came up with this alternative boarding annoucement, to help the BG2 people with their little tendency to try to board with BG1:
"If you have a United-branded credit card, you'll be boarding with group 2. The reason for this is that there are a lot of people who are more important than you. A lot of you think that you're one of only two or three people on the plane with any significant relationship with United, but you'll be surprised to learn that that's not true! See, before you, we'll be boarding disabled people, followed by military people -- who give their lives for this country -- followed by Global Services members -- who give us $40,000 a year -- followed by 1K's -- who fly 100,000 whole miles in a year! -- followed by Platinums -- who fly 75,000 whole miles in a year! We know that you might be confused about how many miles that is, so to help you understand, think of all the flights you've ever taken, and then multiply that by two."
"If you have a United-branded credit card, you'll be boarding with group 2. The reason for this is that there are a lot of people who are more important than you. A lot of you think that you're one of only two or three people on the plane with any significant relationship with United, but you'll be surprised to learn that that's not true! See, before you, we'll be boarding disabled people, followed by military people -- who give their lives for this country -- followed by Global Services members -- who give us $40,000 a year -- followed by 1K's -- who fly 100,000 whole miles in a year! -- followed by Platinums -- who fly 75,000 whole miles in a year! We know that you might be confused about how many miles that is, so to help you understand, think of all the flights you've ever taken, and then multiply that by two."
Jul 25, 2013, 5:58 pm
#3042
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: COS
Programs: United 1K & 1MM, IHG Plat Elite, Hyatt Gold, Marriott GE, Hertz 5*, National Exec
Posts: 270
Jul 25, 2013, 7:09 pm
#3043
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: UAL 1K, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 348
due to a job change this year, looks like i may drop to a platinum with over a 40k spend! OW...
Jul 26, 2013, 6:25 am
#3044
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Jul 27, 2013, 11:28 am
#3045
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: UAL 1K, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 348