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]
Oct 11, 2015, 2:59 pm
#4741
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: IND
Programs: HH Diamond, Emerald Club Exec Elite, Air-Kayaker (former United MP)
Posts: 189
Beat me to the punch...
makes no sense to me, but I'm willing to see it in a way i have not considered...they already have my $$ for the first seat, and frankly i don't trust the subsequent refund will happen easily without me having to go thru a bunch of nonsense to get it.
Oct 11, 2015, 6:15 pm
#4742
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
Boarding Group 2 continues out of control
I realize this has been discussed many times, but I think this was worth sharing.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
At EWR this morning for EWR-SFO UA 1178. I took this picture when I got to the gate one hour before flight departure. There were 19 people already in line for BG 2. Note that there is no one in any of the other boarding lanes. And this was a 753, which means 24 FC seats + (non FC) 1K’s + Plats in BG1. Ten minutes later, when scheduled boarding began, there were around 30 in BG2, more than any of the other lanes.
If balancing the loads between BG’s was the plan, it’s not working.
I’m fine with GS, then FC/GF+Biz+1K+Plat boarding first, but it’s time to break out BG2 into Gold+Silver first, then credit cards and any other purchased priority.
[IMG]
[/IMG]At EWR this morning for EWR-SFO UA 1178. I took this picture when I got to the gate one hour before flight departure. There were 19 people already in line for BG 2. Note that there is no one in any of the other boarding lanes. And this was a 753, which means 24 FC seats + (non FC) 1K’s + Plats in BG1. Ten minutes later, when scheduled boarding began, there were around 30 in BG2, more than any of the other lanes.
If balancing the loads between BG’s was the plan, it’s not working.
I’m fine with GS, then FC/GF+Biz+1K+Plat boarding first, but it’s time to break out BG2 into Gold+Silver first, then credit cards and any other purchased priority.
Oct 11, 2015, 6:16 pm
#4743
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,329
... At EWR this morning for EWR-SFO UA 1178. I took this picture when I got to the gate one hour before flight departure. There were 19 people already in line for BG 2. Note that there is no one in any of the other boarding lanes. And this was a 753, which means 24 FC seats + (non FC) 1K’s + Plats in BG1. Ten minutes later, when scheduled boarding began, there were around 30 in BG2, more than any of the other lanes. ...
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 11, 2015 at 8:07 pm Reason: No need to quote large image
Oct 11, 2015, 6:22 pm
#4744
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,208
balancing loads was never the intent. (nor should it be)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 11, 2015 at 8:06 pm Reason: No need to quote large image
Oct 11, 2015, 6:23 pm
#4745
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
LOL. Great picture to sum up what I see every time I'm on the road. G1, in my experience, never seems to be the issue (for most, not all, flights) but G2 on the other hand...
My favorite is when this scene takes place at an airport like SAN with a combined 1-2 lane and none of the 2's want to get out of line. Then when they go to board you have to weave in and out of everyone to get up to the door.
I don't really mind the boarding process other then those combined lanes, which are disasters. RJ flights are one thing, but mainline at a place like SAN, a few IAH C gates, or certain ORD gates (the high end of C) is a cluster.
My favorite is when this scene takes place at an airport like SAN with a combined 1-2 lane and none of the 2's want to get out of line. Then when they go to board you have to weave in and out of everyone to get up to the door.
I don't really mind the boarding process other then those combined lanes, which are disasters. RJ flights are one thing, but mainline at a place like SAN, a few IAH C gates, or certain ORD gates (the high end of C) is a cluster.
Oct 11, 2015, 6:27 pm
#4746
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
LOL. Great picture to sum up what I see every time I'm on the road. G1, in my experience, never seems to be the issue (for most, not all, flights) but G2 on the other hand...
My favorite is when this scene takes place at an airport like SAN with a combined 1-2 lane and none of the 2's want to get out of line. Then when they go to board you have to weave in and out of everyone to get up to the door.
I don't really mind the boarding process other then those combined lanes, which are disasters. RJ flights are one thing, but mainline at a place like SAN, a few IAH C gates, or certain ORD gates (the high end of C) is a cluster.
My favorite is when this scene takes place at an airport like SAN with a combined 1-2 lane and none of the 2's want to get out of line. Then when they go to board you have to weave in and out of everyone to get up to the door.
I don't really mind the boarding process other then those combined lanes, which are disasters. RJ flights are one thing, but mainline at a place like SAN, a few IAH C gates, or certain ORD gates (the high end of C) is a cluster.
Oct 11, 2015, 6:33 pm
#4747
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Understandable from an SF point of view. Being in Florida now, G1 is definitely lighter then what I was used to. G2 still has elites but plenty of the 1-2x/year travelers with their CC that want to make sure they get their boarding benefit, but the majority of the plane definitely still appears to be G3-5. Compared to my typical CLE-ORD every week I used to be on (when half the plane is G1-2), it's kind of refreshing!
Oct 11, 2015, 6:50 pm
#4748
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 187
At EWR this morning for EWR-SFO UA 1178. I took this picture when I got to the gate one hour before flight departure. There were 19 people already in line for BG 2. Note that there is no one in any of the other boarding lanes. And this was a 753, which means 24 FC seats + (non FC) 1K’s + Plats in BG1. Ten minutes later, when scheduled boarding began, there were around 30 in BG2, more than any of the other lanes.
If balancing the loads between BG’s was the plan, it’s not working.
I’m fine with GS, then FC/GF+Biz+1K+Plat boarding first, but it’s time to break out BG2 into Gold+Silver first, then credit cards and any other purchased priority.
Group II is better then III,IV;V but a real dis for Platinums.
Oct 11, 2015, 7:08 pm
#4749
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,652
On my BZN-DEN flight yesterday, when we boarded, there was only one open regular sized bin left in F, and only two seats occupied at that point. We had a large contingent of pre-boards on that flight, and some of them clearly dropped their luggage off on their way to their seats.
Oct 11, 2015, 8:31 pm
#4750
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO/HKG
Programs: ex-UA 1K, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 535
Oct 11, 2015, 10:37 pm
#4751
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
Why so many GS flying to/from MFR
I've been amazed the last few months that every time I board as a GS between SFO and MFR, several people get on with me. It's a little hard to believe that 3 or 4 out of 45 passengers on a plane to Podunk are all GS.
After asking a bit, it appears that there are a bunch of people who think that because the sign says "Group 1" right below Global Services that they are the same thing. The GAs in SFO occasionally stop these folks. The ones in MFR never do.
After asking a bit, it appears that there are a bunch of people who think that because the sign says "Group 1" right below Global Services that they are the same thing. The GAs in SFO occasionally stop these folks. The ones in MFR never do.
Oct 12, 2015, 6:51 am
#4752
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,178
If you were boarding a 319 and the GS was sitting in F, he/she might have been in a hurry to claim the limited overhead space in that cabin.
On my BZN-DEN flight yesterday, when we boarded, there was only one open regular sized bin left in F, and only two seats occupied at that point. We had a large contingent of pre-boards on that flight, and some of them clearly dropped their luggage off on their way to their seats.
On my BZN-DEN flight yesterday, when we boarded, there was only one open regular sized bin left in F, and only two seats occupied at that point. We had a large contingent of pre-boards on that flight, and some of them clearly dropped their luggage off on their way to their seats.
Although I only use the bins when I'm in a bulkhead or traveling with high-value demo gear (2-3x per year) I really appreciate those FAs that look out for the cabin...
Oct 12, 2015, 7:09 am
#4753
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Marriott Titanium and LTP, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 786
I realize this has been discussed many times, but I think this was worth sharing.
[IMG][/IMG]
At EWR this morning for EWR-SFO UA 1178. I took this picture when I got to the gate one hour before flight departure. There were 19 people already in line for BG 2. Note that there is no one in any of the other boarding lanes. And this was a 753, which means 24 FC seats + (non FC) 1K’s + Plats in BG1. Ten minutes later, when scheduled boarding began, there were around 30 in BG2, more than any of the other lanes.
If balancing the loads between BG’s was the plan, it’s not working.
I’m fine with GS, then FC/GF+Biz+1K+Plat boarding first, but it’s time to break out BG2 into Gold+Silver first, then credit cards and any other purchased priority.
[IMG]
[/IMG]At EWR this morning for EWR-SFO UA 1178. I took this picture when I got to the gate one hour before flight departure. There were 19 people already in line for BG 2. Note that there is no one in any of the other boarding lanes. And this was a 753, which means 24 FC seats + (non FC) 1K’s + Plats in BG1. Ten minutes later, when scheduled boarding began, there were around 30 in BG2, more than any of the other lanes.
If balancing the loads between BG’s was the plan, it’s not working.
I’m fine with GS, then FC/GF+Biz+1K+Plat boarding first, but it’s time to break out BG2 into Gold+Silver first, then credit cards and any other purchased priority.
Oct 12, 2015, 5:31 pm
#4755
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: UAL 1K MM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 871
Boarding Group does change with seat change...
This was weird -- never had this happen to me before. Is this normal?
...I was assigned an E+ (paid) seat which, at the time of booking was the last one left on a window and boarding group 3. About 20-30 mins before boarding, I kept an eye on the seat list to look for an aisle to open up. Sure enough, as soon as one did I had the GA switch me to the aisle seat...
GA switched me to the new seat no problem, then when my BP refreshed in the app, I also noticed my boarding group had changed to group 5.
I had never seen a seat change in the same cabin section result in a Boarding Group change...I don.t really care, but just thought it was odd and curious why that would happen.
...I was assigned an E+ (paid) seat which, at the time of booking was the last one left on a window and boarding group 3. About 20-30 mins before boarding, I kept an eye on the seat list to look for an aisle to open up. Sure enough, as soon as one did I had the GA switch me to the aisle seat...
GA switched me to the new seat no problem, then when my BP refreshed in the app, I also noticed my boarding group had changed to group 5.
I had never seen a seat change in the same cabin section result in a Boarding Group change...I don.t really care, but just thought it was odd and curious why that would happen.