jkkyle

I have the explorer card and booked a recent work trip through the company Concur booking site and pay with AMEX as required. Always received boarding group 2 in the past as my FF # is linked with my company profile in Concur. This time I was given boarding group 3. Has the program changed or was this a system error?

mbflyflyaway

Ah, but clearly my gate agent wouldn't have let you board since she thinks it's no longer a benefit.

As an aside, when using my phone to board, the agents really never see the boarding group anyway. Even with a paper boarding pass, if they don't actually look at it, seems they don't really know and just trust the system. Always been a pet peeve of mine, them not enforcing the boarding order.

MattR23

Lately, I've noticed that the boarding pass scanner and computer are checking for boarding group number and will alert the gate agent with an alarm when someone tries to board before their group is called. It was discussed in another thread (which I can't find right now). I noticed it kick into action at CLE a couple weeks ago when the passengers ahead of me tried to board earlier than they were supposed to. They were turned away by the gate agent.

Starblazer

That's probably why the gate program was modified to enforce boarding groups.

The recent issue with Group 2 and Chase cardmembers is known. They are working on it. There is a bulletin in the Customer service detailing the procedure for agents to reference. Now, getting some of them to find it is the next issue.....

johnden

Wow, UA is taking rule enforcement seriously!

As an aside, once while boarding group 5 was boarding, I waited in the boarding group 3 lane. The agent called me forward, scanned my pass, then told me I had to wait, I wasn't in group 3. I replied that I was in group 1, got scolded for being in the group 3 line, and was allowed to board!

kettle1

Perhaps the GA needs to use common sense.

mbflyflyaway

Indeed, on my return flight last night, I tried to board with group 2 even though I was once again given group 3. Sure enough, an alarm went off and briefly the scanner said something to the effect of "customer must wait for boarding group" - however it seemed they were having issues with the process anyway so the agent let me on (I don't think he saw the message). I had my card out and showed it anyway. It will likely affect me again this week, however should finally have silver status after that so it won't matter anymore.

rittenhousesq

This will finally be an issue for me since I will sadly lose my remaining elite status with UA next year. I actually flew quite a lot of BIS miles this past year, but most of my long haul flights were on LH and TG, so I won't satisfy the spending threshold.
I have a legacy Chase MileagePlus Awards card and I recently got an email reminding me of the benefits of this card, including priority boarding. Regarding the discussed bug of Chase card holders not getting boarding group 2: Can anyone state from experience whether it made any difference if they purchased their ticket using their Chase card?

On a side note, it is really sad to see my relationship with UA end, as I have had either Silver or Gold status for many years. My first time in an airplane was in UA first class, flying PHL-LAX-OGG back in the early 1980s. What a wonderful experience that was!

hookthem

Yes, that is the OP's main complaint in this thread. If you don't book the flight with your MP card, you will not receive the benefits. It has been like this for a while and I don't think it will change any time soon!

JonasCLT

How much are you spending on your MP Visa? You could have qualified for the exception to the PQD threshold if you spent enough on your credit card and still earn status next year.

rittenhousesq

I understand that. My question was does it matter if I use the card for my ticket; in other words are there instances of people purchasing a ticket with their Chase card and still not getting the zone 2 boarding?

To the other poster asking about the Chase spending exception - not even close on that card. Most of my spending goes on my Amex.

worldwidetraveler

If wife books our tickets on united.com using her Master Card (not a Chase card), will we both board in Group 2 since I have the Chase Mileage Plus Explorer Visa Card?

IADFlyer123

If you dont have status and are using a different card, then no. If you have status (Platinum) and using a different card, then sure. The boarding group 2 is a benefit of the MP Explorer card only if it is used to pay for the ticket and/or fees (in case of an award ticket)

IAH-OIL-TRASH

If neither of you have status, the boarding passes won't show BG2, they'll show BG 3, 4, or 5.

mgcsinc

Are we sure? I thought that, unlike baggage, the boarding privilege remains unrelated to use of the card, in reality?