View Poll Results: Is the change to early boarding for families w/children 2 or under a good move by UA?
Like the change and it will improve boarding time
72
9.68%
Like the change but it will not improve boarding time
67
9.01%
Dislike the change but it will improve boarding time
16
2.15%
Dislike the change and it will not improve boarding time
454
61.02%
Could support a different change and it will improve boarding time
23
3.09%
Could support a different change but it will not improve boarding time
22
2.96%
Neutral but it will improve boarding times
15
2.02%
Neutral but it will not improve boarding times
75
10.08%
Voters: 744. You may not vote on this poll
Reintroducing Early Boarding for Families with Children
Feb 1, 2016, 12:09 pm
#46
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,613
"Resuming pre-boarding for families with infants should provide a smoother process for everyone." - this is just plain false. I hope everybody enjoys watching the abuse, lack of enforcement, the extra time GAs have to dedicate to another boarding group, waiting for the families to get to the gate. clogged boarding ramp as all the families take their time getting settled (instead of being dispersed). UA has no clue relative to process.
Paid F, GS, and group 1 should board before everyone else. Including military in uniform.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:09 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
I'm not a fan of this. Flew British Airways recently (F, MIA-LHR) and probably 40 or so people boarded 'with children' - of all ages. F was held back (and J, obviously). Lots of irritated premium class travelers.
Last edited by seanp7; Feb 1, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Feb 1, 2016, 12:11 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
Feb 1, 2016, 12:13 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS, AA Gold
Posts: 6
UA Insider, how about this:
The new boarding process will be, in order: People with disabilities, active-duty members of the military in uniform, Global Services/1K, and families with small children, followed by boarding groups 1-5.
Since the GS & 1K gets free meals in economy, it would be great to extend the early boarding to 1K too.
The new boarding process will be, in order: People with disabilities, active-duty members of the military in uniform, Global Services/1K, and families with small children, followed by boarding groups 1-5.
Since the GS & 1K gets free meals in economy, it would be great to extend the early boarding to 1K too.
I can accept the families with small children thing, but having to board with the 1K riff-raff would be over the top.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:14 pm
#50
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Ex-MSP
Programs: UA: Plat, Marriott: Annual Ambassador, Lifetime Grandfather
Posts: 293
Group 1: People with disabilities
Group 2: Active-duty members of the military in uniform
Group 3: Families with small children
Group 4: Global Services
Group 5: Group 1
Group 6: Group 2
Group 7: Group 3
Group 8: Group 4
Group 9: Group 5
FIFY.
Last edited by mvitale; Feb 1, 2016 at 12:14 pm Reason: rm errant :
Feb 1, 2016, 12:16 pm
#51
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
Would it be better if they modified the WN system where passengers who need extra time have to go to the ticket counter and receive a "pre-boarding authorization sleeve"?
For example, a family with strollers and other assorted items (like car seats) that need to be tagged with a "claim at gate" tag, should have that done at the ticket counter and the agents there should hand them a document that they need to show at the gate to identify themselves as needing pre-boarding, then the GA can quickly locate them and have them board.
For example, a family with strollers and other assorted items (like car seats) that need to be tagged with a "claim at gate" tag, should have that done at the ticket counter and the agents there should hand them a document that they need to show at the gate to identify themselves as needing pre-boarding, then the GA can quickly locate them and have them board.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:16 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K since 1998 & 3 Million Miler & ex-GS; DL Diamond 2015-2022; BAEC Silver; Bonvoy LT Titanium
Posts: 1,018
This is how Delta boards, and it works. Boarding is done quickly and efficiently. 20 minutes to fully board a 763 or an A330 (or any other aircraft) can be done and is done on DL.
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...-priority.html
However, this same process does not seem likely to work for UA...!
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...-priority.html
However, this same process does not seem likely to work for UA...!
Feb 1, 2016, 12:17 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,510
I couldn't care less as long as they stop referring to early boarding as "pre-boarding".
This policy change should have never been announced on FT. They should have simply implemented it and watched to see how much time elapsed before anyone noticed.
This policy change should have never been announced on FT. They should have simply implemented it and watched to see how much time elapsed before anyone noticed.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:17 pm
#54
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: New York
Programs: EK Plat, UA GS, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Amex Centurion
Posts: 514
The new boarding process will be, in order:
Group 1: People with disabilities
Group 2: Active-duty members of the military in uniform
Group 3: Families with small children
Group 4: Global Services
Group 5: Group 1
Group 6: Group 2
Group 7: Group 3
Group 8: Group 4
Group 9: Group 5
FIFY.
Group 1: People with disabilities
Group 2: Active-duty members of the military in uniform
Group 3: Families with small children
Group 4: Global Services
Group 5: Group 1
Group 6: Group 2
Group 7: Group 3
Group 8: Group 4
Group 9: Group 5
FIFY.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:21 pm
#55
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
This thread isn't going to be pretty.
The simplest solution is to let First Class board after those with disabilities and before these families (and Group 1). The number of folks in First Class is capped, so you don't get the Group 1 swarm we see today. Something DL gets right...
The simplest solution is to let First Class board after those with disabilities and before these families (and Group 1). The number of folks in First Class is capped, so you don't get the Group 1 swarm we see today. Something DL gets right...
Feb 1, 2016, 12:23 pm
#56
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
There would have been an uproar on FT on day one. And the criticism would have been even worse because of the failure of UA Insider to at least post a heads up on FT.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:23 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
I find all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about this change amusing. Chase credit card customers value group 2 boarding for essentially one reason only: the ability to find space for a carry-on bag, which doesn't begin to run out until groups 4 and 5. They won't mind if a few families make it on before them.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:24 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Customers and employees pointed to the boarding process, just as many of you have, as an area where they wanted to see improvements; many shared that the boarding process for all customers would be smoother if we could accommodate families with infants earlier, as they often need more time to board.
) I have watched this play out on UA 
and on DL/VX/AS. ^ Letting those with strollers and little kids speeds things up and is "flyer friendly" so count me as positive to this change. I'm also please to see UA do something that some spreadsheet jock probably claimed would cost UA $1.97/flight in lost "elite access" revenue. Now, if you can just get rid of the horrible 5 rows of signs (which make UA the cattle car airline) and go back to two lanes and just calling out the numbers (perhaps throw in a red rug?
) and even perhaps the old window, middle, isle seat defining the group, things will get more back to normal.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:25 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
True, that sucks. But whether they're there before you or after, you're still going to be stuck with two of them.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:26 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
...
As a result, look for early boarding for families with children aged two and under beginning Monday, February 15, 2016. The new boarding process will be, in order: People with disabilities, active-duty members of the military in uniform, families with small children, and Global Services, followed by boarding groups 1-5.
As a result, look for early boarding for families with children aged two and under beginning Monday, February 15, 2016. The new boarding process will be, in order: People with disabilities, active-duty members of the military in uniform, families with small children, and Global Services, followed by boarding groups 1-5.
Agree with others, this is a change for the worse. I really thought UA was stepping it up.
First thing, GS should be before the families. What's the point of boarding us first if we're gonna be stuck waiting behind families?
it makes no sense to board those who can board the quickest after those who board the slowest.
I feel bad for those in group 1 too. Making them wait longer to board.
First thing, GS should be before the families. What's the point of boarding us first if we're gonna be stuck waiting behind families?
it makes no sense to board those who can board the quickest after those who board the slowest.
I feel bad for those in group 1 too. Making them wait longer to board.
