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, 12:27 pm
#61
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
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, 12:29 pm
#62
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Heading to Costco for more popcorn...
Programs: UA 1K 2MM Flier, SPG Plt, Hilton Dia
Posts: 8,461
Feb 1, 2016, 12:32 pm
#63
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA Lifetime GS, SPG Gold
Posts: 211
Sorry, but this is just plain inane. This is addressing a PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT EXIST. FlyerTalk is a pretty good place to find out what annoys flyers. Show me a thread where the current boarding process relative to small children points to a problem. There's a thread about the boarding process in general, but the main complaint is group size, not children slowing the process. The dispersing of families within the boarding groups works.
This announcement will just open the boarding process to considerable abuse and will not change the time to board one iota. It will just annoy 95% of the passengers. Brilliant. This is just plain stupid. How does United manage to take a step forward (free food item to 1Ks) and then fill it's own pants with something as dumb as this? Seriously? You want something to address? Read FT. I really think sometimes UA is just plain clueless.
"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.
If this lapse of judgment is not rectified, we will indeed have a thread dedicated to the misguided, abused, and annoying policy. It will start day 1. I hope UA Insider takes the comments on this thread to re-assess. I will have much more faith in UA's current judgment if the idea is withdrawn.
This announcement will just open the boarding process to considerable abuse and will not change the time to board one iota. It will just annoy 95% of the passengers. Brilliant. This is just plain stupid. How does United manage to take a step forward (free food item to 1Ks) and then fill it's own pants with something as dumb as this? Seriously? You want something to address? Read FT. I really think sometimes UA is just plain clueless.
"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.
If this lapse of judgment is not rectified, we will indeed have a thread dedicated to the misguided, abused, and annoying policy. It will start day 1. I hope UA Insider takes the comments on this thread to re-assess. I will have much more faith in UA's current judgment if the idea is withdrawn.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:34 pm
#64
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Houston and Dubai
Programs: United GS, Emirates iO (Invitation Only)
Posts: 67
I really hope UA Insider is listening to all of this negative feedback. Delaying the boarding of your most frequent and loyal customers so that families who take so long to board and get settled in is mind boggling to me.
Reminds me of flying DEL-FRA in LH F once and after all F pax were escorted to gate from lounge, we had to stand in the (cold) jet bridge for a good 15 minutes as I kid you not, probably 30 families boarded before us. Some of their kids were at least 6/7 years old. The last thing I want to do at 3am is stand in a cold jetway.
UA can make this right by making the boarding process what Baze said in his post. That seems like the best option.
Last edited by Houstonflyer2139; Feb 1, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Feb 1, 2016, 12:35 pm
#65
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: KEWR
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, National Exec, GE/Nexus
Posts: 501
Change "families with small children" to "families with children under the age of 2", and maybe I can accept.
I would very much prefer the verbiage to say, "families with children will board last to help expedite boarding for all other customers."
I would very much prefer the verbiage to say, "families with children will board last to help expedite boarding for all other customers."
Feb 1, 2016, 12:40 pm
#66
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
I have no status, but I understand why those who do would find this annoying. Good chance for families to grab seats that don't belong to them and clog up the bins with too many bags.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:42 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 63
Horrible decision. Do you know how many families with 'small children' fly e.g. EWR-DEL/BOM and vice versa? It's half the bloody plane. By the time all these otherwise Group 5 families board, there will be no overhead space for even Group 2. Completely inane move.
Feb 1, 2016, 12:44 pm
#68
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
I would be curious to see the stats on frequency of pax under 2, with disabilities, or uniformed military. I know this depends on route. Very, very few flights do I see military and maybe only 1/10 do I, as a GS, ever get caught up behind a person with a disability. This often has to do with timing...allowing enough PRE-boarding timing for the disabled person to get settled. I rarely notice families with infants but maybe that's because I'm not stuck behind them in the jetway and seated mostly in F.
If this change is truly rolled out, make sure it is PRE-boarding--not the de facto group 1. Like 10 minutes before scheduled boarding (when possible of course). That way hardly anyone will notice a difference in actual logistics, aside from some bruised egos.
(but I agree with all, that if families with children of all ages start to abuse this, it will be a clusterF)
If this change is truly rolled out, make sure it is PRE-boarding--not the de facto group 1. Like 10 minutes before scheduled boarding (when possible of course). That way hardly anyone will notice a difference in actual logistics, aside from some bruised egos.
(but I agree with all, that if families with children of all ages start to abuse this, it will be a clusterF)
Feb 1, 2016, 12:44 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,519
I'll be a contrarian here and say this is a positive change.
A modicum of enforcement to say it should be limited to families traveling with lap children or children in car seats would help mitigate the jumpers (but I don't even see that as absolutely necessary).
A modicum of enforcement to say it should be limited to families traveling with lap children or children in car seats would help mitigate the jumpers (but I don't even see that as absolutely necessary).
Feb 1, 2016, 12:49 pm
#70
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
I guess all of his changes couldn't be couldn't be top tier friendly... I also don't like this idea at all because enforcement will no doubt be spotty.. and when flying out of tourist destinations where there are 100 kids on the plane it'll be fortunate to be in the top half when in first class.
Last edited by goalie; Feb 1, 2016 at 1:35 pm Reason: off topic comment removed
Feb 1, 2016, 12:49 pm
#71
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS, AA Gold
Posts: 6
All passengers seated in F board with Group 1 and always have.
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.
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, 12:52 pm
#72
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS, AA Gold
Posts: 6
I would be curious to see the stats on frequency of pax under 2, with disabilities, or uniformed military. I know this depends on route. Very, very few flights do I see military and maybe only 1/10 do I, as a GS, ever get caught up behind a person with a disability. This often has to do with timing...allowing enough PRE-boarding timing for the disabled person to get settled. I rarely notice families with infants but maybe that's because I'm not stuck behind them in the jetway and seated mostly in F.
If this change is truly rolled out, make sure it is PRE-boarding--not the de facto group 1. Like 10 minutes before scheduled boarding (when possible of course). That way hardly anyone will notice a difference in actual logistics, aside from some bruised egos.
(but I agree with all, that if families with children of all ages start to abuse this, it will be a clusterF)
If this change is truly rolled out, make sure it is PRE-boarding--not the de facto group 1. Like 10 minutes before scheduled boarding (when possible of course). That way hardly anyone will notice a difference in actual logistics, aside from some bruised egos.
(but I agree with all, that if families with children of all ages start to abuse this, it will be a clusterF)
Feb 1, 2016, 1:00 pm
#73
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
And as to these folks "grabbing your seat" come on. Were it to happen, the FAs will make them move.
Feb 1, 2016, 1:04 pm
#74
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Midwest
Programs: Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 261
This is not a change I like. Pttthhhh
Feb 1, 2016, 1:11 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K and MM
Posts: 174
Okay if there is some enforcement/limits and not a free for all
As someone with no small children but who also appreciated early boarding when I travelled with my mother who used a wheelchair to go long distances and needed time to get in her seat, with me carrying my carry-ons and hers and maneuvering a wheelchair down the ramp, I don't think its not unreasonable to give a couple or a single parent or couple traveling with a small child time to board before the rest of the passengers.
I just hope that there are specific limitations that will be announced about who can board with the small child (I guess it has to be parents and all minors) and how small the child has to be (24 months? stroller child??).
I have seen myself abuse of early boarding privileges often (eg. where on an EWR-HNL flight, a purportedly disabled (but seemingly ablebodied late 50s grandmother got to have her 12 relatives board with her, including teenagers and adults headed to a family reunion). Also I have on other airlines pre-boarding by parents with a 10 year old kid that was clearly not the "small children" that the courtesy was intended for.
But if the rule is correctly enforced to only help those who genuinely need extra time, this is not going to delay anyone's boarding by more than a couple minutes, if at all, and would be much better for those struggling to cope with a baby in arms, carryons diaper bags, and possibly other small children, so I guess we shall see how this plays out. As with many rules, how it is applied is often the determinant of whether it achieves its purpose.
I just hope that there are specific limitations that will be announced about who can board with the small child (I guess it has to be parents and all minors) and how small the child has to be (24 months? stroller child??).
I have seen myself abuse of early boarding privileges often (eg. where on an EWR-HNL flight, a purportedly disabled (but seemingly ablebodied late 50s grandmother got to have her 12 relatives board with her, including teenagers and adults headed to a family reunion). Also I have on other airlines pre-boarding by parents with a 10 year old kid that was clearly not the "small children" that the courtesy was intended for.
But if the rule is correctly enforced to only help those who genuinely need extra time, this is not going to delay anyone's boarding by more than a couple minutes, if at all, and would be much better for those struggling to cope with a baby in arms, carryons diaper bags, and possibly other small children, so I guess we shall see how this plays out. As with many rules, how it is applied is often the determinant of whether it achieves its purpose.