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, 5:13 pm
#121
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
I remember making 1K for the first time about a decade ago. Finally I get to get out of the boarding area and into my seat sooner than later. Then El Jeffe and GS (supposedly an invisible elite group) comes out of the woodwork and puts 1K down a notch. Then uniformed Military personnel were moved in front of me. Now families with small children. What next, anxious passengers or those on prescribed medications? My thoughts--F, GS, 1K-- short break for small children families, then
1-2-3-4-5. I totally get the persons with disabilities going first. Let me on the damn plane, will you? I have to do this 50-100 times a year. I don't need more time in line.
Let's assume the pre boarding of this new group takes 3-5 minutes. Do the math. That's 4-8 more hours per year I waste standing in line versus being in the comfort of my paid seat. (Rant Over).
1-2-3-4-5. I totally get the persons with disabilities going first. Let me on the damn plane, will you? I have to do this 50-100 times a year. I don't need more time in line.
Let's assume the pre boarding of this new group takes 3-5 minutes. Do the math. That's 4-8 more hours per year I waste standing in line versus being in the comfort of my paid seat. (Rant Over).
What happened to the new boarding system they were testing at ORD? Looks like they took down the screens when I was there yesterday.
Feb 1, 2016, 5:17 pm
#122
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Delta Silver. Former AA gold. UA MP and DL Plat AMEX cardholder
Posts: 1,254
IIRC, didn't they have families with small children and disabled before GS/1K back in 2012 and retracted it quickly when there was an outcry from elites? Or am I confusing this with something else?
Feb 1, 2016, 5:19 pm
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
I remember making 1K for the first time about a decade ago. Finally I get to get out of the boarding area and into my seat sooner than later. Then El Jeffe and GS (supposedly an invisible elite group) comes out of the woodwork and puts 1K down a notch. Then uniformed Military personnel were moved in front of me. Now families with small children. What next, anxious passengers or those on prescribed medications? My thoughts--F, GS, 1K-- short break for small children families, then
1-2-3-4-5. I totally get the persons with disabilities going first. Let me on the damn plane, will you? I have to do this 50-100 times a year. I don't need more time in line.
Let's assume the pre boarding of this new group takes 3-5 minutes. Do the math. That's 4-8 more hours per year I waste standing in line versus being in the comfort of my paid seat. (Rant Over).
1-2-3-4-5. I totally get the persons with disabilities going first. Let me on the damn plane, will you? I have to do this 50-100 times a year. I don't need more time in line.
Let's assume the pre boarding of this new group takes 3-5 minutes. Do the math. That's 4-8 more hours per year I waste standing in line versus being in the comfort of my paid seat. (Rant Over).
Feb 1, 2016, 5:24 pm
#124
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SIN
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Hilton Honors
Posts: 38
I support this move. It is not easy trying to carry your own carry-ons, infant's stuff and the infant itself while waiting for a person in front blocking the aisle area (choosing where to load bags, chit chatting etc) to get to your seat.
Other airlines have done it for years but mostly let their top tier elite or premium classes pass thru first.
Other airlines have done it for years but mostly let their top tier elite or premium classes pass thru first.
Feb 1, 2016, 5:26 pm
#125
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA -GS 4.5 MM, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 116
Disenfranching frequent flyers once again
Hi everyone,
As we committed last fall, we have been looking closely at every aspect of our customers’ travel experience to see where we can improve and eliminate points of stress. 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.
All of us have experienced being the customer in the jet bridge tending to an infant, a diaper bag and a stroller – or to being the person in line to board behind that customer. Resuming pre-boarding for families with infants should provide a smoother process for everyone.
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.
Thank you,
-UA Insider
As we committed last fall, we have been looking closely at every aspect of our customers’ travel experience to see where we can improve and eliminate points of stress. 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.
All of us have experienced being the customer in the jet bridge tending to an infant, a diaper bag and a stroller – or to being the person in line to board behind that customer. Resuming pre-boarding for families with infants should provide a smoother process for everyone.
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.
Thank you,
-UA Insider
Feb 1, 2016, 5:26 pm
#126
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
I get the folks who only fly UA and pmCO, and who don't know that boarding can actually work, for them anything is a take away. But what I don't understand is the angst from some folks here who fly OALs, and in particular Delta, which does early boarding and where boarding in general (two lines, like pmUA) goes well. Perhaps you put this over United's current dysfunctional SW style "line up" boarding style and it does not work, but I see this as a small change, that removes a major issue for a few people, hopefully helps speed things up at the margins, and perhaps is a precursor to totally redoing the boarding process.
p.s. and my "major issue" is that I often see P.O.ed people upset about this posting on UA's facebook page, and have heard people get into it with GA as in "well every other airline lets me." Being the airline that hates on people with kids is sort of like being the airline that breaks guitars. Its un-American! And I'm happy to see them remove a potential PR issue at some point.
Feb 1, 2016, 5:28 pm
#127
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: 6,318
I agree with most of the posters here: this is a SPECTACULARLY BAD IDEA.
It was only a few years ago that I was boarding with 3 tiny kids. So I can say from experience: the last thing you want is to have the kids on the plane for an extra hour.
If they pre-board, it's usually at least 90 minutes before they will be allowed to get up. That's bad for them and bad for everyone around them. Kids should board last, not first.
It was only a few years ago that I was boarding with 3 tiny kids. So I can say from experience: the last thing you want is to have the kids on the plane for an extra hour.
If they pre-board, it's usually at least 90 minutes before they will be allowed to get up. That's bad for them and bad for everyone around them. Kids should board last, not first.
There are several reasons for it but it all comes down to one thing - the lack of consistent enforcement and process by UA and a severe lack of gate personnel. It starts at the top (management) with a grand pronouncement of a program, but then little actual operational details are shared with employees that are understaffed, who then decide to "enforce" the program with little consistency, and we end up with the UA cluster of today....
Over the last few weeks I've been all over the middle east and APAC flying UA and other carriers and I noticed that although they also allow families with infants to board first they do it differently than UA does - they do it properly! They escort the elderly and families down to the plane (at least on SQ and NH where I was actually there to see it) - and then they come back and start boarding (I actually saw on NH employee almost running back up the jetbridge to begin boarding). They also probably make sure they take their assigned seats as well. Finally, they also seem to have a lot more folks to help out with boarding - and since obviously UA doesn't have enough people at the gate to do this new process properly perhaps they shouldn't try it at all...
Feb 1, 2016, 5:32 pm
#128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
Oh great. They have like a million carryons. There goes all the bin space.
Feb 1, 2016, 5:47 pm
#129
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SAN
Posts: 148
Also, I suggest send feedback to 1k/gs voices or post at united air time on this....
so UA might re-consider this?
so UA might re-consider this?
Feb 1, 2016, 5:54 pm
#130
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAB
Programs: DL PM UA PSilver Marriott Lifetime Plat, AMEX Platinum, Avis PC, UA MPPPlus
Posts: 961
This is unfortunate news for anyone who flys in or out of MCO.
Feb 1, 2016, 6:16 pm
#131
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
Not to mention every kettle with a kid under 5 will try to pass them off as a 2 year old in order to board first.
I wonder why UA would make a supposedly flyer-friendly change that caters to kettles and leaves their bread and butter FF's hanging.
Feb 1, 2016, 6:18 pm
#132
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,752
i would expect a more significant revamp of the boarding process at some point this year; hopefully feedback from this thread is considered.
Feb 1, 2016, 6:24 pm
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
As a parent of small children I get where they are coming from. Children have a tough time waiting in lines and it's probably better for everyone to have them settled quickly. However this creates another problem in that familes (like disabled people) can often take a long long time to board, particularly those with <2 who have gate-checked strollers, etc.
The best option would be to have everyone who needs extra time board last but that would not really resolve the problem as elites with families would board normally and the delays would simply be spread out through the current process (as is currently the case).
Alas there does not appear to be a solution that optimizes every objective (fast boarding, elite carry-on priority, family needs). As UA is already boarding disabled passengers first, so the families might as well maximize efficiency of the same time (in fact should probably board first).
The solution is to copy WN and limit each underage child to 1 parent, though this may be counterproductive with babies, etc. where it's more efficient for one parent to hold the infant while the other folds up the stroller...
I tend to agree (and would add 1Ks), except that the GS and 1Ks are often a significant contingent @ hubs, which would then defeat the purpose. I've often seen 20 GS and 60 1Ks boarding popular routes @SFO.
^ ^ ^ Bingo, we have a winner.
Families with children <2 tend to check suitcases and do not bring large carryons as a general matter, because their hands are full with diaper bags, activity & food bags, etc. plus strollers.
The real problem, as noted above, is more with families that have 1 infant and many older children.
The best option would be to have everyone who needs extra time board last but that would not really resolve the problem as elites with families would board normally and the delays would simply be spread out through the current process (as is currently the case).
Alas there does not appear to be a solution that optimizes every objective (fast boarding, elite carry-on priority, family needs). As UA is already boarding disabled passengers first, so the families might as well maximize efficiency of the same time (in fact should probably board first).
The solution is to copy WN and limit each underage child to 1 parent, though this may be counterproductive with babies, etc. where it's more efficient for one parent to hold the infant while the other folds up the stroller...
Families with children <2 tend to check suitcases and do not bring large carryons as a general matter, because their hands are full with diaper bags, activity & food bags, etc. plus strollers.
The real problem, as noted above, is more with families that have 1 infant and many older children.
Feb 1, 2016, 6:28 pm
#134
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
60 1K's, what did you do, request to see everyone's boarding passes to make sure they are 1K? The only thing you could potentially tell from the boarding process is if they were GS. 1K's are mixed into a very large group 1, which includes plats and F. In that case, I could believe 60 in group 1, but there is no way to break out exactly 60 1Ks unless you get access to UA system to verify passengers or ask to see boarding passes.
Feb 1, 2016, 6:33 pm
#135
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
If the rule for is enforced, then I don't see a big issue. Of course, it never is enforced and we'll see the litany of family boarding with children of all kinds.
If this happens, I'll just avoid UA. Not worth paying to fly F with them.
If this happens, I'll just avoid UA. Not worth paying to fly F with them.