Jan 19, 2017, 11:05 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Source: United Boarding Process
We encourage you to make yourself comfortable while you wait for your group to be called, and we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to board. Late arriving customers in Groups 1 and 2 are welcome to continue boarding through the blue lane at any time.
* Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, except for Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
================================================== ==============================
Pre Sept 2018 process
Pre-Boarding
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, with the exception of Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
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)
Previous thread: United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [Revised, May 2013]
New changes (effective 18 Sept 2018)
You will see some new boarding lane signs in the gate area that will guide you through the boarding process. There will now be two lanes that are color coded : to begin, Group 1 will board through the blue lane and Group 2 will board through the green lane. The remaining Groups 3-5 will then board through the green lane when called, and Groups 1 and 2 can continue to board through the blue lane .We encourage you to make yourself comfortable while you wait for your group to be called, and we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to board. Late arriving customers in Groups 1 and 2 are welcome to continue boarding through the blue lane at any time.
Boarding groups
Pre-boarding
- Unaccompanied minors
- Customers with disabilities
- Active members of the military
- United Global Services® members
- Families traveling with children age 2 and younger
- Premier® 1K® members
Group 1
- Premier Platinum members
- Premier Gold members
- Star Alliance™ Gold members
- Customers seated in premium cabins: United Polaris®, United First® and United Business®
Group 2
- Premier Silver members
- Star Alliance Silver members
- Customers who have purchased Premier Access® or Priority Boarding
- United℠ Explorer, Club, Presidential Plus℠ and Awards Cardmembers
Groups 3 – 5
- Economy Plus®
- United Economy®
- Basic Economy*
* Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, except for Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
Pre Sept 2018 process
Pre-Boarding
- Unaccompanied minors
- Customers with disabilities
- Uniformed members of the U.S. military
- Families traveling with children age two and younger
- United Global Services® members
- Group 1: Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, Business/Polaris Business, and First/Polaris First.
- Group 2: Premier Gold, Star Gold, Premier Silver, Star Silver, MileagePlus Presidential Plus, Club, Explorer and Awards, purchased Premier Access
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
- Group 3 - Window Seats
- Group 4 - Middle & Aisle Seats (Aisle Seats on UA Express)
- Group 5 - Basic Economy
Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, with the exception of Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
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)
Previous thread: United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [Revised, May 2013]
United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [2016-forward]{Archive}
Jan 9, 2019, 5:02 pm
#2341
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 949
1K boarding emphasized in Oscar's re-qualification letter.
Should have busted it out for the LHR passport dragon
.
Should have busted it out for the LHR passport dragon
.
Jan 9, 2019, 9:35 pm
#2342
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Jan 10, 2019, 7:52 am
#2343
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 255
I'm pleasantly surprised that so far, generally speaking the gate agents have been doing the boarding process correctly. It's a bit silly though when you have flights with 50+ people preboarding. But at least the procedure is being followed.
My only recent negative 1K boarding experience was at BRU where we needed to preboard with disability. All the preboards went forward at once and no attempt was made to control the chaos. It also didn't help that they had a huge cordoned off area with a sign indicating the preboard area entrance, which we stood right in front of, and then the mass of preboards went through somewhere else.
My only recent negative 1K boarding experience was at BRU where we needed to preboard with disability. All the preboards went forward at once and no attempt was made to control the chaos. It also didn't help that they had a huge cordoned off area with a sign indicating the preboard area entrance, which we stood right in front of, and then the mass of preboards went through somewhere else.
Jan 10, 2019, 8:42 am
#2344
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 49
Has anyone flown BE TATL and paid for a seat and been put in a board group other than 5? BEs normally board in group 5, but UA BE FAQs say:
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Asked an agent on the phone, but she was clueless.
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Asked an agent on the phone, but she was clueless.
Jan 10, 2019, 9:10 am
#2345
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Jan 10, 2019, 9:13 am
#2346
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
Boarding both in FRA and ORD last Monday 1K and GS were called together. (Although maybe they knew there were no GS’s?)
Jan 10, 2019, 11:53 am
#2347
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Has anyone flown BE TATL and paid for a seat and been put in a board group other than 5? BEs normally board in group 5, but UA BE FAQs say:
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Asked an agent on the phone, but she was clueless.
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Asked an agent on the phone, but she was clueless.
Jan 10, 2019, 1:16 pm
#2348
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 49
@WineCountry--I am afraid that the FAQ does not answer my question. Having a UA-branded CC will help you jump the queue for domestic BE boarding. My query relates to what happens if you purchase a seat for TATL BE, even if you don't have a UA CC or other special status.
Does anyone else have any actual experience with this? Thanks.
Does anyone else have any actual experience with this? Thanks.
Jan 10, 2019, 4:10 pm
#2349
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BOS+SFO+SIN
Programs: UA GS 2MM+, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, & Hertz PC
Posts: 113
Boarding SFO to BOS redeye last night, all was orderly until close to boarding and GA noted all pre-board folks including disability, GS, 1-K should move to near gate 87 sign. Everyone rushed forward and created a mass cluster, blocking the blind fellow trying to make his way through. GS ended up in back as well.
Felt bad the GA didn't correct it and help him through...
Felt bad the GA didn't correct it and help him through...
Jan 10, 2019, 8:14 pm
#2350
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Right in the middle of a busy flight schedule and really appreciate the new boarding process. No need to line up in Group 1 any longer. One of the few benefits
I thoroughly enjoy as a 1K. Let's see how long it lasts.
I thoroughly enjoy as a 1K. Let's see how long it lasts.
Jan 10, 2019, 11:27 pm
#2351
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
@WineCountry--I am afraid that the FAQ does not answer my question. Having a UA-branded CC will help you jump the queue for domestic BE boarding. My query relates to what happens if you purchase a seat for TATL BE, even if you don't have a UA CC or other special status.
Does anyone else have any actual experience with this? Thanks.
Does anyone else have any actual experience with this? Thanks.
UA states this in a number places, you quoted one earlier and there is
Last boarding group
With Basic Economy, you'll also be in the last boarding group unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member
With Basic Economy, you'll also be in the last boarding group unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member
Jan 11, 2019, 8:33 am
#2352
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
I think OP is asking about TATL BE.
Jan 11, 2019, 8:52 am
#2353
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: KEWR
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, National Exec, GE/Nexus
Posts: 501
Seems the United BE FAQ leaves to interpretation:
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Jan 11, 2019, 5:39 pm
#2354
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Seems the United BE FAQ leaves to interpretation:
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Q: If I purchase a seat assignment, which boarding group will I be in?
A: On trans-Atlantic flights, your boarding group will vary.
On all other flights, all customers with a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group unless they’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
Jan 11, 2019, 5:49 pm
#2355
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
If you read the multiple places where this is discussed, there is little doubt in my mind. UA has unified the domestic and TATL BE and maybe the wording is ambiguous in one place but the net is clear -- BG5 unless you are an elite or credit card holder with Premier Access. for all BE. And yes it will vary if you are an elite or credit card holder with Premier Access. That fits all the various phasings.
Anyway, I have not flown a TATL BE fare so I have no personal knowledge to contribute here.