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}
Mar 24, 2016, 5:37 pm
#62
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So are they going to start carding infants whose parents want to preboard? 
Mar 24, 2016, 6:51 pm
#63
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TOPIC CHECK
Let's leave the discussing of the differences between the numbers 3, 4 5 and other numbers greater than 5 in the gate area please
goalie
UA Forum Co-Moderator
Let's leave the discussing of the differences between the numbers 3, 4 5 and other numbers greater than 5 in the gate area please
goalie
UA Forum Co-Moderator
Mar 25, 2016, 10:12 am
#64
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As 110pgl indicated, yes.
Thus, someone who is 2.5 years old would qualify to board early if the rule is "2 and under."
Someone who is 2.5 years old would not qualify to board early if the rule is "under 2."
There is absolutely no possibility of confusion here.
Thus, someone who is 2.5 years old would qualify to board early if the rule is "2 and under."
Someone who is 2.5 years old would not qualify to board early if the rule is "under 2."
There is absolutely no possibility of confusion here.
Mar 25, 2016, 10:21 am
#65
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I feel like Grover, Cookie Monster and the Count should be involved somehow.
Greg
Mar 25, 2016, 10:23 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,088
I've heard Gate agents state it both ways: some say "children under two years old" and some say "children two and under." A child 2.5 years does not qualify under the first scenario. I do not know what UAs official policy is.
I've heard parents claim "but he's a very SMALL three year old!!
If the child's seat is between, or next to his parent(s) why is it necessary to preboard? It's not like on Southwest where they'd be fighting for a seat together.
I thought they were changing the policy to allow families with small children to board AFTER Groups 2 and 3?
I've heard parents claim "but he's a very SMALL three year old!!
If the child's seat is between, or next to his parent(s) why is it necessary to preboard? It's not like on Southwest where they'd be fighting for a seat together.
I thought they were changing the policy to allow families with small children to board AFTER Groups 2 and 3?
Mar 26, 2016, 8:37 pm
#67
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Ugh just experienced the new boarding. In F on a CRJ-700, really quite irritating standing there for ages while FOUR earlier groups are invited to board (extra time/military/endless families w kids/GS). Were no mil or GS, but still a long wait after calling each -- like the scene from meet the parents. 
Mar 26, 2016, 8:43 pm
#68
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Ugh just experienced the new boarding. In F on a CRJ-700, really quite irritating standing there for ages while FOUR earlier groups are invited to board (extra time/military/endless families w kids/GS). Were no mil or GS, but still a long wait after calling each -- like the scene from meet the parents.
Yesterday at LAS they announced under 2.
Mar 26, 2016, 9:32 pm
#69
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Mar 27, 2016, 8:35 am
#70
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And therein lies the problem - if you actually buy a first class seat it isn't too much to simply expect to be treated like a first class passenger. Not elitism - just reflects what you purchased. UA should allow revenue first passengers to board at their leisure any time once boarding has started at all. (Excepting probably disabled boarding where they need space to maneuver wheelchairs etc.
Mar 27, 2016, 8:43 am
#71
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And therein lies the problem - if you actually buy a first class seat it isn't too much to simply expect to be treated like a first class passenger. Not elitism - just reflects what you purchased. UA should allow revenue first passengers to board at their leisure any time once boarding has started at all. (Excepting probably disabled boarding where they need space to maneuver wheelchairs etc.
Mar 27, 2016, 8:49 am
#72
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Who should be boarding with their zone assignment in the first place, not receiving priority treatment ahead of true priority passengers.
Mar 27, 2016, 9:09 am
#73
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Two lanes. One for elites. One for all else.
- No announcement, but people with wheelchairs are boarded, as well as anyone who has declared at checkin they need assistance. (Does not include small kids)
- First announcement, Military in uniform (almost always none) & GS
- Second announcement, First Class
- Further announcements... Group 1 (1k/Plat/Business Class), Group 2 (Gold/CC), 3 (Silver/Econ+), 4, etc.
No need for pre-boarding kids or others. They will do just fine and do not slow the line. (AA already does this and it is a lot smother, quicker and IMHO better program.)
Overall this works to reward UA's most important customers. Those that bought First, or upgraded to first are arguably the VIPs for the flight. You could even just announce "First Class, Uniformed military and GS" as the first group. If they are not in First Class, they will have plenty of space in the back and be among the first to board.
And on my wish list...
- Come to the boarding scanner before your group, go to the back of the line for your group.
- Have an ESA, board last. (We don't want to upset your delicate nature by sitting on the plane longer than you need to! )
Mar 27, 2016, 9:21 am
#74
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Every flight I've been on or observed with the two lane method was a complete cluster - a massive mob of people the GAs wouldn't or couldn't control, line jumping, pushing/shoving, etc.
No thanks....keep the chutes and people physically separated and out of the way...the issue is who should be in which chute.
The chutes are the smartest thing UA introduced to the boarding process.
No thanks....keep the chutes and people physically separated and out of the way...the issue is who should be in which chute.
The chutes are the smartest thing UA introduced to the boarding process.
Mar 27, 2016, 9:50 am
#75
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Every flight I've been on or observed with the two lane method was a complete cluster - a massive mob of people the GAs wouldn't or couldn't control, line jumping, pushing/shoving, etc.
No thanks....keep the chutes and people physically separated and out of the way...the issue is who should be in which chute.
The chutes are the smartest thing UA introduced to the boarding process.
No thanks....keep the chutes and people physically separated and out of the way...the issue is who should be in which chute.
The chutes are the smartest thing UA introduced to the boarding process.
AA uses that approach and it works fine for them too.