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.
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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}
#751
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 637
I don't really see the problem with long lines for BG1, I'm frequently at the end of those long lines and I've never had a problem stowing my luggage by my seat, even when in a bulkhead.
A couple weeks ago I was boarding SFO-ORD, and asked someone at the end of the line 'Is this group 1?' and they responded with, 'of course, everyone's group 1 here' which I found rather amusing. I probably would have phrased it a bit different, adapting the Alice in Wonderland quote 'We're all mad here'
#752
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,330
1. Preboard wheelchairs, families traveling with children UNDER 2 WITH strollers or other items to be gate checked - if junior is walking themselves on board or hanging out of a pouch, they can board with their group number
2. Global Services
3. Group 1 - first/Polaris/1K only
4. Group 2 - Platinum/Star Gold/Gold
5. Group 3 - credit cards, Silver/Star Silver
6. Group 4 - coach passengers on standard economy tickets (yes, this will be a loooooong line)
7. Group 5 - basic economy
#753
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,384
1. Preboard wheelchairs, families traveling with children UNDER 2 WITH strollers or other items to be gate checked - if junior is walking themselves on board or hanging out of a pouch, they can board with their group number
2. Global Services
3. Group 1 - first/Polaris/1K only
4. Group 2 - Platinum/Star Gold/Gold
5. Group 3 - credit cards, Silver/Star Silver
6. Group 4 - coach passengers on standard economy tickets (yes, this will be a loooooong line)
7. Group 5 - basic economy
How hard does it need to be?
2. Global Services
3. Group 1 - first/Polaris/1K only
4. Group 2 - Platinum/Star Gold/Gold
5. Group 3 - credit cards, Silver/Star Silver
6. Group 4 - coach passengers on standard economy tickets (yes, this will be a loooooong line)
7. Group 5 - basic economy
How hard does it need to be?
#754
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 1,482
We've given UA so much feedback on this process, including very simple changes that would improve the experience for most customers, but United is tone-deaf on this matter. The fix is so easy and doesn't even require changing the signs they already have:
1. Preboard wheelchairs, families traveling with children UNDER 2 WITH strollers or other items to be gate checked - if junior is walking themselves on board or hanging out of a pouch, they can board with their group number
2. Global Services
3. Group 1 - first/Polaris/1K only
4. Group 2 - Platinum/Star Gold/Gold
5. Group 3 - credit cards, Silver/Star Silver
6. Group 4 - coach passengers on standard economy tickets (yes, this will be a loooooong line)
7. Group 5 - basic economy
How hard does it need to be?
1. Preboard wheelchairs, families traveling with children UNDER 2 WITH strollers or other items to be gate checked - if junior is walking themselves on board or hanging out of a pouch, they can board with their group number
2. Global Services
3. Group 1 - first/Polaris/1K only
4. Group 2 - Platinum/Star Gold/Gold
5. Group 3 - credit cards, Silver/Star Silver
6. Group 4 - coach passengers on standard economy tickets (yes, this will be a loooooong line)
7. Group 5 - basic economy
How hard does it need to be?
#755
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,756
#756
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,788
I flew out of LAX last Tuesday and we were welcomed to the test. They described what was going to happen. It worked very smoothly. Of course, I was in BG1, so I assume that it worked for the rest. To ensure it works, they have to be relentless with those who try and board early: a walk of shame.
#757
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,443
I suppose they could close the bins above rows with elites before boarding starts. That's not foolproof, as sometimes people open bins when searching for space, but most don't.
#758
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), KQ Asante Gold (ST+), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,510
Most people will open bins to fit their bags in, and no one is going to stop them.
#759
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,443
Of course it's unenforceable, but just try it on your next flight: board early and close the bin above your seat. Most people don't open the bins when they're closed. Just volunteer it if you see someone without a space so as not to be a sociopath.
#760
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,756
That will change quickly when the back of the plane boards first and the front half is empty and the bins are closed. It does not take a genius to figure out the bins are empty.
#761
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
You must be living in a different world that mine. My fellow passengers always open closed bins. Once, I closed the bin above my seat when it was fully packed. Twenty minutes later, a passenger opened it and tried to force his bag in the bin, tried to close it, couldn't so went looking for a space somewhere else. But he did manage to stain my wife's coat with his dirty bag.
#762
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
I flew EasyJet SXF-LYS and the "Speedy Plus" boarding was far beyond anything on LH intra-EU or UA except for maybe when I fly the CRJ MRY-LAX.
Apples to oranges but I'm just jubilant that I've survived the masses and live to tell this tale to you all.
Apples to oranges but I'm just jubilant that I've survived the masses and live to tell this tale to you all.
#763
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Left Coast
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM, HH Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold (UA comp)
Posts: 1,352
Airports using boarding group 1/2 as one line really irritate me. Never fails that the agent calls for group 2 prematurely and any group 1s left in line get crowded out. They should go the LAX route and do away with 3-4-5 or at least separate the 1s from 2s to avoid the inevitable boarding rage.
#764
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,334
Lining up -> air rage?
This BI Article about Delta's boarding groups alleges that
As noted here, it can engender a fierce sense of competition. I used to get anxious while waiting for my number to be called (and still do after all these years). So I suppose I'd be less anxious if I didn't see half the airport sprawled across the boarding area and beyond!
- The system was designed to make the boarding process more efficient, but it's been making some passengers more stressed out.
- When Delta puts too many people in one boarding group, it makes other passengers worried that the plane will run out of space for carry-on items before they board, and increases the odds that passengers will become hostile.
As noted here, it can engender a fierce sense of competition. I used to get anxious while waiting for my number to be called (and still do after all these years). So I suppose I'd be less anxious if I didn't see half the airport sprawled across the boarding area and beyond!
#765
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 578
Got an email saying that UA is testing cases where UA G may be invited to board in G1 for select flights. I'd imagine that they would be doing some balancing out of the premier group sizes. However, given that groups 1 and 2 are usually half the plane, I'm not sure what difference this would make as there will still be congestion in the jetway waiting for premium cabin passengers to get settled on aircraft that board through 1L.