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.
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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}
Feb 10, 2018, 9:33 am
#781
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
So, essentially a group 0 now? With anything larger than the small airbusses, where will these people stand? Groups 1 and 2 already crowd the podium right before boarding.
Yeah, sorry UA, that plane has already departed. We've conditioned everyone to rush on to the plane for OH space, and there's no going back now.
So, more groups?
I thought it used to be group 3 was window, 4 was middle, 5 was aisle. 5 is now BE. So, more groups? Plus, does BE still board last, or are they going to mix them in with other groups? If not, then I don't see how this is more efficient.
Overall, I'm pessimistic this new process will result in any improvements.
If I had my way, the changes I'd make would include:
Yeah, sorry UA, that plane has already departed. We've conditioned everyone to rush on to the plane for OH space, and there's no going back now.
So, more groups?
I thought it used to be group 3 was window, 4 was middle, 5 was aisle. 5 is now BE. So, more groups? Plus, does BE still board last, or are they going to mix them in with other groups? If not, then I don't see how this is more efficient.
Overall, I'm pessimistic this new process will result in any improvements.
If I had my way, the changes I'd make would include:
- For single-aisle flights where the L1 door is used for all boarding (i.e., where everyone turns right), F should be boarded last. PDB service makes boarding much worse, and how many times does each aisle F passenger get hit with a stray shoulder or bag anyway? Put an FA in the last row of F during Y boarding, with the OH bins in F closed, and the FA can just tell everyone 'nope, can't put your bag there', and bin space for F passengers will be fine. The efficiency improvements would probably allow PDB service at the end of boarding, and they'd have time to get service items after the safety demo.
- GS pre-board, 1K and F group 1 (unless F boards last), Plat/Gold/Silver group 2, CC and Premier Access group 3, then whatever you want afterward. On some flights group 2 is so large it's silly. And the elitist in me wants CC holders to wait until after all elites have boarded (there, I said it). Generally, the 25 segments a year silver flyer boards more efficiently than the 4 segments a year CC holder anyway.
Feb 10, 2018, 10:20 am
#783
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 1,482
Really? UA fliers never had that level until the Continental merger. Most airlines survive well with out a 75k level.
Feb 10, 2018, 11:59 am
#784
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
BIG +1 on this. While it is not a big issue for me, pretty much every flight I see some older couple flying F who are confused and upset that they are in a line behind 50+ people to board a narrow body jet.
Feb 10, 2018, 12:22 pm
#785
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
Sorry if us lowly Plats are soiling the BG1 lines for a GS. Come to think of it, I never understand why a GS would complain about the size of any boarding line. They should wait "upfront" to the side and board when GS is called. Basically a GS doesn't have to wait in line due to their status!!!
Feb 10, 2018, 12:26 pm
#786
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Is removing Platinum from the first group really going to affect this? I had formed the impression there aren't that many Platinum status flyers, particularly not ones who fly in Y, which is what Boarding Group '1' will become. It will be interesting to find out.
Feb 10, 2018, 12:32 pm
#787
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
Great point. I missed that 1K would go with F. In my opinion, F should board first, before anyone else. Putting F behind Military, GS, families with children and 1K seems odd to me. I do not care, but have you not seen those older couples who fly F who are confused as to why they are in a line of 50+ people?
Feb 10, 2018, 12:48 pm
#788
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Great point. I missed that 1K would go with F. In my opinion, F should board first, before anyone else. Putting F behind Military, GS, families with children and 1K seems odd to me. I do not care, but have you not seen those older couples who fly F who are confused as to why they are in a line of 50+ people?
Feb 10, 2018, 12:58 pm
#789
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: 66,861
Feb 10, 2018, 2:32 pm
#790
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Right but theres got to be a higher percentage of Plats around than 1K or even GS. And assuming many of the 1K's got bumped into FC anyways thats got to be a big chunk removed from Group 0.
Feb 10, 2018, 2:36 pm
#791
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: 66,861
There are more Plats but 1Ks likely travel more frequently -- I doubt seperating Plat will reduce the group by 50% -- some reduction. Just a new BG 0.5. --- might make the premium cabin folks feel a tiny bit more special.
Feb 11, 2018, 1:33 am
#793
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Just teleport everyone into their seats and their bags into the overhead bins. Have PDBs magically appear in your hand at will. Problem solved?
Feb 11, 2018, 4:39 am
#794
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
I've now experienced the two-lane thing several times at LAX. It doesn't work well. The space for lining up is too small and congested, especially at the far end of T7 where there is not enough room for even two lanes, let alone five. 77B is particularly cramped.
(1) You arrive at the back of a huge line for Group 1. You discover that it's actually people in BG 3 and 4, waiting to get into the BG1 or 2 line. You have to fight your way through to the actual BG1 people.
(2) Pre-boarding starts. When BG1 moves forward, they are held up on the jetbridge (in one case for more than 10 minutes) while people in wheelchairs are boarded. I still maintain that those people should be boarded last, when they can then take all the time they need. Allocate them special rows to make this easier. The difficulty in maneuvering empty wheelchairs back along the narrow jetbridge when the bridge is already full of BG1 pax should make this a no-brainer.
(3) On board surveys are being handed out on these flights. The replies they are getting are pretty fruity! People all around are laughing with each other about how useless this boarding process is.
(1) You arrive at the back of a huge line for Group 1. You discover that it's actually people in BG 3 and 4, waiting to get into the BG1 or 2 line. You have to fight your way through to the actual BG1 people.
(2) Pre-boarding starts. When BG1 moves forward, they are held up on the jetbridge (in one case for more than 10 minutes) while people in wheelchairs are boarded. I still maintain that those people should be boarded last, when they can then take all the time they need. Allocate them special rows to make this easier. The difficulty in maneuvering empty wheelchairs back along the narrow jetbridge when the bridge is already full of BG1 pax should make this a no-brainer.
(3) On board surveys are being handed out on these flights. The replies they are getting are pretty fruity! People all around are laughing with each other about how useless this boarding process is.
Feb 11, 2018, 5:11 am
#795
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,626
I've now experienced the two-lane thing several times at LAX. It doesn't work well. The space for lining up is too small and congested, especially at the far end of T7 where there is not enough room for even two lanes, let alone five. 77B is particularly cramped.
(1) You arrive at the back of a huge line for Group 1. You discover that it's actually people in BG 3 and 4, waiting to get into the BG1 or 2 line. You have to fight your way through to the actual BG1 people.
(2) Pre-boarding starts. When BG1 moves forward, they are held up on the jetbridge (in one case for more than 10 minutes) while people in wheelchairs are boarded. I still maintain that those people should be boarded last, when they can then take all the time they need. Allocate them special rows to make this easier. The difficulty in maneuvering empty wheelchairs back along the narrow jetbridge when the bridge is already full of BG1 pax should make this a no-brainer.
(3) On board surveys are being handed out on these flights. The replies they are getting are pretty fruity! People all around are laughing with each other about how useless this boarding process is.
(1) You arrive at the back of a huge line for Group 1. You discover that it's actually people in BG 3 and 4, waiting to get into the BG1 or 2 line. You have to fight your way through to the actual BG1 people.
(2) Pre-boarding starts. When BG1 moves forward, they are held up on the jetbridge (in one case for more than 10 minutes) while people in wheelchairs are boarded. I still maintain that those people should be boarded last, when they can then take all the time they need. Allocate them special rows to make this easier. The difficulty in maneuvering empty wheelchairs back along the narrow jetbridge when the bridge is already full of BG1 pax should make this a no-brainer.
(3) On board surveys are being handed out on these flights. The replies they are getting are pretty fruity! People all around are laughing with each other about how useless this boarding process is.
Before they started charging for bags, people brought less on to the plane. When you add to this, the increased seating capacity that wasn't matched by increased bin capacity, you have the perfect storm of today's boarding CF. Before the merger, I was NEVER a gate lice. I stayed in the RCC as long as I could. Now, even when I've bought paid domestic F, I'm near the front so that I am assured storage space for my carry on. The only time I'm not worried is when I'm on long haul business, because that's the only cabin that still has adequate overhead bin space.
