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}
Feb 21, 2018, 1:59 pm
#871
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
I just got an email about the new boarding process for my LAX-SIN flight tomorrow night. Will be interested to see how it works
Feb 21, 2018, 9:56 pm
#872
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,195
What do you mean they skipped BG1? Was there an outcry from BG1/Plats? Did they have to cut in front of BG2s? Did the GA correct themselves?
The fact it happened twice at different stations makes me think they programmed the computer wrong. Either that or Plats got lumped into another group (1K or BG2)
The fact it happened twice at different stations makes me think they programmed the computer wrong. Either that or Plats got lumped into another group (1K or BG2)
Feb 27, 2018, 11:14 am
#873
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Silicon Valley
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K, 2MM, LT RCC
Posts: 203
{I}s it Uniformed Military Personnel or Military Personnel. Seems anybody could take advantage of the latter.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 27, 2018 at 3:52 pm Reason: Moved to exisiting thread and delted unneeded comment
Feb 27, 2018, 1:30 pm
#874
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Let's not punish our military for having to follow their orders and not be in uniform. They've certaintly done enough for us. I don't care if they're in uniform, not in uniform, PJs, or even a hawaiian shirt. They're still military.
#stillcalm
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 27, 2018 at 3:52 pm Reason: quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
Feb 27, 2018, 1:57 pm
#875
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
No. Some military members aren't supposed to be in Uniform at the airport. Why penalize them? If you walk-up without uniform and flash your ID, they'll let you board.
Let's not punish our military for having to follow their orders and not be in uniform. They've certaintly done enough for us. I don't care if they're in uniform, not in uniform, PJs, or even a hawaiian shirt. They're still military.
#stillcalm
Let's not punish our military for having to follow their orders and not be in uniform. They've certaintly done enough for us. I don't care if they're in uniform, not in uniform, PJs, or even a hawaiian shirt. They're still military.
#stillcalm
Feb 27, 2018, 4:17 pm
#877
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,071
I'm flying out of LAX tomorrow to EWR and received the email about the new trial boarding process. The email indicates fewer people in boarding groups as well as a window-middle-aisle boarding sequence.
When I checked in I was in economy and as a Platinum my boarding pass indicated Group 1. I was waitlisted for an upgrade and with 10 open seats (that never happens!) they upgraded the 3 people on the waitlist shortly after checking in. My boarding pass still shows Group 1 but with a Business seat.
So I have no idea whether they will pre-board Business and 1K passengers before Platinums in Group 1 or not. Will be interesting to see. I hope they don't because as a Platinum I obviously am not a fan of that change (though I realize that would have me boarding ahead of 1Ks tomorrow).
When I checked in I was in economy and as a Platinum my boarding pass indicated Group 1. I was waitlisted for an upgrade and with 10 open seats (that never happens!) they upgraded the 3 people on the waitlist shortly after checking in. My boarding pass still shows Group 1 but with a Business seat.
So I have no idea whether they will pre-board Business and 1K passengers before Platinums in Group 1 or not. Will be interesting to see. I hope they don't because as a Platinum I obviously am not a fan of that change (though I realize that would have me boarding ahead of 1Ks tomorrow).
Feb 27, 2018, 5:18 pm
#878
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,807
So I have no idea whether they will pre-board Business and 1K passengers before Platinums in Group 1 or not. Will be interesting to see. I hope they don't because as a Platinum I obviously am not a fan of that change (though I realize that would have me boarding ahead of 1Ks tomorrow).
Feb 28, 2018, 3:04 pm
#879
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,071
I just watched 2 flights board at LAX while awaiting my delayed flight. One was to Newark and the other Houston. Both boarded in the “normal” order using only 2 boarding lanes. Preboards were disabled, military, GS and children 2 and under, the last 2 reversed from the norm. Groups 2-5 boarded in the lane on the right. Group 1 was on the left. Seating is minimal so the idea of uncalled groups sitting while waiting is laughable.
Feb 28, 2018, 4:34 pm
#880
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 641
Correct me if I'm wrong, but before the introduction of BE, wasn't it Group 3: window, Group 4: middle, Group 5: aisle? So how is window-middle-aisle boarding new?
Feb 28, 2018, 5:31 pm
#881
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,644
They probably put middles and aisles together in 4, since the majority of middles (the schmucks who bought BE) will be boarding in Group 5.
Feb 28, 2018, 6:42 pm
#882
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
I just watched 2 flights board at LAX while awaiting my delayed flight. One was to Newark and the other Houston. Both boarded in the “normal” order using only 2 boarding lanes. Preboards were disabled, military, GS and children 2 and under, the last 2 reversed from the norm. Groups 2-5 boarded in the lane on the right. Group 1 was on the left.
Feb 28, 2018, 9:21 pm
#883
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Lane 1 is left open after BG1 has boarded. And is there for your convenience should you arrive late from a connection.
Feb 28, 2018, 9:24 pm
#884
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
I just watched 2 flights board at LAX while awaiting my delayed flight. One was to Newark and the other Houston. Both boarded in the “normal” order using only 2 boarding lanes. Preboards were disabled, military, GS and children 2 and under, the last 2 reversed from the norm. Groups 2-5 boarded in the lane on the right. Group 1 was on the left. Seating is minimal so the idea of uncalled groups sitting while waiting is laughable.
Feb 28, 2018, 10:33 pm
#885
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,071