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}
Sep 17, 2018, 10:55 am
#1111
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SNA
Programs: UA LT Plat, 2.5mm, Hilton LTD, SPG LT Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Whatever
Posts: 161
Two out of four flights last week. SNA being one of them.
Sep 17, 2018, 11:09 am
#1112
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: DFW from PDX - UA 1K 2MM,Lifetime HHonnors Diamond, Bonvoy AMB/LT Tit, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 554
Hmmm
I have not seen it yet. Last week I boarded in DFW, MSP, ORD, DTW, and IAH. Just boarded again in DFW and it was the same.
Sep 17, 2018, 11:27 am
#1113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
What are the odds that the current UA goes back to the old UA boarding process after all is said and done?
David
p.s. When do the "gate lice" threads restart?
David
p.s. When do the "gate lice" threads restart?
Sep 17, 2018, 11:27 am
#1114
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,883
1K here and my BPs still say Group 1. I was a bit shocked when I saw the huge BG1 line this morning at PDX (now I know why). There was no separate call for 1Ks.
In SFO now and not sure what am I supposed to do...get in th BG 1 line and push my way to the front IF they decide to call 1Ks first? I wonder if they’ll make a prior announcement, otherwise I’m guessing it’ll be a real cluster F!
In SFO now and not sure what am I supposed to do...get in th BG 1 line and push my way to the front IF they decide to call 1Ks first? I wonder if they’ll make a prior announcement, otherwise I’m guessing it’ll be a real cluster F!
Sep 17, 2018, 11:36 am
#1115
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,321
Didn't see this at YYZ or DEN in the last 5 days.
I'm still in the camp that thinks First Class should be ahead of 1K (and I'm 1K!).
I'm still in the camp that thinks First Class should be ahead of 1K (and I'm 1K!).
Sep 17, 2018, 11:37 am
#1116
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Paradise
Posts: 1,617
I actually wonder if it would be smart to board FC last. Have FC passengers remain comfortably seated in the terminal and close and monitor the FC overhead bins. Then FC can walk on, get settled and get a PDB with no interruption due to passengers in the cabin walking to economy.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 17, 2018 at 8:56 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Sep 17, 2018, 11:44 am
#1117
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,883
I actually wonder if it would be smart to board FC last. Have FC passengers remain comfortably seated in the terminal and close and monitor the FC overhead bins. Then FC can walk on, get settled and get a PDB with no interruption due to passengers in the cabin walking to economy.
But now with the fight for bin space I don’t see how it would work
Sep 17, 2018, 11:58 am
#1118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,016
Sep 17, 2018, 12:26 pm
#1119
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Just WOW. Out of the big 3, only United punishes their premium cabin passengers. Just got the Amex Platinum card which gives me Delta Lounge Access for myself and all of my authorized users. Maybe its time to start flying Delta in their premium cabin. I've been a United apologist/fanboy on here for a while now but seriously I think I'm done. I'm so "EXCITED" now that I paid for Polaris for my upcoming trip. 
Sep 17, 2018, 12:26 pm
#1120
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,535
It's unpopular to say it, but once again, the folk who take longest to board and hold everyone else up while they're doing it — people with disabiities and those with small children — should board last, when they can take all the time they need without blocking the jetbridge and aisle(s) of the plane.
Although nothing like flying in/out of MCO where 90% of the plane would meet the above requirements (LOL).
Sep 17, 2018, 12:35 pm
#1121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
It's unpopular to say it, but once again, the folk who take longest to board and hold everyone else up while they're doing it — people with disabiities and those with small children — should board last, when they can take all the time they need without blocking the jetbridge and aisle(s) of the plane.
Sep 17, 2018, 12:47 pm
#1122
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
As someone said upthread, if they enforced the carry-on for everyone, then this would be a total non-event.
Sep 17, 2018, 12:51 pm
#1123
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: UA 1K, National Executive Elite, Marriott Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 65
Well I'm glad I'm making 1K at the end of November this year for the first time. BG1 is by far my most used and valued perk of Plat.
Sep 17, 2018, 12:57 pm
#1124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Sep 17, 2018, 1:04 pm
#1125
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
AA makes more sense - just go to 9+ groups and face the wrath of telling plats and golds that they're now Group 4 or 5.