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}
#631
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Watched it first hand as this woman decided to push another person in a wheelchair to the gate that she didn't even know.
#632
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,250
1) People boarding as disabled, but showing no obvious disability
2) People with Navy ship caps (either from long-ago service or a visit to the gift shop on the Enterprise carrier in SD).
3) People with children clearly older than 2
4) People with "support" animals that bark
I can accept that some of these might actually be legit. But it's hard to believe all of this increase is legit.
#633
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
In the last year, I've seen a huge uptick in:
1) People boarding as disabled, but showing no obvious disability
2) People with Navy ship caps (either from long-ago service or a visit to the gift shop on the Enterprise carrier in SD).
3) People with children clearly older than 2
4) People with "support" animals that bark
I can accept that some of these might actually be legit. But it's hard to believe all of this increase is legit.
1) People boarding as disabled, but showing no obvious disability
2) People with Navy ship caps (either from long-ago service or a visit to the gift shop on the Enterprise carrier in SD).
3) People with children clearly older than 2
4) People with "support" animals that bark
I can accept that some of these might actually be legit. But it's hard to believe all of this increase is legit.
#634
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 50
GA in EWR yesterday tried hard, but ultimately failed. She made the standard announcements, and immediately about 30 people charged the gate. There was an Indian family of about 10- an older woman in a wheelchair with 9 capable family members. She actually tried to ask them if one person could board with the wheelchair member and the others wait until their group was called, but there was "possibly" a language barrier and they all just barreled through. I say possibly because on board two of the family members were conversing with the FA perfectly fine.
Anyway, after this occurs, many people who are unfamiliar with the boarding process began moving towards the gate. Several small families. She stopped them, and they a few began arguing and pulling the "United has horrible customer service!" card. Several of us tried to explain that they were the ones in the wrong, but once that train starts moving it's impossible to stop. She sighed, and since everyone was blocking the path to the jetway she took the path of least resistance- she scanned them in and sent them on the plane. I actually couldn't blame her.
Anyway, after this occurs, many people who are unfamiliar with the boarding process began moving towards the gate. Several small families. She stopped them, and they a few began arguing and pulling the "United has horrible customer service!" card. Several of us tried to explain that they were the ones in the wrong, but once that train starts moving it's impossible to stop. She sighed, and since everyone was blocking the path to the jetway she took the path of least resistance- she scanned them in and sent them on the plane. I actually couldn't blame her.
#635
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 1,482
Had a great experience at HNL Friday night. A bunch of clearly fake "extra timer" charged the gate one Asian couple even pushing a woman in the wheelchair aside.
But the GAs paid back. They made everyone of that mob put their bags in the sizer. Non fit and they were all sent to another GA to check the bags.
Then the 2 wheelchair passengers, the lonely GS (me) and a handful of Navy service men were boarded peacefully
But the GAs paid back. They made everyone of that mob put their bags in the sizer. Non fit and they were all sent to another GA to check the bags.
Then the 2 wheelchair passengers, the lonely GS (me) and a handful of Navy service men were boarded peacefully
#636
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
United's Boarding Process Not So Terrible After My Swiss Flights
Just got back from a 4 segment flight on Swiss in J from LAX - CPH and back. At LAX boarding was organized but at Zurich and CPH, it was chaos. No one lined up for anything. Think big mob of people pushing around others lingering around waiting to board plus multiple self formed lines trying to merge into the single line. This was the case for both J and Y boarding lines.
As many of you know, I've complained about United's boarding process over the years, but after my boarding experience with Swiss, I will say United's process seems more organized and civilized vs the utter chaos that I went through. Another fellow American traveling to LAX agreed with my assessment. Even Southwest, with their numbered position boarding system is much less chaotic than what I experienced over the last 2 weeks.
As many of you know, I've complained about United's boarding process over the years, but after my boarding experience with Swiss, I will say United's process seems more organized and civilized vs the utter chaos that I went through. Another fellow American traveling to LAX agreed with my assessment. Even Southwest, with their numbered position boarding system is much less chaotic than what I experienced over the last 2 weeks.
#637
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,938
Just got back from ZRH/DME, LX boarding was by priority/travel class
No issues on my flights.
No issues on my flights.
#638
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,588
Even for First Class, ZRH is notoriously bad and one of the reasons I try to avoid.
First Class Boarding at ZRH, no doubt similar to what you experienced.
First Class Boarding at ZRH, no doubt similar to what you experienced.
#639
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
That looks EXACTLY like [what] I am talking about. It made we long for the Group 1 line
Last edited by l etoile; Jun 3, 2017 at 4:29 pm Reason: edited for language - word in [] substituted by moderator
#640
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
First world problems
#641
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Same here, oftentimes on UX flights I am the only one in BG1. These outstations also usually only have one boarding lane that they call people through. As a result, sometimes the GA rushes through and is calling BG2 immediately after BG1 so even though I'm standing at the ready to board BG2 bum rushes the line and I end up in the middle of BG2......
First world problems
First world problems
#642
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,296
Not sure whether this is where it comes from in ABQ, but while I was sitting at YUL by the 80s gates last Monday (flight delayed forever, but 30 min at a time), I repeatedly heard the "under 6" call from a different airline - Delta, perhaps? If the GAs are contract employees and work multiple airlines' flights, they may decide it's easiest to use the most generous call rather than checking to be sure they are using the right one for the airline of the moment.
It is not just baggage fees that result in lots of carry-ons. It's the whole baggage check and baggage claim experience which consumes a lot of time and can result in lost luggage. I wouldn't have to pay baggage fees at all on United but I use a carry-on on all flights except international ones. Checking bags can add more than 30 minutes to the trip.
You've pretty much summed my thoughts up exactly.
It adds time. There's a risk for loss and damage. etc.
But it is not only UA. Earlier yesterday morning flew Alaska Fairbanks to Seattle. They called for disabled, a man and a wife go up, he is using a cane and noticeably hobbling. I think nothing of it. Get on the plane and get to my exit row aisle seat and guess who is in the window and middle seat? The man with the cane and his wife. cane was no where to be seen and he got up to go to the bathroom a couple times with no hobble at all. First, the GA should have stopped them from being in the exit row when they pre-boarded with a disability, hobble and cane. And second, the gaul of some people just to get to board earlier. And I have seen this same behavior and results on UA flights in the past.
My first flight with it was UA SFO-YYC, in F.
I thought I'd take advantage of the pre-boarding (probably only saved me 30 seconds, but whatever), as I was definitely moving more slowly.
Well, guess what... the shallow decline of the jet bridge was the hardest thing I had to navigate the entire time I used the cane. On board, it went in the overhead bin, and did not come out until we were at the arrival gate. Without the cane, I walked a little slowly, but it appeared normal. If I'd had a tight connection, I easily could have gone back to my normal pace without the cane, making it appear as if I was a scammer. I didn't need it to walk, I needed it to heal faster.
I boarded four more flights while I had that cane, and the jet bridge (during boarding, not deplaning) was always the hardest thing to do. So I'd definitely appear to be hobbling slowly onto the plane, then walking normally on board, and reasonably quickly (though with the cane) on arrival.
I have a friend who needs to wear leg braces. He checked them on one trip, because going through a metal detector is unpleasant with them on, and he didn't travel enough to know to put them in his carry-on. He's a tough guy. He'll suffer through the pain, and you'd never know he has any issue. But I don't think we were far off from requesting a wheelchair.
I have a family member who can walk fine (for reasonably short distances, like curb to gate), but can't stand for long periods. She always takes pre-boarding to ensure she's not stuck standing on the jet bridge.
Not all disabilities are visible. Not every young kid with a can who can walk fine on board is faking it.
If you're the only one in group 1, but there are 20 people in group 2, it makes a huge difference to bin space, especially on 50 seat aircraft (been there, asked the GA, and she said "there aren't many people in zone 1").
The only time they should be combined is if there aren't many people in group 2. Adding a couple people to a large group 1 doesn't negatively impact them much. Combining two small groups doesn't negatively impact anyone much.
Shoving your lone 1K into a group of 20 credit card holders has a large negative impact.
#643
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Washington DC and Denver CO
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy Titanium/LT Gold
Posts: 379
As an aside.. "Gate Lice" notwithstanding - can someone please explain to me why United thinks it's logical to always place BG1/BG2 directly in front of the boarding door, whereas 3-4-5 is off to the side?? Wouldn't the opposite make more sense?
Every time an incoming is delayed, the GA has to tell everyone who ostensibly doesn't check the flight status (another pet peeve) to clear out of BG1 and 2.
How about this United - don't put the first to board in front of the door everyone deplanes from??? It makes no sense.
Additionally, what's an the airserv wheelchair folks consistently lining up and filling up BG1 these days. At IAD or DEN, whenever I get to the gate, BG1 is full of waiting wheelchairs "parked" with nobody present around them.
Every time an incoming is delayed, the GA has to tell everyone who ostensibly doesn't check the flight status (another pet peeve) to clear out of BG1 and 2.
How about this United - don't put the first to board in front of the door everyone deplanes from??? It makes no sense.
Additionally, what's an the airserv wheelchair folks consistently lining up and filling up BG1 these days. At IAD or DEN, whenever I get to the gate, BG1 is full of waiting wheelchairs "parked" with nobody present around them.
#644
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,387
Overheard at EWR yesterday -- a flight to ATL was boarding. "Only 35 people on our flight, so everyone is welcome to board. All passengers, all groups, please board."
#645
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Washington DC and Denver CO
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy Titanium/LT Gold
Posts: 379