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 22, 2018, 2:36 pm
#1711
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,585
Hub (IAD): I was upgraded before boarding started. Note: I SDC'd to this flight. I stood to the side as BG1 got to about 20-25 people deep. Agent boarded disabled, military, families, GS and then went straight to BG1. Because of this I boarded last in BG1 and, therefore, had to stow my bag haflway back in the economy cabin because first class overhead space was full. If I had known the agent wouldn't follow new procedure I would have stood in lane 1. I'm surprised a hub gate agent didn't follow instructions.
Sep 22, 2018, 2:39 pm
#1712
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Sep 22, 2018, 2:41 pm
#1713
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 167
i will do the same! Ask the GA and go from there. Depending on my mood and spend I might throw my backpack and demand special treatment though lol.
Sep 22, 2018, 2:52 pm
#1714
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,104
I'm totally with Kokonutz on this one. I buy a lot of F tickets, and don't appreciate any devaluations.
My first experience with the new boarding process was yesterday at PIT (nonstop PIT-DEN, 20-FC-seat 739). Gate agent told me she was fine with the new boarding procedure, and executed it to a T. There was one 1K, who took his place in Y as those flights between DEN and PIT usually sell out in F (I routinely see GS folks headed for the back as well).
Still, given this latest development I'm very happy that I'll be back in the 1K ranks later this year, as will my SO (based on my MM status)
My first experience with the new boarding process was yesterday at PIT (nonstop PIT-DEN, 20-FC-seat 739). Gate agent told me she was fine with the new boarding procedure, and executed it to a T. There was one 1K, who took his place in Y as those flights between DEN and PIT usually sell out in F (I routinely see GS folks headed for the back as well).
Still, given this latest development I'm very happy that I'll be back in the 1K ranks later this year, as will my SO (based on my MM status)
Sep 22, 2018, 2:53 pm
#1715
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Sep 22, 2018, 3:35 pm
#1716
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,113
This is United. As with many policies instituted thru the years, it takes a while for the customers to train the staff. The inconsistent rollout is hardly a surprise to any regular United frequent flyer. And, as with any policy change, they'll get there. Eventually
Sep 22, 2018, 3:48 pm
#1717
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
Prices going down is actually a clear symptom of product devaluation in a market where supply doesn't exceed demand. With supply and demand remaining constant, a product of lessening value is a product that will be charged less money for. It's part of the cycle that ultimately ends with the product discontinued or replaced.
Sep 22, 2018, 3:56 pm
#1718
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
I think CPUs are abundant evidence of supply exceeding demand.
Sep 22, 2018, 3:57 pm
#1719
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
UA/DL/AA, etc - would all love to spend $20 more per person on food, if it meant fares went up $60+ per person. Heck, they'd be happy to make an entire airplane lie flat beds as they could get the revenue for that. They'd love to stock higher end liquor if they could get the prices to justify it. Things are devalued when people won't open the pocketbook to pay for it.
Sep 22, 2018, 4:07 pm
#1720
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA GS, QF Plat, Marriot/SPG Plat, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 47
Just boarded DEN-LAX. Asked that gate agent what I was supposed to do, she said she would call me as a preboard and just stand to the side and hang out. I asked her how the new procedure was going, she said some people don’t understand it and it’s a little confusing for some, but it is getting better and smoother than the old way.
She called pax with assistance, active military and GS all together, got a pause, she nodded to come on up then called 1K’s.
What was odd, especially in DEN, nobody was in the cattle pens lined up. Everyone was seated or standing in the back waiting to be called.
I’ll do the same thing on LAX-MEL later tonight.
She called pax with assistance, active military and GS all together, got a pause, she nodded to come on up then called 1K’s.
What was odd, especially in DEN, nobody was in the cattle pens lined up. Everyone was seated or standing in the back waiting to be called.
I’ll do the same thing on LAX-MEL later tonight.
Sep 22, 2018, 4:12 pm
#1721
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Just boarded DEN-LAX. Asked that gate agent what I was supposed to do, she said she would call me as a preboard and just stand to the side and hang out. I asked her how the new procedure was going, she said some people don’t understand it and it’s a little confusing for some, but it is getting better and smoother than the old way.
She called pax with assistance, active military and GS all together, got a pause, she nodded to come on up then called 1K’s.
What was odd, especially in DEN, nobody was in the cattle pens lined up. Everyone was seated or standing in the back waiting to be called.
I’ll do the same thing on LAX-MEL later tonight.
She called pax with assistance, active military and GS all together, got a pause, she nodded to come on up then called 1K’s.
What was odd, especially in DEN, nobody was in the cattle pens lined up. Everyone was seated or standing in the back waiting to be called.
I’ll do the same thing on LAX-MEL later tonight.
Sep 22, 2018, 4:15 pm
#1722
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
You mean the elusive CPU's used to fill the occasional no-show/missed connection paid/TOD F seat?
Right, because product devaluation also makes it less worth paying for the product, resulting in lower prices and more devaluations, until the product is scrapped. That's the cycle we're seeing. It's not like it didn't happen before in recent UA history.
Ask yourself how much a Premium Economy product can still be differentiated from both United Economy and United First, once it is introduced to the domestic market. I know for a fact that United Economy isn't going anywhere. Not so sure about United First.
Ask yourself how much a Premium Economy product can still be differentiated from both United Economy and United First, once it is introduced to the domestic market. I know for a fact that United Economy isn't going anywhere. Not so sure about United First.
Last edited by mozilla; Sep 22, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Sep 22, 2018, 4:24 pm
#1723
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA GS, QF Plat, Marriot/SPG Plat, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 47
Sep 22, 2018, 4:30 pm
#1724
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,104
Prices going down is actually a clear symptom of product devaluation in a market where supply doesn't exceed demand. With supply and demand remaining constant, a product of lessening value is a product that will be charged less money for. It's part of the cycle that ultimately ends with the product discontinued or replaced.
Sep 22, 2018, 4:39 pm
#1725
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
Boarding went per script in an orderly fashion on today’s flight. Unfortunately no histrionics from a DYKWIA complaining about F boarding after 1Ks. Based on some previous comments, I was expecting it to be much better more exciting!
Plenty of room in the F overhead bins even though the flight was full.
Plenty of room in the F overhead bins even though the flight was full.