guw

I got to experience the new boarding process at YVR last Sunday. No-one was sitting down and waiting. All 1Ks seemed to have lined up in the group 1 lane. This made the boarding process more confusing then anticipated. I wasn't in line and just walked by the line when 1K was called. It didn't feel right because it looked like I was by passing the line. Sight.

findark

Had my first flight with the new process on Thursday (mainline 739). I arrived at the gate 7 minutes before the door closed, so the plane was already boarded ahead of me. While I would not freely bet a gate check on it (I checked my bag this trip), there was bin space near my seat when I boarded, and both of the F pax who boarded after I did were able to put their bags up (one in the empty space, and for the second the crew moved some bags around to create a space).

AndyInSaigon

I flew IAH-SFO-SIN on 9/26. Agents were still fumbling a bit, but it went smoothly & I appreciated the easier boarding. SFO-SIN had more GS than 1K boarding though that may be due to uninformed 1K flyers.

bballdad175

They got it right ZRH>SFO on 9/28. Followed the script nicely and it went smooth. Maybe 10 1Ks.

Solyesh

Was on EWR-BVT on Thursday 9/27 evening and it was a mess - the GA did not call UM, Military, Disabilities, GS or families and went right to 1K...I was content to stand in BG1 line as I hate waiting at the gate anyway and this time had no carry-on...there were probably about 10-12 people milling around the GA desk waiting to board - as soon as the GA welcomed 1Ks to pre-board there was a rush to the gate..another GS went up to the GA and asked why passengers with disabilities were not called for pre-boarding and why GS was not called before Families with Children <2 and Families not before 1K - the GA responded that this was the new UA policy - while the GS protested the GA kept boarding the plane and by the time the GS got on board there was no overhead space above his seat in F - the FA rectified the situation but the confusion with the new system was clear..

IMHO it may eventually start to work better but I think there will be a very significant issue with many more people now milling around waiting to pre-board near the GA desk - UA needs to come up with a better system....AA does it fairly well - the issue has never been 5 boarding groups just the management of the process..

exerda

My sole UA flight so far during the new boarding was a bus-boarded remote stand at FRA, and FRA security took 40 minutes to clear me (don't get me started on the lady who stopped me from pulling my camera gear to run separately then took every single thing out of the bag to run separately afterwards). I heard them basically call everyone at once while still at security.

narvik

lol, happened to me all the time:
"Sir, you don't need to remove that from the bag."
30 seconds later, different screener:
"Sir, you have to always remove those items before going through the scanner, okay?"

Sorry for OT, couldn't resist.

StuckinITH

Even though it's OT, count your blessing that you did not have the stupid man in FRA that nearly destroyed my wife's rollaboard. The machine identified a metal bar that they could not find while searching the bag, even after emptying it of all it's content: a pile of dirty clothes as it was the return of a 7 days trip. Three times, my wife tried to tell them that that metal bar was the piece holding the handle. In the end they identified it as the piece of metal holding the handle. The whole process was as punishment to my wife because we had lined up for the control in the wrong area. Like, you want to be first, you'll be last......

CO DCA

DCA to IAH: announcement done properly. However a number of 1Ks were in the BG1 line and were irate that "people with boarding group 1 [on their boarding pass] cut in front of them"

IAHFlyBoi

I saw this at DCA this past week, there were 5 of us GS loitering by gate 16, there were families with small children and folks with needs that were boarding along with military and another GS came rushing past us all and demanded to board, I was pleasantly surprised when the GA said, I haven't started to board Global as yet sir, these other 5 Globals are patiently waiting can you please wait along side them. The look on this guy's face for being told no was priceless, he shrunk at being told no and just stood there to the side. When she called us to board, she boarded him last. Regardless of status/entitlement people are people...be kind to one another.

adambrau

If this new boarding system doesn't achieve the results UA hopes for - there is a possible and exciting alternative:

Many US airports that UA operates hubs out of are extremely outdated and congested and struggle with air traffic which seems to grow in numbers most years.

I just cry every time UA changes the boarding process - implementation is initially shaky and never seems to be much better than what came before. I will await final 'consensus' on the new board process after a few months, but here is a radically different ideaI have not completely fleshed out, but seems worthy of discussion.
Hear me out!

Maybe next time UA revamps boarding, get economy on first and offer big spenders flying in Int'l Polaris to board LAST - keep them in the Polaris lounge until economy boarding is done?

That could get rid of 60 to 30-odd important customers out of the boarding area, reduce boarding announcements, allow economy pax to board and get settled in a faster manner. Make it a nicer experience for those in economy too – imagine that!

I realize this would only minimally to moderately alleviate boarding area crowds of ONE 772ER by max 50 pax,but there are significantly concentrated Int'l departure banks from SFO, IAD, EWR, ORD and IAD and slightly less with LAX where this could have a really noticeable impact.

Extra costs to UA?

1. Would entail an FA to watch the premium overhead storage bins so pax in economy don't 'bin cheat'.
2. Then, have an agent at the Polaris Lounge announce/escort Int’l Polaris customers at the last moment after economy is seated.

I remember this being done for F Class Swissair pax when I worked there (years ago) at JFK, seen it on TG, SQ and LH (F Class) but since Polaris is now United's ‘top’ class I think it would really add a premium feel to those paying most,and for those Polaris customers who want or need to board early they could go early with GS and 1K pax who for some reason are flying coach.

Better to have an extra drink in the Polaris Lounge than an onboard PDB, unless you drink water.

I remember this being done for F Class Swissair pax when I worked there (years ago) at JFK, seen it on TG, SQ and LH (F Class) but since Polaris is now United's ‘top’ class I think it would really add a very premium feel and surprise the most valuable customers paying most.

Look at how excited people report back when a car is sent to pick them up on arrival and then driven to the Polaris Lounge.

For those Polaris customers who want or need to board early they could go with GS and 1K pax who for some reason are flying coach.

Reduce the rushing, sometimes the pushing, and sometimes the shouting by GA's to get all pax sorted for boarding.

It would alleviate those boarding currently first and sitting upfront, from obstructing a quicker access of coach pax to their seats. It would be more efficient (in theory).

It would allow UA to be first US3 to take one small step at closing the gap between UA and Int’l competition and make Star Alliance one more step to a seamless experience.

Polaris lounges are a good place to hide/relax if you paid top dollar for int'l travel at ORD, SFO, EWR and soon LAX to come this Autumn. IAD in terminal C/D will be the last in the States to get one (ironically since United's IAD terminal C/D is really like the world's longest trailer park (harsh but fair). DEN is left out and HKG, LHR and NRT will finish out the process but currently have the best UC's and FCL in the system where when UA sold Int’l F Class they were often boarded last.

I realize Polaris lounges are only accessed by people in paid or upgraded or award INT'L Polaris travel. But I find INT'l wide body boarding is more stressful/chaotic than a domestic 752 or even a 777HD or any aircraft for that matter.

Those seated in domestic First/Business connecting to an INT'L Polaris seat, (departing or arriving same day) could take advantage of boarding last as well

Does this concept, very quickly cobbled together, potentially make UA boarding a win-win for staff and pax, both coach and Int’l Polaris.

I think it's an interesting idea

warrenw

If I'm 1K and traveling with someone who has no status can they preboard with me?

WineCountryUA

What might work for 6-8 customers is going to be harder to implement with 30-60 customers. Could work if there was direct access from the lounge, but that is not a realistic option for UA at its hubs.

What if some DYKWIA decides they are going to finish their phone call before heading to the gate?
No shows will not be identified until much later so clearing upgrades would get more complicated.

Generally given the large number to board late, my guess the overall boarding time will increase.

It certainly could make the premium boarding a bit more special but likely to introduce a whole bunch of new problems.

adambrau

I might be putting it into my own context as I almost 100% depart out of EWR in premium Int'l.

But now that the Polaris Club is open I leave it 15 minutes before boarding finishes.

Admittedly not tried the new boarding procedure, will get a stab at it it twice next week.

Before the Polaris Lounge opened I just went to the OTB restaurants iso UC because better offerings, but those bars that run down the 70's and 90's C concourse can really be off putting where what little room was there before was inadequate. Two or three wide bodies to Europe delayed and it feels like a NYC subway at rush hour and people don't exactly hide their displeasure. Put weather and a mechanical together and you get the idea.

The three concourses in T3 at EWR are never long walking distances - why subject premium pax to that. Newark is Newark but I feel, given your handle, you are more SFO based. IMHO a superior experience to EWR.

I think the only flaw in my argument is that maybe the Polaris lounge may get too crowded in some stations buy keeping a few thousand people there 30 minutes longer.

But if the game is to attract Polaris customers wouldn't it be smart to keep them comfortable until the last moment? I might be overly optimistic of UA being able to pull this off.

But UA's boarding cards tell you when boarding ends, so I am not sure why pax wouldn't be able to get to the gate escort or not. I just think it's the way UA needs to think!!!

LordHamster