bocastephen

This applies to those who are disabled or need extra time or assistance in boarding the aircraft, but does not include families and small children. After a few flights on Delta recently and a couple on AA, it seems we can clean up the boarding process somewhat with the following - assuming, of course, proper training of gate agents, and enforcement of these policies system-wide.

I know it's a lot of groups, but seemed to work well in my recent experiences, and minimized line crowding and stampeding

1. Change the signage to Priority and General - no more Group 1 and Group 2 - clear announcement that Group 1, 2, 3, 4 board through the Priority lane at any time, everyone else through the General lane
2. everyone is assigned a group number, so your category is hidden inside your group number to keep things clean
3. Preboard - disabled, wheelchair, families traveling with an infant-in-arms, or with a car seat only (other families with children board with their group)
4. Group 1 - first class and global services only
5. Group 2 - 1K only
6. Group 3 (widebody) - Premium Plus
7. Group 3 (narrowbody) - Platinum, Gold, Star Gold
8. Group 4 (widebody) - Platinum, Gold, Star Gold
9. Group 5 - Silver, Y/B/M fares, E+ seats
10. Group 6 - first group of regular coach towards the rear
11. Group 7 - second group of regular coach towards the front
12. Group 8 - Basic Economy

8MiHi

It was messy but the GA seemed to have a handle on it. Pre-board was easy and not an issue. I couldn't see BG2 as BG1 eclipsed it. She kept the mess to the side and corralled.

Repooc17

So you are excusing people holding up the boarding queue by hogging the aisle, and then inexplicably getting up multiple times while other people are trying to get to their seats. Similarly upon deplaning, those sitting in the aisle seats don't start gathering their belongings until they are ready to deplane also delay the process.

nomad420

Ohhhhh myyyy, would the GA have a fun time messing that list up...... LOL

bocastephen

They are incapable of calling out a simple number? That's not re-assuring

PanAmWT

Premerger (with CO), It was standard practice every large airports, domestic or international. There was always a red carpet lane for GS and international F, followed by1K (and J?), and a shortcut for GS while other groups were boarding.

wjj

Until a few years ago I did nearly all my flying on AA. Was CK and EXPLT. What AA gets right on boarding is not pre-boarding families with young kids. They mess up everything more times than not. They should go with their normal boarding group which is likely to be just crawling along anyway if in coach so no additional delay than what is already happening. Also, EXPLT board with group 1 at AA and do not pre-board. Make Group 1 first class plus 1K and things would move quicker. So the only pre-boards would be GS, active military and disabled. The order really does not matter. When I was CK I was often escorted onto the plane before anyone else for international flights and was invited to board first on most domestic flights. There were not many CKs back then so it was not a big deal. It seems that UA has far more GS than AA has CK.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

Probably be more efficient if people with escorts (CK and disabled) boarded at same time, so the helpers can exit the plane at one time.

Kacee

GS with pre-merger CO???

UA introduced Global Services in 2003. It was never a CO status level. IIRC, CO's invitation only status was Presidential Platinum.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

I seem to recall a “Chairman’s Circle”?

Edit: just looked it up - accorded to CEOs of major companies. The guess they’d board with GSs. Although I think most large-company CEOs have access to corporate jets.

Kacee

Don't know. I capped out at mere "Platinum" :-)

SS255

UAX yesterday at ORD: They called Special Assists, GS & 1K all at the same time, skipping over "children 2 and under" altogether - despite numerous strollers clogging the gate area.

DELee

No - PanAmWT was noting that, premerger, _prior_ to the merger with CO, it was a standard practice for pmUA.

The parenthetical was simply referring to whom pmUA merged with.

David

Kacee

That makes more sense, thanks.

PanAmWT

Premerger (with CO), means UA prior to its merger with CO, not Premerger CO.

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I replied too quickly. Did not see DELee's post at that time