UA's Boarding Process with WILMA now - Inconsistent process / PreBoarding issues
#76
#77
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#79
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This is with another carrier. They make the announcement of the right boarding order (something a lot of UA gate agents are incapable of doing), but allow anyone and everyone to board - a different kind of boarding chaos - fun time to witness. Also, 6 gate agents for a narrowbody domestic flight...lol
#80
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Gate agent just called Premier during preboarding, just Premier, the already chaotic boarding process just went into extreme frenzy.
From a flight yesterday, gate agent called 1K 100,000 miles. Wish we could earn 1K with 100,000 miles still.
From a flight yesterday, gate agent called 1K 100,000 miles. Wish we could earn 1K with 100,000 miles still.
#82
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York City
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The station manager at MUC was taking care of my flight this week and called people with disabilities, Active military, and families and after that 1K members and Global services .
Surprised to see that happen in Germany, even more from the manager.
Surprised to see that happen in Germany, even more from the manager.
#84
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#85
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But the 1K lines have been there for ages, I remember seeing them since I started flying United from Tokyo, along with the gate agents who go out into the lines to filter who should be where, you know like they should be doing at every airport?
Last week I boarded 4 widebody flights operated by JAL, looking carefully at the amount of carry ons brought by each passenger, and noting no difference in carry on volume or size, but that we fully boarded a full 787 or 777 in about 20 minutes vs the 45+ minutes it takes on United.
Preparing people ahead of time and keeping them away from the boarding area until their priority is called certainly helps, but also passengers who don't wander down the aisle juggling two bags, a box of pizza, a cup of soda, two kids all while looking completely clueless also seems to help things move quicker.
#87
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I thought it should be シスコ or similar?
But the 1K lines have been there for ages, I remember seeing them since I started flying United from Tokyo, along with the gate agents who go out into the lines to filter who should be where, you know like they should be doing at every airport?
Last week I boarded 4 widebody flights operated by JAL, looking carefully at the amount of carry ons brought by each passenger, and noting no difference in carry on volume or size, but that we fully boarded a full 787 or 777 in about 20 minutes vs the 45+ minutes it takes on United.
Preparing people ahead of time and keeping them away from the boarding area until their priority is called certainly helps, but also passengers who don't wander down the aisle juggling two bags, a box of pizza, a cup of soda, two kids all while looking completely clueless also seems to help things move quicker.
But the 1K lines have been there for ages, I remember seeing them since I started flying United from Tokyo, along with the gate agents who go out into the lines to filter who should be where, you know like they should be doing at every airport?
Last week I boarded 4 widebody flights operated by JAL, looking carefully at the amount of carry ons brought by each passenger, and noting no difference in carry on volume or size, but that we fully boarded a full 787 or 777 in about 20 minutes vs the 45+ minutes it takes on United.
Preparing people ahead of time and keeping them away from the boarding area until their priority is called certainly helps, but also passengers who don't wander down the aisle juggling two bags, a box of pizza, a cup of soda, two kids all while looking completely clueless also seems to help things move quicker.
Example, I boarded a non-UA (US airline) carrier a couple of weeks ago. Even for a narrow body, boarding was completed and door closed within 15 minutes from the start of the boarding. The inbound flight came in late, and it was the last flight of the day for the O/D pairing...a lot of people had connections at destination.
So, it is very much possible to board a lot quicker.
#88
Join Date: Jun 2012
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What if I told you that only having one or two boarding groups is probably the fastest way to board a plane, but because "full service" airlines need to provide benefits for elites and partner elites, and be able to sell early boarding as a revenue stream that they have all these boarding groups that slow things down?
Back in June and July, I was in Australia, and flew with UA partner Virgin Australia. They call boarding 30 minutes before scheduled departure, and have three boarding groups - Preboarding for those with disabilities and those who need extra time, business class (including elites seated in economy), and then everyone else. 15 minutes is about all it takes to board a 176 seat 737-800. No row numbers, no separate main cabin boarding groups. Just everyone goes. The overhead bins filled up just as they do in the US, and the plane sits for a bit with the door open until it's departure time (sometimes they leave early!).
Back in June and July, I was in Australia, and flew with UA partner Virgin Australia. They call boarding 30 minutes before scheduled departure, and have three boarding groups - Preboarding for those with disabilities and those who need extra time, business class (including elites seated in economy), and then everyone else. 15 minutes is about all it takes to board a 176 seat 737-800. No row numbers, no separate main cabin boarding groups. Just everyone goes. The overhead bins filled up just as they do in the US, and the plane sits for a bit with the door open until it's departure time (sometimes they leave early!).
#89
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What if I told you that only having one or two boarding groups is probably the fastest way to board a plane, but because "full service" airlines need to provide benefits for elites and partner elites, and be able to sell early boarding as a revenue stream that they have all these boarding groups that slow things down?
Boarding process is also a factor, but I would disagree that boarding groups are a major contributor to slower boarding. WN essentially has nine boarding groups (pre-boarding, A1-30, A31-60, A List, families with children, B1-30, B31-60, C1-30, and C-31 on), but can board more quickly than any US legacy because (a) they allow pax to check 2 bags for free and (b) there are no assigned seats. This latter factor is particularly significant, because studies have shown that random boarding is the most efficient (faster than a structured boarding back to front and/or windows-in process).
#90
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Deplaning is certainly much faster, but I've also seen people step up from their seat, then stare with confusion at their own bag sitting in the overhead appearing at a loss about what to do next.
Find me an airline where the flight attendants use cattle prods, and that is my new favorite way to fly.