UA's Boarding Process with WILMA now - Inconsistent process / PreBoarding issues
May 16, 2022, 1:02 am
#31
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Which, as you said in another post, is the sort of thing that LHR does. With any company you would want to learn from other successes, rather than take the "not invented here and wouldn't work anyway" attitude.
May 16, 2022, 5:41 am
#32
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Which is yet another example of the root cause of United's service failures - refusing to hold employees accountable to standards and procedures. A gate agent who refuses to control their boarding area and ensure policies are enforced to the "T" should be sent for mandatory retraining, and if they fail a second time, they should be re-assigned to ramp work away from customers, or just terminated.
If an agent is unable to control the gate space even while trying to do so due to customer non-compliance, they should immediately summon a redcoat for assistance.
If an agent is unable to control the gate space even while trying to do so due to customer non-compliance, they should immediately summon a redcoat for assistance.
I board last only if I'm up front on a widebody, because that way I don't have to worry about overhead bin space.
May 16, 2022, 7:39 am
#33
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May 16, 2022, 8:29 am
#34
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Again, this is down to the complete screw up of United's boarding policies in the first place. Most people hear "now pre-boarding for 1Ks" and they think it's Group 1. If United made GS/1K group 1 then current group 1 becomes group 2, etc. There are a million ways to fix this but maybe United just plans to get rid of 1K anyway since there's no such thing as a "hundred thousand miler" any longer for elite status.
Separately, yesterday I flew out of a FL station and the gate agent was VERY clear about pre-boarding and four people right in front of me were denied because they were not 1K. One guy scanned and then the GA asked if he was 1K and the guy said no. GA proceeded to de-board him and told him to go to the back of the group 1 line. Next was another single person who also said he wasn't 1K and got booted before scanning his BP. Finally, a couple right in front of me were trying to board and the agent asked if they were 1K. They had no idea what 1K meant and they were quickly shunned as well. As I got up to the scanner I thanked the agent for being proactive and she rolled her eyes and gave me a smile. As I walked through the door I heard her saying sternly over the loudspeaker, "Folks, if you don't know what 1K is then you aren't 1K. 1K is NOT group 1." Succinct and easy to understand. But admittedly this type of GA is few and far between and it's usually quicker to just let the errant person board who isn't 1K than to take the time to de-board them in the system.
-RM
Separately, yesterday I flew out of a FL station and the gate agent was VERY clear about pre-boarding and four people right in front of me were denied because they were not 1K. One guy scanned and then the GA asked if he was 1K and the guy said no. GA proceeded to de-board him and told him to go to the back of the group 1 line. Next was another single person who also said he wasn't 1K and got booted before scanning his BP. Finally, a couple right in front of me were trying to board and the agent asked if they were 1K. They had no idea what 1K meant and they were quickly shunned as well. As I got up to the scanner I thanked the agent for being proactive and she rolled her eyes and gave me a smile. As I walked through the door I heard her saying sternly over the loudspeaker, "Folks, if you don't know what 1K is then you aren't 1K. 1K is NOT group 1." Succinct and easy to understand. But admittedly this type of GA is few and far between and it's usually quicker to just let the errant person board who isn't 1K than to take the time to de-board them in the system.
-RM
Last edited by RobOnLI; Jul 12, 2022 at 9:04 am Reason: Spelling mistake
May 16, 2022, 10:51 am
#35
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Newbie - United Boarding/Overall Travel Tips
Hello All - Im new here so please forgive me if this is in the incorrect location!
Im a longtime elite on AA (EXP and now PLT thanks to pandemic travel restrictions) but am considering making the switch to UA as being a Chicago native their routes are growing quickly and their pricing has been more competitive compared to AA at least for time time being. My question is as a non elite with just the Chase United Club Infinite card ... how is the experience with check in, boarding, etc.
While domestically I do try to purchase first as sadly IMO gone are the days of any meaningful upgrades on AA, I am looking to plan a trip to LHR and would most likely book into Premium Plus on UA. Is the Group 2 boarding for Club cardholders anything decent/do they separate Club Infinite card holders from Explorer card holders or is Group 2 essentially just main cabin boarding at that point.
Dont mean to sound pretentious just trying to understand the UA system after years of only AA.
Any advise is much appreciated!
Im a longtime elite on AA (EXP and now PLT thanks to pandemic travel restrictions) but am considering making the switch to UA as being a Chicago native their routes are growing quickly and their pricing has been more competitive compared to AA at least for time time being. My question is as a non elite with just the Chase United Club Infinite card ... how is the experience with check in, boarding, etc.
While domestically I do try to purchase first as sadly IMO gone are the days of any meaningful upgrades on AA, I am looking to plan a trip to LHR and would most likely book into Premium Plus on UA. Is the Group 2 boarding for Club cardholders anything decent/do they separate Club Infinite card holders from Explorer card holders or is Group 2 essentially just main cabin boarding at that point.
Dont mean to sound pretentious just trying to understand the UA system after years of only AA.
Any advise is much appreciated!
May 16, 2022, 11:02 am
#36
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Edit: Gold are in BG1
Jun 16, 2022, 4:25 pm
#39
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Jun 16, 2022, 4:45 pm
#40
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Jun 16, 2022, 5:38 pm
#41
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Jul 9, 2022, 2:41 pm
#42
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When GAs don't enforce boarding policy, you'd get something like 30+ pax before traveling with kids under 2. If you believe all those are eligible preboarders, then I have a bridge to sell you. This is ex-MSY.
Jul 9, 2022, 2:54 pm
#43
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At PHX on Thursday morning, GA ran through the pre-boarding groups super fast. This worked great. The only pre-boarders were me and one other 1K who was ready and waiting to go immediately when called.
Jul 9, 2022, 3:13 pm
#44
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BTW, that bridge that you have to sell, would that be the CCC or the Huey P?
Jul 9, 2022, 3:17 pm
#45
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Nope - the boarding group is based on the cabin of the specific flight. Even the color of the mobile boarding pass is different.