UA's Boarding Process with WILMA now - Inconsistent process / PreBoarding issues
Oct 18, 2023, 7:49 pm
#406
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Spending too much time in France? 😂😆🤣
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
What comes around, goes around
pmUA 2005 NYT article on changes to UA boarding procedure (i.e., "wilma")
pmUA 2006 New Boarding Method: Wilma
pmUA 2007 Whatever happened to WILMA?
pmUA used WILMA until the merger (2012?) or just before
pmUA 2005 NYT article on changes to UA boarding procedure (i.e., "wilma")
pmUA 2006 New Boarding Method: Wilma
pmUA 2007 Whatever happened to WILMA?
pmUA used WILMA until the merger (2012?) or just before
Oct 18, 2023, 8:13 pm
#407
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There wasn't a problem with pmUA use of WILMA, there were a lot of changes made due to the merger including in the boarding process. Not all felt those changes were improvements.
Oct 19, 2023, 6:33 am
#408
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Not sure how much this change really matters. I suppose it may help with confusion with BE ticket holders.
For me, the only time it is important to board early (in the first two groups or preboarding) is if you have a carryon bag that needs to go in the bins and you are sitting in the first few rows of the plane.
In F or if you are in the first few rows of E, you are in danger of running out of space because inexperienced passengers are constantly threatened at the gate on every flight that there isn't enough room for bags so they will stick their bags in the first place they see once boarding only to find empty space once they get to the back of the plane. To make things worse, they may try to go against the flow to retrieve their bags.
In F, there are only so many seats and the bins are often shorter so they fill up relatively quick and sometimes have to use space in the first few rows of E
Good proactive FA's will help with these issues, but normally they do nothing but threaten pax that if they don't stow everything and get seated quickly, the flight will be delayed and it will be their fault.
I think generally, elites will be in the first rows of E (or F) so the boarding system generally works.
Ofcourse, standbys often get put in middle seats in the first few rows of E, but at that point, they are probably going to be forced to check their bags anyways.
For me, the only time it is important to board early (in the first two groups or preboarding) is if you have a carryon bag that needs to go in the bins and you are sitting in the first few rows of the plane.
In F or if you are in the first few rows of E, you are in danger of running out of space because inexperienced passengers are constantly threatened at the gate on every flight that there isn't enough room for bags so they will stick their bags in the first place they see once boarding only to find empty space once they get to the back of the plane. To make things worse, they may try to go against the flow to retrieve their bags.
In F, there are only so many seats and the bins are often shorter so they fill up relatively quick and sometimes have to use space in the first few rows of E
Good proactive FA's will help with these issues, but normally they do nothing but threaten pax that if they don't stow everything and get seated quickly, the flight will be delayed and it will be their fault.
I think generally, elites will be in the first rows of E (or F) so the boarding system generally works.
Ofcourse, standbys often get put in middle seats in the first few rows of E, but at that point, they are probably going to be forced to check their bags anyways.
Oct 19, 2023, 8:19 am
#409
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Oct 19, 2023, 11:30 am
#411
Join Date: Mar 2011
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They skipped announcing Military pre-boards on my IAH-DFW flight yesterday. The guy ahead of me mentioned it to the GA, and she just shrugged.
Last edited by chavala; Oct 19, 2023 at 11:42 am Reason: s
Oct 19, 2023, 3:12 pm
#413
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Oct 22, 2023, 9:15 am
#414
Join Date: Oct 2018
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New seating process?
Surprised that this hasn’t been discussed recently
https://www.npr.org/2023/10/19/12072...m_campaign=npr
I have a hard time believing this is going to make that much of a difference in the chaos and timing.
I can actually see it making things worse, but maybe that’s why I don’t run an airline
https://www.npr.org/2023/10/19/12072...m_campaign=npr
I have a hard time believing this is going to make that much of a difference in the chaos and timing.
I can actually see it making things worse, but maybe that’s why I don’t run an airline
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 22, 2023 at 10:58 am Reason: Moved to existing thread
Oct 22, 2023, 11:40 am
#417
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On the contrary, Premium Plus boards in group 2 if marketed as such. On flights where PremiumPlus is part of E+ standard boarding applies.
Pretty much any card that has an annual fee, so Explorer or above.
Pretty much any card that has an annual fee, so Explorer or above.
Oct 22, 2023, 12:38 pm
#418
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And not a single "journalist" questioned such headlines as: "United Airlines will board passengers by window, middle, then aisle seats"
When in reality it should read: "United Airlines will board the last 25% of passengers by window, middle, then aisle seats - no change for the first 75%"
Oct 22, 2023, 1:10 pm
#419
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Just unbelievable how much news coverage this got.
And not a single "journalist" questioned such headlines as: "United Airlines will board passengers by window, middle, then aisle seats"
When in reality it should read: "United Airlines will board the last 25% of passengers by window, middle, then aisle seats - no change for the first 75%"
And not a single "journalist" questioned such headlines as: "United Airlines will board passengers by window, middle, then aisle seats"
When in reality it should read: "United Airlines will board the last 25% of passengers by window, middle, then aisle seats - no change for the first 75%"
The airline will continue to board first and business class customers – as well as elite loyalty programme members, active duty military and those requiring additional assistance – in the normal manner.
But those passengers in boarding group 4 and below will now be subject to the new policy.
But those passengers in boarding group 4 and below will now be subject to the new policy.
The change will begin with passengers in the fourth boarding group. Customers in first class and business class will see no change in their routine, and there’s also no change for those with priority-boarding privileges, including travelers with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, active-duty military, and families with children who are 2 or under.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 22, 2023 at 1:16 pm Reason: just the first two reports I checked
Oct 22, 2023, 3:36 pm
#420
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Simple Flying (surprise, surprise)
One interesting comment, towards the end, is that the computer program used by United could only handle five boarding groups. It seems strange, but maybe it explains why 1ks have Group 1 on boarding passes.
One interesting comment, towards the end, is that the computer program used by United could only handle five boarding groups. It seems strange, but maybe it explains why 1ks have Group 1 on boarding passes.