Jan 19, 2017, 11:05 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Source: United Boarding Process
We encourage you to make yourself comfortable while you wait for your group to be called, and we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to board. Late arriving customers in Groups 1 and 2 are welcome to continue boarding through the blue lane at any time.
* Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, except for Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
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Pre Sept 2018 process
Pre-Boarding
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, with the exception of Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
Note: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both may board with the earlier group.
Note: Self Boarding Gates are being tested at the following gates...
sUA Boarding Times by Aircraft (AFA)
Previous thread: United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [Revised, May 2013]
New changes (effective 18 Sept 2018)
You will see some new boarding lane signs in the gate area that will guide you through the boarding process. There will now be two lanes that are color coded : to begin, Group 1 will board through the blue lane and Group 2 will board through the green lane. The remaining Groups 3-5 will then board through the green lane when called, and Groups 1 and 2 can continue to board through the blue lane .We encourage you to make yourself comfortable while you wait for your group to be called, and we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to board. Late arriving customers in Groups 1 and 2 are welcome to continue boarding through the blue lane at any time.
Boarding groups
Pre-boarding
- Unaccompanied minors
- Customers with disabilities
- Active members of the military
- United Global Services® members
- Families traveling with children age 2 and younger
- Premier® 1K® members
Group 1
- Premier Platinum members
- Premier Gold members
- Star Alliance™ Gold members
- Customers seated in premium cabins: United Polaris®, United First® and United Business®
Group 2
- Premier Silver members
- Star Alliance Silver members
- Customers who have purchased Premier Access® or Priority Boarding
- United℠ Explorer, Club, Presidential Plus℠ and Awards Cardmembers
Groups 3 – 5
- Economy Plus®
- United Economy®
- Basic Economy*
* Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, except for Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
Pre Sept 2018 process
Pre-Boarding
- Unaccompanied minors
- Customers with disabilities
- Uniformed members of the U.S. military
- Families traveling with children age two and younger
- United Global Services® members
- Group 1: Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, Business/Polaris Business, and First/Polaris First.
- Group 2: Premier Gold, Star Gold, Premier Silver, Star Silver, MileagePlus Presidential Plus, Club, Explorer and Awards, purchased Premier Access
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
- Group 3 - Window Seats
- Group 4 - Middle & Aisle Seats (Aisle Seats on UA Express)
- Group 5 - Basic Economy
Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, with the exception of Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
Note: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both may board with the earlier group.
Note: Self Boarding Gates are being tested at the following gates...
- IAH - Gate C25/C26 - See Post 2960, Includes YouTube video from CO777DAL
- IAH - Gate E4 - Old test from pmCO days, See Thread Here
- BOS - Self boarding gates are now back in *LIMITED* use at least at gates B25 and B26
sUA Boarding Times by Aircraft (AFA)
Previous thread: United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [Revised, May 2013]
United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [2016-forward]{Archive}
Nov 2, 2018, 6:40 pm
#2191
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Do you really mean to tell us that your plane had PE seats?
Nov 2, 2018, 11:13 pm
#2192
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
SFO-BOS from gate 88. Gate set-up is really good for pre-boarding with big open lane to the left of lane 1. There were about eight 1Ks. Really nice to get on the aircraft before the crowds arrived. I could get used to this perk (which I'm sure is why they introduced it right before they raised PQD).
Nov 2, 2018, 11:52 pm
#2193
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
I’ve read most of this lengthy thread, but I apologize if I missed where it was answered...
As a 1K, if I arrive to the gate a few minutes late, and they’re already boarding BG1, can I bypass the line and walk straight up? (Similar to walking into an empty BG1 lane, prior to these changes). I understand I could still do that if they’ve moved beyond BG1 by using said lane, and I wouldn’t sweat it if there were just a dozen people or so ahead of me in BG1...But I fly a lot of midcons where Ive seen BG1 take up half of the plane (ORD-SFO on 757-300 and 777HD).
As a 1K, if I arrive to the gate a few minutes late, and they’re already boarding BG1, can I bypass the line and walk straight up? (Similar to walking into an empty BG1 lane, prior to these changes). I understand I could still do that if they’ve moved beyond BG1 by using said lane, and I wouldn’t sweat it if there were just a dozen people or so ahead of me in BG1...But I fly a lot of midcons where Ive seen BG1 take up half of the plane (ORD-SFO on 757-300 and 777HD).
Nov 3, 2018, 1:58 pm
#2194
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
I’ve read most of this lengthy thread, but I apologize if I missed where it was answered...
As a 1K, if I arrive to the gate a few minutes late, and they’re already boarding BG1, can I bypass the line and walk straight up? (Similar to walking into an empty BG1 lane, prior to these changes). I understand I could still do that if they’ve moved beyond BG1 by using said lane, and I wouldn’t sweat it if there were just a dozen people or so ahead of me in BG1...But I fly a lot of midcons where Ive seen BG1 take up half of the plane (ORD-SFO on 757-300 and 777HD).
As a 1K, if I arrive to the gate a few minutes late, and they’re already boarding BG1, can I bypass the line and walk straight up? (Similar to walking into an empty BG1 lane, prior to these changes). I understand I could still do that if they’ve moved beyond BG1 by using said lane, and I wouldn’t sweat it if there were just a dozen people or so ahead of me in BG1...But I fly a lot of midcons where Ive seen BG1 take up half of the plane (ORD-SFO on 757-300 and 777HD).
Nov 3, 2018, 4:22 pm
#2195
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 676
Bring back the red carpet. Boarding was MUCH smoother in those days and there was always a clear path for late arriving GS/1K/F passengers. All the changes since the red carpets were taken away have been systems that are worse than what they had before.
The problem now is make GA's call GS and 1K with 5 seconds of pause in between. And, many of the gates don't have enough space to hold all of the pre-boarders.
The problem now is make GA's call GS and 1K with 5 seconds of pause in between. And, many of the gates don't have enough space to hold all of the pre-boarders.
Nov 4, 2018, 6:53 am
#2196
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Naples - Chicago - Park City
Programs: UA 1K Million Miler, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Amex Plat
Posts: 290
Is this correct? So if I'm seated when they call for 1K pre-boarding (instead of milling around ready to pounce, which kind of defeats the purpose), and they quickly call Group 1 as I'm walking up, it's "too bad, you snooze you loose 1K!" and I should proceed to do a walk of shame to the back of the Group 1 line? And are you saying this applies to GS as well?
Nov 4, 2018, 8:37 am
#2197
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
Is this correct? So if I'm seated when they call for 1K pre-boarding (instead of milling around ready to pounce, which kind of defeats the purpose), and they quickly call Group 1 as I'm walking up, it's "too bad, you snooze you loose 1K!" and I should proceed to do a walk of shame to the back of the Group 1 line? And are you saying this applies to GS as well?
Nov 4, 2018, 10:05 am
#2198
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,024
Is this correct? So if I'm seated when they call for 1K pre-boarding (instead of milling around ready to pounce, which kind of defeats the purpose), and they quickly call Group 1 as I'm walking up, it's "too bad, you snooze you loose 1K!" and I should proceed to do a walk of shame to the back of the Group 1 line? And are you saying this applies to GS as well?
As for "instead of milling around ready to pounce, which kind of defeats the purpose", 1Ks really can be seated until the jetway door is opened - that's the clue to get in gear if you want to exercise your pre-boarding right. Some in the BG1 group will have been lined up for a significant amount of time before that. Infrequent travelers on "a trip of a lifetime" in F will often do that. I've seen some stand in BG1 for a half-hour or more in Hawaii (even before the crew shows up).
Nov 4, 2018, 10:41 am
#2199
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
I have. It's part of the "GS can board at their leisure" service. Never been turned away. (Actually, have only done it a few times in millions of miles.)
Nov 4, 2018, 8:20 pm
#2200
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC 35K, SPG GOLD
Posts: 264
Heading to the gate for UA862 HKG to SFO. Want to see how it goes. Will report if I see something unusual. I am in group 1 (Polaris business)
when looking on the BG1 line the agent told a 1K in front of me to go to the area on the side to board with priority boarding.
results:
1) GS - 2 ppl
2) 1K - like 50
3) BG1
no families/military
when looking on the BG1 line the agent told a 1K in front of me to go to the area on the side to board with priority boarding.
results:
1) GS - 2 ppl
2) 1K - like 50
3) BG1
no families/military
Last edited by chebert999; Nov 5, 2018 at 11:25 am
Nov 5, 2018, 4:35 pm
#2201
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Wife reports they've already got a separate labeled 1K boarding lane at NRT.
Nov 5, 2018, 6:05 pm
#2202
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,024
Nov 5, 2018, 7:10 pm
#2203
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
SFO TPE, announced that the 50+ 1Ks ,please board to the right of group 1 line. Of course there were 100+ because of 1Ks plus traveling companion. On the bright side, I got a premium plus seat 
due to aircraft swap.
due to aircraft swap.
Nov 5, 2018, 8:07 pm
#2204
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,823
Is this like at NRT, that pre-boarding is separated into two parts, Disabled+Military+GS+Family as phase 1, and then 1K with dedicated waiting area as phase 2? If so that would be very good news.
Nov 5, 2018, 8:12 pm
#2205
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
