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 well let you know when were 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 youre 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 well let you know when were 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 youre 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}
#2386
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, Kailua-Kona, Cairns
Programs: UA 1K >2MM, IC Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 740
ORD/LAX B4 Scrum Created by Bad Agent Training
The main problem I've observed is that '1k' and 'Group 1' both have a 1 in them. I tend to be on very elite heavy flights (my RPU got me to a whopping 10th on the upgrade list this weekend!), and it's not uncommon to have 5+ GS, 20-30 1k, and still have 50+ people in group 1 for domestic flights.!
On a flight yesterday ORD/LAX (gate B4), the agent called ALL the preboarding groups at once - disabilities, military, families, Global Services, and 1Ks. This used the inevitable scrum in an already crowded gate area.
Turned out the agent was "jumping the gun" - with two wheelchairs still coming off the plane from the inbound flight, the plane wasn't ready to board and now the wheelchairs couldn't get thru the gate scrum.
This then turned the whole gate into every-man-for-themself and when the agent finally started taking boarding passes (on a scanner that was intermittent - JOY!) she was letting anyone from any group through.
A detailed email to the 1K Desk about the agent got a form-letter response today. That's now another problem. . . .
#2387
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Someone else I think mentioned it earlier.While this should not be considered a fault with the new system, the response of one group in particular is a problem.
While the wheelchair folks are lined up long before the announcement, the family with kids under 2 are never on the ball. They get called and then they start packing the diapers into the bag, rounding the kids up etc. When they move they are the slowest in the world. Then once they eventually get down the chute, they block the door by working to get the carriages folded, more packing and repacking and then boarding completely oblivious where their seats are. This group holds up everything.
While the wheelchair folks are lined up long before the announcement, the family with kids under 2 are never on the ball. They get called and then they start packing the diapers into the bag, rounding the kids up etc. When they move they are the slowest in the world. Then once they eventually get down the chute, they block the door by working to get the carriages folded, more packing and repacking and then boarding completely oblivious where their seats are. This group holds up everything.
#2388
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, Kailua-Kona, Cairns
Programs: UA 1K >2MM, IC Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 740
We probably have a clash of perspectives. I always simply pay for the F cabin. I said that. I obviously flew UA a tone once, before they melted down a few years ago. Current lifetime for me is 2.5 mm miles? Does that count with you and others for anything? Why am I judged differently from a pax who has spent less lifetime on the carrier?
Last edited by jimmc66; Jan 23, 2019 at 9:52 am
#2389
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,711
Someone else I think mentioned it earlier.While this should not be considered a fault with the new system, the response of one group in particular is a problem.
While the wheelchair folks are lined up long before the announcement, the family with kids under 2 are never on the ball. They get called and then they start packing the diapers into the bag, rounding the kids up etc. When they move they are the slowest in the world. Then once they eventually get down the chute, they block the door by working to get the carriages folded, more packing and repacking and then boarding completely oblivious where their seats are. This group holds up everything.
While the wheelchair folks are lined up long before the announcement, the family with kids under 2 are never on the ball. They get called and then they start packing the diapers into the bag, rounding the kids up etc. When they move they are the slowest in the world. Then once they eventually get down the chute, they block the door by working to get the carriages folded, more packing and repacking and then boarding completely oblivious where their seats are. This group holds up everything.
#2390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,323
But with the lack of pause between groups that is the usual, they just end up getting trampled by Group 1 as they gate check their strollers.
#2391
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,921
Well, contrary to appearances at hubs, there might be zero 1Ks at outstations. Cant clog up one of 2 boarding lines with no one. On occasion mid-week OGG-LAX, Ive observed no GS or 1Ks take advantage of pre-board privilege.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jan 24, 2019 at 9:22 am
#2392
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,852
Unless GS and 1K passengers are departing United hubs on UA flights and returning on other airlines at a significant rate (which I doubt is the case) there should be the same number of GS and 1Ks on flights from out stations to hubs as there are on flights from hubs to out stations. UA doesnt have many flights that dont touch a hub, so nearly every UA flight is either from a hub, to a hub, or both.
#2393
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,183
When I was a 1K in 2018, I was on several flights where I was the only GS/1K to pre-board. I have also seen ERJ-175s where 8 or more GSs pre-boarded. The system isnt going to work equally well for all flights unless there is way more flexibility in it, which most of us probably wouldnt want because frequent travelers seem to hate inconsistency nearly as much as any particular policies.
Unless GS and 1K passengers are departing United hubs on UA flights and returning on other airlines at a significant rate (which I doubt is the case) there should be the same number of GS and 1Ks on flights from out stations to hubs as there are on flights from hubs to out stations. UA doesnt have many flights that dont touch a hub, so nearly every UA flight is either from a hub, to a hub, or both.
I guess we were more eager to leave SFO than Japan.
#2394
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4me
Posts: 11,953
When I was a 1K in 2018, I was on several flights where I was the only GS/1K to pre-board. I have also seen ERJ-175s where 8 or more GSs pre-boarded. The system isnt going to work equally well for all flights unless there is way more flexibility in it, which most of us probably wouldnt want because frequent travelers seem to hate inconsistency nearly as much as any particular policies.
Unless GS and 1K passengers are departing United hubs on UA flights and returning on other airlines at a significant rate (which I doubt is the case) there should be the same number of GS and 1Ks on flights from out stations to hubs as there are on flights from hubs to out stations. UA doesnt have many flights that dont touch a hub, so nearly every UA flight is either from a hub, to a hub, or both.
#2395
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,066
I had a late connect at DEN last night (A320 which was full). In F and the FA specifically held an overhead bin spot for whoever they figured was showing up for that last F seat. Nice job!
#2396
Join Date: Oct 2002
Programs: United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,230
Flying out LAS-DEN a couple of days ago, the gate agent actually individually called out the name of each 1K member one-by-one to pre-board (there were 6 or 7 of us). We had just arrived at the gate so I don't know if he did the same for GS.
#2397
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,872
That's interesting. In what order? Alphabetical? I see this coming with a new set of "problems' ; )
#2398
#2399
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
That has happened to me several times over the past couple of years at LAS...with different GA's.
#2400
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,132
When I was a 1K in 2018, I was on several flights where I was the only GS/1K to pre-board. I have also seen ERJ-175s where 8 or more GSs pre-boarded. The system isnt going to work equally well for all flights unless there is way more flexibility in it, which most of us probably wouldnt want because frequent travelers seem to hate inconsistency nearly as much as any particular policies.
Unless GS and 1K passengers are departing United hubs on UA flights and returning on other airlines at a significant rate (which I doubt is the case) there should be the same number of GS and 1Ks on flights from out stations to hubs as there are on flights from hubs to out stations. UA doesnt have many flights that dont touch a hub, so nearly every UA flight is either from a hub, to a hub, or both.
Logically, I wouldn't be opposed to a larger number of dynamic boarding groups where you knew GS would always be no lower than group 2 (assuming a ton of GS on the flight; practically always group 1), basic economy would always be group 15 or lower and everyone else was distributed evenly between based on an algorithm based on status+something (fare? check-in time? random number generator?) - practically that would fall apart faster than EWR ops when the wind gusts above 0.0001 knots.