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.
================================================== ==============================
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}
Feb 11, 2019, 7:20 am
#2476
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,117
Feb 11, 2019, 7:22 am
#2477
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 948
The intent, I believe, is that you just walk up to the (heavily NEC branded) kiosk, your picture is snapped as you walk up, and you move on. No document scanning required, but they tell you that for US citizens, the photo is erased after 14 days, whereas for others it is permanently stored. Apparently the image is being matched to your passport photo - but who knows what's really happening.
Unfortunately it wasn't quite as smooth as that... it was one at a time, from four lines, move forward only when called by the CPB officer. Unless you were a DYKWIA type, of which there were bucketloads, in which case you just barge through the lines and race forward.
Was amusing also to see a few people go through all of this, and then sent back because they weren't in rows 1-18.
Unfortunately it wasn't quite as smooth as that... it was one at a time, from four lines, move forward only when called by the CPB officer. Unless you were a DYKWIA type, of which there were bucketloads, in which case you just barge through the lines and race forward.
Was amusing also to see a few people go through all of this, and then sent back because they weren't in rows 1-18.
"But Oscar, your letter said I'd get to board early!"
FYI CBP Biometric Exit FAQ (external)
Just before departure, each international traveler’s photo is taken, by either CBP-owned cameras or equipment provided by the airlines or airport authority. CBP compares the photo with existing images from passports, visas and other travel documents, as applicable, in a secure environment using the Traveler Verification Service (TVS). These images include photographs taken by CBP during the entry inspection, photographs from U.S. passports and U.S. visas, and photographs from previous DHS encounters.
Last edited by onthesam; Feb 11, 2019 at 7:28 am
Feb 11, 2019, 3:55 pm
#2478
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Discussions of border controls are best in Travel Safety/Security where there are multiple threads on the topic
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Feb 13, 2019, 1:37 pm
#2479
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,344
At SFO last night they had two signs, blue BG1 sign on the left hand side of gate 94 (SFO-LHR) and a green BG2 sign to the right. Normally the "elites" board through the left hand door. So, when we started to line up GS and 1K went down chute BG1 to find that they way was barred with tensabarrier that stopped you about 6' short of the boarding pass scanner. They then called pre-boarding for GS and opened up a little side barrier that was within the gap caused by the 6' gap. Much groaning from the GS and 1K that were down the chute so I opened the barrier and stopped a riot. 
But....for the future with that sort of setup it looks like you will enter from the side so keep your eyes open !
But....for the future with that sort of setup it looks like you will enter from the side so keep your eyes open !
Feb 19, 2019, 9:49 am
#2480
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
UA 269 LAX-ORD yesterday 18 Feb, once the boarding process commenced GA called out GS then 1Ks by name were welcome to preboard. About 5 or 6 GS and then about 7 or 8 of us 1Ks. Seemed very orderly and eliminated the confusion at the very crowded gate. First time I've been called by name to board and thought it was nice. Maybe others have had this but I rarely fly out of LAX and haven't had it happen anywhere else.
It was a massive gaggle at the gate and I thought the GA did a great job keeping order with the groups. ORD needs to take a lesson form this.
It was a massive gaggle at the gate and I thought the GA did a great job keeping order with the groups. ORD needs to take a lesson form this.
Feb 19, 2019, 10:25 am
#2481
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
When did they call families with children two and under? They are supposed to board after GS and before 1K.
Feb 19, 2019, 11:34 am
#2482
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
I don't remember exactly, but I *think* she went with customers with disabilities, then military, then GS by name, families, 1K by name, then so on. Even with all that it seemed orderly from my perspective- at least what I witnessed before I went down the jetway. Calling out people by name eliminated us so-called "lice" making a rush to board. Perhaps she only did this because there was a relative handful of people to call. If there were 50 1Ks it wouldn't be feasible to do. Over half the aircraft (753) was lined up in BG 1/2 lanes.
Feb 19, 2019, 11:41 am
#2483
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,024
Feb 19, 2019, 2:39 pm
#2484
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,417
I had a well-run 1K preboarding get me onboard ahead of a shouting match over E75 bin space, so I will grudgingly admit this benefit has its uses (although I'm sure the paid F pax boarding behind me would have their complains).
Mar 20, 2019, 7:14 pm
#2485
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United GS; AA EXP; Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 174
I would assume gate agents check with flight attendants before starting boarding, but I guess that’s not always the case? Soemtimes I was the first one to board, only to find the flight attendants were still settling in and asking me to wait in the jetbridge momentarily.
No big deal until an unfriendly encounter tonight. The purser seemed late (other FAs were ready while she was still taking off her coat). She was apparently annoyed to see us passengers. Maybe she had a bad day or just hated her job. We had to wait over an minute standing outside watching her taking stuff out, putting stuff in and storing her bag, all in super slow motion... like an SNL sketch.
Mar 20, 2019, 7:20 pm
#2486
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
I would assume gate agents check with flight attendants before starting boarding, but I guess that’s not always the case?Soemtimes I was the first one to board, only to find the flight attendants were still settling in and asking me to wait in the jetbridge momentarily.
No big deal until an unfriendly encounter tonight. The purser seemed late (other FAs were ready while she was still taking off her coat). She was apparently annoyed to see us passengers. Maybe she had a bad day or just hated her job. We had to wait over an minute standing outside watching her taking stuff out, putting stuff in and storing her bag, all in super slow motion... like an SNL sketch.
David
Mar 20, 2019, 7:32 pm
#2487
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I would assume gate agents check with flight attendants before starting boarding, but I guess that’s not always the case?Soemtimes I was the first one to board, only to find the flight attendants were still settling in and asking me to wait in the jetbridge momentarily.
No big deal until an unfriendly encounter tonight. The purser seemed late (other FAs were ready while she was still taking off her coat). She was apparently annoyed to see us passengers. Maybe she had a bad day or just hated her job. We had to wait over an minute standing outside watching her taking stuff out, putting stuff in and storing her bag, all in super slow motion... like an SNL sketch.
Mar 21, 2019, 5:47 am
#2489
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
One time when that happened and my wife and I were the first to board a plane when the FAs were not expecting us as they were just chatting in the galley, we got punished by having to wait 25 minutes for them to get our jackets and got the PDB just 3 minutes before the plane left the gate.
Mar 21, 2019, 9:30 am
#2490
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
I once arrived first at the door and encountered two FA's sitting in the first row of FC eating a meal, shoes off, all spread out. That was embarrassing for them, though I tried my best to make light of it ("I snuck by past the GA when she wasn't watching!"). If there's no one at the door (common with UAEX), I'll wait before boarding, as the FA is usually on his/her way up the aisle.