May 14, 2021, 4:49 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Sequence numbers are an indication of the order in which passengers have checked in for the flight
Checkin time / lower sequence number can be a tie break for CPU priority
Sequence numbers can appears on BPs - printed or mobile
If the GA agent needs to manually enter your BP (such as scanning problems) they may use the sequence number to quickly look up your BP.
Some times when checking in at T-24, you notice your sequence number is higher than you expected: potential reasons are
1) Those on earlier connecting flights that checked in earlier got check-in for the flight before you did.
2) If the flight number is used for an multiple flights in a day, just one set of sequences is used for a flight number each day.
3) A group -- tour, sports team, .... -- checked in earlier
Sequence number "--" could indicate an issue. You may need to uncheck-in and re-checkin.
Checkin time / lower sequence number can be a tie break for CPU priority
Sequence numbers can appears on BPs - printed or mobile
If the GA agent needs to manually enter your BP (such as scanning problems) they may use the sequence number to quickly look up your BP.
Some times when checking in at T-24, you notice your sequence number is higher than you expected: potential reasons are
1) Those on earlier connecting flights that checked in earlier got check-in for the flight before you did.
2) If the flight number is used for an multiple flights in a day, just one set of sequences is used for a flight number each day.
3) A group -- tour, sports team, .... -- checked in earlier
Sequence number "--" could indicate an issue. You may need to uncheck-in and re-checkin.
Sequence Numbers: What are they, how are they used & other questions?
Jul 16, 2012, 1:41 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 248
Yesterday I had my mobile boarding pass and it didn't have a sequence number... at the boarding the MBP scanned but also beeped.
The Gate Agent look at the MBP and realized it needed a sequence number, got into the computer typed in some command (in green dos) got the number from a long string of results, then typed it into a GUI interface to complete.
The GA definitely knew what they were doing the fix only took like 5 seconds! ^
The Gate Agent look at the MBP and realized it needed a sequence number, got into the computer typed in some command (in green dos) got the number from a long string of results, then typed it into a GUI interface to complete.
The GA definitely knew what they were doing the fix only took like 5 seconds! ^
Jul 16, 2012, 1:55 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I meant to comment on this one a while back. I was flying XXX-ORD-MBS. Checked in at XXX about 6 hours before the ORD-MBS flight. On a 50-seat CRJ, I was sequence #53. Not sure how that happened. (The ORD-MBS was never even booked to 50, and went out with a half-dozen empty seats).
Figure that one out!
Figure that one out!
Jul 16, 2012, 2:19 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Marriott LT
Posts: 893
I meant to comment on this one a while back. I was flying XXX-ORD-MBS. Checked in at XXX about 6 hours before the ORD-MBS flight. On a 50-seat CRJ, I was sequence #53. Not sure how that happened. (The ORD-MBS was never even booked to 50, and went out with a half-dozen empty seats).
Figure that one out!
Figure that one out!
I think SHARES just adds the next higher sequence number anytime someone is checked-in, regardless if there are lower sequence numbers of people that were taken off or moved to another flight. I've had sequence numbers on Thurs evening ORD-DCA flights in the high 180s, even though the A320 flown only holds 144.
Jul 16, 2012, 2:24 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
And I also hoard boarding passes, but not at home at the moment to go back and check my old UA ones....so I will take you at your word as a fellow collector
Jul 16, 2012, 2:50 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 363
I think SHARES just adds the next higher sequence number anytime someone is checked-in, regardless if there are lower sequence numbers of people that were taken off or moved to another flight. I've had sequence numbers on Thurs evening ORD-DCA flights in the high 180s, even though the A320 flown only holds 144.
312 wasn't my original sequence number...I was initially 182 but I tried to standby for an earlier flight and when they closed that flight, I was for some reason taken off my confirmed flight. So I was caught in some sort of momentary purgatory where I wasn't on either flight. When the GA added me back to the flight, seq went from 182 to 312.
Jul 16, 2012, 2:52 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
Programs: Former UA 1K, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 5,485
I think SHARES just adds the next higher sequence number anytime someone is checked-in, regardless if there are lower sequence numbers of people that were taken off or moved to another flight. I've had sequence numbers on Thurs evening ORD-DCA flights in the high 180s, even though the A320 flown only holds 144.
Jun 20, 2013, 12:38 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Premier Platinum (and falling fast)
Posts: 566
How do sequence numbers work?
When I look at my boarding pass for a flight tomorrow I see I am "Sequence number" 157. Now, I thought that was based on the order in which one checks in (if I'm able to check in T-30 hrs, for example with a connecting flight I often get Sequence number 1-5), however, for tomorrow's flight, I'm on a 737-800 with 154 seats, and I'm checked in at T-22hrs...
.....am I supposed to believe that 156 people have checked in for that flight before me? (i.e. A total of 3 over capacity, 22hrs in advance?!). Or is there something I'm missing in my belief here?
Curiosity more than anything else.
.....am I supposed to believe that 156 people have checked in for that flight before me? (i.e. A total of 3 over capacity, 22hrs in advance?!). Or is there something I'm missing in my belief here?
Curiosity more than anything else.
Jun 20, 2013, 12:48 am
#23
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 251
When I look at my boarding pass for a flight tomorrow I see I am "Sequence number" 157. Now, I thought that was based on the order in which one checks in (if I'm able to check in T-30 hrs, for example with a connecting flight I often get Sequence number 1-5), however, for tomorrow's flight, I'm on a 737-800 with 154 seats, and I'm checked in at T-22hrs...
.....am I supposed to believe that 156 people have checked in for that flight before me? (i.e. A total of 3 over capacity, 22hrs in advance?!). Or is there something I'm missing in my belief here?
Curiosity more than anything else.
.....am I supposed to believe that 156 people have checked in for that flight before me? (i.e. A total of 3 over capacity, 22hrs in advance?!). Or is there something I'm missing in my belief here?
Curiosity more than anything else.
Jun 20, 2013, 1:34 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Premier Platinum (and falling fast)
Posts: 566
Jul 3, 2013, 2:46 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
I just checked in T-24 for a flight, hadn't used United Moble Boarding passes before (mostly because the regional airports I've been in haven't had them, and Chicago has been US airways for me)..
I was wondering what SEQ was as well, since it showed a 1 for me. Reading this makes me think that's kind of cool I was the first to check in I guess?
I was wondering what SEQ was as well, since it showed a 1 for me. Reading this makes me think that's kind of cool I was the first to check in I guess?
Jul 3, 2013, 2:52 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
I just checked in T-24 for a flight, hadn't used United Moble Boarding passes before (mostly because the regional airports I've been in haven't had them, and Chicago has been US airways for me)..
I was wondering what SEQ was as well, since it showed a 1 for me. Reading this makes me think that's kind of cool I was the first to check in I guess?
I was wondering what SEQ was as well, since it showed a 1 for me. Reading this makes me think that's kind of cool I was the first to check in I guess?
Hence, you'll beat one of the final tie-breakers for CPU.
Jul 3, 2013, 6:03 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 638
Every once in a while, something goes wrong at the gate (e.g., during irrops), and the GA starts collecting paper boarding passes. With the ones printed at home, the GA just tears of the corner that has the sequence number on it. That's all they need.
The other day, auto-check-in on the return flight gave me #2. On the outbound flight, I checked in at T-24 and got #221. I suppose pretty much everyone else was connecting and checked in earlier than T-24. Or they all were on their return, and auto-check-in had already run.
Now that time of check-in is no longer a significant tie-breaker, it doesn't really matter anymore.
The other day, auto-check-in on the return flight gave me #2. On the outbound flight, I checked in at T-24 and got #221. I suppose pretty much everyone else was connecting and checked in earlier than T-24. Or they all were on their return, and auto-check-in had already run.
Now that time of check-in is no longer a significant tie-breaker, it doesn't really matter anymore.