RobOnLI

Omaha definitely has flights with F and that airport is in NE, not IA. The rest of them (LBF, EAR, etc.) do not.
True Kansas airports do not (HYS, SLN, DDC, LBL). Of course I'm assuming you mean "trick" because Kansas City definitely has F but is an airport across the river in Missouri.

-RM

ContinentalFan

I definitely see the attraction to boarding last; the only issue I have is that it increases the chances of finding a poacher in your seat with all the hassle involved with the eviction.

nomad420

Totally agree, didn't mean to signal out only UA on this issue. Also, just experienced the small'ish gate issue with boarding of a 777 in DEN. What is it like 250 paxs crammed between the gate and the adjacent moving walkway, it was needless to say a mess.

WineCountryUA

Today (MCI -- shared airport of Kansas City, MO/KS)
DEN-MCI is A319 .
IAH-MCI is E75
ORD-MCI is A319
EWR-MCI is 738
IAD-MCI is E75

have flown MCI-SFO in the past on E75

lsquare

I agree. I find it so funny when the rep goes on the PA and announce which boarding group is to line up and yet there are still ineligible people swarming the area near the counter.

​​​​​​​I generally don't have a problem with boarding last as it's less chaotic, but then there is the problem with finding space in the overhead bin above my seat in economy. If I have an expensive camera and lens with me, I want that to be near me.

selo

On yesterday's LAX-NRT UA 32 boarding, the GA came on the PA and said she was going to be very specific about the boarding process, as the screen listed the order. The first to board were a small group of gentlemen (at least two above/below 80), a couple of families with younger-than 2 year old children (one such family took the entire first raw and the children were very quiet the entire flight), a few active military personnel, no GS, and a 2-3 1Ks. She even turned away a few people who either did not know or just pretended not to know the process. Very nicely handled indeed.
The purser and the entire crew were great during boarding and flight; I got thanked for continuing to be a 1K by name (very difficult to pronounce).
And one of the early boarders happened to be Mr. Engelbert Humperdinck going to Manila (I think) for a concert and later a charity event. Upon landing he took his own carry-on from the overhead bin and refused the wheelchair. Looked to be in very good shape at 86.

zombietooth

His first concert is Resorts World at Genting Highlands, Malaysia and then, 3 concerts in Thailand at Hua Hin, Samui and Phuket. Thence, back to the US.

h2oflyboy

The onboard staff have no idea who has either paid by miles or money - or how much of each. This level of knowledge is not taught to the CS staff, only a few understand the ticket’s true value.

Boarding seasoned 1K after the parade of strollers is wrong. More than one time, I've been behind 2 sets of families blocking both GA who are now entering tag number for strollers - it stops boarding completely. These same procreators have been known to leave strollers in the pathway of oncoming passengers. Some don't fold their strollers, some are still putting them into bags which take 4 hands - 2 to open the bag and 2 to insert the strollers. If they could change one thing - Boarding of small children under 2 should happen at the end of the PB process. Shocker... UA is going to eliminate paper BP soon - families with small children are going to be at the gate reader even longer. If UA switched 1K ahead of families the GA would have additional time to clear the strollers off to the side of even make sure the ground staff has had an opportunity to send someone upstairs to retrieve them. Often times when the strollers go down for boarding is when the majority of cargo/bags are being loaded. The longer you put off the stroller parade, the better for the ground/baggage staff. Before the GA start with group 1, the FA could safely offer the FC cabin a PDB. Then the GA could safely start on group 1.

About the "seasoned !K" - They are the BIS flyers - they fly more often than some GS - GS isn't based on PQF type status. You could earn GS by buying few very expensive J tickets. I've encountered some GS, that don't even know about the mileage plus program. Writing this, as a "seasoned 1K" - I made a huge error on a 2023 booking, and thru the 1K reservations line and customer care - I got an exception. I will never make that mistake again - Lesson learned - ALWAYS READ T&C!

As for ordering my "free" snack & beverage - it has never been an issue. The FA carry a small hand-held device that show the location of the 1K - NEVER SWITCH SEATS! Even though the process of snack/beverages is tedious, I've had a lot recognize my status at this time. I've also had the FM come into economy and thank me. In FC, I have preordered my meal (twice) and it has been boarded and the FA has offered it to me, or asked if I wanted something else - and I can see the FA jockeying around FC asking 1st meal choice preferences from the 1Ks first.

In the UC, I'm guessing around 98% acknowledge and thank me for my loyalty; just this year, I've flown 51 PQFs.

Overall, my status and loyalty has greatly been appreciated and acknowledged. In the end, I'm happy with UA and their 1K program.

If I can, boarding last is my favorite thing to do. I do not do it often, but on short trips with just my backpack, I can. I have been felt rushed by the GA as I am hanging out near the gate to board "Immediately" - I chuckle as I look down the loading bridge that is packed full of sweaty (90-100 degree heat in IAH) passengers. I would prefer to stay in the AC as long as possible! My backpack can fit under the seat, but usually there is still room for it in one of the FC overheads. As I am sitting down, the FA asks if I would like a PDB - so I don't even miss that treat.


The 777HD are the reason I route myself thru ORD to HNL or OGG. I did book a 787 OGGLAX in DEC - let's hope it stays that way. If only UA was similar to AA or DL on their LONG HAUL Hawaii market flights they offer access to Flagship (DFW) or Delta One/SkyClub (ATL/SLC) access. AND their prices are less expensive. UA doesn't offer UC for this.

If I were to buy my Dec OGG trip today, UA has added a Q400 FC and Q90 Y-class surcharge due to the popularity of the market for certain dates in Dec.


..... and this is where they go! I'm happy to know that the FAs do not eat all the gifted treats brought onboard by customers and fellow staff.

Repooc17

Same.

I reminded the GA 15 min door closure, and no one is going anyway with a full line of pax on the jet bridge. She was not happy with me

h2oflyboy

The usage of the + has been used for a long time ago at UA Economy Plus: E+ // but the Premium Plus didn't get the fun + sign and is abbreviated PP. Hope this trick helps with the Initialism/acronyms. I'm also efficient at Disney initialism/acronyms.


Like you'd ever find 9 GS on one flight waiting for an UG!

kdad

Well, since you asked how are 1K being treated, my flight to EWR tonight in Y was cancelled last night. I was rebooked very soon after cancellation without any work on my part tomorrow morning with a confirmed upgrade.

h2oflyboy

That is quite nice that the length of your loyalty was recognized too. I do believe we joined the same year '87.


NOPE! that is so wrong - you can't have your group 1 shuffle in immediately after the 1K board. where do "they" go? Should have cleared the group 2 line for the 1Ks, then whilst Group 1 is boarding the group 2 queue can fill up.

I'm sitting here close to the 96 hour time. I actually saw there was J9 to sell on united dot com, so I downgraded to economy. I'm not using my PlusPoints cuz THERE's 9 seats OPEN! my upgrade charge is $199 for this leg - which when added to the my current fare is was over the $249 FC I had purchased. I wish there was a way to see how many people will do the BuyUp to FC and what did they pay at check-in. And I'm not hurting on the PlusPoints as I tend to find really inexpensive FC fares.

uastarflyer

That would be super confusing, as 1K boarding passes also say Group 1. It would also slow boarding.

GlobalServiced

Try flying out of Houston to Denver on the B772… The WFBF crowd sure does make an upgrade hard to come by.

perkele

we really should "make P+ happen". i was really struggling the other day to decide whether i could refer to both Premium Plus and Plus Points as PP in the same reply.