Priority boarding for non status in E+
 

For once I'm not asking for help http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.

I stumbled upon this on UAL.com: "As a 1K member flying United, you will receive our new gold Premium Boarding Pass which entitles you to board early with our "premium" customers, including paid United First, United Business and United Economy PlusSM customers, as well as Star Alliance Silver and Gold members".

I thought we had come to the conclusion that a non status flyer in E+ does NOT get priority boarding.

Any thoughts?

goodo

No priority (though occasionally at SFO I've heard the announcement "Anyone with a gold boarding pass is now free to board..."), which would include non status passengers seated in E+.

At IAD and LHR they are always quite specific - Premier and above, plus those seated in C anf F, may board at their leisure.

The problem is that E+ is therefore often the LAST group to board (at least you get the legroom though!)

House, perhaps anyone who had a Gold BP for that flight was indeed a Premier? After all, SFO has a great deal of them, right? Just a possibility.

IMO, it would be a good idea to limit the Gold BPs to F, C, 1K, 1P, 2P, and *G only. That would make Priority boarding a lot easier. Y fare, B fare, M fare, *S, and whoever else has E+ seats should get Blue BPs, so they don't accidentally pre-board (and cause the gate reader agent a headache).

I had a flight recently where the gate agents specifically invited all E+ passengers to board. I can't remember anymore if that was at the same time as the F, 1K, 2P, 1P, etc. or just after them, but it definitely was prior to the general boarding call. I specifically remember because I was so surprised. Can't recall which airport it was though. Might have been ORD.