New Boarding Priority or One-Off
Feb 24, 2011, 11:54 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Feb 24, 2011, 12:49 pm
#17
Used to be MBS PremExec
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+2 from another 1K.
I don't mind if F/GS were allowed to board before me in C on an international flight.
Now, I will admit that when I flew 3-cabin F on ORD-SFO a few weeks ago (a rare treat for me to be in 3-cabin F on ANY flight), I was hoping that I'd be able to board first, but got to the gate from the RCC about 10 minutes before boarding, the red carpet was already insane, and I was probably 40th or 50th to board...It's expected that there are a ton of 1Ks, plus the 30+ C people, but was hoping/expecting that they'd board F first, like they do internationally/PS. Wasn't a big deal, and surely did not push my way through the line...And we all arrived at the same time anyway.
I don't mind if F/GS were allowed to board before me in C on an international flight.
Now, I will admit that when I flew 3-cabin F on ORD-SFO a few weeks ago (a rare treat for me to be in 3-cabin F on ANY flight), I was hoping that I'd be able to board first, but got to the gate from the RCC about 10 minutes before boarding, the red carpet was already insane, and I was probably 40th or 50th to board...It's expected that there are a ton of 1Ks, plus the 30+ C people, but was hoping/expecting that they'd board F first, like they do internationally/PS. Wasn't a big deal, and surely did not push my way through the line...And we all arrived at the same time anyway.
Feb 24, 2011, 12:55 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
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At NRT, they actually called GS/1K/F up to stand in one queue, C to stand in another queue, and asked everyone else to remain seated until their section was called. Some unsuspecting *G in Y walked up and were asked to wait until boarding for C was underway. Very orderly, although some (*sheepishly raises hand*) were confused at first.
Feb 24, 2011, 1:00 pm
#19
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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My experiences in LHR have often been just to have the GS pax board first, even before F. Or at least I thought that wehen they called me up first to board... 
Feb 24, 2011, 11:47 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Austin TX USA
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And I really think Million Milers should be first in line
But I would, wouldn't I. Oh I do hate not being a 1K this year. I purposely wait to be the last on the plane to avoid the shame of being deloused. I do get that look from the GA of "you could have left the RCC 5 minutes earlier". 
Feb 25, 2011, 8:18 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,192
Without the worry of bin space, I now tend to board P.S. a bit late. That being said, I do not remember gate agents consistently calling F/GS/1K prior to C, especially at JFK. It tends to be a big glob of "Premium Pax" standing for a mile on the red carpet.
I would like GS/F -> 1k -> C
I would like GS/F -> 1k -> C
Feb 25, 2011, 8:26 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
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What they say over the PA and what passengers do
Are two different things.
Every once in a while a GA will actually holds up people who try to board early. But by and large it has become a stampede because of carry on bags and bin space.
But, really, how do you hold up granny in zone 4 with a ton of non-elites breathing down her neck, trying to carry on their house?
Every once in a while a GA will actually holds up people who try to board early. But by and large it has become a stampede because of carry on bags and bin space.
But, really, how do you hold up granny in zone 4 with a ton of non-elites breathing down her neck, trying to carry on their house?
Feb 25, 2011, 9:32 am
#23
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Are two different things.
Every once in a while a GA will actually holds up people who try to board early. But by and large it has become a stampede because of carry on bags and bin space.
But, really, how do you hold up granny in zone 4 with a ton of non-elites breathing down her neck, trying to carry on their house?
Every once in a while a GA will actually holds up people who try to board early. But by and large it has become a stampede because of carry on bags and bin space.
But, really, how do you hold up granny in zone 4 with a ton of non-elites breathing down her neck, trying to carry on their house?
My favorite week of flying ever was the beatiful but brief period where there was an absolute liquid ban and barely anyone had carryon luggage. Planes boarded in 10 minutes.
Sorry but C should board before steerage. Even precious 1K's travelling in monkey should board after C. Before the other peasants would be fine.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Feb 25, 2011 at 10:47 am Reason: merge
Feb 25, 2011, 10:21 am
#24
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Without the worry of bin space, I now tend to board P.S. a bit late. That being said, I do not remember gate agents consistently calling F/GS/1K prior to C, especially at JFK. It tends to be a big glob of "Premium Pax" standing for a mile on the red carpet.
I would like GS/F -> 1k -> C
I would like GS/F -> 1k -> C
Feb 25, 2011, 10:23 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
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Yeah that's really the issue. What UA ought to do is charge non elites for a carryons that don't fit in the seat underneath. And the fee should be higher than the checked bag fee, so as to encourage bag checking. Either that or forbid non elites from having carryons.
My favorite week of flying ever was the beatiful but brief period where there was an absolute liquid ban and barely anyone had carryon luggage. Planes boarded in 10 minutes.
My favorite week of flying ever was the beatiful but brief period where there was an absolute liquid ban and barely anyone had carryon luggage. Planes boarded in 10 minutes.
Apr 15, 2011, 2:56 pm
#26
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The sole advantage to boarding early is overhead space. Otherwise, I would just as soon be the last person on the flight. So long as you are among the early boarders in your particular class of service, it does not matter in what order you board. Thus, GS/1K/F followed by C followed by zones gives the GS or 1K travelling in C or Y first dibs on overhead in their cabin.
Apr 15, 2011, 4:04 pm
#27
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,192
Gotta be careful about bin space in C, though. On this last trip both times I was sitting in C during boarding and heard and FA announce to the hoi polloi waiting in the aisle to get to the back that if they see space in the business class bins they can use it. This was while some of the PS seats were still vacant.
Apr 15, 2011, 5:35 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO
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Last week I just noticed the first time the boarding sequence is now GS-F-1K-C on the red carpet. This was an international flight to Asia. There were actually personnel there walk through the line to enforce it by demanding to see the BP.
On the PS flight, my last outbound trip from SFO I noticed the FA announced on the PA system half way of the boarding to tell the Y passengers to use the C overhead bin whenever they saw something available. I boarded late and was standing at the door when the announcement came. I got the last overhead space above my seat (row 9) after the FA re-arrange the blanket/pillows.
On the PS flight, my last outbound trip from SFO I noticed the FA announced on the PA system half way of the boarding to tell the Y passengers to use the C overhead bin whenever they saw something available. I boarded late and was standing at the door when the announcement came. I got the last overhead space above my seat (row 9) after the FA re-arrange the blanket/pillows.
Apr 16, 2011, 2:39 am
#29
Used to be MBS PremExec
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Ever stand in a jetway at ORD in January? Or in PHX in August? 
For me, more than the overhead space is to have my b/p scanned, walk straight on the plane and sit down in one continuous motion. Earlier in this thread I mentioned my 3-class F experience on a ORD-SFO flight...It was probably a good 10 minutes by the time I made it to my seat from the time they first announced "...Now boarding, F, C, 1K GS...", being maybe #40 or #50 to board.
To me, where early boarding is MOST needed, is ORD when flying out of F1 or F14 (or another non-jetway Express flight)...When they do board 1K/GS first, I'm only outside as long as it takes me to walk (very fast) to the plane. When they do the free-for-all boarding, not so much.
For me, more than the overhead space is to have my b/p scanned, walk straight on the plane and sit down in one continuous motion. Earlier in this thread I mentioned my 3-class F experience on a ORD-SFO flight...It was probably a good 10 minutes by the time I made it to my seat from the time they first announced "...Now boarding, F, C, 1K GS...", being maybe #40 or #50 to board.
To me, where early boarding is MOST needed, is ORD when flying out of F1 or F14 (or another non-jetway Express flight)...When they do board 1K/GS first, I'm only outside as long as it takes me to walk (very fast) to the plane. When they do the free-for-all boarding, not so much.
Apr 16, 2011, 9:39 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Potomac MD
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 7,182
We had two separate elite lines at PEK on Thursday. Both were rather long, so the two lines made boarding easier. I didn't realize this--IAD only has one line, so I got on the C line and then switched, but only after the GS/1K/F line had gotten a bit longer!