CDKing

Which is interesting because although i've only flown 4 CO segments, Military were allowed to board with F and Children came after elites on each flight.

FriendlySkies

How will elite boarding work? All elites on the red carpet?

UA-NYC

Another tick in the post-merger negative column for 1ks.

No improvements whatsoever.

Asuka

So how does that work with the Red Carpet?

Military I can understand via the Blue lane if there are any.

But with 1K/First/Business all on the Red Carpet, how are they going to board First?

hobo13

Glad Little Hobo just showed up! 1K with a kid sounds like the new GS!

double_black77

The method behind airline row numbers:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/05/02....html?hpt=Sbin

qoodoo

I call shenanigans because for one....

Military, First, Elites, Children under 4/5... Then rows...and its been like that always...the op states children after military which I doubt. unless I actually see some proof lol

BTW op has 20 posts. Think he's just trying for a reaction from you guys.

Dr_Adventure

I think it is - there is a research article online that shows there is not much difference but back to front is the most inefficient.

I just don't know why we keep getting saddled with the worst of CO - we seem to be getting all of their old outdated things policy, globes, etc.

channa

There could be something else driving this. Perhaps even a system limitation. CO's systems may not be setup to do the zoned boarding, and CO's systems are the ones that are being kept.

Not that it's a challenge that couldn't be overcome, but with the hundreds of other things to do in a merger, getting a big 1 to print on a boarding pass may not be a priority.

cordelli

I've seen them board families with children and those needing additional time before anybody else gets on board, before the elites.

guess that's a double shenanigans

The boarding order doesn't really matter. The experience of the people boarding is what matters. Get a plane full of business people and people who travel more than once a year to go see the mouse, you will board in half the time of the saturday flights to Florida.

Walk on, put your carry on wheels first over your seat and sit down will always be faster than walk in, make rude comments to the elites who got on before you, stand in the aisle, put all your stuff on your seat, try your carry on in the five configurations it can't fit until you get it in the one it can, realize you forgot your something or other, bring it back down, make faces at people squeezing by, and repeat with the other two bags you brought on board, no matter which order they call first.

c502cid

The GA today in SFO told me that children will indeed be boarding before elites. He told me the effective date but I was too busy trying to get inside the red carpet to hear him

kb1992

The worst has yet to come, folks.

So far nearly all "changes" are negative to UA 1Ks. That is indisputable.

At least I have warned this board.

SMI/J and CO are bringing the worst of CO to the new UNITED.

Dr_Adventure

Is that true that all CO systems are staying and UA's are going away? What about look of the website? God I hope we don't get stuck with CO's clunk and chunk model.

cerealmarketer

Let's see what sfogate says...

I buy the systems limitation issue.

But wonder in the communication to staff whether they will reinforce the policy used (not consistently) on elite heavy flights under CO -- which is to board by elite level.

Should be fun to watch...

I'm guessing the Smisek test was 'well all 1Ks and GS are in first already right' -- or at least bought up there...

And UA agents may not be happy if this is slower -- equals less chance of getting the on-time bonus.

Hartmann

I don't think I've ever had a mainline CO flight where they boarded children before elites. They've said things like, "if you need special assistance, please come to the podium".