United changing how they board.

[sam_gordon]

Apparently United is going to the "Wilma" (Windows, middle, aisle) order of boarding...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...nes-boarding-window-middle-aisle/71168132007/

The good... when Mythbusters tested different ways to board, Wilma was one of the fastest, and had a high satisfaction score...

Here's the entire segment if you want to watch...

Now, questions I have:
1) How much of the plane will be filled with Pre-boards and "elite" flyers (including Chase Credit card holders) who all board before Wilma comes into play?
2) What happens with travelling companions? Whether that's an adult couple or two adults and a child who are sitting aisle, middle, and window? Do they wait until two of them can board? Wait for all three? How does that affect boarding times?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Interesting, if they try this. Sadly, boarding efficiency is only as good as the makeup of the people boarding that flight. That one person who's oblivious, and stands in the middle of the aisle looking for their reading glasses before putting their bag up, holding up the entire plane......!!

 

[Donna M]

Also, my dh would go in first, then I get aisle seats but he needs to help get my carry on loaded. There is a problem.

 

[jujubiee4]

So families can't board together?

 

[Debbie Jean]

Interested to see how this is implemented but I don’t fly United till December. And I often travel solo so it’s not an issue for me.

It would be helpful if people could post their experience of how this actually works out IRL. I’m thinking there has to be a provision for families.

 

[sam_gordon]

So families can't board together?

My gut reaction would say they would board with the aisle folks (or whoever is the last allowed to board). But then that screws up the system.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't think America is ready for this, lol.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

I don’t think that travel companions seated together would mess up this system. If I have the row of three, and we board together with the window group, then no one would come along later for the window seat that people would have to empty the row to get in. Same if we were middle and aisle and boarded with middle. Same as if we were both aisle and we boarded with aisles. The only problem would be if we had for example one side of three and the other side aisle. Then if we board together for window the across aisle person in the other side would have to move if they let them board with the windows.

The only reason most people want to board sooner is the issue of the overhead bins. Honestly that is made worse by travelers who take up more than one overhead bin space. In my experience despite the gate agents numerous announcements that coats and personal items go under the seats and not in overheads, so many people stuck them in overheads and the flight attendants don’t police this, so there is no overhead space for later boarders. I wished your ticket gave you a seat and one marked overhead space, and boarding would be much better.

 

[_19disnA]

Sadly, boarding efficiency is only as good as the makeup of the people boarding that flight. That one person who's oblivious, and stands in the middle of the aisle looking for their reading glasses before putting their bag up, holding up the entire plane......!!

I agree it only takes one person who has NO idea what they are doing and acts like this is their first time on an airplane to slow down the boarding of everyone behind them. That article talks about saving TWO minutes which seems like nothing when boarding. Have seen people that don't know their seat assignment, don't have their ticket handy or can't figure out the posted symbols that indicate window/center/aisle or drag all of the luggage on the plane then seem miffed there is nowhere to put it.

A lot of people drag their luggage on the plane to save on the checked baggage fees. To me that seems like the biggest factor in slowing down the boarding process. Always fun to watch those who put their items in the overhead bins a few rows BEHIND where they are sitting not realizing they will likely be one of the LAST people able to exit when we land. Seems like boarding from the BACK of the plane would go faster since you don't end up with some logjam of people behind you while they try to figure out where they are seated.

 

[jujubiee4]

The only reason most people want to board sooner is the issue of the overhead bins. Honestly that is made worse by travelers who take up more than one overhead bin space. In my experience despite the gate agents numerous announcements that coats and personal items go under the seats and not in overheads, so many people stuck them in overheads and the flight attendants don’t police this, so there is no overhead space for later boarders. I wished your ticket gave you a seat and one marked overhead space, and boarding would be much better.

This is definitely a problem. I have heard grumblings about it from travel community but experienced
twice recently with someone putting her carryon .. a big shopping bag and backpack in overhead.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think they should let anyone who doesn't need overhead bin space board first.

 

[sam_gordon]

A lot of people drag their luggage on the plane to save on the checked baggage fees.

The common advice is to bring everything for the first 24 hours with you on the plane, not to save checked baggage fees, but in case your checked luggage gets lost or misdirected.

I don't get charged to check a bag, yet still bring on a carry on in addition to my backpack. First, it all but eliminates luggage getting misdirected. Second, I don't have to wait at my destination for luggage to come out on the belt.

Seems like boarding from the BACK of the plane would go faster since you don't end up with some logjam of people behind you while they try to figure out where they are seated.

When Mythbusters tested it, back to front boarding was actually the slowest, but a significant margin.

 

[tom1944]

How do they deal with children?

 

[Debbie Jean]

I think they should let anyone who doesn't need overhead bin space board first.

This is me. At my age, I can’t lift a bag to get it into the overhead bin… while I have always found people to be very kind, offering help, my solution is a wonderful rolling bag that fits under the seat. And yes, it easily accommodates all my needs for 24 hours if my checked luggage goes astray.

Since I always book an aisle seat, the bonus is I actually don’t mind boarding last!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Apparently United is going to the "Wilma" (Windows, middle, aisle) order of boarding...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...nes-boarding-window-middle-aisle/71168132007/

The good... when Mythbusters tested different ways to board, Wilma was one of the fastest, and had a high satisfaction score...

Here's the entire segment if you want to watch...

Now, questions I have:
1) How much of the plane will be filled with Pre-boards and "elite" flyers (including Chase Credit card holders) who all board before Wilma comes into play?
2) What happens with travelling companions? Whether that's an adult couple or two adults and a child who are sitting aisle, middle, and window? Do they wait until two of them can board? Wait for all three? How does that affect boarding times?

1. My last UA flights 2/3 of the plane were groups 1/2 so I think that’s why this is only expected to shave like 2 mins off boarding. Their elite level boarding is hilarious, I swear Group 2 feels more cattle call like than Groups 3-4.

2. In boarding tests this year according to chatter on Flyertalk guests on the same PNR board in the same, earliest group eligible. I don’t expect that to change as it would cause a mess for gate agents.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I have only had the misfortune of flying United once or twice, but just sitting in the terminal listening to the 73 different boarding groups based on what your affinity elite status is, where you're sitting, and what credit card you have, and every other possible variation seemed terribly inefficient. "Next, we'll be boarding our Premier Platinum Star Alliance members traveling in United Polaris" or whatever it is, followed by the next 20 affinity sub-categories before they even hit the main cabin groups.

 

[leebee]

I wish they'd enforce the size requirements for carry-ons. There just might be more overhead bin space if someone wasn't always trying to squeeze something too large, or too many bags, into the overhead bin.

 

[CarolynFH]

Also, my dh would go in first, then I get aisle seats but he needs to help get my carry on loaded. There is a problem.

So families can't board together?

How do they deal with children?

Everyone in a given traveling party gets to board with the first person in that party. IOW, I always get a window and DH gets a middle seat. When they call boarding for window seats, we both get to board.

 

[Genie+]

I wish the overhead bins would not be a free for all. Like for a 3 slot bin over 3 seats - it is for the passengers of those 3 seats. People throwing their carryon in the first available bin - no.

 

[hrhdhd]

I have only had the misfortune of flying United once or twice, but just sitting in the terminal listening to the 73 different boarding groups based on what your affinity elite status is, where you're sitting, and what credit card you have, and every other possible variation seemed terribly inefficient. "Next, we'll be boarding our Premier Platinum Star Alliance members traveling in United Polaris" or whatever it is, followed by the next 20 affinity sub-categories before they even hit the main cabin groups.