Does United Airlines Board Military first?

According to a Sept. 18 statement, service personnel will no longer be required to wear a uniform to obtain pre-boarding privileges on United Airlines flights.

In response to customer feedback, the airline implemented an updated boarding procedure that improved communication and dramatically reduced time spent in queues. 

However, one change in particular is intended to favor active-duty military people. Previously, the airline's policy permitted active-duty personnel to pre-board any aircraft as long as they wore their service uniform. 


The airline has now extended its pre-boarding perks to non-uniformed active-duty employees as well, so doning the stuffy duds to board before everyone else is no longer essential.

United Airlines spokesperson Maddie King stated, "This is a move that was actually driven by input from our frontline staff.

It's a terrific opportunity for United to honor our military personnel for their service while also giving them more time to settle in before our boarding groups begin boarding the plane.

According to the release, the redesigned boarding process will give travelers extra time to spend at airport restaurants or bars if they choose not to pre-board, a period important for tossing back a few cocktails and shaking off those pre-flight nerves.

Related: Does United Airlines Assign Seats?

What I Noticed

I don't have any United status (I have Silver thanks to my Marriott Titanium level), but I was booked into First Class, which meant I got a boarding card with Group 1 emblazoned on it.

I was shocked to see Group 1 on my boarding card because I'm generally in Group 2 even when flying domestically in First Class with oneworld Emerald status on American Airlines, but I didn't think much about it until I witnessed United's boarding in action.

When you arrive at a United departure gate, you'll notice banners encouraging passengers with Group 1 and Group 2 on their boarding tickets to queue up, as well as signs advising those in lower groups to take a seat and wait to be called. There's nothing unusual about any of it.

The (extremely polite) gate agent on my flight requested passengers with young children and those who needed a little additional time to board (due to bad health, not due to unexplained stupidity) to come forward for pre-boarding about the time boarding was set to begin.

There's nothing special about it - it's a call you'll hear at almost every airport gate on the planet.

Related: What is United Airlines Baggage Policy?

The Problem

If you look at United's boarding process page, you'll notice that the airline has designed its boarding order in such a way that it can make relatively insignificant customers feel valued (it gives them Group 1 boarding rights, which sounds good), while giving the passengers it considers important the right to "pre-board."

Pre-boarding is usually reserved for the elderly, the less mobile, and families with young children, but at United, it also includes unaccompanied kids, active military members, Global Services members, and 1K members.


The Solution

The answer is straightforward. United should cease massaging some of the more fragile egos and create a new "Group 1" that includes Global Service Members, uniformed military people, and 1K members, while lowering all other boarding classifications by one level.

Pre-boarding on United will be similar to pre-boarding on most other airlines, the boarding sequence will not alter, and people's expectations will be better handled.

Sure, some Platinum and Gold members' egos may be damaged, and some passengers booked in a premium cabin may not feel as privileged... Who cares, though?

Helping customers understand when they can legitimately expect to board is far more essential than keeping a few fragile egos in tact, and it would almost certainly go a long way toward improving passenger satisfaction.

Conclusion

It would be helpful if United made a greater effort to assist less experienced fliers in determining when they can expect to board their aircraft by not providing Group 1 boarding status to those who would then be required to watch while a large number of other passengers board ahead of them.

United's boarding groups aren't an issue for those of us who are used to traveling and rolling with the variances in how airlines choose to manage boarding. 

Watching 20 - 30 passengers board ahead of you when you anticipated to be one of the first to board might be worrisome for the less experienced traveller looking for overhead bin space... That is never a nice thing to do.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is It Better To Buy Economy Then Upgrade?

Image
If you're thinking about flying in first class, think again. It can be cheaper than you think. For most of us, flying first class is beyond our budget. However, if you're a smart traveler, you can still fly in luxury with a fraction of the cost.  For those who are still dreaming of flying in first class, here are some simple steps to upgrade to first class or to a premium class for less. Upgrading From Economy to First Class Buy an Upgrade with Miles, Points, or Cash Airlines usually try to make more money by upgrading economy passengers. You can either upgrade your ticket using miles or points after you purchased an economy ticket. Before you book, make sure to check your flight's status to see if there's a chance that the price for a premium cabin ticket will decrease as you get closer to departure. The cheapest way to get a first-class or economy ticket is by buying an upgrade after booking. Related:  How Do United Airlines Miles Work? Bid for an Upgrade Some airline...
Read more

Is Southwest A Better Alternative To Delta?

Image
This page will help you sort through the various options when it comes to choosing a flight. It will also give you helpful hints and tips on how to get the most out of your trip. Can Delta and Southwest Airlines even be considered competitors? Both carriers are known for their impeccable customer service and innovative approach to air travel. Back then, Southwest was typically regarded as a low-cost carrier that targeted certain customers. These days, it is more of a thing that they compete against the likes of Delta, United, and American. Delta vs. Southwest: a comparison of the two airlines These two airlines have plenty of similarities , but they also have plenty of differences. In terms of customer satisfaction, they are both highly ranked. Both Delta and Southwest have international routes that can serve over 50 countries. On the other hand, Southwest has a smaller international market with destinations in Central and South America. Delta offers first and premium economy seats on...
Read more

Does United Airlines Do Military Discount?

Image
For a long time, airline customers have crowded at the gate, waiting for their group to be called. This has hampered the airplane boarding process. United Airlines , on the other hand, feels that their new, simpler boarding procedure will assist to relieve the situation. According to United's Maria Walter, managing director of global operations planning, "the concept arose about a year ago when a growing number of customers complained about time spent standing in line and congested boarding areas." We didn't want people to be stressed or anxious before they boarded," Walter said, noting that passengers who had just gotten off a prior aircraft and travelers with impairments were most affected by the crowds at the gate. As a result, United abandoned its earlier practice of splitting passengers into five distinct queues before boarding. It will still contain multiple distinct groups of passengers, but the number of lines in which they must wait will be reduced to tw...
Read more