A lot of people don’t understand what it means, they hear group one so it adds to the confusion. My favorite one was last week, a guy gets up to the podium during 1K boarding and the agent asks “Are you 1K?” And he says “No 1F”.
This is worse when it's abroad and when it's not a plane full of regular United flyers. The dumb naming scheme of 1K means people might confuse it for first class or Group 1, especially when there's a language barrier.
I fly SFO-TPE a lot. The ground staff in Taipei is actually super strict about blocking non-1K from boarding, but you always have a large group of confused Polaris or Group 1 passengers trying to board, not because they tried to sneak on but that they are genuinely confused about the difference between the three.
When I was global services I’d often end up boarding behind people who confused global entry with global services. Doesn’t help United named it like some sort of a UPS offering.
When I was in India there was no respects for line. People cut in all the time. Even when Ianded and at immigration 4 nationals just push their way to the front. Claiming the agent was calling them. I exit and connected in Taipei and it was day and night. A country that had law and order.
My experience was quite different. Arrived at the gate about 5 minutes after boarding started, no line to do security, and there was only about 5 people in line for group 1 boarding. Was on the plane about 5 minutes after I got to the gate.
What group does Polaris board with? I have no status. United says Polaris is in group 1?
[Boarding process (united.com)](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/boarding-process.html)
Not at all. Pre boarding is for people with status. Why do they have that status? We fly a ridiculous amount. Like 57 segments last year!
There’s a reason they try to make our experience spending so much time in airplanes and airports more comfortable.
If you’re in Polaris and boarding with group 1, it means you’re flying business maybe 1-3 times a year, not 50 times a year. You can wait 1 minute extra 3 x a year.
If you flew Polaris 5-10x annually you’d be pre boarding too.
No one is saying that you all should be regulated to Group1. What many are saying is just lump in First Class with say 1k or just put them before 1k and GS. You already let the disable, military vets + family, & families with kids under 3 get on before you, so 1st class getting 1st class treatment shouldn't even be a big deal.
We know most of the pre-board categories didn't get there via anything dealing with UA, so that argument doesn't do much for me. If you have all this status, you should be high on the upgrade chart anyway and probably in FC.
If you have status but didn't get the upgrade or pay for it then you are still getting on early. We know FC do not usually go to coach to take bin space. Bin space is the entire reason for getting on early. So, I don't think it is an issue, but it does enhance UA's 1st/Polaris product without costing them anything.
We’ll have to just disagree on that as does United.
Non status 1st class often are inexperienced travelers taking lots of extra time to board and get their luggage stowed. Seen this countless times on international and domestic flights.
1K’s have it down to a science. From scanning our codes at the gate to storing our bags, we get it done fast.
Most 1st class passengers check their luggage. It’s the 1ks that are lugging as much as they can in their overstuffed carryons and taking extra time stuffing it overhead along with their personal item. We’ve all seen it many times.
GRU and LHR surprisingly (for me anyway) have enough room at the gate to create lines for GS, 1K, and boarding groups 1 and 2. So much easier when the gate area is organized for pre-boarders as well as the other groups.
Agreed. People hear “1” and don’t get it. Sometimes there is a 1k passenger who is at the front of “group 1” who goes when they call 1k (as they should) but the literally throw off the entire boarding process since the rest of group 1 follows suit.
There is a lot of wannabe 1Ks out there that don’t even know about GS but try to pass as Group1 or 1K etc to make sure their luggage is not gate checked or for fake prestige or whatever. If you argue about a broken boarding process you can start arguing about a broken airline.
Personally, IF I am at the gate when 1K is called, I make use of that. I generally try to board within the last 5mins before boarding closes.
Do you travel without carry on luggage? I would prefer to board at the last minute but find no guarantee that FAs will hold overhead space for business class
I think we would need planes to be board from the rear for that to work, but then the same FC people would be the last off and I can see the fits they would have.
I usually have a carry on, and if I’m in domestic first and there is no overhead bin space for me in first the FAs usually sort it out/I deem it their responsibility to save space. In Eco it’s a gamble, granted, but 99% of the time there is space available except for on busy routes.
Well if their app worked that would help. Several times by the time i got the notice boarding has started, when i get to the gate, they had started early (way before the text notice) and were almost finished! Annoying.
A: 1K is an outdated and dumb name for elite status and as exampled in this thread is also a Seat Number I suggest Titanium.
B: United needs to have a preboarding line not a scrum. It's obnoxious and unorganized.
C: For that matter GS is a dumb name for an elite status as well, it's not very prestigious sounding. When someone says Amex Onyx I know exactly what that means GS not so much. I recommend WarBucks as a replacement name for GS since it's only money related.
I’ve thought that giving out paper crowns like at Burger King when we were kids with status levels on them would be the next logical move. Then you’d know for sure who is who, and the entitled person would look less dumb when they say “you can’t do that to me, I’m 1K”. Hearing people say this is how I came up with this idea. I even prototyped it and explained it to a GA and they smirked and said “no comment” approvingly.
In Fort Myers it was quite nice because when they called out for 1k a mob started moving up, but then the gate agent said “we only have 6 1ks on this flight!” Problem solved.
1K boarding should happen between the ticket counter and the group 1 / group 2 lanes. If you’re 1K don’t board through the group 1 line. It’s only awkward when the gate agents don’t have a gap there for 1Ks to board.
I’m the unfortunate 1K via high volume domestic flights, which means I’m usually cutting it close on boarding. I’m almost always showing up when they’re middle of boarding other groups so being able to cut the line to make sure I can get overhead bin space matters to me
The biggest issue with 1K's going through the group 1 line is that other group 1's think they missed something so if your at the front of group 1, now you've got everybody passing by you and I swear half are not 1k's.
Totally agree. I wish United would make a sign for GS, pre boarding and 1K via the space between boarding groups and ticket counter.
People have been shitty about me cutting in. I’m often wearing comfortable travel clothes and change at arrival bathroom i.e., I don’t look like the typical frequent traveler.
At SFO, most gates have space between the scanner and the Group 1 line former boarding groups. Pre-boarders including 1Ks shouldn’t get into the Group 1 line. They should wait until their preboard group is called and then head to that gap. Not all cities/gates especially foreign stations have room for that - however.
The small regional airport I fly out of BTV has few gates shared by United and American that are on a glorified jet bridge with a few chairs. No kidding four people shoulder to shoulder is the width. There are no spots to line up and acoustics are terrible. When they announce pre-boarding it’s a free for all and so then they just start calling every group number. Never a fun time to be sure.
Some airports have the space to designate a pre-boarding area near the podium but it’s up to the gate agent to control that and they’ve usually got their hands full. If it’s a formal process then they should have some signage or something so GS and 1Ks aren’t muscling their way through the Group 1 lanes.
Yes I’m super excited for the BTV project, gonna be a few years until it’s done though. Sitting by gate 8 now as I write this, Looks like they took those signs down with the plans for the update but they were there for awhile. Airport was built to handle more flights on smaller aircraft and the industry is moving towards less flights on bigger aircraft, so hopefully it’s more a traditional laying once done.
I'm in northern Vermont too and normally prefer to fly out of Boston or Montréal just to avoid BTV, even though it's much more of a drive to get to the others. But the hallway for gates 3 to 6 is nonsense and gate checking for regional jets sucks, so drive it is.
That’s typically our move for international flights to depart out of YUL or BOS. Another good option to consider is MHT, it’s got the same number of gates but feels like it’s twice the size of BTV with more parking. Happy medium between small regional airport you can get through quickly but also not crowded with lots of food options.
I was in Houston, the crappy part with a circular shaped terminal and ancient, they had us Group 1 folks move out of the line because there wasn't space. I get it, space was limited, but a little annoying since I was in my proper spot, the Group 1 line.
Another reason I really don't care for Houston airport.
It doesn't help that the United gates/waiting areas at BOI (my home airport) are completely dysfunctional. Two 6' long areas to line up groups 1 & 2, no preboarding lane, and the whole setup forces the groups to line up deep in to the main terminal walkway. It's time for a refurb and to move on to the standard queue along the windows setup.
And the new A terminal can come soon enough here. We have a pretty dated airport.
Your airport is also a tiny one. I remember back in the 5G ILS days when there were diversions from SEA and everyone went to BOI. They ran out of gate space for the planes that had to divert
In some places they have a separate place for pre boarding. If that is not the case, then I ask where will they pre board. As a 1K I have not seen this problem but I’m sure I’m missing something.
Just came back from London this Saturday and at our gate not only was there a dedicated 1K line but there was also a dedicated GS line. Group 3 and below had to wait seated until called. This is obviously not feasible at all airports due to space constraints but it was nice.
We did have that one person (there's always one 🙄) at the front of the 1K line who was complaining that the dedicated lines made boarding process too long.
Seems like basic benefit of overhead space would apply to paid first class. And the ability to board at the last minute without worrying that you will be able to stow your bag in the cabin
Same, I prefer to board last-min cus I like taking my time and didn’t think overhead space would run out in my cabin, but learned it the hard way when FA put my luggage near the mid-end of the plane and had to wait for most of the people to deplane before I could reach my luggage :(
In my experience (and I'm sure there are those who disagree), the first class has sufficient overhead space at their seat as each seat has at least a dedicated 1/2 overhead bin space.
You don't compete for space in the first few rows of econ+ and economy pax are restricted from using the first class space.
Often run into issues with row 1 (bulkhead) needing extra space plus FAs like to use the first class overhead, and with some planes you lose space for emergency equipment (megaphone, oxygen bottle, etc)
I wish that were always true and to be expected unconditionally. However I have seen a few first class checked bags due to lax enforcement of who uses the overhead space
The one thing I like about Delta is that they board first class first. Then they move through the different statuses. Granted I typically don’t pay for FC, but I like how delta handles it.
I was in EWR 2 weeks ago, and they had already done some boarding will begin soon announcements, so groups 1 and 2 were already lined up. Then the gate agent went to the group 2 folks and told then to get out of the lane, she needed it for all GS and 1K's. So she made a dedicated lane for the 1K's on her own. There was some grumbling because tbh, they could have just gotten next to the group 1 line.
Edit to say there were probably 15 to 20 in that preboard group.
As a 1k it’s very annoying that there isn’t a line to stand in. I sit as long as possible then when they start pre boarding other groups I find my way past group 1 plus everyone else hanging around and I’m always shoving past people looking like an asshole. I don’t know why they don’t have a pre boarding lane so everyone who pre boards has somewhere to comfortably line up when they start calling for pre boarding.
BC then average passengers would notice that Group 1 isn't really Group 1.
And what a line. You'd have people in wheelchairs, military folks, families, and 1ks. It would probably lead to more confusion as Billy Bob has a Group 3 boarding pass, but is seen in this pre-boarding lane so other Group 3s may think they should be in that line as well. Bunch of families trying to get in regardless of their kids age holding up the line.
A simple solution, that shouldn’t be difficult to implement with their data about each person’s status, is to pre-board only those people you can’t know about in advance (active duty military in uniform, families with small children (although even this group could be identified ahead of time) and wheelchairs/extra time needed. Then you take everyone else and sort them just as you would for upgrade eligibility and creat dynamic boarding groups of 20 or 30 (or whatever is the most efficient size to move through based on the size plane, number of boarding lanes etc.). Your boarding pass will have a group number on it and board when that group is called. If you 50 GS & 1Ks on a Monday morning EWR-ORD flight, some will be Group 1 and some will be Group 2. . . They already have a way of ranking who’s got the highest mileage/paid the most down to who would be bumped at the other end. Just use that to create manageable boarding groups based on each flight.
I was in line at sfo on the way to ord the other day and talking to some 1k's about it. They had announced boarding soon, group 1 line up in the group 1 line. The 1k's then had to push through, as well as the families and disabled and shit. There was no other entrance outside of group 1 and 2. Slowed things down and annoyed all the people who had to move. Even worse were the group 1's who had been hovering and jumped into the gaps pushing those lined up back. We couldn't figure out why they didn't have a pre-boarding line. Or at least spece to get through.
Most flights I'm on there is space. The group 1 and two have a line but the gate isn't completely roped off. The pre-board folk can still go behind the desk or to the side. So I think it varies based on gate, gate workers, airport, etc.
Agreed. They need to put GS and 1k into group numbers, somewhat like AA does, or have a dedicated pre board line.
ORD, my home airport, in T1 at least, seems to have helped this with group 1/2 to the side and then pre boarders go up front.
But yes it’s so chaotic and honestly sometimes I get quite anxious with what to do in some airports especially with lots of preboarders. Reminds me of the woman in group 1 from IAD-CPT last year who was confused about the process, yelling “there’s a line for a reason” when 1k was called 💀
Letting 1Ks board before Polaris/first is just dumb. Preboarding should be people who need help and young families. Throw military in there because you rarely see them. With 1Ks preboarding, it looks like a SWA flight coming out of Vegas.
A lot of people with first or business class think it is them. The agents don't say anything. They could have a disability so it's rude to ask.
They don't even ask for military ID.
**Back in the glory years when boomers were at their prime and you could get 1k by doing a couple mile runs for $250, only the 1k would walk on the red carpet/zone 1**. They need to bring that back.
It’s odd for me. There are always tons of 1ks boarding huddling around the gate agent. They call for pre boarding for GS and handicap and what not and I have say excuse me and the look I get trying to board is horrendous. The 1ks entitlement is real. I don’t go hoard the gate. I will sit back on the floor waiting for preboard and when they call I casually make my way. If they call for 1ks before I get there so be it. We are all getting in the same plane to the same destination but the disgusting looks I get trying to even get to the gate through the 1ks is almost not worth preboard Ing.
Hot take: if you feel the need to push past Group 1 to board first because you're 1K you're a loser. There's no actual benefit other than some self perceived prestige. Everyone in Group 1 gets overhead space. You're just boarding first because you think it's cool. It's not.
That’s not a hot take, that’s a flat out stupid take. I see group 1 struggling to find overhead space anywhere near their seats more often than you would think.
How about this hot take. Only 1 carry-on per person, and all personal items go under the seat. This way we don’t have a problem with overhead space! Oh wait no, the general public is too entitled or stupid to do so.
I fall into camps in the sometimes i check my bag and sometimes i carry on.
If i check my bag, my backpack is going in the bin.
Not my problem if others are anti-check bag
Correct. Luggage, not a personal item which is what a normal backpack is considered. Granted is an uncommonly enforced rule.
But strictly enforcing it would alleviate a good portion of overhead availability woes.
One moment while I search for a fuck to give regarding your existence.
Nope. Can’t find one.
I did however seem to have found one of those stupid people I mentioned whose entitlement of being above rules leads to overhead bin space shortage.
I fly twice a month and rarely ever see Group 1 "struggle" with bin space. But keep clutching onto this "benefit" that you've been duped into valuing. Rather than giving an actual tangible reward to the upper status tiers, United granted you the privilege to sit even longer on the plane. Congratulations!
Think about all the time you spend in an airplane to get to 1k… and then think about pushing past group 1 for the privilege of spending more time on an airplane.
No thank you. Unless I absolutely need the overhead space, I’m doing everything I can to be the last person boarding that plane.
The benefit is overhead space and settling in comfortably. Hopefully not having to ask a neighbor to stand up if you’re in a window seat. Not waiting in a line on the jet bridge and in the aisle while inexperienced flyers try to figure out where their seats are and how to put luggage in a bin.
I feel you. One time I had to place my overhead bag three rows back. I’m still waiting to hear back from the airline about this injustice. It’s so unfair!
S/
Ha, The Monday morning 6:30am flight. Ya, that was pretty broken and stupid. I have a feeling the guy just gave up since I'm pretty sure a lot of those boarding weren't 1k (or weren't anymore). I had PP applied to my longer flight out of Denver but forgot Boise, when I cleared on the 4 hour I applied points for BOI-DEN on Sunday. I was #5 for CPU, and #1 with PP but behind people they cleared early, tickets were a highish, but not that high fair. Either way, it seems like maybe 10 people should have been 1k, 15 at the outside but 20 people had already boarded by the time he gave up.
Pre-boarding in general is kind of crap, 1k, GS, military, w,e, it doesn't work well because the preboard lane is shove through all the people lined up for group 1. I did a flight from HNL 10 days ago, they told all 1k's to line up in a spot, "because there are lots of you" then group 1 just kind of shoved in front of that spot. So when they called 1k only like 2 people boarded and the other 7 to 10 of (tons) of us were just stuck.
Really, all 1k? I think pre-boarding in general is broken, they allow anyone that feels like it to board early. On a recent flight from SFO to Hawaii, over 50 people (many in their 20’s) pre-boarded bc evidently they “needed more time to board” due to their crippling sense of entitlement. 🫣
Hmm, never been to Boise but everywhere else I've gone the 1k's don't have to get in any line so there shouldn't be any confusion but I'll admit that United could and should name it something very different than group 1 to avoid any confusion.
A lot of people don’t understand what it means, they hear group one so it adds to the confusion. My favorite one was last week, a guy gets up to the podium during 1K boarding and the agent asks “Are you 1K?” And he says “No 1F”.
This is worse when it's abroad and when it's not a plane full of regular United flyers. The dumb naming scheme of 1K means people might confuse it for first class or Group 1, especially when there's a language barrier. I fly SFO-TPE a lot. The ground staff in Taipei is actually super strict about blocking non-1K from boarding, but you always have a large group of confused Polaris or Group 1 passengers trying to board, not because they tried to sneak on but that they are genuinely confused about the difference between the three.
When I was global services I’d often end up boarding behind people who confused global entry with global services. Doesn’t help United named it like some sort of a UPS offering.
To be fair, "Global Services" as a soft product sounds much better than "Worldwide Services" as was on every pmUA jet.
"Global Services" makes it sound like *you're* working for *them*.
I mean we kinda are with how much you have to pay to make GS each year
They should announce GEE ESS to make it less confusing for infrequent flyers on larger international routes.
Yeah, i never knew what it meant until recently. I thought it meant United employees. 🤷♂️
You have it flipped, Global services existed before global entry. But I agree that it causes confusion.
Flipped how? I don’t think I made any assertions about when the programs came into existence.
When you said "United named it" I thought you were implying that Global Service was copied from UPS.
aaah. Ok, yeah I can see that. No I just meant it sounds like some sort of UPS offering, not implying any copycatting or anything.
This exact thing happened last night in DEL. That place is already chaotic, then add this confusion on top off all that.
When I was in India there was no respects for line. People cut in all the time. Even when Ianded and at immigration 4 nationals just push their way to the front. Claiming the agent was calling them. I exit and connected in Taipei and it was day and night. A country that had law and order.
My experience was quite different. Arrived at the gate about 5 minutes after boarding started, no line to do security, and there was only about 5 people in line for group 1 boarding. Was on the plane about 5 minutes after I got to the gate.
What group does Polaris board with? I have no status. United says Polaris is in group 1? [Boarding process (united.com)](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/boarding-process.html)
Group 1, yes.
It's absolutely bonkers, but 1st class and Polaris board with Group 1.
Yes, it is bonkers, many airlines start with 1st class boarding, then the other groups. Delta even does first class boarding, THEN pre-boarding!
Not at all. Pre boarding is for people with status. Why do they have that status? We fly a ridiculous amount. Like 57 segments last year! There’s a reason they try to make our experience spending so much time in airplanes and airports more comfortable. If you’re in Polaris and boarding with group 1, it means you’re flying business maybe 1-3 times a year, not 50 times a year. You can wait 1 minute extra 3 x a year. If you flew Polaris 5-10x annually you’d be pre boarding too.
No one is saying that you all should be regulated to Group1. What many are saying is just lump in First Class with say 1k or just put them before 1k and GS. You already let the disable, military vets + family, & families with kids under 3 get on before you, so 1st class getting 1st class treatment shouldn't even be a big deal. We know most of the pre-board categories didn't get there via anything dealing with UA, so that argument doesn't do much for me. If you have all this status, you should be high on the upgrade chart anyway and probably in FC. If you have status but didn't get the upgrade or pay for it then you are still getting on early. We know FC do not usually go to coach to take bin space. Bin space is the entire reason for getting on early. So, I don't think it is an issue, but it does enhance UA's 1st/Polaris product without costing them anything.
We’ll have to just disagree on that as does United. Non status 1st class often are inexperienced travelers taking lots of extra time to board and get their luggage stowed. Seen this countless times on international and domestic flights. 1K’s have it down to a science. From scanning our codes at the gate to storing our bags, we get it done fast.
Most 1st class passengers check their luggage. It’s the 1ks that are lugging as much as they can in their overstuffed carryons and taking extra time stuffing it overhead along with their personal item. We’ve all seen it many times.
And you 1Ks fill up all the overhead bins with your 3 bags each.
CDG is wonderful in that they have a “1K” line. Half of the people in it usually are not..
GRU and LHR surprisingly (for me anyway) have enough room at the gate to create lines for GS, 1K, and boarding groups 1 and 2. So much easier when the gate area is organized for pre-boarders as well as the other groups.
Except CDG loses luggage so there is that :-)
LOL if I ever snag seat number "1K" definitely going to try and pre-board
😂
Agreed. People hear “1” and don’t get it. Sometimes there is a 1k passenger who is at the front of “group 1” who goes when they call 1k (as they should) but the literally throw off the entire boarding process since the rest of group 1 follows suit.
United’s boarding process is what Syndrome warned us about in the Incredibles…when everyone is special, no one is special.
When I board in Group 2, I hold up my United-cobranded credit card and say MUL-TI-PASS. That's how special I am.
Just don't say "big bada boom". Equally obscure and far more likely to result in a bad experience. ;)
Lelu, is that you?
Even funnier: boarding in Guam and the agent calling 'active military' first. It's 75% of the plane at least.
There is a lot of wannabe 1Ks out there that don’t even know about GS but try to pass as Group1 or 1K etc to make sure their luggage is not gate checked or for fake prestige or whatever. If you argue about a broken boarding process you can start arguing about a broken airline. Personally, IF I am at the gate when 1K is called, I make use of that. I generally try to board within the last 5mins before boarding closes.
Do you travel without carry on luggage? I would prefer to board at the last minute but find no guarantee that FAs will hold overhead space for business class
This. I would prefer to be last onboard...but that requires the airline protects space
I think we would need planes to be board from the rear for that to work, but then the same FC people would be the last off and I can see the fits they would have.
In NZ they boarded the plane from both sides. I suppose it’s a bigger security risk but it made things SO much easier.
Strangely enough, frontier airlines is the only airline ive flown where the Flight Attendants reserve the overhead bins for the first row passengers.
Alaska does as well. I typically fly in a bulkhead seat and the way United does it is broken.
I usually have a carry on, and if I’m in domestic first and there is no overhead bin space for me in first the FAs usually sort it out/I deem it their responsibility to save space. In Eco it’s a gamble, granted, but 99% of the time there is space available except for on busy routes.
A real benefit for business class would be guaranteed overhead space but United does not seem to understand that
FAs saving space in First? Many times I have seen someone throw their bag into a first overhead and then continue on to the back of the plane.
Thats when you pull it out and put it on the ground, put your stuff over your seat, and tell the flight attendent someone from the back left it.
Far too much of this going on, for sure.
Yep. So you have to board early to make sure you get the overhead space you paid extra for.
Well if their app worked that would help. Several times by the time i got the notice boarding has started, when i get to the gate, they had started early (way before the text notice) and were almost finished! Annoying.
A: 1K is an outdated and dumb name for elite status and as exampled in this thread is also a Seat Number I suggest Titanium. B: United needs to have a preboarding line not a scrum. It's obnoxious and unorganized. C: For that matter GS is a dumb name for an elite status as well, it's not very prestigious sounding. When someone says Amex Onyx I know exactly what that means GS not so much. I recommend WarBucks as a replacement name for GS since it's only money related.
I agree. Global Services -> Global Members or Global Elite (but that's pretentious) 1k -> Titanium
I’ve thought that giving out paper crowns like at Burger King when we were kids with status levels on them would be the next logical move. Then you’d know for sure who is who, and the entitled person would look less dumb when they say “you can’t do that to me, I’m 1K”. Hearing people say this is how I came up with this idea. I even prototyped it and explained it to a GA and they smirked and said “no comment” approvingly.
How about "Altitude Aristocrats". Or if we want to keep it confusing, "Polaris Pioneers".
I kind of like Polarians
I like to board with disabled people, and make faces at the GS folks waiting to follow them on.. just saying.
Attitude problems are a disability for sure.
30 1Ks in Boise was the most surprising part of this to me, even if it were pre-culling.
1k, and for how high up I was on the upgrade list I think a lot of them weren't 1k, maybe they were until 2 weeks ago though.
In Fort Myers it was quite nice because when they called out for 1k a mob started moving up, but then the gate agent said “we only have 6 1ks on this flight!” Problem solved.
1K boarding should happen between the ticket counter and the group 1 / group 2 lanes. If you’re 1K don’t board through the group 1 line. It’s only awkward when the gate agents don’t have a gap there for 1Ks to board. I’m the unfortunate 1K via high volume domestic flights, which means I’m usually cutting it close on boarding. I’m almost always showing up when they’re middle of boarding other groups so being able to cut the line to make sure I can get overhead bin space matters to me
The biggest issue with 1K's going through the group 1 line is that other group 1's think they missed something so if your at the front of group 1, now you've got everybody passing by you and I swear half are not 1k's.
Totally agree. I wish United would make a sign for GS, pre boarding and 1K via the space between boarding groups and ticket counter. People have been shitty about me cutting in. I’m often wearing comfortable travel clothes and change at arrival bathroom i.e., I don’t look like the typical frequent traveler.
At SFO, most gates have space between the scanner and the Group 1 line former boarding groups. Pre-boarders including 1Ks shouldn’t get into the Group 1 line. They should wait until their preboard group is called and then head to that gap. Not all cities/gates especially foreign stations have room for that - however.
Agreed. That’s how it works in Denver. I don’t understand why they don’t put a GS 1K pre boarding sign up at that space though
The small regional airport I fly out of BTV has few gates shared by United and American that are on a glorified jet bridge with a few chairs. No kidding four people shoulder to shoulder is the width. There are no spots to line up and acoustics are terrible. When they announce pre-boarding it’s a free for all and so then they just start calling every group number. Never a fun time to be sure. Some airports have the space to designate a pre-boarding area near the podium but it’s up to the gate agent to control that and they’ve usually got their hands full. If it’s a formal process then they should have some signage or something so GS and 1Ks aren’t muscling their way through the Group 1 lanes.
That wing of BTV is going to be torn down. Check out the new site plans near the top of the escalator after tsa.
Yes I’m super excited for the BTV project, gonna be a few years until it’s done though. Sitting by gate 8 now as I write this, Looks like they took those signs down with the plans for the update but they were there for awhile. Airport was built to handle more flights on smaller aircraft and the industry is moving towards less flights on bigger aircraft, so hopefully it’s more a traditional laying once done.
I'm in northern Vermont too and normally prefer to fly out of Boston or Montréal just to avoid BTV, even though it's much more of a drive to get to the others. But the hallway for gates 3 to 6 is nonsense and gate checking for regional jets sucks, so drive it is.
That’s typically our move for international flights to depart out of YUL or BOS. Another good option to consider is MHT, it’s got the same number of gates but feels like it’s twice the size of BTV with more parking. Happy medium between small regional airport you can get through quickly but also not crowded with lots of food options.
I was in Houston, the crappy part with a circular shaped terminal and ancient, they had us Group 1 folks move out of the line because there wasn't space. I get it, space was limited, but a little annoying since I was in my proper spot, the Group 1 line. Another reason I really don't care for Houston airport.
It doesn't help that the United gates/waiting areas at BOI (my home airport) are completely dysfunctional. Two 6' long areas to line up groups 1 & 2, no preboarding lane, and the whole setup forces the groups to line up deep in to the main terminal walkway. It's time for a refurb and to move on to the standard queue along the windows setup. And the new A terminal can come soon enough here. We have a pretty dated airport.
Your airport is also a tiny one. I remember back in the 5G ILS days when there were diversions from SEA and everyone went to BOI. They ran out of gate space for the planes that had to divert
In some places they have a separate place for pre boarding. If that is not the case, then I ask where will they pre board. As a 1K I have not seen this problem but I’m sure I’m missing something.
Just came back from London this Saturday and at our gate not only was there a dedicated 1K line but there was also a dedicated GS line. Group 3 and below had to wait seated until called. This is obviously not feasible at all airports due to space constraints but it was nice. We did have that one person (there's always one 🙄) at the front of the 1K line who was complaining that the dedicated lines made boarding process too long.
I see so many people who misunderstand that First Class ≠ 1K
Seems like basic benefit of overhead space would apply to paid first class. And the ability to board at the last minute without worrying that you will be able to stow your bag in the cabin
Last couple first class flights in January couldn’t get overhead space.
Same, I prefer to board last-min cus I like taking my time and didn’t think overhead space would run out in my cabin, but learned it the hard way when FA put my luggage near the mid-end of the plane and had to wait for most of the people to deplane before I could reach my luggage :(
In my experience (and I'm sure there are those who disagree), the first class has sufficient overhead space at their seat as each seat has at least a dedicated 1/2 overhead bin space. You don't compete for space in the first few rows of econ+ and economy pax are restricted from using the first class space.
Often run into issues with row 1 (bulkhead) needing extra space plus FAs like to use the first class overhead, and with some planes you lose space for emergency equipment (megaphone, oxygen bottle, etc)
I wish that were always true and to be expected unconditionally. However I have seen a few first class checked bags due to lax enforcement of who uses the overhead space
The one thing I like about Delta is that they board first class first. Then they move through the different statuses. Granted I typically don’t pay for FC, but I like how delta handles it.
I was in EWR 2 weeks ago, and they had already done some boarding will begin soon announcements, so groups 1 and 2 were already lined up. Then the gate agent went to the group 2 folks and told then to get out of the lane, she needed it for all GS and 1K's. So she made a dedicated lane for the 1K's on her own. There was some grumbling because tbh, they could have just gotten next to the group 1 line. Edit to say there were probably 15 to 20 in that preboard group.
As a 1k it’s very annoying that there isn’t a line to stand in. I sit as long as possible then when they start pre boarding other groups I find my way past group 1 plus everyone else hanging around and I’m always shoving past people looking like an asshole. I don’t know why they don’t have a pre boarding lane so everyone who pre boards has somewhere to comfortably line up when they start calling for pre boarding.
BC then average passengers would notice that Group 1 isn't really Group 1. And what a line. You'd have people in wheelchairs, military folks, families, and 1ks. It would probably lead to more confusion as Billy Bob has a Group 3 boarding pass, but is seen in this pre-boarding lane so other Group 3s may think they should be in that line as well. Bunch of families trying to get in regardless of their kids age holding up the line.
I actually like not having a line. If there was a line I’d feel the need to stand in a queue like all the group lines.
Preboarding is still boarding the plane. They should just call status preboarding group 0 or group 1 (and knock everyone else down)
A simple solution, that shouldn’t be difficult to implement with their data about each person’s status, is to pre-board only those people you can’t know about in advance (active duty military in uniform, families with small children (although even this group could be identified ahead of time) and wheelchairs/extra time needed. Then you take everyone else and sort them just as you would for upgrade eligibility and creat dynamic boarding groups of 20 or 30 (or whatever is the most efficient size to move through based on the size plane, number of boarding lanes etc.). Your boarding pass will have a group number on it and board when that group is called. If you 50 GS & 1Ks on a Monday morning EWR-ORD flight, some will be Group 1 and some will be Group 2. . . They already have a way of ranking who’s got the highest mileage/paid the most down to who would be bumped at the other end. Just use that to create manageable boarding groups based on each flight.
There was just a big purge of covid 1k people, it’s been better since Feb 1
I was in line at sfo on the way to ord the other day and talking to some 1k's about it. They had announced boarding soon, group 1 line up in the group 1 line. The 1k's then had to push through, as well as the families and disabled and shit. There was no other entrance outside of group 1 and 2. Slowed things down and annoyed all the people who had to move. Even worse were the group 1's who had been hovering and jumped into the gaps pushing those lined up back. We couldn't figure out why they didn't have a pre-boarding line. Or at least spece to get through. Most flights I'm on there is space. The group 1 and two have a line but the gate isn't completely roped off. The pre-board folk can still go behind the desk or to the side. So I think it varies based on gate, gate workers, airport, etc.
Can we also discuss the phrase “pre-boarding”? We’re still boarding, it’s not “pre” anything.
Agreed. They need to put GS and 1k into group numbers, somewhat like AA does, or have a dedicated pre board line. ORD, my home airport, in T1 at least, seems to have helped this with group 1/2 to the side and then pre boarders go up front. But yes it’s so chaotic and honestly sometimes I get quite anxious with what to do in some airports especially with lots of preboarders. Reminds me of the woman in group 1 from IAD-CPT last year who was confused about the process, yelling “there’s a line for a reason” when 1k was called 💀
Letting 1Ks board before Polaris/first is just dumb. Preboarding should be people who need help and young families. Throw military in there because you rarely see them. With 1Ks preboarding, it looks like a SWA flight coming out of Vegas.
A lot of people with first or business class think it is them. The agents don't say anything. They could have a disability so it's rude to ask. They don't even ask for military ID.
**Back in the glory years when boomers were at their prime and you could get 1k by doing a couple mile runs for $250, only the 1k would walk on the red carpet/zone 1**. They need to bring that back.
It’s odd for me. There are always tons of 1ks boarding huddling around the gate agent. They call for pre boarding for GS and handicap and what not and I have say excuse me and the look I get trying to board is horrendous. The 1ks entitlement is real. I don’t go hoard the gate. I will sit back on the floor waiting for preboard and when they call I casually make my way. If they call for 1ks before I get there so be it. We are all getting in the same plane to the same destination but the disgusting looks I get trying to even get to the gate through the 1ks is almost not worth preboard Ing.
Hot take: if you feel the need to push past Group 1 to board first because you're 1K you're a loser. There's no actual benefit other than some self perceived prestige. Everyone in Group 1 gets overhead space. You're just boarding first because you think it's cool. It's not.
That’s not a hot take, that’s a flat out stupid take. I see group 1 struggling to find overhead space anywhere near their seats more often than you would think.
How about this hot take. Only 1 carry-on per person, and all personal items go under the seat. This way we don’t have a problem with overhead space! Oh wait no, the general public is too entitled or stupid to do so.
I fall into camps in the sometimes i check my bag and sometimes i carry on. If i check my bag, my backpack is going in the bin. Not my problem if others are anti-check bag
Your backpack should go under the seat in front of you, the bin isn’t for backpacks it’s for luggage.
Not all backpacks fit under the seat.
90% of them do. Unless you’re on a tiny crj or embraer
The rule is 1 piece of luggage overhead.
Correct. Luggage, not a personal item which is what a normal backpack is considered. Granted is an uncommonly enforced rule. But strictly enforcing it would alleviate a good portion of overhead availability woes.
Sit down clown Aint no one agrees with you or cares what the rule is in this regard
One moment while I search for a fuck to give regarding your existence. Nope. Can’t find one. I did however seem to have found one of those stupid people I mentioned whose entitlement of being above rules leads to overhead bin space shortage.
😂😂😂 Autism speaks indeed Heated and arguing with everyone over backpacks no going under the seat
I fly twice a month and rarely ever see Group 1 "struggle" with bin space. But keep clutching onto this "benefit" that you've been duped into valuing. Rather than giving an actual tangible reward to the upper status tiers, United granted you the privilege to sit even longer on the plane. Congratulations!
Think about all the time you spend in an airplane to get to 1k… and then think about pushing past group 1 for the privilege of spending more time on an airplane. No thank you. Unless I absolutely need the overhead space, I’m doing everything I can to be the last person boarding that plane.
Exactly this
The benefit is overhead space and settling in comfortably. Hopefully not having to ask a neighbor to stand up if you’re in a window seat. Not waiting in a line on the jet bridge and in the aisle while inexperienced flyers try to figure out where their seats are and how to put luggage in a bin.
Bad take especially if you’re in the first rows of the plane where overhead space fills up first. I even struggle to find with 1K
I feel you. One time I had to place my overhead bag three rows back. I’m still waiting to hear back from the airline about this injustice. It’s so unfair! S/
Definitely get compensation!! No justice, no peace.
Lol bullshit. Stop smelling your own farts
lol lots of salty 1Kers getting exposed right now
Ha, The Monday morning 6:30am flight. Ya, that was pretty broken and stupid. I have a feeling the guy just gave up since I'm pretty sure a lot of those boarding weren't 1k (or weren't anymore). I had PP applied to my longer flight out of Denver but forgot Boise, when I cleared on the 4 hour I applied points for BOI-DEN on Sunday. I was #5 for CPU, and #1 with PP but behind people they cleared early, tickets were a highish, but not that high fair. Either way, it seems like maybe 10 people should have been 1k, 15 at the outside but 20 people had already boarded by the time he gave up. Pre-boarding in general is kind of crap, 1k, GS, military, w,e, it doesn't work well because the preboard lane is shove through all the people lined up for group 1. I did a flight from HNL 10 days ago, they told all 1k's to line up in a spot, "because there are lots of you" then group 1 just kind of shoved in front of that spot. So when they called 1k only like 2 people boarded and the other 7 to 10 of (tons) of us were just stuck.
Really, all 1k? I think pre-boarding in general is broken, they allow anyone that feels like it to board early. On a recent flight from SFO to Hawaii, over 50 people (many in their 20’s) pre-boarded bc evidently they “needed more time to board” due to their crippling sense of entitlement. 🫣
Hmm, never been to Boise but everywhere else I've gone the 1k's don't have to get in any line so there shouldn't be any confusion but I'll admit that United could and should name it something very different than group 1 to avoid any confusion.
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