United Airlines Boarding Group - A Complete Guide for You

Are you flying with United Airlines? Well, there is nothing wrong in flying with United Airlines, it's just you need to understand certain rules and regulations of the airline. As every airline has different rules and regulations for boarding therefore, it is important to understand the complete process of boarding and its regulations. And how one can get the boarding done perfectly. Let’s start with United Airlines Boarding Groups.

What are United Airlines Boarding Groups?

United Airlines has 6 boarding groups and it is further divided into segments. Officially there are 5 groups and 1 group is pre-boarding.

Pre-boarding (Top tier elites, Military, Disabilities, etc.)
Group 1 (Business class and first class, upper elite levels)
Group 2 (Lower elite levels, United credit card holders)
Group 3 (Economy passengers)
Group 4 (Economy passengers)
Group 5 (Basic Economy)

As each of these groups defines the difference between these groups. The airline has divided these into groups to make the boarding procedure easier and well-defined to everyone.

Each passenger is assigned to one of these boarding groups and there are two lanes for boarding set up. And passengers need to follow these boarding instructions to make the boarding easier and comfortable for them. However, pre-boarding or membership category members can board ahead of the assigned group.

What is United Airlines Boarding Group 1?

As United Airlines has made the segments among diverse groups, Group 1 is a group for Premier Platinum members, Premier Gold members, Star Alliance Gold members, and Premium cabin passengers. These passengers mostly travel in United First, or United Business, United Polaris first class, and United Polaris business class. United Airlines caters to the mid-level elite members and also to those passengers who are flying in first class, business class, or Polaris. Premier Platinum members.

What is United Airlines Boarding Group 2?

Group 2 on United airlines are those passengers who have purchased premier access or priority boarding such as Premier Silver members, Star Alliance Silver members. There are some passengers who are known as cardholders of specific United credit cards and they get benefit of it. And if you want to be a part of such groups then just consult the United Airlines customer

care department. They will let you know about the entire process and how you can be a part of Group 2.

What is United Airlines Boarding Group 3 to 5 ?

Group 3 to 5 on United Airlines are those passengers who are seated in a window seat in Economy Plus or United Economy. Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will remain in the last boarding groups except those who are premier members, star alliance gold members, chase cardmembers of qualifying cards, etc.

What is Priority Boarding of United Airlines

Priority boarding is provided to those passengers who do not have the facility of elite status or any special membership card. United Airlines priority boarding always helps passengers to board the flight without waiting in long queues. In short, Priority boarding and premier access are the add-on services passengers can purchase other than their flight ticket. It is meant for those who aren’t cardholders of United co-branded cards or those that don’t have elite status.

The amount for such service starts at $15 and varies depending upon the flight schedule and destination. Passengers flying in Group 2 of boarding can skip the lanes at the gate and board the flight on immediate basis. As per the United Airlines, Priority Boarding enables passengers to allow other boarding groups to have priority baggage.

According to the airline, buying Priority Boarding enables lower boarding groups to have priority baggage space on the overhead bins. As it gets full by the time Groups 3 to 5 board the plane. However, most of the critics would say that it’s just another marketing strategy to charge passengers extra for carry-on bags.

How Does United Airlines Boarding Procedure Works

Just after you reach the airport and get inside the premises, there will be several signs available that will guide you where you should line up. The group number 1 and 2 will be able to line up however United may ask other groups i.e. 3 through 5 to have a seat until those groups are being called after sometime.

The airport also has color differentiation that enables the groups to understand how to stand by the color blue or green lane. According to these color differentiation, Group 1 will go through the blue lane whereas Group 2 will board via the green lane. The other remaining groups 3 to 5 will board through green lanes when they will be called by the officials. So, passengers need to make sure that they understand it well at the airport and accordingly follow the same.

If you are a regular passenger then you must be aware that you just need to walk up to the blue lane and then wait for others to come forward. However, it is advised to arrive at the airport 2 hours prior to the departure and complete the process of baggage check-in.

What Advantages Come Along With Priority Boarding?

Passengers planning to enhance their journey by availing United Airlines Priority Boarding is definitely possible. Priority boarding is an opportunity to board prior to other passengers and therefore it gives you more time to settle down and organize before takeoff. It also helps passengers to skip the lengthy lines at the gate. Another advantage of priority boarding that passengers can avail is United Airlines Group Boarding, which enables up to six members of the same group to board simultaneously, further reducing wait times. Also, you can be certain that Priority Boarding will guarantee you a seat with your traveling companions and an overhead bin for your carry-on luggage. The sum of all these advantages makes flying easier and less stressful.

What is United Priority boarding's Premium access?

Premium Access of United Airlines comes along with United Priority Boarding plus you'll also get priority treatment in the airport's security and check-in lines. It means that from the moment you arrive at the airport until you board the aircraft, you will have an ultimate experience. Passengers and commuters can board United boarding group 2 if they purchase premium access. Make sure that some of the ticket classes, such as United Premium Plus, already include Premium Access's advantages and that the policies are somewhat comparable.

However, the difference between United Priority Boarding and Premium Access is that in priority boarding the passengers will only get the benefit of priority boarding the flight earlier than others, however, premium access comes along with boarding benefits as well as some other benefits of lounge access etc. Both these things are required to be purchased at the time of flight booking.

Terms and conditions for United Airlines priority boarding

Priority boarding only offers flights that can be run by United Express and United and are subject to availability.
Customers who are traveling on the basic economy cannot be eligible to purchase priority boarding.
To receive the benefits, the boarding pass must display “Priority Boarding.”
In case a passenger is buying the boarding pass for the entire group reservation. Priority boarding must be bought for each individual person flying in group, to receive great benefits for them.
Priority boarding doesn’t exempt passengers from check-in time restraints.
In case of any Spontaneous schedule changes or cancellations of flights, the airline shifts the priority boarding to the current itinerary.
However, only the purchased flight is applicable to enjoy the benefits of Priority Boarding.
Also, this offer will vanish or change at any time without any prior information to the passengers.

How Do I Get Priority Boarding on United Airlines?

United Airlines enables passengers to make a selection of passengers for Priority Boarding. To take benefit of this perk, passengers just need to be a member of the United Airlines MileagePlus program and meet one of the following criteria: traveling on an eligible fare (such as a Business or First Class ticket), a Star Alliance Gold Member, a United Club Member, or a Global Services Member.

Once passengers get qualified for Priority Boarding, then they can check-in for your flight through the United app or website, or at the airport check-in counter. Passengers will be able to select your seat at that time and if available, you will receive Priority Boarding.

The groups of Priority Boarding are identified by the following codes:

Group 1 - First Class,
Group 2 - Premier 1K and MileagePlus Gold Members,
Group 3 - Premier Platinum, Premier Gold and Silver, MileagePlus Platinum, and Star Alliance Gold Members, and
Group 4 - 5- Economy class passengers.

All members of the same group are eligible for United Airlines group boarding.

At the gate area, passengers need to listen for the boarding announcement that includes the applicable priority boarding group. Once your group is called, simply line up and present your boarding pass and ID to the flight attendant. If you have special needs or need assistance in boarding, the agent will ensure that you board first. With Priority Boarding from United Airlines, you can be among the first on board your flight and get settled into your seat before the rest of the passengers.

What If I Have a Complaint About My Boarding Experience?

If in case you have faced some difficulty while boarding and you had an unexpected experience then you must get in touch with the customer support. You can reach United Airlines by phone or on their website. To get the best assistance all you need to provide the minor details of the entire situation and don’t forget to provide the details of flight numbers, confirmation codes, dates, and other relevant information.

If you can share any photos or videos of the exact situation then, it will give more boost to the case. Once you share all these things along with the evidence the airline will definitely look into it, however, if you’re not satisfied with the response from United Airlines then you can always contact an aviation consumer protection attorney or your contact to the local consumer protection agency. They may be able to help resolve the problem and come up with the best solution.

FAQs

Ans. United Priority Boarding enables passengers to get the benefit of boarding the flight prior to other passengers. Priority boarding enables passengers to get rid of the long queues and settle down at the seats prior to other passengers. Apart from boarding there are many more benefits that passengers can avail whenever required. If the group is traveling then every individual must have their own priority boarding pass where in “Priority Boarding” is must.

Ans. Well, there is no such security available on United Airlines. However, passengers who will purchase a premier access of the priority boarding will definitely get some extra benefit of priority check-in and security lane access and boarding.

Ans. Well, the term “priority boarding” itself defines that it is different from normal boarding and passengers get priority to board the flight prior to the other passengers. So, passengers who want to get rid of the long queues must purchase priority boarding which not only helps you to stay away from the queues, but it will even help you to carry your hand luggage guaranteed.

Ans. Premier Access offered by United Airlines enables the passengers to enjoy the convenience of dedicated airport;s check-in lines, and get access to exclusive security lanes at the time of boarding. There is a fee of $15 to get the premier access of United Priority Boarding.

Ans. Group 3 priority boarding is one of the categories that United Airlines has made. This category defines Basic Economy ticket travelers, who are also known as the last boarding group. However, if there are passengers who have premier membership or chase cardmembers of qualifying cards and star alliance gold members they will get the opportunity of priority boarding.

Ans. Passengers can easily find that they have priority boarding as it is clearly mentioned over the boarding pass. All you just need to be available on the gate on time and get ready to board the flight whenever you will be called for.

Ans. Customers looking for priority boarding just need to consult the customer support department and the experts available at the desk will guide you the way to get the priority boarding pass. However, the option of availing priority boarding pass is even available at the time of the ticket booking. So, one must get it while booking the flight ticket.

Ans. Passengers can upgrade United's boarding group either by consulting the customer care department or by asking the enquiry desk at the airport. Passengers just need to find the right boarding group for themselves and get it by paying for it.