Boarding by numbers

[codash1099]

Looks complicated to me:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airline-unveiled-most-complicated-113235375.html

 

[Pleb Status]

One thing most US airlines generally do well is PB.

Group number is on your BP. You do not board until your group number is called, no matter how many groups there are. Pretty easy really.

Some airlines (looking at you QF) and some pax just cannot get their head around the concept however.

 

[Jet L]

Never experienced a US airline boarding but VA do a pretty good job IMO most of the time they will call Gold Plat and Business an then general boarding but continue priority through the dedicated lane

 

[serfty]

Most USA airlines use dedicated gate agents, as does VA.

QF get their FA'S involved and many seem not interested in enforcement of PB.

 

[dajop]

US does do PB very well. But boarding does take forever .... so it's very much needed.

 

[Daver6]

It takes forever due to everyone trying to take their bags on board and then having to gate check their bags. It really is ridiculous. As I understand it, its free if you gate check a bag, so there is zero incentive to pre-check it as you get slugged US$25. Go figure the logic in that!

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Group boarding is the norm worldwide. But there are often only 2-3 groups depending on how many ways the airline chooses to divide premium cabins/elites, plus if there is PB for disabled/elderly/families with young children.

There really aren't many other ways of boarding. There's completely unallocated seating, but that may also involve groups (those paying to board first and the rest). And rare methods like Southwest's exact numbered system, which still involves numerous groups.

AA expanding to 9 groups (actually 10 including top-of-the-heap ConciergeKey) was very much needed, given the vast number and different types of elites (premium cabins, US military, AAdvantage, oneworld elites, other partner elites, credit card holders, etc).

The yahoo link claiming "the most complicated boarding system of all time" is one of the most inaccurate headlines of all time. Group boarding is the norm and there's nothing complicated about it ... unless you can't count to nine