United Airlines just revealed its new boarding policy and passengers everywhere are rejoicing
Everyone who’s ever boarded a plane knows how inefficient the process is. You wait for your boarding group to be called, then stand in line, then get on the plane and stand in line some more while the people ahead of you load things into the overhead bins and get settled in their seats. There has to be a better way — and United Airlines thinks it’s found it.
The airline will roll out its new boarding process beginning Oct. 26 for basic economy ticket holders, who will then board starting with window seat passengers, then middle seats, then aisle seats. United told NPR that the change should cut boarding down by as much as two minutes per flight.
The process for other boarding groups, including unaccompanied minors, people with disabilities, families with small children and active-duty military members, is staying the same. The new process only applies to basic economy ticket holders, who make up the majority of passengers on each flight.
United said that boarding groups one through three will now include First and Business class passengers, those seated in exit rows, and those in economy with window seats. Group four will be exclusively for those with middle seats, and group five will be for those with aisle seats. The change will also help passengers know what type of seat they’ve been assigned — once you check in, you’ll be able to tell by your boarding group whether you’re seated in a window, middle, or aisle seat.
The change will go into effect for U.S. domestic flights and flights from the U.S. to the Caribbean, Canada, and some Central and South American cities. United will also add a sixth boarding group for passengers who don’t have a group number on their boarding pass, though it’s not clear which passengers this will apply to.
