United Airlines Boarding Groups — Everything You Need To Know

So basically they are “inventing” the American Airlines boarding process where everyone just crowds the gate 🙂

My wife and I annually travel to the US from the UK, more often or not with Unites Airlines. The boarding process can be a lottery, as witnessed with multiple trips in the last 2 weeks, where I observed customers from Group 4 consistently boarding in Group 3 by placing their thumb over the Grouping No. on their boarding pass. My wife and I were Group 4 and consistently found that there was little to no overhead storage available, annoying given we had paid for Economy Plus tickets.
Also can I ask why UK customers cannot apply for the Mileage Plus Explorer Card? We hold the current Mileage Plus Card, as issued by MBNA within the UK, it doesn’t seem unreasonable that all United Customers qualify for all advantages when using the same airline given MBNA act as the airline credit card issuers within the United Kingdom.

This is wrong, Platinum is still just group 2… Basically this garbage airline charges you a ton of money to give you the opportunity to get treated like crap on a delayed flight. Just hit Platinum and it legitimately comes with no useful perks that gold doesn’t have unless some reading you are booking the tickets for 8 additional people on your account… United is the worst, I hate that I am stuck flying with them so much.

Hey Jeff, so I’m a pilot for Air Wisconsin, they are under United Express. We use our standby quite a bit but sometimes see tickets pop up when we are in our standby portal and just buy them at a fraction of the standard cost, for the first time my girlfriend tried basic economy and was placed in group 3, the lady that issued her ticket said that since she’s in group 3 she should be able to have a carry on, but she didn’t have one for the flight, she forgot to ask the gate agent to see if this was indeed accurate. From reading I saw that basic economy should board in group 5. Any idea why she was placed in 3 and if she is placed in 3 that she could have a carry on even though she’s basic economy? Also she was sitting in a middle seat.

I am a frequent flyer and member of AA Conceirge Key. Flying 1st class from IAD to BOS. Surprised that there is no real early boarding for 1st Class. There were at least 50 people in Group 1. Hard to find space for my bag; why pay so much more?

If I’m traveling with 2 kids, what group will we board if we will have, window, middle and aisle seats? I can’t send them to board alone.

Hello Jeff.

I am Platinum member so I board in group 1 but I always travel with companions that make different reservations and they are group 3 or 4. My question is can they board with me in group 1 and if they can how many passengers can board with me? Thank you for your time.

What if you use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to purchase a ticket, but you’re a United Explorer card holder, do you still get Group 2 boarding?

So where does international premium economy board? They don’t seem to be included in any group discussed here.

I just booked a first class ticket from IAH to SAN, interestingly they are offering me to purchase priority boarding… A little confused here, shouldn’t I be in group 1 anyway?

Booked First Class on Dreamliner LAX-EWR but boarding pass says Group 2.

I am travelling with an infant. How do I go about pre-boarding? Do I request it at check-in or at the gate?

I see that the calculator said my check in bag from IAH to CUN will be $30-35. Why does my fare options say “1st checked bag per passenger is $70” with an Economy ticket?

Hey Jeff/Jarrod!
The boarding groups chart is missing some factors. Premier members with United branded credit cards board with group 1 even at silver status and certainly once achieving gold+.
Samantha H

Hello,

Say that you have 50K status with Air Canada’s Aeroplan which qualifies you for Star Alliance Gold but are flying on United Airlines and wish to credit the flight to your MileagePlus number for whatever reason. Can you show your Star Alliance Gold card and board in Group 2 if that isn’t the Group Number printed on the boarding card? Or, would you absolutely have to have your Aeroplan account listed on the reservation instead of MileagePlan to board with Group 2?

Thank you.

Your article is INCORRECT!
If you pay for Priority Boarding on United – you get Group 3 (Not 2!) I have proof!

According to United’s current website, “Premier Silver members with United co-brand credit card” don’t get any special treatment. This list (seemingly incorrectly?) says that’ll get you Group 1, but I don’t think that’s the case. Or at least on a recent trip my son, Silver with the Explorer card was in Group 2. Is the list on this page out of date?

I am a Mileage Plus Explorer cardholder and this is tied to my mileage plus number. I booked a United flight using my company travel website and paid with the company credit card that is tied to the travel site- Not my explorer card. For that past year, I have been doing this and have been in boarding group 2 which is what I would expect as a cardholder benefit. However, on this most recent trip I was assigned group 4. I called United and was told that in order to get the group 2 priority boarding the ticket must be purchased using my Explorer card. Is this accurate? If so why was I getting group 2 all of this time and how do I get back to group 2 while still using the required company travel site and credit card.

Re: “Last to board in this group” are Chase United credit cardmembers who have…

United doesn’t separate members within a group. If you line up early, you can be a Chase United credit card member and be #1 in Group 2. You don’t have to be the “last to board in this group.”

My husband has Parkinson and moving in tight spots is hard for him. He uses a cane but I will need to place his carry-on in the upper area and help him in his seat due to the tight area…can we board early?

my young adult daughter has autism and anxiety. I book our tickets together but I put she has a disability when purchasing her ticket. Am I allowed to preboard with her to put up the bag and sit with her?