My days of Boarding Group 1 are long gone. With that being said, first off, you can make sure you’re never in Boarding Group 5 with the United MileagePlus Explorer credit card (which gives you Boarding Group 2).
Learn more about the United MileagePlus Explorer Card
Ever since United switched to a revenue-based model, I’ve had no motivation to chase status anymore. Since I’d rather chase fare deals instead, it always happens that I reach all of the premier qualifying miles flying requirements, but never the yearly spend.
Up until recently, I kept getting stuck with the dreaded “Boarding Group 5” label stamped on my ticket and, I couldn’t figure out why! I always check in immediately within 24 hours. Sometimes I’m stuck buying a higher fare class. So what gives?
Aside from being the last chump to board, other downfalls include having to gate check your bag when the overhead bins fill up, and I can imagine I’d be the first one to go when it comes to being involuntarily denied boarding on an over-sold flight.
For those unfamiliar, United boards flights in a 5-group process, and it looks like this:
- Group 1 – First/Business Class passengers, Premier 1K, and Platinum members
- Group 2 – For Chase United MileagePlus credit card holders (Learn more about the United MileagePlus Explorer Card)
, Gold and Silver members - Group 3 – General Boarding Economy
- Group 4 – General Boarding Economy
- Group 5 – General Boarding Economy
Of course, uniformed military personnel, families traveling with small children, and customers needing assistance are also offered priority boarding.
But here is the magic of it all…
Choose a window seat and you’ll get Boarding Group 3!
I finally discovered the formula. I was always stuck in Boarding Group 5 because I always pick an aisle seat!
So now when I see that my flight is looking mighty full, and I’m nervous about the possibility of having to check my carryon (especially when you DO NOT want your bag checked to the “final destination”), I’m simply avoiding the aisle.
What do you think about United’s Boarding process? Did you know about how Boarding Groups 3, 4, and 5 were determined for status-less customers?
There will be those with bladder issues who choose to move themselves to the window seats now, and the rest of us in the row will know who to thank.
You don’t think the card is worth the annual fee? For me, the extra reward availability is probably worth it alone. Then you have the free bags (I “never” check bags but sometimes it’s unavoidable), zone 2 boarding, United Club passes, and better portal rewards (if you’re into that). This is probably the annual fee that I’m *most* happy to pay!
Curious about why you disagree?
Hi Jon, I’ve had the card for a while and I agree that the perks are definitely worth the annual fee, but I currently have 8 chase cards and now with the chase freedom unlimited I am getting 1.5 united miles per dollar on everyday purchases (also csp has united as a transfer partner), so I decided to say goodbye to my UA card because I can earn United miles from other chase products. I definitely don’t disagree that it’s a great card, I just had no room for it anymore
Doesn’t $25k spend annually on the United card give a 10k mile bonus and an exemption from the PQD requirement (excluding 1K)? If you still meet the mileage requirements, keeping the card and spending the $25k is still valuable.
I FEEL YOU ON THIS…I’m still living with Delta Platinum for the rest of the year, but after December 31st, I’ll be lucky to land at Gold (probably Silver). It’s been a struggle letting go after years of elite flying. I’m 29, so my entire “adult” life has been spent with status from work travel + a whole lot of mileage runs. I crunched the numbers as best I could over the last 5 or so years, and the amount of money I spent on flights for status was mind blowing. I realize that I can actually afford to fly in paid domestic first/business and international business. So I don’t get upgraded on my monthly LAX-SFO flights…big deal. It’s a new day!
Yes, UA has always been a zone boarding airline where they fill in back to front, outside to inside. If you choose an aisle seat in row 10 you can pretty much guarantee the last boarding group. It has always been that way and will not change. It is IMO the best boarding method. CO used to do it by rows back to front, and it was AWFUL. They would call the last 5 rows of the plane say Rows 31-27 and people would ignore the announcements, pretend not to understand, etc and GAs would constantly have to tell people not to walk up until their row was called. It was a slow and painful process because idiots wouldn’t listen and entitled jerks thought they could sneak by.
Boarding from the Windows in actually makes sense. Go UA!
(plus I personally prefer window seats anyways)
Indeed. And props to the author for figuring it out!
Except that then when you are in row 5 you have to put your bags in row 30 because the bins are full. Its not a perfect system and UA is one of the only few who still do it
Useful info. Can you please clarify your statement “it’s time to marry a Canadian.” Better status if you are Canadian?
I was just relegated to Group 5 yesterday on a cross-country flight. However, I was traveling with my family and we occupied a window, middle and two aisles. As the primary purchaser and name on the reservation, should I, in future, place myself in the window seat to lift us all out of Group 5? Thanks.
I used to travel extensively on United, now retired and travel less. However, we still spend close to $100k annually on the UA card, but still get stuck with boarding group 5.
Following the merger with Continental, and revenue based boarding, etc, my previous strong UA loyalty is gone. I’m looking for a cash back credit card and freedom from being locked in.
UA may be going for the top dollar reward for now, but customer loyalty takes a lot to achieve, and requires significant marketing efforts. It is quickly lost and hard to regain when you annoy customers who have been incredibly loyal for decades. Bean counters ruin businesses when they forget customer service and loyal customers who helped to get the company to where they are today. I now advise others to be just as selfish in their purchasing decisions, since UA has no loyalty to long standing customers, it works both ways. Just my thoughts.
As a medically retired US Army combat medic, I am grateful to be able to board a plane at all. Having to check my carry on bag due to a substandard boarding group, really does not rank that high on my personal list of gripes.
MN
US Army Combat Medic (medically retired)
PTSD & Profound Hearing Loss
(all in the pursuit of democracy, and I would do it again if given the opportunity)
Does anyone know whether just having the card gets you into group 2 or do you have to actgually pay for the flight using it?
Thanks!
Just being a card holder will give you group 2 boarding! However you do need to use this card to purchase the ticket to get the 1 free checked bag perk.
Mind blown!
Aisle seat ended me in group 5 and carry on taken away, whereby all overhead compartments around were empty! Totally annoying. Won’t fly United again. I’m Delta Platinum and live in Europe since 6 years again. Never experienced such nonsense
Aisle seat ended me in group 5 and carry on taken away, whereby all overhead compartments around were empty! Totally annoying. Won’t fly United again. I’m Delta Platinum and live in Europe since 6 years again. Never experienced such nonsense
Great article, I moved from Member, to Silver, to Gold but this last year did not meet the new spending requirements which pushed me back to just Member again as well as frequent Group 5 tickets. Years of loyalty just to be relegated to the back of the plane again. Guess its time to find a new airline. As others have mentioned, its a two way street.
Hmmm. Can I book a window, get my boarding pass after I check in with Zone 3 and then switch to an aisle after check-in on the app? I’ll have to give this a shot. Curious if anyone has tried it.
Yes that does work :)
Nope it does not work. I just tested it.
Angelina, I have a middle seat and am in group 4 for a United flight tomorrow, but my friend has an aisle seat and is also in group 4. Has the method changed?
It’s possible that you both were on the same reservation and that the same boarding group was assigned. Is that the case?
Just leaving a note to say that if you’re flying United Basic Economy, you’ll always be stuck in group 5. I have a window seat, but because I’m flying out with Basic Economy, I’m stuck boarding last. Thank goodness I’m only carrying on a backpack that I can fit under the seat!