Passengers check in for United Airlines flights at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Dec. 13, 2022.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
United Airlines will change its boarding order next week by letting economy-class passengers who’ve chosen window seats to board before those with middle and aisle seats.
The corporate said the change could shave two minutes off the boarding process.
The brand new procedure will begin Oct. 26, in line with an organization memo shared with CNBC. United said boarding times have increased as much as two minutes since 2019.
Airlines often tinker with boarding procedures to save lots of precious time getting passengers onto planes, generally rewarding their biggest spenders with a few of the earliest boarding. A departure delay due to chaotic boarding could cascade to further disruptions throughout the day if aircraft and travelers arrive late, especially at congested airports.
United’s boarding process from preboarding — which incorporates travelers with disabilities, lively duty members of the military, travelers with children under 2 years old and United’s top-tier elite frequent flyers — through Group 3 will remain the identical, in line with the memo.
Starting with Group 4, passengers with window seats will board first, followed by those with middle seats after which aisle seats. People on the identical reservation, comparable to families, can board together, United said.
The brand new boarding process shall be implemented on all domestic flights and a few international flights.
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