Meh...the order you board just seems to feed into someone's ego. As long as you get on the plane before it takes off, I don't see what the big deal is. If someone thinks they have a bigger wang than me because they're a Super Diamond Premier Ultra Member, then they have bigger problems to worry about.

Wow. I'd hate to be one of the least valu...oh wait, I don't fly this airline for just this craptacular reason.

@downwithmonstercable:

It's a very big deal if you care about overhead space. Early boarding is a godsend, considering that now everyone and their brother brings steamer trunks onboard rather than pay the $15 to check them.

Premier Executive, Star Alliance Gold guests, Seating Area 1 customers, Global Services, 1K, United First, Red Carpet Lane, United Business customers,Premier Executive, Star Alliance Gold members, economy class,cargo class, ad infinitum.
This feels like the car commercials that proclaim
Best in its Class. Every car is a winner because every car is in a class by itself.

Agreed. I travel with equipment that I simply cannot put into checked luggage for fear of it being lost/stolen/broken. I would pay extra just to reserve overhead space. Oh S%&t, maybe I shouldn't have said that.

The reason you want to be on early is so you get a space for your carry on bag before the moron family trying to shove on their half dozen steamer trunks overhead bollocks up the whole works.

Actually, I don't mind being last to board...it's that much less time I have to sit in a cramped seat with no legroom, jammed in like sardines with the other smelly passengers. What's the rush to get onboard for that?

Actually what about Survivor:luggage

After you are on board you can watch as our Ground based entertainment team loads the aircraft with some of the passenger luggage. Only some will be chosen: did your bag make the cut?

This annoys me so much when I fly. 1 of 3 things happens whenever they call the "Gold member" or whatever to board:
1.) There are none of them, but they still have to wait 10 minutes to seat the rest of us in case one of them jumps out from behind a tree.
2.) There are people who could be boarding early, but they aren't paying attention and wind up boarding with the rest of us.
3.) Non-gold members get in the special line, and they just let them board anyway because it is easier than pissing them off by making them sit back down.

They should seat the plane from the back to the front, that way you have less elbows and knees getting hurt.

oddly isn't deap vein thrombosis a problem for people who sit too long in airplane seats... I think I will board last from now on and jump up into the isle as soon as the seat belt sign is out at the end of the flight... Let all the more valued patrons have the problems...

Although I do love the snotty looks I have occasionally got from the valued customers as I haul my kids, spouse and voluminous carry-on item through their section... bouncing off their seats... clutching at their seat backs... Maybe it would be a service if they were seated after the snotty nosed masses passed through "Valued customer country"?

it's not like any of the other legacy airlines are much different. This is just another group that gets to board first.

and for your interest, back-to-front is not the most efficient way! See here for actually entertaining simulations of how different boarding algorithms perform:

[leeds-faculty.colorado.edu]

@Blueskylaw: "Cargo Class" AKA "AA Employee 'buddy pass'".

I really just don't get American airlines. This past summer, when oil prices were peaking, I flew to Southeast Asia. By far the cheapest deal I could find was to take some American carrier to the west coast, then fly Singapore Airlines to my destination. Like night & day. Seriously, on a short 2 hour flight, we started out with our choice of free newspapers, then had beverage service, breakfast, & another round of beverage service.

What is going on with US carriers that they can't keep up? Is it just that they're handing all of their profits over in CEO benefits or what?

Why shouldn't people who fly more often be rewarded for their patronage?

If you're worried about overhead space: don't bring so much stuff.

I don't know about you guys, but while I don't care about the order I board the plane in (being a business traveler, they book me the cheapest seat anyway, and that often means the back of the plane) but I would pay a premium to be able to get off first.

Whether I'm the first on board or the last, the plane will leave at exactly the same time. I don't understand why people want to rush.

Give them a break. They are losing hundreds billions of dollars these years due to high oil prices, and many airlines haven't been making any profit since 2000, so consider yourself lucky that you're not an airline company executive

Give me a break. Of COURSE you are a less valued customer. You fly once, maybe twice a year. I fly 50,000 miles a year, all on one airline. I get my choice of overhead space, and I can go straight to my seat instead of standing in line for half an hour while the yokels get situated. I'm glad American has had this perk for lower tier elites for as long as I've been flying. Along with priority security lines and no fees for checked luggage (when I absolutely have to), priority boarding is one of the main reasons I keep all my loyalty with them.

This reminds me of an old Tracy Ullman sketch in which airplane passengers are all seated according to their socio-economic class. "Excuse me, but I my wife and I have been seated in lower-upper-middle class, and I believe we really belong in the middle-upper-middle class section."

@kepler11: really cool stuff!

This is the kind of thing that makes me happy to be in Southwest Airlines hub city. Good prices, no baggage charge (yet) and with just a bit of planning, a good seat every time.

@Employees Must Wash Hands:

I can't stand jerks that carry EVERYTHING into the cabin. They're the twits that delay seating and disembarking. I had one nozzle business lady carrying on god knows how much BUT she missed the pre-board announcement that if you're carry-on didn't fit in the little test container, f*ck off.

Wasn't just her though because about 6 or 7 people, most of them business travelers, had the same problem.

@starrion:

I used to think the same way, but traveling on a bi-weekly basis I stopped caring. I have my luggage (checked) and my carryon (Laptop bag) and that's it. I've yet to lose a bag (knock on formica) in 3 years. Hmm, about 52 flights per year, not one loss.

@randomangela47:

US carriers don't have any profits. That's why they try to nickle and dime the infrequent traveller while they kiss the ass of the frequent one. I remember reading in the NY Times once where they mentioned how the handful of people who actually pay to sit in first class (and aren't there because of a complimentary upgrade) are responsible for some 38% of airline revenue.

@resilient: Yeah, seriously. I'd hate to be the United CEO, getting a meager $39.7 million. What horrid luck.

[www.washingtonpost.com]
[financialservices.house.gov]

@Mr. Kite:

LOL I don't care about your self-importance. I usually wait until the last minute to board just because I don't give a f*ck. I'm seated on the aisle as close to the front as possible. The plane isn't taking off any faster just because you boarded first.

@kepler11: That's neat stuff, thanks for sharing it! Silly me, I had always assumed back-to-front would be faster. (Although "Get your damn ass OUT of the aisle by row 2 and INTO a seat, NOW" is fastest. ;) )

I travel every other week. Trust me when you live on a plane, it sux. And getting on so that there is somewhere to put your luggage is a perk that I enjoy a lot. Besides what is wrong with benefits for your best customers?

@Inglix_the_Mad:
I never expected the plane to take off faster.
If it makes you happy to board last, knock yourself out.
Have fun gate checking your bag though.

@ILoveVermont: Heh, me too. I put my bag under the seat so overhead room is not important. I'd rather board last and spend less time in the cramped seat.

I must be in the Double Secret Probation Class - always on last, seated at the back by the lavs, & with a lovely view of a noisy MD80 engine.

I see NOTHING WRONG with this. Frequent flyers that have to fly a lot get benefits. So what? A Star Alliance Gold gets the same treatment on all other Star Alliance carriers. 1P and 1K and Gold fly a lot - and thus have to deal with baggage and the inconvenience of flying in the first place. I see NO reason why they should not get better treatment. It's not like the twice-a-year flyer ain't going to make in onto the plane. You are just sour because you aren't Star Alliance Gold I assume?

@Hate_Brian_Club: I think the point of this post is the choice of words in the e-mail.

@Mr. Kite:
You're cute. Your employer pays for your tickets and yet you consider yourself the customer.

Beginning November 12, we will divide our passengers according to how much we rip you off. Business travelers who spend beaucoup bucks for first class and manage to fly over 200,000 miles each year will be called Premier, Executive and Gold and will be treated like golden goose you are and will board separately from the rest of the scum who don't want to give us money. We will give you roomy seats with built in entertainment systems and pretty stewardesses and will have plenty of free booze and gourmet food to make your flight enjoyable.

The other group will be called cheapskates will be crowded all together in a hot cabin with no leg room, no overhead storage, no movies, no food, no water and no alcohol. They will get jerked around by our jaded cabin staff who can't wait to retire next year and who have the power and attitude to force you to behave or be arrested by the closest air marshal. We'll make sure all families with crying children and overly fat cheapskates are spread evenly throughout the cabin to maximize their discomfort. Merely looking at a jaded cabin staff will cause them to rush over and charge you a $10 fee no matter what the issue is.

We strive to consistently reward you, our premium customers, for your loyalty. We hope that as a Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold customer, you enjoy this added benefit.

Any business that does these blatant "favored customers" and "not favored customers" things is going to be on the bottom of my list for potential patronage.

When your going out of your way to treat one group of passengers or customers in an obvious sub-level fashion your going to lose the customers that have enough self respect to not put up with that crap.

Just because a hotel charged the guy in line in front of my $10g for his suite does not mean they should treat me in a sub-standard way for buying a regular room.

If you fly first or business class with your own money, then your elite status is indeed valid. The rest are poseurs.

On a recent Delta flight I was on the stewardess announced that Delta would like to take some time to recognize the business class and first class customers and thank them for flying with Delta. I've learned to savor these "WTF?" moments in my life.

@downwithmonstercable: It is not a ego thing, those of us who have to fly every week don't check our bags so getting on first is the only way we can fit our bags in the overhead.

On a side note, this is no real change, gold and higher members were always given zone 1, no one else would get zone 1. So the only change is people that used to get zone 5 now get zone 4 and so on...

@Groovnick: Good job, you screwed us all.

Just kidding.

@bohemian: They will never lose more dollars in your business than they make up for with their best most loyal customers. Frequent Flyer programs and the like are there because its way cheaper to reward frequent business with small perks that cost the company next to nothing than it does to win your business. Boarding first is important to me because you get to stow your bag where you want. Since I very rarely check anything anymore, this is important.

@General Halfshaftery: In fact, yes... I do. Sorry you feel threatened by that in some way.

As someone who flies three times as much as Mr. Kite does in a year, I agree with him 300%. Though there are some loose rules on airline selection at my company, they also encourage me to try to reach a higher status on these airlines to save money on all kinds of things--baggage charges, early standby fees, waived change fees, waived phone-in reservation fees, exit rows/premium economy seating, class of service upgrades, complementary hotels on flight cancellations and free in-transit lounge access.

Of course, that's just the beginning... there's free drink coupons, priority luggage tags and handling, first meal selection on international flights, restricted check-in lines, duty free catalog discounts, special award seat inventory, waived award ticketing fees, same-day award tickets, priority upgrade clearance and a pantload of bonus miles (sometimes double or more). I could go on and on here, but Mr. Kite is right. Unless you fly at least 50K miles a year on an operator, you're likely a "less valued" customer.

Spend 100+ days a year on the road, much of it international, and you'll see both how important these things are. I mainly fly United, which is at the root of this entry, and I applaud them for continuing to provide excellent customer service to their elite customers. Because, if they stopped, so would I.

@Mr. Kite: Are you one of the ultra lounge dwellers who swifts onboard at the last minute to have the first class seat??? I got to hang with a sales guy from one organization I worked for. We were in the lounge and that was the deal- quiet, free booze and snacks... Of course he had first class upgrade and I was in steerage but aleast I got to hang on his coattails for an outbound and return flight...

@bohemian: But that is the power of money. You will not get treated substandard but you also will not get any perks.

This is the same reason there are "private bankers" versus the rest of us having to skate down before 5pm Friday to chase our checks or deposits... The same reason for platinum rental car slots versus going through the third degree to get a Yaris rented. Another reason for AMEX Centurian Black Card versus the run of the mill AMEX card...

There never is a free lunch but the rich and wealthy get more free lunches than anyone...

@Gokuhouse: They used to, but then the front has no overhead space because people take their luggage, dog carrier, laptop bag, carry on bag, and small children and place them in the overhead bins.

@General Halfshaftery: And everyone else as yokels. Wonder how that would have veen worded had he been PAYing for those thousands of miles himself. :D

I have never understood why they don't hold the first-class cabin til after the hordes are on board. The way people have to stop and wait in the aisle, you end up sitting there with economy-class crotches in your face. Ew.

@resilient: The oil price argument does cut it anymore and likely never was more than a small part of the problem to begin with. Oil is now 1/2 what it was and gas prices are nearly 1/2 what they were in most areas as well. If oil prices were the cause, then we should immediately see massive profits. Since that's not happening, and we all know it won't, the cause is obviously elsewhere.