Boarding process

Boarding process

Boarding process

Most flights begin boarding 40-50 minutes before takeoff. Boarding ends and the plane doors close about 15 minutes before departure. To make sure boarding goes as smoothly as possible, we’ve outlined how it works here.

Boarding groups

To simplify the boarding process, we board all customers by group. You can find your group number on your boarding pass. Your group depends on who’s traveling, your ticket, your seat location and your MileagePlus status. If you’re traveling in a group and sitting in economy, you’ll all be assigned the earliest applicable boarding group.

Boarding groups

To simplify the boarding process, we board all customers by group. You can find your group number on your boarding pass. Your group depends on who’s traveling, your ticket, your seat location and your MileagePlus status. If you’re traveling in a group and sitting in economy, you’ll all be assigned the earliest applicable boarding group.

Boarding group Eligibility
Pre-boarding
Group 1
  • Premier Platinum and Gold members
  • Star Alliance™ Gold members
  • Travelers in United Polaris®, United First® and United Business® cabins
Group 2
  • Premier Silver members
  • Star Alliance™ Silver members
  • Travelers with Premier Access® or Priority Boarding
  • UnitedSM Explorer Card, United QuestSM Card, United ClubSM Infinite Card, UnitedSM Business Card, United ClubSM Business Card, United MileagePlus® Awards Card, UnitedSM Presidential PlusSM Card, and UnitedSM Presidential PlusSM Business Card
Group 3
  • Economy Plus® or United Economy® travelers in window seats or exit row seats
Group 4
  • Economy Plus or United Economy travelers in middle seats
Group 5
  • Economy Plus or United Economy travelers in aisle seats
Group 6
  • Travelers in Basic Economy* and travelers who do not have a boarding group number listed on their boarding pass
BOARDING GROUP
Pre-boarding ELIGIBILITY
Group 1 ELIGIBILITY
  • Premier Platinum and Gold members
  • Star Alliance™ Gold members
  • Travelers in United Polaris®, United First® and United Business® cabins
Group 2 ELIGIBILITY
  • Premier Silver members
  • Star Alliance™ Silver members
  • Travelers with Premier Access® or Priority Boarding
  • United℠ Explorer, Club and Presidential Plus℠ Cardmembers
Group 3 ELIGIBILITY
  • Economy Plus® or United Economy® travelers in window seats or exit row seats
Group 4 ELIGIBILITY
  • Economy Plus or United Economy travelers in middle seats
Group 5 ELIGIBILITY
  • Economy Plus or United Economy travelers in aisle seats
Group 6 ELIGIBILITY
  • Travelers in Basic Economy* and travelers who do not have a boarding group number listed on their boarding pass

* If you have a Basic Economy ticket, you’ll be in the last boarding group unless you are a Premier member, a qualifying Chase Cardmember, or a Star Alliance Gold member.

Boarding the plane

The gate agent will announce when it’s time to begin boarding. We recommend you stay seated until your group is called. You can also see what group is currently boarding on the screens in the gate area.

When it’s your turn, you’ll see blue and green signs in the gate area marking two boarding lanes. The signs are labeled so you know what groups board through each lane.

Boarding the plane

The gate agent will announce when it’s time to begin boarding. We recommend you stay seated until your group is called. You can also see what group is currently boarding on the screens in the gate area.

When it’s your turn, you’ll see blue and green signs in the gate area marking two boarding lanes. The signs are labeled so you know what groups board through each lane.

Group 1

Boards through the blue lane.

Group 2

Boards through the green lane.

Group 3 - 6

Board through the green lane when your boarding group is called.

Board through the green lane when your boarding group is called.

Group 1

Boards through the blue lane.

Group 2

Boards through the green lane.

Group 3 - 6

Board through the green lane when your boarding group is called.

Board through the green lane when your boarding group is called.

Once you’re on the plane, find your seat and stow your carry-on bags and personal items.

Once you’re on the plane, find your seat and stow your carry-on bags and personal items.

Traveler pro tips

Traveler pro tips

Here are few tips to make the boarding process easier:

Here are few tips to make the boarding process easier:

  1. Your digital boarding pass lets you know when to start boarding. Stay seated until your group is called.
  2. You can opt in to receive text messages letting you know when boarding begins.
  3. You can add Priority Boarding to your trip to get an earlier boarding group.
  4. If you add Premier Access to your trip you get Priority Boarding automatically and you get access to faster check-in and security lines.