United has released some additional information regarding positive space and space available pass riders in the simplified boarding groups. They also address the issue of what parents and children do if they are in different boarding groups based on their seat assignments.

Here are two questions and answers:

When do positive-space and space-available pass riders board in the simplified boarding groups?
Positive-space pass riders traveling on company business board with Group 2, unless they have a seat assignment in a first-class cabin so they may board with Group 1. Meanwhile, space-available pass riders board in Group 3.

Overall, we will continue to evaluate our strategy behind boarding groups to make sure we are making the best decision for our co-workers, customers and operating performance.

How should we advise families to board when parents and children may be in different boarding groups based on their seat assignments?
Families may continue to board together, just as they could in our old structure. If a customer traveling with his or her family asks when they should board, you should advise them to board with the individual who has the lowest group number. For example, if a customer is assigned to Group 3, but the rest of his family is assigned to Groups 4 and 5, they may all board together in Group 3.

Here's the original information about the simplified boarding groups:

Simplified boarding groups

In the first change, we are reducing the number of groups that customers are divided into for boarding, from seven to five. Instead of four groups for Premiers and premium customers and three groups for general customers, we will use two groups for Premiers and premium customers, including select MileagePlus credit card members, and three groups for the remaining passengers. We also are updating the clear and simple announcements that agents use to guide the boarding at our gates.

Revised gate layouts with dedicated boarding lanes

In the second change, which we expect to begin to roll out in March and April, we are planning to improve the layout of our gates by setting up designated lanes and clear signage for each of the five boarding groups. With the new layout, we will place greater emphasis on and create better access for Premiers and premium customers by designating specific areas for passengers to line up in advance of boarding. In addition to reducing crowding, these dedicated lanes will enable the existing Premier Access lane to function in its intended manner, allowing Premiers to board at their leisure throughout the boarding process.

We have been testing the layout at a variety of gates at each of our U.S. domestic hubs. Feedback from customers and co-workers on the new gate layout has been positive: They told us that the lanes make boarding more consistent and orderly, with the overall boarding process going more quickly. Gate agents have given high marks, noting that the new layout helps them better manage departures and gives them more time to complete their departure management work. "We've set up this layout at B-8, and if you try to take it down you may have to fight some agents," ORD Customer Service Manager Jim Grabowski said.

While we will deploy the layout at as many gates as possible, we are developing alternatives for airports where gate areas are too small for five boarding lanes.

Introducing the "WilMA" (window-middle seat-aisle) approach for general boarding

In the third change, we will modify the method we use to determine how customers are assigned to the three general boarding groups. The new method will speed the movement of customers onboard the aircraft as they stow their carry-ons and get seated. This last change, which requires more IT work, will come after the first two changes.

Called "WilMA," the revised method will apply to the general boarding groups 3, 4 and 5. The first group to board will be customers sitting in window seats, followed by those in middle seats and finally those in aisle seats. Coinciding with WilMA, we will board customers on most United Express flights in four groups, but we'll use five boarding groups for mainline flights.

This approach – used by our United subsidiary before the merger – replaces our current system of assigning general group customers to groups based on their row number, starting with those in the back of the aircraft.