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  • 06-05-2025
  • Category: travel
  • Author: Flightsguard
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United Airlines is an American-based airline known for its extensive flight network. Each year, they manage over 170 million passengers, which is a record in the aviation industry. To easily manage such high tourist traffic, they follow a unique boarding process called WILMA or Windo-Middle-Last. According to this, passengers with window seats will be boarded first, then the middle seats, and those in the aisle seats. However, most passengers find the boarding process complex, which is done before boarding the aircraft. In this article, we will briefly discuss the United Boarding Process 2025.

United Airlines Boarding Process:

The boarding process begins approximately 40 to 50 minutes before takeoff and ends when the door closes, about 15 minutes before the flight's scheduled departure time. To ensure that boarding happens conveniently, United Airlines has created a blueprint for how it works.

Boarding Groups:

United Airlines has organized passengers into seven distinct groups for easier and more comfortable boarding. These group numbers appear on the boarding pass and are influenced by factors such as the type of ticket, seat location, and MileagePlus status tier. Boarding occurs sequentially by group, which includes the following categories:

1. Pre-boarding

Eligibility:

  • Customers with disabilities
  • Unaccompanied minors
  • Passengers traveling with children aged two or younger
  • Active military personnel
  • Global Service and Premier 1K members

2. Group 1 

Eligibility:

  • Premier Platinum and Gold Members
  • Star Alliance Gold Tier Members
  • Travelers flying in United Polaris, United First, or United Business cabins

3. Group 2

Eligibility:

  • Premier Silver Members
  • Star Alliance Silver Members
  • Passengers with Premier Access or Priority Boarding
  • United Explorer, Club, and Presidential Plus Cards

4. Group 3

Eligibility:

  • Travelers in economy Plus or United Economy can choose window seats or exit rows.

5. Group 4

Eligibility:

  • United Economy passengers seated in middle positions or Economy Plus.

6. Group 5 

Eligibility:

  • Travelers in aisle seats with economy Plus or United Economy. 

7. Group 6

Eligibility:

  • Travelers in Basic Economy and travelers who do not have a boarding group number listed on their boarding pass.

How to obtain a boarding pass?

To obtain a boarding pass, passengers must check in at the check-in counter or the airport. Here is how you can do that.

1. Web Check-in

  • Visit the airline's official website or the mobile app.
  • Enter your booking reference number and your name.
  • Choose your preferred seats.
  • Your boarding pass will be sent to your email, which you can print at home. 

2. Airport Check-in

  • Check-in Counter: To receive your boarding pass, provide your information and identification to the agent at the check-in counter.
  • Self-Service Kiosks: Many airports feature kiosks that allow passengers to print their boarding passes independently. Enter your details, and the machine will print your boarding pass.

Conclusion:-

United Airlines manages many tourists daily to wrap up the United Airlines Boarding Process 2025. Thus, they ensure that boarding happens easily and conveniently. They have made seven groups, each boarded chronologically, making it quick and manageable.  Once passengers get to the boarding area, their work is done, and United Airlines' responsibility starts.