United Airlines' New Boarding Process Draws Ire of Some Passengers

Image: Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Photo Credit: United Airlines)
Image: Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Photo Credit: United Airlines)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 5:05 PM ET, Mon October 30, 2023

Speaking literally and figuratively, this might not fly.

Some passengers flying United Airlines are already expressing their reservations about the new boarding system employed by the carrier.

United recently changed its boarding policy, which now works from the inside out.

That is, they now seat those with tickets for the window seat first, then the middle and then the aisle. The airline claims it will save two minutes each time it boards a flight.

They are hoping it has a cumulative effect, saving later flights from avoidable headaches.

"By doing this, we're saving two minutes," Linda Jojo, United's chief customer service officer, said on TODAY. "So, if we can get two minutes back on this flight and two minutes back on the next flight, we're gonna help, especially those customers traveling later in the day to be closer on time."

But some passengers are not happy. Some have taken to social media to voice their displeasure about the new system, which is known as WILMA.

A few customers have said that people with window seating now have priority without having to pay extra for the seat. Others have written that by the time they board, even with an aisle seat, that they do not have overhead bin space.

X (formerly Twitter) user Ross Smith expressed concern that the new approach would allow window seat passengers to have first crack on overhead bins. "Unless the gate personnel strictly enforce the 2-item rule, I predict some interesting dialogue and disruptions to occur during boarding," Smith said.

"@united don't like your new boarding policy according to if you pick an aisle, middle, or window seat, if aisle seats board last charge less for that seat," another user said.

The new seating policy is for economy. Business class passengers, the disabled and families traveling together will still be able to board first.

United has addressed the concerns over carry-on bags by saying that all of its planes will be retrofitted to create larger overhead bins.

The new policy went into effect on Thursday, October 26.


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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