United Airlines is cutting the number of boarding lanes at its gates and will notify passengers through their phones when the boarding process begins.
While there are still five numbered boarding groups, passengers now will board through two lanes, green and blue. A digital sign will indicate which group currently is boarding through each lane. Preboarding groups and Group 1 will board through the blue lane, and groups 2 through 5 will board through the green lane in order. From that point, the blue lane will be left open for passengers in groups 1 and 2 who arrive late.
The carrier also will issue alerts via its app to let passengers know when boarding for a flight has begun. Eventually, United plans to issue those alerts via text messages, as well.
In addition, United has shifted some boarding group designations to balance the groups' numbers. MileagePlus Premier 1K members have moved from Group 1 to preboarding, and Gold members have moved from Group 2 to Group 1.
United has been testing the process at Los Angeles International Airport most of this year, and on Tuesday, it expanded it to more than 1,000 gates around the world.