United Airlines introduces new boarding process; economy class passengers with window seats will board first

United Airlines has announced a new boarding process for economy-class passengers, starting next week, the airline will begin boarding passengers with window seats first.

This change is part of a plan called WILMA, which stands for window, middle, and aisle. It is already been tested at four domestic locations, and it has been shown to save up to two minutes of boarding time.

The implementation will begin with passengers in Group 4. Those with window seats will board first, followed by those with middle seats and then those with aisle seats.


United Airlines also mentioned that families or individuals with multiple group members on the same economy reservation will be allowed to board their flight together.

The new process will be implemented on domestic flights as well as some international flights. It is important to note that passengers in first class and business class will not be affected by this change.

The pre-boarding group, which includes travelers with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, active-duty military, and families with children aged two and younger, will also board the flight with the same boarding process.

The airline has forecasted weaker profits for the rest of the year due to surging jet fuel prices and the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv during the Israel-Hamas war. In the third quarter, United Airlines reported earnings of USD 1.14 billion.

The airline expects its fourth-quarter adjusted profit to be between USD 1.50 and USD 1.80 per share, falling short of Wall Street's expectations. The forecast assumes that flights to Tel Aviv will resume next month, but if not, the profit could be lower.

Shares of United Airlines Holdings Inc. fell over 5 percent before the market opened on Wednesday.

(inputs from AP)