Cathay Pacific is now trialling group boarding

The move is aimed at improving passenger flow, although frequent flyers continue to enjoy priority boarding.

By David Flynn, January 28 2025
Cathay Pacific is now trialling group boarding

Cathay Pacific could soon join the ranks of airlines embracing boarding groups to streamline the flow of hundreds of passengers shuffling onto the plane.

Trials of group boarding are now underway at several international airports ahead of selected flights to Hong Kong; group boarding for selected flights departing from Hong Kong will be added to the trial in February.

“We know that the airport experience is important in setting the tone for the rest of your journey,” Cathay Pacific says.

How Cathay group boarding will work

On flights chosen for a group boarding trial, each passenger’s boarding pass will display a Boarding Group number from 1 to 7 (or 6 for smaller aircraft).

The airline says each passenger’s group number will depend on their cabin of travel, Cathay or Oneworld membership status as well as their seat number and the type of aircraft they are flying on.

The gate team will invite passengers to “board progressively” based on their group number, with first class and business class understandably at the head of the queue.

However, the airline assures frequent flyers – such as Cathay Diamond, Gold, and Silver members, and their Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalents, that “you’ll continue to enjoy priority boarding under these new arrangements.”

Cathay says its “boarding gate systems will strictly enforce the group numbers” to prevent people jumping the queue.

As Qantas has found with its own implementation of group boarding, a combination of clear communication at the check-in area and enforcement at the gates are the keys to making group boarding work.

Passengers whose flight is part of the group boarding trial receive a post-flight survey via email to share their feedback on how well it worked and what measures could improve the system.

The airline touts the move as “part of our vision to become one of the world's greatest service brands.”

2025 is shaping up to be a big year for Cathay Pacific, with the rollout of its new Aria Suites 777 business class – which are now flying to London, and Sydney might soon follow –  and the development of a new Hong Kong flagship lounge, beginning with the temporary closure of The Wing First and reopening of The Bridge.

The airline is also finalising an all-new flatbed regional business class for its Airbus A330 jets, and scoping out a potential new business class for its Airbus A350s as part of a “mid-life refresh” project.

Also read: How to get a Cathay Pacific status match

01 Jul 2021

Total posts 36

Oh no more airlines are trying group boarding, bad idea.

Why is this a bad idea? If you've ever used group boarding and seen it done well, it's great.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

26 Nov 2012

Total posts 128

100% agree. 

22 Sep 2017

Total posts 100

They will be on the PA almost constantly making several calls for each of seven groups in three languages.

QF

04 Apr 2014

Total posts 213

Came across this on the weekend, they did it fine.  

13 Nov 2020

Total posts 5

It was tested on my recent MEL-HKG flight.  Received an email prior to my flight.  My Emerald status was honored and was in Group 1.  Did not see a huge difference from before.


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