How Do You Know if You Have Priority Boarding
American Airlines has boarding process with a whopping ix boarding groups. And despite the occasional sighs and centre rolls from passengers who experience their boarding group may never be chosen, everyone does eventually get on the plane.
Having so many American Airlines boarding groups can be confusing, merely yous can use this convoluted procedure to your advantage. Only learn how these groups are assigned, and y'all tin figure out how to score priority boarding for your next flying.
The 9 American Airlines boarding groups
While in that location are officially 9 boarding groups, in that location's actually i more than: preboarding.
Preboarding is mainly reserved for travelers needing special help and passengers with a child nether ii years old. Members of the airline'south invitation-but, summit-tier ConciergeKey elite status also get to board before Group 1 boarding starts.
After preboarding come the post-obit group numbers:
After preboarding come the following group numbers:
| Group | AAdvantage/aristocracy members | Other passengers |
|---|---|---|
| Grouping 1 |
|
|
| Group two |
|
|
| Group iii |
| - |
| Group four |
|
|
| Grouping 5 | - |
|
| Group half dozen | - | Group six passengers. |
| Grouping 7 | - | Grouping 7 passengers. |
| Group 8 | - |
|
| Group 9 | - | Basic economy passengers within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico and Caribbean. |
Priority boarding
The groups are split into ii boarding lanes. Groups 1 through 4 board through the priority lane, while Groups v through 9 lath through the master lane.
One benefit of priority boarding (Groups ane through 4) is getting to skip the line if yous arrive at the gate in the midst of boarding. Merely walk up the priority lane, and the gate agent will hold the principal boarding group lane to admit you to your flying.
Photo courtesy of JT Genter
How are American Airlines boarding groups assigned?
American passengers are put in the highest group for which they qualify. For case, basic economy passengers are relegated to Grouping nine. Nevertheless, a passenger who booked a bones economy ticket will become Group iv if they have AAdvantage Gold elite status .
Likewise, a Platinum elite will be assigned to Group 3 if flight in economy. But if their first class upgrade clears, their boarding group will be elevated to Group i.
That means there are a number of ways to upgrade your boarding position.
How to get American Airlines priority boarding
At that place are several ways American Airlines passengers can get priority privileges — from elite status to holding a item credit card. Here are all of the ways to get priority boarding.
Fly in a premium motel
All passengers flying in a premium cabin become priority boarding. But the grouping you'll get depends on which class of service yous're flight.
Passengers in the front cabin board with Group 1. This includes any cabin labeled start course — from first course on domestic flights to Flagship First Class on long-haul international flights. Group 1 also includes business class on international flights that don't have a splendid cabin.
You lot'll discover this on the Airbus A330-200 and American's Boeing 777-200 and 787 aircraft.
Grouping ii is more often than not reserved for elite members. However, Flagship Business concern class passengers board during Grouping 2 if you're flying on a three-course shipping. This is the case on American'south Airbus A321T and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Premium economy passengers as well go priority boarding. If you lot volume a premium economy ticket on i of their internationally configured aircraft, you'll go to board in Group 4 — unless you qualify for a higher tier through another method.
Hold AAdvantage, Oneworld or JetBlue elite status
Most of the early American Airlines boarding groups are reserved for American Airlines, JetBlue and Oneworld elite members. No matter what tier of elite status yous accept, you'll become to board the flight during priority boarding — even if you lot're flight in economy.
Executive Platinum members can board in Group 1, while Platinum Pro (and Oneworld Emerald) members may lath in Group 2. Mid-tier elites (American Airlines Platinum and Oneworld Sapphire) go at least Group 3.
And the lowest-tier elites (American Airlines Gilt, Oneworld Carmine and JetBlue Mosaic ) are assigned to Grouping 4.
However, this is the lowest boarding position you'll get as an elite member. You'll go to board in a higher group if your upgrade clears.
Board equally armed forces
Members of the U.S. armed services who are on active duty and carrying a military ID can board in Grouping one. This military boarding perk is the airline's way to laurels those who serve.
Conduct the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Globe Elite Mastercard®
One of the benefits of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is priority boarding. Cardholders get at least Grouping 4 boarding — which is the final group of priority boarding. Notwithstanding, this should go y'all on the plane early enough to observe space in the overhead for your carry-on and not experience rushed by other economy passengers.
Join AirPass or fly for business
AirPass and corporate travelers become Group 4 priority boarding privileges. Anyone can sign upwardly for AirPass . Well, at least anyone who can drop $five,000-plus to pre-buy airfare.
As function of the AirPass program, members get fixed-rate airfare pricing, elite condition, Admirals Social club membership and more than. While the aristocracy condition that comes with AirPass is enough to go priority boarding, AirPass members get at to the lowest degree Group 4 priority boarding.
Alternatively, y'all can go Group four priority boarding by being an "eligible corporate traveler," meaning passengers traveling on company business for an employer with an American Airlines Corporate Travel Agreement. The ticket has to be booked and paid through the corporate travel portal to qualify.
Pay for information technology
If yous're unable to take advantage of any of the above ways, there's 1 last mode to get priority boarding: Pay for it. Economic system passengers, including those with basic economy fares, can buy a priority boarding add-on to enter the plane with Group 4.
Travelers can't purchase this upgrade during the initial booking procedure, so you'll demand to add it during check-in online or at the airport.
Terminal thoughts on American Airlines boarding groups
American Airlines' boarding procedure has several boarding groups also as preboarding. It may seem convoluted, merely American is using these boarding groups to motivate travelers to take actions that make the airline more money — from flying enough to get elite status to getting a credit menu or upgrading to a premium cabin.
If any of these brand sense for your travels, American is happy to reward you with priority privileges.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what's important to yous. Here are our picks for the all-time travel credit cards of 2022 , including those best for:
Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/understanding-american-airlines-boarding-groups-and-how-you-can-upgrade
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