Last edit by: JDiver
Guide to AA Boarding Priority, Order and Times
including minimum gate arrival time to board
Link to "Boarding Process" page on aa.comincluding minimum gate arrival time to board
See the current charts in Post #1.
CURRENT Boarding process as of Apr 2018
(NOTE: The archived thread discussing the announcement, etc. can be read here: ARCHIVE: AA announces new boarding policy effective 1 March 2017
NOTE: Changes have been implemented 01 March 2017, as tweeted by JonNYC. See American Airlines announces new boarding policy effective 1 March 2017
Link to March 1 boarding process on aa.com.
On March 1, 2017, American Airlines will launch a new, simplified boarding process. In the future, all customers will be assigned a group number (1 through 9) based on their ticket type, elite status level and priority. We will call the group number in our announcements rather than all customer types. The boarding order will be the same, with only minor exceptions. The change is in how we refer to each group on boarding passes and announcements. Our ConciergeKey members will be invited to board prior to general boarding.
*Eligible AAdvantageŽ credit cardmembers (on American Airlines flights) include:
NOTE: AA recent policy has included "Should you arrive at the gate after Priority customers have been called, you may bypass the General Boarding lines and enjoy the convenience of boarding anytime via your new dedicated boarding lane." (American Airlines policy.)
See Ben Schlappig / Lucky's blog here.
Link to March 1 boarding process on aa.com.
On March 1, 2017, American Airlines will launch a new, simplified boarding process. In the future, all customers will be assigned a group number (1 through 9) based on their ticket type, elite status level and priority. We will call the group number in our announcements rather than all customer types. The boarding order will be the same, with only minor exceptions. The change is in how we refer to each group on boarding passes and announcements. Our ConciergeKey members will be invited to board prior to general boarding.
- Preboard: Pax requiring assistance, ConciergeKey (+ Five Star customers)
- Group 1 - First class or 2 cabin international Business class / Active duty U.S. military with military I.D. link(Business on a 2-class international plane)
- Group 2 - Executive Platinum / oneworld Emerald / 3 Cabin Business class
- Group 3 - Platinum Pro / Platinum / oneworld Sapphire
- Group 4 - Gold, oneworld Ruby, Air Pass, Premium Economy, Executive Citi credit card, purchased Priority Boarding
Group 5 (preferred boarding) - Main Cabin Extra (excluding Basic Economy), Eligible corporate travelers**, Other AAdvantage eligible credit cards* - Group 6 - 8 - Coach Groups, Basic Economy on longhaul transoceanic
- Group 9 - Basic Economy within the U.S., Canada, Mexico & Caribbean
*Eligible AAdvantageŽ credit cardmembers (on American Airlines flights) include:
- CitiŽ / AAdvantageŽ Platinum Select World EliteTM MastercardŽ
- CitiBusinessŽ / AAdvantageŽ Platinum Select World EliteTM MastercardŽ
- CitiŽ / AAdvantageŽ Platinum SelectŽ American ExpressŽ Card
- CitiŽ / AAdvantageŽ Platinum SelectŽ Visa Signature
- AAdvantageŽ AviatorTM Silver MastercardŽ
- AAdvantageŽ AviatorTM Red MastercardŽ
- AAdvantageŽ AviatorTM Business MastercardŽ
NOTE: AA recent policy has included "Should you arrive at the gate after Priority customers have been called, you may bypass the General Boarding lines and enjoy the convenience of boarding anytime via your new dedicated boarding lane." (American Airlines policy.)
See Ben Schlappig / Lucky's blog here.
Boarding times See chart in first post.
NOTE: AA gate agents seem to often and unpredictably begin boarding earlier than the scheduled times mentioned below.
50 minutes prior to departure From/To the United States and:="4"%Europe
Middle East
Asia
South American destinations: Asuncion, PY; Brasilia, BR; Belo Horizonte, BR; Curitiba, Br; Buenos Aires, AR; Rio de Janeiro, BR; Sao Paulo, BR; Lima, PE; Montevideo, UY; Porto Alegre, BR; Recife, BR; Salvador, BR; Santiago, CL; Sao Paulo Viracop, BR
45 minutes prior to departure - From/To the United States and:="4"%Caribbean
Central America
Hawaii
Mexico
South American destinations: La Paz, BO; Santa Cruz, BO; Maracaibo, VE; Caracas, VE; Bogota, CO; Cali, CO; Medellin, CO; Guayaquil, EC; Quito, EC
35 minutes prior to departure - Domestic on these aircraft types: A321, A321S, A330, B757, B767, B787, B777="4"%Within the 48 contiguous states
Alaska
Canada
30 minutes prior to departure - Domestic on these aircraft types: A319, A320, A321T, E190, S80, B737="4"%Within the 48 contiguous states
Alaska
Canada
50 minutes prior to departure From/To the United States and:="4"%Europe
Middle East
Asia
South American destinations: Asuncion, PY; Brasilia, BR; Belo Horizonte, BR; Curitiba, Br; Buenos Aires, AR; Rio de Janeiro, BR; Sao Paulo, BR; Lima, PE; Montevideo, UY; Porto Alegre, BR; Recife, BR; Salvador, BR; Santiago, CL; Sao Paulo Viracop, BR
45 minutes prior to departure - From/To the United States and:="4"%Caribbean
Central America
Hawaii
Mexico
South American destinations: La Paz, BO; Santa Cruz, BO; Maracaibo, VE; Caracas, VE; Bogota, CO; Cali, CO; Medellin, CO; Guayaquil, EC; Quito, EC
35 minutes prior to departure - Domestic on these aircraft types: A321, A321S, A330, B757, B767, B787, B777="4"%Within the 48 contiguous states
Alaska
Canada
30 minutes prior to departure - Domestic on these aircraft types: A319, A320, A321T, E190, S80, B737="4"%Within the 48 contiguous states
Alaska
Canada
Conditions of Carriage (Link
"Arrival at Gate
You must be at the gate and ready to board the aircraft:
15 minutes prior to scheduled departure for flights departing from points -within- the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
30 minutes prior to scheduled departure for flights departing from points -outside- the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands, i.e., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Central/South America, Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda"
For gate arrival, AA states: "Recommended before your flight: Link
30 minutes
Be at the gate, ready to board. Doors close 10 minutes before departure once they close you'll be denied boarding."
"Arrival at Gate
You must be at the gate and ready to board the aircraft:
15 minutes prior to scheduled departure for flights departing from points -within- the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
30 minutes prior to scheduled departure for flights departing from points -outside- the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands, i.e., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Central/South America, Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda"
For gate arrival, AA states: "Recommended before your flight: Link
30 minutes
Be at the gate, ready to board. Doors close 10 minutes before departure once they close you'll be denied boarding."
GUIDE: AA Boarding Priority, Order and Related Issues (as of 2018)
#182
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
You are travelling on your Belgium (BE) passport and the last 3 digits of that passport are 196.
#183
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ANR, BELGIUM
Programs: DIAMANTAIRE EXTRAORDINAIRE
Posts: 453
#184
There's something wrong with AA and assigning boarding group for oneworld elites.
Every so often, the corporate travel booking tool adds my AA # instead of my BA #, prompting a phone call to AA.. the agent almost always has a problem trying to swap FF #s in the record. They manage to add the BA# instead but I end up with boarding group 6, despite being OW Emerald. It's kind of ridiculous.
Will try asking the awesome AAngels in ORD G concourse AC. Check-in agents tend to be meh.
Every so often, the corporate travel booking tool adds my AA # instead of my BA #, prompting a phone call to AA.. the agent almost always has a problem trying to swap FF #s in the record. They manage to add the BA# instead but I end up with boarding group 6, despite being OW Emerald. It's kind of ridiculous.
Will try asking the awesome AAngels in ORD G concourse AC. Check-in agents tend to be meh.
#185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,241
There's something wrong with AA and assigning boarding group for oneworld elites.
Every so often, the corporate travel booking tool adds my AA # instead of my BA #, prompting a phone call to AA.. the agent almost always has a problem trying to swap FF #s in the record. They manage to add the BA# instead but I end up with boarding group 6, despite being OW Emerald. It's kind of ridiculous.
Will try asking the awesome AAngels in ORD G concourse AC. Check-in agents tend to be meh.
Every so often, the corporate travel booking tool adds my AA # instead of my BA #, prompting a phone call to AA.. the agent almost always has a problem trying to swap FF #s in the record. They manage to add the BA# instead but I end up with boarding group 6, despite being OW Emerald. It's kind of ridiculous.
Will try asking the awesome AAngels in ORD G concourse AC. Check-in agents tend to be meh.
#188
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: USA, JPN, GBR
Programs: A3, AA, AC, AS, DL, NH, SQ, SK, UA; BW, CP, HH, IHG, MB
Posts: 1,950
Fascinating AA IT at work.
My BP: "Group 5 - Credit cardmember"
Traveling companion's BP: "Group 4 - Priority"
HUH?
One PNR, no status, discounted fare. I suppose we can use Priority Access check-in/security/boarding?
My BP: "Group 5 - Credit cardmember"
Traveling companion's BP: "Group 4 - Priority"
HUH?
One PNR, no status, discounted fare. I suppose we can use Priority Access check-in/security/boarding?
#189
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, 1865 Voyager, *G
Posts: 112
Certainly that makes no sense, but I think we've seen a bunch of statused people on PNRs having their companions (including minors, etc.) defaulted down to Group 4?
Of course everyone still boards together...
#190
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
When I travel with my GF, she ends up getting Group 4 as well (I'm EXP, therefore Group 2 most of the time -- and I have a CC entitling Group 5). There's nothing to suggest she should get Group 4 so I've long suspected it's "lazy coding" (similar to HKG being treated as China for OLCI likely looking for a visa where none is required) that any inherited status for a companion with the new 9-group sequence defaults to "Group 4" as if they had bought Priority access.
Certainly that makes no sense, but I think we've seen a bunch of statused people on PNRs having their companions (including minors, etc.) defaulted down to Group 4?
Of course everyone still boards together...
Certainly that makes no sense, but I think we've seen a bunch of statused people on PNRs having their companions (including minors, etc.) defaulted down to Group 4?
Of course everyone still boards together...
#191
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Highland Park, IL
Programs: UA~AA~HH~Hyatt~WN
Posts: 72
Family of 4 traveling on same itinerary, I don't have an AA credit card, but my husband and daughter both do (Plat Select).
I checked in for our flight for the four of us, and we got group 6 instead of 5. I'm thinking that's because I did the checking in instead of one of the 2 that have a card?
I called AA, and the rep tried to tell me the reason is because we didn't pay with the CC....Not true, right?
And I know it's just 6 vs. 5, but I'm curious what happened.
I checked in for our flight for the four of us, and we got group 6 instead of 5. I'm thinking that's because I did the checking in instead of one of the 2 that have a card?
I called AA, and the rep tried to tell me the reason is because we didn't pay with the CC....Not true, right?
And I know it's just 6 vs. 5, but I'm curious what happened.
#192
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,433
Do your husband and daughter see "AAdvantageŽ cardmember" when they log into aa.com? Is their aadvantage account number on their reservation? If so, they should get the benefit whatever card was used to pay.
See https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ng-process.jsp
Did they get the cards very recently?
See https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ng-process.jsp
Did they get the cards very recently?
Last edited by richarddd; Jun 11, 2017 at 2:19 pm
#193
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Highland Park, IL
Programs: UA~AA~HH~Hyatt~WN
Posts: 72
He did book these tickets using BA miles, could that be an issue?
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,733
If his AA number is not in the reservations least 7 days before the flight, then the card benefits don't apply. Booking with BA miles, the AA number typically would not be in the reservation.