Jan 8, 2014, 11:14 am
Last edit by: awaflyboy
This is the current US boarding process:
1. Special assists
2. First Class & Uniformed Military
3. Emerald & Saphire (Chairman, Exec. Platinum, Platinum, US Gold)
4. Ruby (US Silver & AA Gold)
5. Preferred Access
4. Zone 1
5. Zone 2 (including US Visa Signature and MasterCard World Premier credit card holders)
6. Zones 3, 4, 5 and depending on the aircraft, Zone 6.
1. Special assists
2. First Class & Uniformed Military
3. Emerald & Saphire (Chairman, Exec. Platinum, Platinum, US Gold)
4. Ruby (US Silver & AA Gold)
5. Preferred Access
4. Zone 1
5. Zone 2 (including US Visa Signature and MasterCard World Premier credit card holders)
6. Zones 3, 4, 5 and depending on the aircraft, Zone 6.
New Boarding Process, beginning 1/7/2014
Jan 10, 2014, 10:25 am
#31
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
As an FYI, any FT'er who has 180+ posts/180+ days on Flyertalk can create and edit Wikiposts on the site.
If you don't fit that criteria, I'd suggest sending a PM to the forum moderator, who can create/edit on your behalf.
Jan 12, 2014, 6:49 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: IPT
Programs: DL Diamond, Hilton Life Diamond, Hertz Presidents, former US former Charimans
Posts: 131
So they seem to have a problem here in that US Airways used to have 4 tiers, but American only has 3, and the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of US flyers who are in my situation - quite a ways over the Platinum threshold but not all the way to Chairmans - who really should be in that highest tier.
Frankly, I think 4 tiers makes sense and it would be in line with Delta and United (and legacy US) to stick with 4 tiers.
Jan 12, 2014, 7:03 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: United, HHonors, Hyatt, Avis, Starbucks
Posts: 5
Jan 12, 2014, 10:33 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 122
The information at the top of this thread might be a bit off--or rather is different from my experience. I have taken 12 US flights since Jan 7 (about three-quarters of them boarded at hub airports), and based on my listening to the GAs, they read from a script (that includes saying something like "My name is xxx, and I'll be helping board today's flight..." or something similar), and when they read the script, first class, uniformed military, CP, and EXEC PLAT are called together. Uniformed military are not called with special assists. Special assists have been called first and by themselves. ...Just my experience over the dozen flights I've had since the switch.
Jan 13, 2014, 5:43 am
#36
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: US Airways Chairman's Preferred, SPG Platinum, AMEX Platinum Card, Global Entry
Posts: 177
The information at the top of this thread might be a bit off--or rather is different from my experience. I have taken 12 US flights since Jan 7 (about three-quarters of them boarded at hub airports), and based on my listening to the GAs, they read from a script (that includes saying something like "My name is xxx, and I'll be helping board today's flight..." or something similar), and when they read the script, first class, uniformed military, CP, and EXEC PLAT are called together. Uniformed military are not called with special assists. Special assists have been called first and by themselves. ...Just my experience over the dozen flights I've had since the switch.
Jan 13, 2014, 8:22 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Philadephia, PA
Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 477
Jan 13, 2014, 8:25 am
#38
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
The information at the top of this thread might be a bit off--or rather is different from my experience. I have taken 12 US flights since Jan 7 (about three-quarters of them boarded at hub airports), and based on my listening to the GAs, they read from a script (that includes saying something like "My name is xxx, and I'll be helping board today's flight..." or something similar), and when they read the script, first class, uniformed military, CP, and EXEC PLAT are called together. Uniformed military are not called with special assists. Special assists have been called first and by themselves. ...Just my experience over the dozen flights I've had since the switch.
The last FT'er to edit the Wikipost is actually a US Gate Agent, so I'm assuming they posted the information as they were provided it.
As an FYI, any FT'er who has 180+ posts/180+ days on Flyertalk can create and edit Wikiposts on the site.
If you don't fit that criteria, I'd suggest sending a PM to the forum moderator, who can create/edit on your behalf.
As an FYI, any FT'er who has 180+ posts/180+ days on Flyertalk can create and edit Wikiposts on the site.
If you don't fit that criteria, I'd suggest sending a PM to the forum moderator, who can create/edit on your behalf.
Jan 13, 2014, 10:24 am
#39
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 425
On a recent trip out of Las Vegas, the gate agent read the script, and at least three people claiming to be AA elites attempted to board with CP/EXP and first class. The gate agent turned them back, and they were somewhat indignant about, saying that they heard the agent say "preferred" and they are "preferred." (The gate agent may have paused slightly between "Chairman's" and "preferred" while reading the script.)
Does AA call its elites preferred?
Does AA call its elites preferred?
Jan 13, 2014, 11:56 am
#40
Join Date: May 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PLT, Marriott LTP
Posts: 493
I noticed, at least for my flights, they don't say to use the blue preferred lane so people are using both making it bit of a mob scene.
Jan 13, 2014, 3:14 pm
#41
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: SPG Plat, IHG Royal Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat,Accor Plat, US Chairmans
Posts: 176
I think they should separate out F and elites. Or at least enforce what groups are called. I was upgraded to FC on my outbound and return. Once they called FC/Chairman's/EXP, there was a line forming and i could hear chatter that they didnt know what was called and they were MOSTLY Star gold and lower elite tiers from what I could hear. All 4 flight segments (outbound+return flights), the GA allowed boarding of all of them despite most clearly NOT BEING FC/Chairman's/EXP. 
Jan 13, 2014, 3:39 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
I wish they could just incorporate it on your boarding pass.
If you are FC, you are Zone 1.
If you are EXP or CP, Zone 2.
And on and on. I know it would screw up the CC stuff but maybe you make Zone A, Zone B, then go to Zone 1 and Zone 2.
If you are FC, you are Zone 1.
If you are EXP or CP, Zone 2.
And on and on. I know it would screw up the CC stuff but maybe you make Zone A, Zone B, then go to Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Jan 14, 2014, 2:27 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Philadephia, PA
Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 477
I'm just imagining the confusion (and questions to a busy gate agent) when occasional travelers hear "zone A" boarding and see "zone 4" on their board pass. Putting each group into it's own zone isn't a bad idea though.
Jan 14, 2014, 2:37 pm
#44
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
All I know is that boarding is one of the top complaints among FFs. It seems that no matter what the order, someone will say "Why don't they do it this way."
Jim
Jim
Jan 14, 2014, 2:52 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
Maybe Zone 1A, 1B, 1C...lol