As a threshold question, why are there 9 or 10 boarding groups (counting those who come "ahead" of Group 1). That's just a recipe for chaos, given the push to start boarding before the stated boarding time.

The first few can be called with no much time between them, although I suspect up through group 3 it doesn't matter much for the vast majority of flights, but group 4 can make a difference

Agreed, but AA wants First Class to feel special.
And, EXPs in group 2, so hey feel special being ahead of group 3
I am in group 3, and it does matter if the group behind me boards at the same time.

The number of groups have only gone up 2 in the last 10-20-30 years and that is because of Basic Economy and CK. They have just codified all the groups instead of calling certain ones by name. The original number were 4 groups, but then there was First Class, EXP, Plat, and Gold on top of that. Instead of saying, now boarding Platinum, they now say boarding group 3.

I remember that part of the reason for this was confusion by the Credit Card Holders. When they hear boarding Platinum, Gold, or Executive Platinum, the Credit Card Holders thought they were being called early and rushed to the boarding area and complained when they couldn't board.

From what I have heard, CK has actually been "downgraded" on boarding. 10+ years ago, someone would have personally boarded them instead of having to wait to be called.

With all the overhead issues, I still can’t help but wonder how it would work if they went back to loading the main cabin from the back to front again.

Load F/J, elites, then start at the back. Let them get in line, call a couple more rows, etc. Maybe force BE last, but whatever.

Of course the FA’s would have to ensure nobody stopped short and actually used the bin space above their seat. And GA’s would have to actually read BP’s to enforce.


Obviously there is a reason why they moved away from this, but it would keep the aisle clear as any holdup is ahead of where you should be going.

I have to agree with this statement. Usually group 2 is the smallest line as it's the EXP's that didn't get upgraded lol

I like that AA does differentiate group 1 for first class (and CK's) only so when I do occasionally get upgraded it's a nice touch. If memory serves as a United 1K I was in zone 1 whether or not I was upgraded. I remember those lines being VERY long.

That's what they are doing, but using numbers instead of wording. Instead of saying Platinum Elites, they say Group 3. Group 6,7,8 are based on back to front lust like the old Group 2, 3, 4 was.

One of the main reasons for the change was because when the FA said now boarding Platinum, the Platinum Credit Card Holders would get in line.

Ah, interesting. Guess I never paid attention to the back boarding groups and if they were back to front or not. By then I'm trying to tune everything out.

I wonder if that is somewhat the case now. Groups 1-5 are elite, CC holders, and folks who payed for a seat or priority boarding. 6, 7, and 8 are the rest, and 9 is basic economy, so wouldn't 6-8 be assigned based on the back to front method?

Yes 6,7,8 are based on back to front of non-elite, non-credit-card, and non-basic-economy customers.

But CK is not in Group 1 - they are pre-board before group 1. If there are only a few EXPs on a flight - then they call Group 3 and 4 right away and they rush the EXPs. But on some flights there can be 20 EXPs (at least into DCA) so when they call group 2 - seems like 20% of the flght boards.