PHL

After CK's and those needing assistance are boarded, my understanding is that group 1 for First/Business class and Active Military would be next to board. Yet, quite often on an A319 with the dreaded 8 F seats, I see well more than 8 people get on. This morning, there were 16 in group 1. Group 2 had one person, which was surprisingly low for an ex-PHL flight. When I got on with group 3, I noticed many of the group 1 folks scattered throughout coach and not all in MCE. Of course, I have no way of knowing if those extra bodies are active military (unless in uniform), but this is seeming to happen more frequently.

What other scenarios would we see group 1 boarding with notably more passengers than the premium cabin holds?

Zacnlinc

Yea... What's up with that??!! I was recently on a A333 PHL-SFO flight and noticed something very much similar. And the kicker for me is that these two guys I was near boarded as CK members but were escorted to the forward cabin towards the end of boarding.

As I was boarding the FA looked "tired" of telling "group 1" passenger to go to the right as opposed to the left.

jmj9905

My guess is those passengers are probably exp. YMMV

nk15

Yes, group 2 EXPs who know that right at the end of group 1, comes...drumroll...group 2..

platbrownguy

I used to feel similarly but on a few recent flights out of DCA, I have noticed a large number of folks that do indeed have military IDs that they flash before scanning their Y boarding pass.

nk15

When I am group 1, sometimes I board when they call the CKs...I feel bad for AA if nobody walks up to board as a CK, so I am trying to make them feel better about themselves...

Michael El

AA allows travel partners to board with the lowest group number regardless of their boarding number.

PS - Referring to people as "bodies" is gauche.

ComplexAnalysis

Or when they announce Group 1 on an ERJ145

AA100k

I believe most often it’s the EXPs who board with Group 1.

enpremiere

That way they can get the bigger seats of course.

seigex

One of those unwritten "benefits" I didn't know existed. I don't mind group 2. It's usually only a few people who board in 2 on my flights unless I'm flying on Friday from a major hub. Makes me feel special.

mvoight

Companions generally board with the highest priority member
AA no longer requires a uniform for military to preboard
I really hope gate agents are enforcing boarding groups
That said, no proof is required to preboard before group 1 as needing assistance, and AA permits their companions to also board with them
Personally, I wish AA would charge for overhead space for non elites or not in business or first class. I also wish people would learn how to properly use the overheads (If they are big enough for the bag to be stow on the small side, then do it that way, instead of on the larger side.

PHL

I try to be courteous at the gate and leave plenty of berth for the groups ahead of me to funnel into the boarding lane, but based on your thoughts maybe I should be "that guy" and queue up directly behind group 2 before the group 3 announcement is made. While we're at it, let's have the group 4 pax (which are usually 30-40% of the flight these days) can also queue up on deck.

mvoight

As a group 3 member, I start just before group 3 is actually called. What hate seeing is a bunch of group 8 people crowded the front of the boarding area

nk15

The plane has to leave on time, there is no time to lollygag between boarding groups...