That is the correct order as per AA policy.

CK > 1st > Business > families > 1-9

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ng-process.jsp

The boarding pay has nothing to do with how the plane is boarded, only the new boarding times.

The flow is better, since you do not have 30 people trying to board at the same time. However, getting the plane out on time is still #1, case in point, my last 2 flights out of DFW, inbound flight delayed, once the passengers deplaned, the new crew checked in, and 5 minutes later the gate agent started boarding, no joke, no way was the crew ready, and the lead FA made it known they were not ready and everyone had to get off the jet bridge. This happened twice.
As far as PDB, its a hit or miss on crews, yes, they get pay now for boarding but I have been on flights where nothing was offered with plenty of time

Correct, however, many FA's feel that they should be paid for the service they give, and yes, I'm aware they knew what they were getting into when they took the job. Can I surmise by your name, you are an FA? Also once, DL FA's got boarding pay, everyone wanted it.

Does this mean that they are turning people back that are boarding before their group numbers? And that does not slow the process down? I have never seen anyone denied and told to wait; I wondered how that would work. Thanks.

Yes, they are absolutely doing this. I have witnessed it a few times. It is not 100% consistent from what I have seen but probably 90% of GA's are enforcing. Does not seem to slow the process down to me. I board as group 1 (or FC if I get comp upgrade as EXP) of course, and can't speak for when you get deeper down the line and the gravitational pull of the gate has snared larger numbers of lice within its close orbit.

I don't see that slowing boarding process down either as by that point in time the bottleneck is at the other end of the jetbridge.

Yes. I was on a DFW-NRT flight recently where the GAs were very strict about it.

Just flew LAX-HNL; the GA was strict about group numbers also. On intercom discussed the computer won't allow you to board if you are not boarding with the correct group number.

Sure enough, a couple in front of me scanned their boarding pass, and the light on the boarding pass scanner turned red when she called CK group (they were seated in FC).

I haven’t been on a jet bridge where we were told to turn around, but have had a few instances where we were clearly boarded too soon after a turn, resulting in lining up on the jet bridge for a while.

Even without delays, some of the schedules have the inbound arriving 5-10 minutes before the “new” boarding window is supposed to commence. I get that there’s padding, but the result is that the entire plane is standing around the gate before scheduled boarding time and the inbound may not have arrived.

When the full 40 minutes is allotted, most aircraft are set to go at T-20/15 from what I’ve observed. The usual suspects causing delays are still prevalent, such as those deciding to re-arrange their belongings in the aisle before putting all of their bags overhead despite not being in a bulkhead seat.

The 25 minute boarding for the 175s has largely been retained (usually later in the day northeast flights). This seems to work fine as they can usually load a full plane in 15 minutes and means less time on the plane :tu:

Yes, they know, but they still have to call. Apparently CKs complained when they didn't hear adjacent gates call for their preboarding.

LOL, I have on many occasions seen aggressive F flyers who think that being in F entitles them to cut to the front of any line. On multiple occasions I've been standing in priority lines (at security, boarding, etc.) and had other F pax just walk past me as if I weren't even there.

I’ve experienced this as well, typically when we have a delayed boarding despite not being posted or the screen reads “boarding shortly”. People roll up thinking it is time to get on the plane. This resulted in someone getting very annoyed at me a couple of months ago when I boarded before them, to the point of cursing at me getting both on and off the plane (boarding a 175 with bags brings out the best in everyone :D).

OK, not it makes sense.
 

Yes, it makes sense now.

Do those that jump the line actually move out of the way? I could see them lingering at the front. We have done business class tickets recently but not since the new procedure. Often have to fight our way to the front at our boarding time. Thanks.

I've been on quite a few flights where we had to line up on the jet bridge, on both AA and BA. I don't love it, but if it gets an aircraft boarded more quickly and more on time I'm all for it.