Feb 17, 2016, 12:57 pm
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 AAdvantage® 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 AAdvantage® credit cardmembers (on American Airlines flights) include:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select World EliteTM Mastercard®
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select World EliteTM Mastercard®
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® American Express® Card
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Visa Signature
- AAdvantage® AviatorTM Silver Mastercard®
- AAdvantage® AviatorTM Red Mastercard®
- AAdvantage® AviatorTM Business Mastercard®
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)
May 22, 2019, 7:53 pm
#301
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
They knew. They always know. They pretend to be confused. Pretend to be a BP mixup. Pretend to not know English. Pretend another gate agent said they could cut. Pretend, pretend, pretend. And AA allows the pretenders to board early. I share your frustration.
May 22, 2019, 7:59 pm
#302
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: DCA
Programs: American AAdvantage EXP, World of Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Rewards Titanium, MGM Rewards Gold
Posts: 426
Flight 1717 BWI-CLT yesterday..preboarding done. Group 1 called (I'm group 3). 16 F seats. About 40 people push to the front. I see BP's with group 1, 8, 6. 7, all heading up. Certainly the agent will stop the insanity! Nope. She scanned each on then called group 2 and 3. When my BP was scanned, i saw my seat turn green (8F) and saw that 8D was already scanned before me. Got to my row. 8D, E, F occupied. I sorted out the seat issue..the people in E and F weren't in ROW 8. They were in GROUP 8 and row 29. They didn't know what they were doing. They moved without issue. I am just irritated that AA sets the rules for 9 groups. They have people pay for F, MCE, earn status, have the CC. They set the rules. We play the game. The need to enforce them.
My most recent flight had quite a few military members boarding in Group 1 seated throughout the cabin
May 22, 2019, 8:12 pm
#303
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
While not likely the case here, BWI boarding can be a bit crazy like this during Group 1. It is a military-heavy station. I never have an issue with those that serve this country boarding first.
My most recent flight had quite a few military members boarding in Group 1 seated throughout the cabin
May 22, 2019, 8:13 pm
#304
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
The two folks in row 8....that belonged in group 8 did pretend to not speak English. After they got up. The woman said to the man. "Row 29 is way back..."
May 23, 2019, 5:42 am
#305
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Boarding out of order without a doubt has become an issue and it seems worst at hubs. Since I normally board with Group 3 I see countless number of paxs rushing the gate when CK/Group 1 is called and once onboard Y is already more than 25% full. Announcements are rarely made, and yes that won't stop all, but even rarer is enforcement.
May 29, 2019, 9:54 am
#306
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I've noticed agents calling Groups 2,3,4 together especially on smaller planes recently. I know this is silly but I like Group 2 boarding as part of my EXP benefits and I wish they would wait for Group 2s to board before calling 3 and 4 which are usually much larger groups.
May 29, 2019, 10:02 am
#307
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
I've noticed agents calling Groups 2,3,4 together especially on smaller planes recently. I know this is silly but I like Group 2 boarding as part of my EXP benefits and I wish they would wait for Group 2s to board before calling 3 and 4 which are usually much larger groups.
May 29, 2019, 10:27 am
#309
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DFW
Posts: 675
The AA credit card is attached to your AA account so it doesn't matter what credit card you use, the boarding pass will automatically be assign group 4 boarding.
May 29, 2019, 11:32 am
#310
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: Bonvoy Amb; AA EXP
Posts: 1,136
I've noticed agents calling Groups 2,3,4 together especially on smaller planes recently. I know this is silly but I like Group 2 boarding as part of my EXP benefits and I wish they would wait for Group 2s to board before calling 3 and 4 which are usually much larger groups.
Jun 3, 2019, 1:14 pm
#315
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
When I flew a 1-clas ERJ a few weeks ago, they called, "Active Military," and CK's kind of together with Group 1. There might have been a few people who boarded. Then they moved to Group 2...and there was myself and maybe 2 others.
