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)
Jun 3, 2019, 1:17 pm
#316
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Dallas, US
Programs: BAEC G, Bonvoy T, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 271
The boarding process is a joke...
CK is normally respected, however when they say Group 1 only sometimes they check what is actually going inside is a truly group 1, when they say group 2 onward they do not check anything.
I am flying now more and more with AA domestic (DFW-ORD-AUS-PHX-LAX), I am group 2 through BAEC Gold and honestly more than 60% of the times I am the first or second person queuing from group 2 entering the plane and I find 5 or 6 already sitting in Economy not the CK passengers of course...
I can even see people in the queue with group 3 and 4 when they say 2.
As I said, absolute joke!
CK is normally respected, however when they say Group 1 only sometimes they check what is actually going inside is a truly group 1, when they say group 2 onward they do not check anything.
I am flying now more and more with AA domestic (DFW-ORD-AUS-PHX-LAX), I am group 2 through BAEC Gold and honestly more than 60% of the times I am the first or second person queuing from group 2 entering the plane and I find 5 or 6 already sitting in Economy not the CK passengers of course...
I can even see people in the queue with group 3 and 4 when they say 2.
As I said, absolute joke!
Jun 4, 2019, 6:09 am
#318
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
Jun 4, 2019, 7:47 am
#319
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Boarding order in fact seems to be rarely honored anymore and it's getting worse. Finally at MIA on Saturday when a bunch of pax rushed the gate for Group 1 the GA told them to step aside. A couple weeks ago in San Diego half the crowd rushed the boarding area when Group 1 was announced. Poor CKs have to wade through throngs of people. Lately (I board with Group 3) when I get onto the a/c nearly half of Y is already filled.
Jun 11, 2019, 12:05 pm
#320
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
I was boarding in first class yesterday. of course the boarding area was completely crowded. No path whatsoever to get from the gate agent desk to the boarding lanes as they were about 10 feet away and people milling around and standing. some Bozo was completely blocking access to the priority Lane for anybody who had managed to get around the crowd.
he was standing with luggage all around his feet at the stanchion holder that divides priority from general boarding. Basically camped out half way in between each lane so nobody could get around him with the crowd waiting for their group # to be called. Who knows which group he was in, but it definitely wasn't Group 1. I asked him if I could please get by to board, and he replies with "I've been standing here for 30 minutes." And then he makes this exaggerated loud thing about "oh by all means of course let me get out of your way" three or four times for everyone around him to hear (and embarrass himself).
I just turned around and looked at him and replied "you're completely blocking the lane from people who board before your group" and then when on my way down the jet bridge. Maybe he was just PO'd he didn't get an upgrade, but what a dbag.
I don't understand why people who are not in the group being called can't move out of the way for people who are. they get so bent out of shape when somebody gets around them with earlier boarding.
I'm not a DYKWIA type nor trying to be a dick, but really don't get people who think because they got there first they should be boarded 1st, instead of the group numbers.
he was standing with luggage all around his feet at the stanchion holder that divides priority from general boarding. Basically camped out half way in between each lane so nobody could get around him with the crowd waiting for their group # to be called. Who knows which group he was in, but it definitely wasn't Group 1. I asked him if I could please get by to board, and he replies with "I've been standing here for 30 minutes." And then he makes this exaggerated loud thing about "oh by all means of course let me get out of your way" three or four times for everyone around him to hear (and embarrass himself).
I just turned around and looked at him and replied "you're completely blocking the lane from people who board before your group" and then when on my way down the jet bridge. Maybe he was just PO'd he didn't get an upgrade, but what a dbag.
I don't understand why people who are not in the group being called can't move out of the way for people who are. they get so bent out of shape when somebody gets around them with earlier boarding.
I'm not a DYKWIA type nor trying to be a dick, but really don't get people who think because they got there first they should be boarded 1st, instead of the group numbers.
Last edited by LovePrunes; Jun 11, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Jun 14, 2019, 3:28 pm
#322
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt,Marriott,BA,AS
Posts: 4,423
AAdvantage Platinum Priority Boarding
Flying PHL-RIC tomorrow on American Eagle, single class aircraft. I am lifetime Platinum and my wife has no status, but we are both booked in the same PNR and seated next to each other. Just printed our our boarding passes and I have been put in group 3 and my wife has been put in group 4. Why wouldn't I be in group 1 and why is my wife in a different group? Not earth shattering, but I'm interested in knowing.
Jun 14, 2019, 3:33 pm
#324
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
Plat is group 3. Group 1 is first class. Group 2 is EXP. Group 3 is Plat Pro and Plat. Not sure about your wife's situation.
Jun 14, 2019, 3:34 pm
#325
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
Jun 14, 2019, 3:35 pm
#326
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
That's the (relatively new world of AA boarding.
1. CK (military folks sometimes here to IME)
2. Group 1 (First Class)
3. Group 2 EP/OneWorld Emerald
3. Group 3 PLT/PPRO/OneWorld Sapphire.
4. Group 4 Gld/Oneworld Ruby/Credit Certain Credit Card Holders/Folks that are listed as "Priority"
5. Other Credit Card Holders/Non-elites/Other Priority
6-9 Other type folks
You would fall into Group 3. Your wife gets priroity because of you and falls into Group 4 even if same PNR. My daughter and wife are both PLTs. I am an EP, so we get Group 2 and Group 3 respectively. They board with me. GAs usually don't tell us to wait, but that could be a YMMV on that one.
Safe Travels
1. CK (military folks sometimes here to IME)
2. Group 1 (First Class)
3. Group 2 EP/OneWorld Emerald
3. Group 3 PLT/PPRO/OneWorld Sapphire.
4. Group 4 Gld/Oneworld Ruby/Credit Certain Credit Card Holders/Folks that are listed as "Priority"
5. Other Credit Card Holders/Non-elites/Other Priority
6-9 Other type folks
You would fall into Group 3. Your wife gets priroity because of you and falls into Group 4 even if same PNR. My daughter and wife are both PLTs. I am an EP, so we get Group 2 and Group 3 respectively. They board with me. GAs usually don't tell us to wait, but that could be a YMMV on that one.
Safe Travels
Jun 14, 2019, 3:50 pm
#327
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,967
Jun 14, 2019, 3:57 pm
#328
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hertz Gold Plus, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 338
I'm PLT and my wife is GLD. We've boarded many flights together, but I always go through the line first with her right behind me. Once once a super-anal GA complained that my wife was Group 4 instead of Group 3 and initially wouldn't let her board even though the GA knew we were related and sitting next to each other, but I got her to change her mind.
Jun 14, 2019, 5:41 pm
#329
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt,Marriott,BA,AS
Posts: 4,423
Thanks for all the helpful responses. We always travel in first class so are always in group 1. I just presumed that since this is an all economy aircraft that group 1 would be all Platinum and above members. Thanks for the clarifications.
Jun 14, 2019, 5:59 pm
#330
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
For an all Y plane then it would be Pre-board/Mil/CK, Group 2 (EXP), then Group 3. Even though there is no first they don't re-order group numbers to shift everyone up and just start with Group 2 after CK and no one has Group 1 since there is no FC cabin.