Feb 17, 16, 1:57 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 15, 19, 6:27 am
#331
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
Board in the lowest group number assigned to anyone with your group. Any companion "travelling on the same flight" as the policy reads is permitted to board with you in a lower group. All it takes is "He/She is with me." Any GA that refuses is in the wrong (for what little that's really worth in an argument).
On more than one occasion, I've run into a colleague at the gate for a flight and boarded with them in their lower group. I've also dragged colleagues higher than my Group 3 up with me for boarding.
On more than one occasion, I've run into a colleague at the gate for a flight and boarded with them in their lower group. I've also dragged colleagues higher than my Group 3 up with me for boarding.
Jun 15, 19, 4:10 pm
#332
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: MCO-TPA
Programs: AA EXP, UA, B6, DL, Bonvoy Titanium & Lifetime Platinum, Hilton, National
Posts: 184
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 19, 19, 5:37 am
#333
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
In my experience most GAs still call Group 1 even though no one on the aircraft can have that boarding number.
Jun 23, 19, 1:57 pm
#334
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I'm boarding a JFK/MIA flight yesterday and when Group 1 was called this couple starts to shove in front of everyone screaming we have "paid for priority" waving around BPs that had Group 5. I explained to the couple that "Priority" doesn't mean you go before Group 1, you're Group 5. The woman says we were told we have "priority over all other paxs" to which I replied "you got ripped off if you were told that." So we just let them go ahead but when they got to the card reader the GA sent them away telling them to board when Group 5 was called. I thanked the GA for doing so.
Jul 28, 19, 10:49 am
#335
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Miami Beach FL, Philadelphia PA, and Oxfordshire UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA Executive Platinum, PriorityPass, Global Entry, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 731
Quick question - apologies if already addressed, but I didn’t see it.
I am OWE, traveling in MCE from MIA to EZE, but no AA status.
I have already qualified for next year’s OWE renewal, so I now want to credit everything to AA to try get a higher status with AA.
My question is - can I have my AA FF number on my booking to go towards earning status, but still gain benefits from my OWE status, such as priority boarding, check in etc?
Is it just a case of showing my BAEC Gold card when boarding with the OWE group, even though my BP will say group 5?
Thanks!
I am OWE, traveling in MCE from MIA to EZE, but no AA status.
I have already qualified for next year’s OWE renewal, so I now want to credit everything to AA to try get a higher status with AA.
My question is - can I have my AA FF number on my booking to go towards earning status, but still gain benefits from my OWE status, such as priority boarding, check in etc?
Is it just a case of showing my BAEC Gold card when boarding with the OWE group, even though my BP will say group 5?
Thanks!
Feb 20, 20, 2:23 pm
#336
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
Boarding group for main cabin without status (to merge)
I purchased a ticket to fly on AA in the main cabin (NOT basic economy) and I don't have any status with AA.
I see from their website that my boarding group would be between 6-8 but there is no clarification which boarding group it would be.
- For people in the main cabin without AA status is the boarding group determined by whether you are in front-back of plane, aisle vs. window or some other method?
- Will I likely get bin space for a 21" carry-on?
Thanks
I see from their website that my boarding group would be between 6-8 but there is no clarification which boarding group it would be.
- For people in the main cabin without AA status is the boarding group determined by whether you are in front-back of plane, aisle vs. window or some other method?
- Will I likely get bin space for a 21" carry-on?
Thanks
Feb 20, 20, 2:33 pm
#337
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,797
Before I had an Aadvantage number, I was group 8 every single time and never bothered trying to carry on a bag for the overheads (baggage fee was worth 1. being able to pack a big bag, 2. Not having to lug anything other than a small backpack around airports, and 3. Not dealing with baggage space drama)
Feb 20, 20, 2:37 pm
#338
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
I've heard anecdotally to check in as early as possible to get a better boarding group. Sitting in the very back may help too (not sure).
Feb 20, 20, 3:02 pm
#339
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I might be very wrong but for groups 6-8 I always thought it might be tied to fare code. But again I might be wrong. I think if you're Group 6 or higher you should count on the real possibility of you bag not being placed near you. Personally I'd probably gate check my bigger bag. I don't think the GA will charge you even if they make an announcement of free gate check.
Feb 20, 20, 3:05 pm
#340
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
I might be very wrong but for groups 6-8 I always thought it might be tied to fare code. But again I might be wrong. I think if you're Group 6 or higher you should count on the real possibility of you bag not being placed near you. Personally I'd probably gate check my bigger bag. I don't think the GA will charge you even if they make an announcement of free gate check.
My concern is that if it's loaded on the connecting flight, since the baggage ticket will be handwritten, there is a higher chance of it being misplaced?
- Any suggestions to get a higher boarding group?
Thanks
Thanks for all the great info
- I do have an Aadvantage number but no status
- I looked up my economy class and it is class V. Any idea if that is more likely to result in group 6, 7 or 8
- My concern about the overhead bin space is because I am flying from NY to Phoenix and 1 hour later have a connecting flight out of Phoenix (on AA).
If they make me gate check my bag, would I get it back on airbridge in Phoenix or would it be checked all the way to the final connection?
If they gate-check it all the way to the final connection, should I be concerned about it getting lost since I presume the baggage tag will be handwritten instead of being printed?
Thanks
Last edited by JDiver; Feb 20, 20 at 3:25 pm Reason: Merge consecutive posts (one moderated)
Feb 20, 20, 3:22 pm
#341
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,551
Thanks for all the great info
- I do have an Aadvantage number but no status
- I looked up my economy class and it is class V. Any idea if that is more likely to result in group 6, 7 or 8
- My concern about the overhead bin space is because I am flying from NY to Phoenix and 1 hour later have a connecting flight out of Phoenix (on AA).
If they make me gate check my bag, would I get it back on airbridge in Phoenix or would it be checked all the way to the final connection?
If they gate-check it all the way to the final connection, should I be concerned about it getting lost since I presume the baggage tag will be handwritten instead of being printed?
Thanks
- I do have an Aadvantage number but no status
- I looked up my economy class and it is class V. Any idea if that is more likely to result in group 6, 7 or 8
- My concern about the overhead bin space is because I am flying from NY to Phoenix and 1 hour later have a connecting flight out of Phoenix (on AA).
If they make me gate check my bag, would I get it back on airbridge in Phoenix or would it be checked all the way to the final connection?
If they gate-check it all the way to the final connection, should I be concerned about it getting lost since I presume the baggage tag will be handwritten instead of being printed?
Thanks
Golds get group 4, Plat get group 3, I think holders of certain credit cards get group 4, etc.
So if your flight is full of elites, then there is a chance you get last group.
Being that you fly between hubs (NY and PHX) I would expect a plane full of elites and by the time you board, they will have started to gate check bags.
Plan accordingly.
Last edited by carlosdca; Feb 20, 20 at 3:35 pm
Feb 20, 20, 3:30 pm
#342
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,949
Gate checked bags (not regional jet valet bags) are delivered to the baggage carousel at the final destination on the check tag. I suspect, but have no way of asserting, a hand-written gate check bag would have a higher risk of delay that a regular or gate check tag imprinted with the details for each flight, a bar code and a number, and scanned into the system at various points.
(NB: I’ve had very few times when a tag was written; the usual gate check tag is automated, with codes, etc.)
(NB: I’ve had very few times when a tag was written; the usual gate check tag is automated, with codes, etc.)
Last edited by JDiver; Feb 21, 20 at 12:24 pm
Feb 20, 20, 3:34 pm
#343
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, DL Gold, HH Gold, MMRRT Plat
Posts: 878
If it were me, I would embrace them gate-checking your bag for free / not having to pay $30+ at the checkin counter to do so. Saves you the anxiety of hoping to find one (only to be disappointed) and $30. Or whatever AA charges for checked bags now-a-days.
Positive side effect: you have some time to grab a drink at the bar on arrival while your bags are wheeled around the airport. (assuming the airport has one)
Depending on your flight, they may give you your bag at the gate as you de-plane, but you may have to wait a few minutes for this to happen.
Positive side effect: you have some time to grab a drink at the bar on arrival while your bags are wheeled around the airport. (assuming the airport has one)
Depending on your flight, they may give you your bag at the gate as you de-plane, but you may have to wait a few minutes for this to happen.
Feb 20, 20, 3:40 pm
#344
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,308
- My concern about the overhead bin space is because I am flying from NY to Phoenix and 1 hour later have a connecting flight out of Phoenix (on AA).
If they make me gate check my bag, would I get it back on airbridge in Phoenix or would it be checked all the way to the final connection?
If they gate-check it all the way to the final connection, should I be concerned about it getting lost since I presume the baggage tag will be handwritten instead of being printed?
Thanks
If they make me gate check my bag, would I get it back on airbridge in Phoenix or would it be checked all the way to the final connection?
If they gate-check it all the way to the final connection, should I be concerned about it getting lost since I presume the baggage tag will be handwritten instead of being printed?
Thanks
Feb 20, 20, 4:20 pm
#345
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
One factor is how many elites and how many AA credit card holders end up in economy on your flight.
Golds get group 4, Plat get group 3, I think holders of certain credit cards get group 4, etc.
So if your flight is full of elites, then there is a chance you get last group.
Being that you fly between hubs (NY and PHX) I would expect a plane full of elites and by the time you board, they will have started to gate check bags.
Plan accordingly.
Golds get group 4, Plat get group 3, I think holders of certain credit cards get group 4, etc.
So if your flight is full of elites, then there is a chance you get last group.
Being that you fly between hubs (NY and PHX) I would expect a plane full of elites and by the time you board, they will have started to gate check bags.
Plan accordingly.
