No. Why should they be? If you can bear to sit without them for the whole flight, you can deal with boarding separately from them too.

That is my point.

Because they are flying with me? How is it any different that eight of my closest friends getting preferred seats and free checked bags when flying with me?

Ooh, I know the answer to this: they are different because one is an advertised benefit while the other is explicitly not.

I don't disagree, but I'm curious if AA actually has a policy saying the opposite - that you either all board in the highest zone number in your group or you all board in the lowest zone, or you separately board. Never in any of the benefit guides does it say my companion(s) cannot board in PA with me.

http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/boarding.jsp

I think it is pretty clear that you board with the group stated on your boarding pass

...redacted...

Yes you can and should board with companions. If its family (like kids) then board with them even if different classes.

An AA elite member can ask to move a non-elite companion on a different PNR to an adjacent seat, even in MCE to which the non-elite is not normally entitled unless they have paid for it. Such movement is allowed; I've had it done many times, and I'm sure others here have too. Given that, it makes sense that a non-elite companion can also board with the elite. Both are basically a perk for the elite, to have their companion nearby. It would be odd if the non-elite boards with the elite but isn't sitting adjacent, but AA can't check everything.

My understanding is that if the elite member is upgraded to a different cabin class, then the adjacent non-elite may be removed by AA from MCE back to standard Economy, although that isn't done automatically (but may be done if, for example, a GA needs the MCE seat and notices the "lone" non-elite there). The rationale is that with the elite now in a different cabin, there is less justification for allowing the non-elite a better seat; adjacency has been lost. Similarly, if the elite is in a different cabin class from the non-elite companion (i.e., not just MCE versus standard Economy), then AA could sensibly disallow simultaneous boarding, although an individual GA may allow it.

I'm not advocating any which way here. I'm just trying to summarize my understanding of the policies for non-elite companion seating and companion boarding, which appear to be related.

Using your elite status to board someone else ahead of their group is a great pick up line at the gate.

Metadiscussion about poster motivations, etc. are dilatory and will be summarily deleted.

/Moderator

+1 I do it all the time as well. "He/she is with me. Thank you!" Never had a problem.

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Lol, has that ever worked for anyone?

I am actually 90% sure that I have read that as a correct and allowed practice on the AA website. However, I can't find it now, which may mean they removed it or just that I can't find it.

I'm not sure if that one has, but "your flight got cancelled? I'm heading to the AC, and they can help you there so you don't have to wait in such a long line" during horrible IRROPS has worked for me more than a few times

never had an issue. quite the opposite once on the old 772 JFK-LHR two summers ago. i had a shoulder injury and was in F, my boyfriend at the time was in coach.

i needed him to board with me and lift my bag into the overhead.

doors close and the purser who saw me board went back to coach to grab my boyfriend and seat him next to me in F. talk about luck!

ps: it has never worked again since