American Airlines’ Boarding Groups Explained

For most passengers worldwide, the boarding process is often stressful as many wait anxiously at the departure gate, wondering when they’ll be called and hoping not to be the last few to board the aircraft. To avoid this, passengers may choose better cabin and fare classes or perhaps increase loyalty status over time to be classed under a higher-priority boarding group.

While such a strategy would generally work with most carriers, it might seem awkward for airlines such as American Airlines. Standing out against its competitors with an overwhelming nine boarding groups, passengers flying with the Fort Worth-based carrier tend to be understandably confused, so here’s a guide to untie these confusions.

What are the different boarding groups?

Before diving into each boarding group, it’s worth noting that it was only just some years ago when American Airlines decided to restructure its boarding process because previously, the airline was allowing the pre-boarding of many different groups – which probably led to slightly more chaos and a longer boarding process. After the restructuring, the airline developed the nine numbered groups we’ll go into today.

Although some passengers might argue there are officially 10 or 11 boarding groups with American Airlines, the differences only concur between the additional one or two groups with allowed pre-boarding and those with pre-boarding requests. But still, with no less than nine boarding groups available, passengers might be uncertain where their membership status or cabin ticket might land them. Fret not, as below is a table listing all the groups and who’s to be included.

Are there any other differences?

Having settled the different boarding groups, the subsequent confusion for passengers is often on the difference between preferred boarding and priority boarding – under the common misassumption that both terms are the same thing, only to see a sign or being told during boarding that it’s two different boarding lanes and feeling disappointed. One primary difference is that priority boarding can be bought, while preferred boarding is entirely up to whether or not the passenger is a cardholder of any co-branded American Airlines credit card.

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Also of note, American Airlines considers boarding groups 1 through 4 under priority boarding, including priority queue lines at check-in counters and security lines (subject to availability). While these passengers do get priority boarding, the boarding process, of course, begins with group 1 – so for passengers in group 4, especially those who bought the priority boarding access, it may feel like a negligible win since there are already a few boarding groups ahead.

As some passengers will qualify for preferred boarding in group 5, which boards immediately after group 4 is completed, many might feel that purchasing priority boarding may or may not be worth the additional expense unless it’s genuinely necessary to have priority check-in and to feel better walking through the priority lane instead of the preferred boarding lane.

What is the boarding process?

Regardless of what boarding groups passengers are under, American Airlines highlights that most of its flights begin the boarding process anywhere between half an hour to 50 minutes before departure, with the specific time being dependent on the destination and aircraft type. This information can usually be found on the boarding pass.

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The oneworld alliance member also emphasizes that boarding usually closes 10 minutes before departure, and passengers cannot board if they arrive at the gate after that time. This means that priority boarding group passengers, even those in group 1, will not commence boarding any earlier than the stated timing and are subject to rejection if they are fashionably late.