American Airlines Boarding Groups Explained | Simplify Your Travel

Booked a flight with American Airlines but are unsure about when/how to board the flight. Perhaps, you are wondering about the particular boarding groups, their order, and how they can contribute to enhancing your travel plan. Whether you are taking the flight for the first time or you have traveled before, having a clear idea of the American Airlines Boarding Groups, and the process, can enhance your travel experience.

In this blog, we will explore all the ins and outs of the boarding process of the groups, So, continue to read it further. 

What are American Airlines Boarding Groups? 

American Airlines' boarding groups are a structure that helps passengers take a seat on a plane more efficiently. While providing a seat to passengers, AA used multiple boarding groups to avoid crowding and make the boarding as orderly as possible. 

Further, with boarding groups, premium cabin passengers and elite frequent flyers will get priority. And the rest of the passengers will be grouped according to ticket type. 

How Many Boarding Groups Does American Airlines Have?

American Airlines has 10 different boarding groups. All these groups can be categorized based on fare class, frequent flyer status, elite members, and other factors. The process starts with ConciergeKey® members, then comes with Group 1, and later ends with Group 9. 

At the boarding time, passengers are called out according to their group, helping them smooth the boarding process to make it more structured. 

Here is a Detailed Overview of each Boarding Group: 

Boarding Groups 

ConciergeKey® members: It is one of the highest elite status, and it is reserved for the most valued customers. Offers exclusive privileges and personalized services. 

Group 1: Group 1 typically offers to the passenger who has the status of : 

  • U.S. military personnel 
  • First Class passengers
  • AAdvantage Executive Platinum members
  • Business class passengers 

Group 2:  Business class passengers on a 3-class plane, will enjoy the luxurious amenities and premium services. Group 2 is assigned to the members with: 

  • AAdvantage Platinum Pro members
  • Business class passengers on 3-class plane
  • Oneworld Emerald members

Group 3: Passengers holding the Platinum, oneworld, and Sapphire status can get advantages like enhanced travel plans and seamless travel journeys.

  • AAdvantage Platinum® members
  • oneworld® Sapphire℠ members

Group 4: This group is for those passengers who have purchased the American Airlines Priority Boarding  or are a member of: 

  • AAdvantage Gold® members
  • oneworld® Ruby℠ members
  • AirPass℠ members 
  • Premium Economy passengers
  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive cardmembers

Group 5 (Preferred boarding): Preferably offered to passengers with main cabin extra, and they can enjoy more legroom and the other benefits. The members of these groups are: 

  • Main Cabin Extra passengers
  • Eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers
  • AAdvantage® members who have earned 15,000 Loyalty Points

Group 6: Regular AAdvantage® members who are not in higher status tiers

Groups 7 and 8: Main Cabin passengers (these groups are typically combined for boarding)

Group 9 (Basic Economy): Passengers traveling in Basic Economy class

Loyalty Program and Boarding Groups: 

The American Airlines loyalty programs can impact the boarding group. Here is how passengers generally align with boarding groups:  

  • Platinum and Platinum Pro: Board in group 2
  • Gold members: Board in group 3 
  • General (Non-Status) Members: Board in Group 4-9 

Boarding Timing:

The American Airlines boarding process starts 30-40 minutes before scheduled departure. So, the airlines want the passengers to be at the gate before this time to ensure efficient departure 

Comparison: Priority Boarding vs. Preferred Boarding on American Airlines

Priority and preferred boarding are two different types of services AA offers. These services are designed to upgrade the boarding experience for passengers and provide them with ease of access to the airline. 

Priority Boarding

Priority boarding is given to those passengers who have first, business, or elite status access. This ensures that passengers have early access to overhead bin space and get settled comfortably in the plane before the general boarding starts. 

Preferred Boarding

The American Airlines Preferred Boarding allows passengers to board the plane earlier, before the general boarding group, but after priority boarding. With this option, passengers will get the chance to board earlier. 

The below-mentioned table will provide you with a comparison between these two boarding types. 

Feature

Priority Boarding

Preferred Boarding

Eligibility 

Higher class members ( platinum, and OneWorld)

Low-tier frequent flyer ( main cabin extra passengers) 

Boarding Group

Group 1 or 2 

Group 3 and 4 

Benefits

Comfortable seats and early boarding 

Boarding after priority 

Membership requirements

High tier status 

Lower tier status

How Can I Get My Mobile Boarding Pass on American Airlines? 

For passengers who use a mobile app to book their flight or do not want to print out the boarding pass, American Airlines provides a mobile boarding pass. Thus, for their convenience, American Airlines offers an easy and handy way to grab the boarding pass. 

Here is how you can get the mobile boarding pass: 

  • Before accessing the boarding pass check-in into aa.com
  • Now, select a mobile boarding pass as an option. 
  • Check-in from the App, and after that 
  • Check your email and tap on the link to get the mobile boarding pass 
  • For easy access at the security gate, Save the boarding pass.

Note: Make sure, the American Airlines boarding pass should have the entire barcode visible when you show it at the security. In case the barcode is not properly visible, the security agent will not allow you to board the flight. 

How to Upgrade Your American Airlines Boarding Group? 

Upgrading the boring group can make the boarding process more convenient and easy. So, when you are flying American Airlines, boarding earlier allows you to secure the overhead bin for your carry-ons and allows you to settle in the plane way faster. Thus, here are some basic tips to secure the higher boarding group with AA. 

  • Hold an eligible American Airlines credit card: With an American Airlines credit card, passengers will get priority boarding. So, if you have one, use it to upgrade the boarding. 
  • Pay for it: To upgrade the boarding group, you can pay a certain fee at the check-in time. It will allow you to board earlier.  
  • Earn elite status: If you are a frequent flyer, you will earn the accumulated miles, and this way you can achieve elite status, and later it will help you in getting priority boarding. 
  • Fly with premium seats: Such as first or business class. These types of seats automatically provide priority boarding to the passengers. 

 How Do You Know Your Boarding Group on AA? 

Unaware of your boarding group? If yes, first, check your boarding pass. There you will see the boarding group number, but if you are still unable to find it, get help from the gate agent. Being aware of the boarding group can help in avoiding the last-minute hassle. 

What is the Process of Special Assistance Boarding on AA? 

AA offers special assistance boarding for those passengers who need extra help. Or those passengers who have any kind of disability. These passengers are allowed to board with Group 1 or 2. But for this assistance, the passenger needs to inform the airline at the booking time. 

Bottom Line

Having the right understanding of the American Airlines Boarding Groups is important for seamless travel. Whether you have the idea of air travel, or traveling for the very first time, knowing your designated boarding group will help you to board the flight easily. Moreover, by familiarizing yourself with different types of boarding groups, you can take advantage of the priority boarding, and set off your trip with ease. 

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