If you are flying with AA, learning the boarding process of American Airlines makes the airport experience so much better. It is important to know how many boarding groups are available on AA and what is their boarding order. Go through the following blog to read about the American Airlines boarding groups, and board your scheduled flight without any extra effort. So, let’s get started, and clear all your doubts regarding AA boarding groups.
How Many Boarding Groups are Available on American Airlines?
American Airlines has created many boarding groups to make travel convenient for passengers flying through different fare types. There are nine groups in total. Each group works differently for different kinds of bookings and fare types. Below, you will find a detailed description of each group.
List of AA Boarding Groups-
Preboarding
You must request preboarding on American Airlines. Following passengers can board the scheduled flight in this group.
- Passengers who need special assistance
- Flyers who are traveling with a kid under 2 years
ConciergeKey
- ConciergeKey elite frequent flyer members
Group 1
- Elite members of the AAdvantage Program
- First Class flyers
- Active military officials with military identity card holders
- Business Class passengers on a 2-class international flight
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Group 2
- Passengers with OneWorld Emerald Status
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro flyers
- Business Class passengers on a 3-class flight
Group 3
- OneWorld Sapphire members
- AAdvantage Platinum
Group 4
- OneWorld Ruby Status holders
- AAdvantage Gold
- Premium Economy travelers
- AirPass holders
- Citi / AAdvantage Executive cardmembers
- Passengers with priority boarding
Group 5 (Preferred Boarding)
- Main Cabin Extra passengers (except for Basic Economy)
- Eligible AAdvantage credit cardmembers
- AAdvantage members with collected 15,000 loyalty points
Group 6
- Standard AAdvantage members
Group 7-8
- Main Cabin passengers
Group 9
- Basic Economy flyers
These are the American Airlines boarding groups and their boarding order. Board the flight in your assigned group and have a smooth experience with this great airline.
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How Does American Airlines Make this Group Division?
This group division is done based on the ticket of the passengers, fare class, and cards of possible qualification group diversions. Your fare class and elite status will decide which boarding group you will get. Get in touch with the American Airlines executives to know your boarding group, and board your flight hassle-free.
What is the Boarding Time on AA?
American Airlines says that in most cases, boarding commences between thirty minutes and fifty minutes before departure, depending on the destination and type of aircraft. The exact information is printed on the boarding pass.
Boarding usually closes ten minutes before the departure time. Make sure to be at the airport on time, and board your scheduled flight without any stress.
American Airlines Boarding Groups – Priority Boarding Vs. Preferred Boarding
American Airlines offers 2 types of boarding that is priority boarding and preferred boarding. Let’s talk about this further.
Priority Boarding
With priority boarding, you get access to boarding group 4. You can purchase priority boarding to board the flight and enjoy the priority privileges. Get this boarding, and board your flight at the earliest.
Preferred Boarding
With preferred boarding, you will get access to boarding group 5. However, passengers can’t purchase priority boarding, but they can simply qualify for it if they have co-branded credit cards.
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How Do I Get Priority Boarding on AA?
If a passenger has any one of the things mentioned below, availing Priority Boarding facility will be very simple.
Get Oneworld Elite Tier Status
Members of other frequent flyer programs with Oneworld, who eventually get elite status with those airlines, will get Oneworld elite status. By earning the elite status, you will be given Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, which correspond to group 2, 3, and 4.
Buy Expensive Fare Class Ticket
Priority boarding under Group 1 is automatically given for passengers who are able to get the really expensive tickets of Business class, Premium Economy, and Main Cabin Extra. It can be availed without a question if you are well-off to fly in this expensive fare class.
Get AAdvantage Elite Tier Status
American Airlines has four types of statuses. They are Platinum, Gold, Executive Platinum, and Platinum Pro. Based on the particular tier, that individual can board with groups 2, 3, or 4.
Buy an American AirPass
If you buy an elite membership status with AirPass, you will be able to enjoy the privilege of priority boarding for Groups 2, 3, and 4.
Get AAdvantage Credit Card
Once you have this credit card in your name, you can avail yourself of priority boarding across various boarding groups. Common examples of credit cards that have great rewards for passengers include AAdvantage Mastercard cardmembers, CitiBusiness / Executive World Elite Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and Citi / World Elite Mastercard with Group 5.
Purchase Priority Boarding
Buying priority boarding will also let you board your flight among the first passengers. Pay the amount to purchase priority boarding, and have a seamless experience.
Conclusion
In summary, knowing American Airlines boarding groups will make your flight experience much better. If you are aware of which boarding group you are a part of, you will have a better and more well-organized process of boarding. American Airlines’ boarding system has been created in a way to favor elite members, first-class flyers, credit card holders, and customers with special statuses. Board your scheduled flight without any worries for an enhanced travel experience.
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