Boarding process

When and how we board

Most flights start boarding 30 - 50 minutes before scheduled departure, but the exact time depends on your destination and plane. Boarding ends 15 minutes before departure. If you’re not on board, we may reassign your seat to another passenger. You will not be allowed to board once the doors close.

To allow enough time, review our recommended arrival and check-in times before planning your travel day.

Check-in and arrival

Customers who need special assistance and families with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate.

Boarding order

Group Boarding pass type
ConciergeKey® members ConciergeKey®
Group 1 First
Active duty U.S. military with military I.D.
AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
(Business on a 2-class international plane)
Group 2 AAdvantage Platinum Pro®
oneworld® Emerald℠
(Business on a 3-class plane)
Group 3 AAdvantage Platinum®
oneworld® Sapphire℠
Group 4 AAdvantage Gold®
oneworld® Ruby℠
AirPass℠
Premium Economy
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive cardmembers
Travelers who bought Priority boarding
Eligible corporate travelers**
Group 5 (Preferred boarding) Main Cabin Extra (excluding Basic Economy)
AAdvantage® members who earn 15,000 Loyalty Points
Eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers*
Group 6 AAdvantage® members
Group 7 Group 7
Group 8 Group 8
Basic Economy to / from Europe & South America
Group 9 Basic Economy within the U.S., Canada, Central America, 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®

**You’re an eligible corporate traveler if traveling on company business for an employer with an active American Airlines Corporate Travel Agreement at the time of ticketing and travel. Only tickets booked and paid for via an authorized Agency of Record for the company and with a unique identifier (CART number) are eligible. If you’re eligible for a higher boarding priority based on ticket class or AAdvantage® status, it will be processed.

Back to top