How do I get boarding group 1?

Passengers in the front cabin board with Group 1. This includes any cabin labeled first class — from first class on domestic flights to Flagship First Class on long-haul international flights. Group 1 also includes business class on international flights that don't have a first-class cabin.



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Groups 1 and 2 are made up of passengers with elite status in MileagePlus and partner programs, as well as those passengers seated in premium cabins. Group 2 also includes United co-branded credit card members and passengers who have purchased Priority Boarding.

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United's new boarding groups
  1. Preboarding: Customers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors, active duty military, Global Services members, families with children under two, and Premier 1K members.
  2. Group 1: United Polaris business, United first, United business, Premier Platinum, Premier Gold, and Star Alliance Gold.


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Groups 1 and 2 are made up of passengers with elite status in MileagePlus and partner programs, as well as those passengers seated in premium cabins. Group 2 also includes United co-branded credit card members and passengers who have purchased Priority Boarding. Group 3 includes passengers in window seats.

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A boarding group is a way for airlines to organize how passengers enter a flight at the gate. Boarding groups are usually assigned to passengers at check-in, or can be predetermined based on airline status or special classifications like passengers with disabilities or families.

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Book a main cabin extra seat and don't fly basic economy If you want to board a little sooner, your next option is to book a main cabin extra seat, which is named differently depending on the airline. You can buy these seats online or at the check-in counter.

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Checking in 24 hours before your flight will usually land you somewhere in the B boarding group — which is generally adequate to find either a window or aisle seat or 2 seats together if you are flying with a companion.

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If you end up with A1, then it's your lucky day — you'll likely get to be the first passenger on the plane. There may be some exceptions for people with certain disabilities, pre-boarders or people on an earlier connecting flight. If you like to be the first on the plane, aiming for boarding group A is a good idea.

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If you need your carry-on bag during a long layover or prefer not to wait at a late-night baggage claim after a long day of flying, then purchasing a priority boarding upgrade may be well worth it. In essence, purchasing priority boarding is staking claim to readily accessible overhead bin space.

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People, otherwise without elite status, who paid for early boarding. Everyone else, sometimes sorted by their row of the aircraft. If you don't fit one of these, you're likely to be towards the bottom of this list. Check your bag and it doesn't matter so much, assuming the airline has assigned seats.

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Assuming you booked both flights together on one itinerary (as opposed to two separate itineraries) you will get both boarding passes when you check in for your first flight. When you land at your layover airport, you need to look at the departures board and find the gate for your next flight.

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Right after passengers holding tickets with priority boarding (Groups 1 through 4) get on the plane, Group 5 (preferred boarding) goes next. To board in Group 5, you either need to purchase a main cabin extra upgrade or hold an eligible American Airlines credit card.

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The new process will go into effect on most United flights on October 26. Here's how it will work: When economy boarding starts, passengers with a window seat will board in Group 3, along with fliers in exit row seats. Next up will be economy fliers with middle seats, who will be in boarding in Group 4.

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After preboarding is complete, first-class ticketed passengers are the first boarding group. Then the process continues, in alphabetical order, beginning with Group A and ending with Group E.

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How are American Airlines boarding groups assigned? American passengers are put in the highest group for which they qualify. For example, basic economy passengers are typically assigned to Group 9. However, if a passenger with AAdvantage Gold elite status books a basic economy ticket, they will get upgraded to Group 4.

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Front row if first class. Airplanes empty from the seats nearest the doors. In many planes that's the location. Some larger long distance planes board between first class and the next lowest class.

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Group 5 is not priority boarding on American Airlines, but Preferred boarding. This group includes passengers that pay for Main Cabin Extra perks, as well as those who hold co-branded AAdvantage airline credit cards.

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