As long as you have your AAdvantage program number on your reservation, your boarding pass should show your correct elite or priority boarding group. If it doesn't, you can see an American Airlines agent before boarding to have it corrected.

To find out if you have preferred or priority boarding on American Airlines in 2026, the most direct way is to check your boarding pass for your "Boarding Group" number. American Airlines uses Groups 1 through 9: Groups 1–4 are considered "Priority" and are reserved for First/Business Class passengers, AAdvantage elite status members (Gold, Platinum, etc.), and certain credit card holders. Group 5 is the "Preferred" boarding group, typically granted to AAdvantage members who do not have elite status and those with eligible Citi or Barclays AAdvantage credit cards. If you see a number 6 or higher, you are in the general boarding groups. You can also check your status in the American Airlines app under "Your Trips" or by looking for the "Priority" or "Preferred" label on your digital boarding pass. If you are unsure, you can also "Buy Priority" during the check-in process on aa.com or the app, which will automatically move you to Group 4. Arriving at the gate 30 minutes before departure and watching the digital screens will also show which groups are currently invited to board via the "Priority" lane.