What are the United Boarding groups?

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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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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Economy Plus is an excellent option for travelers looking for a higher level of comfort but do not want all of the features of a full business-class seat. The economy plus cabin debuted on United in 1999 and is now offered on all mainline aircraft and almost all United Express regional jets.

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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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As an Executive Club Gold, Silver or Bronze Member or oneworld® equivalent, your priority boarding will automatically be reflected in the group number shown on your boarding pass. If you arrive after your priority group has been called, you can use the priority boarding lane to go through at your leisure.

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Secondary Security Screening Selection — or The Quad S, as some call it — means you have been selected for additional enhanced security screening by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

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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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Numbered posts in each gate area will indicate where to line up for boarding. When a boarding group is called, everyone will find their designated place in line and board the plane in numerical order with the boarding group. This sounds really organized!

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A Secondary Security Screening Selection or SSSS designation on your boarding pass means that you've been picked for a secondary security screening.

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Group 5 (Preferred boarding) Main Cabin Extra (excluding Basic Economy) AAdvantage® members who earn 15,000 Loyalty Points. Eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers*

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Boarding group 7 on American Airlines includes general boarding for passengers who do not hold any elite status with AAdvantage or Oneworld and do not carry any of the eligible co-branded American Airlines credit cards.

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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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Basic economy tickets are ineligible for refunds and don't include seat selection. Economy Plus features standard economy seats with extra legroom. Standard economy includes seat selection and a free carry-on. All three economy classes charge for checked bags on domestic flights.

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The Boarding Process Also, your boarding pass will be orange instead of the usual blue and white theme United has going on. They REALLY want to make sure you know you purchased a restricted fare!

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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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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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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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