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What happens if you board before your group?

You're more likely to be caught if you try to board with the first group or two. Unless the gate agent is a real jerk, or you are, the worst that can happen is that you'll be told to wait for your own group.



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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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The airlines want to keep their best customers happy. Their best customers don't care as much about total boarding time as much as they care about being first to board. Group numbers are assigned based on Frequent Flyer status so the best customers board first.

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To ease congestion in the aircraft cabin, boarding takes place by boarding group or seat row number, which is shown on your boarding pass. Please help us to depart on time by waiting until your group is called forward.

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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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According to Southwest, A-List and A-List Preferred members have their boarding position on the plane automatically assigned 36 hours before departure. However, they still have to check in for the flight starting at 24 hours out. The chart below shows the main perks of both elite status tiers and how you can earn them.

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Group 4: Passengers in Premium economy and paying for priority access, AAdvantage Gold, oneworld Ruby status holders, Citi/AAdvantage Executive cardholders, and select corporate travelers.

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You Get Better Cabin Space For Your Luggage If you aren't travelling alone and have more than one check-in baggage, it is better if you board the flight first. With this, you will have better chances of getting good cabin space for your luggage over your seat.

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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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Preboarding is reserved mainly for travelers needing special assistance and passengers with a child under age 2.

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You won't know for sure when your group will be called until it is, but once it's your turn you'll have an hour to get to the ride entrance and sign in.

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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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Boarding. First class passengers are always the first to board, plus the first to deplane once they reach their destination. They also get expedited check-in and express security screening at select airports.

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Block boarding from the rear to the front of the plane is the standard onboarding method. Passengers board the aircraft by group, based on their seat number, beginning at the plane's rear toward the front until everyone is seated. Rear-to-front block boarding seems logical at first blush.

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