Preferred Boarding on American Airlines (AA) is a specific boarding group that falls immediately after the "Priority" groups but before the general boarding of the main cabin. In 2026, this is officially designated as Group 4. This group is primarily reserved for passengers who have attained certain "low-tier" elite status, those who hold a qualifying AAdvantage credit card (like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select®), or those who have purchased "Main Cabin Extra" seating. Preferred boarding is highly valued because it allows travelers to board the aircraft before the vast majority of passengers in Groups 5 through 9, virtually guaranteeing that they will find available overhead bin space for their carry-on luggage. On a crowded 2026 flight, being in Group 4 can mean the difference between keeping your bag with you or being forced to "gate-check" it because the bins filled up. It represents a "middle-ground" perk that offers many of the conveniences of elite travel without requiring the high mileage of Executive Platinum or Platinum Pro status.