British Airways Boarding Groups Explained [2023]

Are you preparing for a British Airways flight but not exactly sure how the boarding process works and what all of the boarding groups are?

In this article, we will break down the British Airways boarding process and give you some insight into what to expect as things at the airport don’t always go as smoothly as you might like.

British Airways boarding groups overview

British Airways currently has nine boarding groups but just who goes into each group will depend on which boarding process British Airways is using.

The first British Airways boarding process is designed for long-haul flights. So for example, if you were flying from London to New York you would utilize that boarding process.

The other one is for short-haul flights which would be, for example, flights around the UK and Europe.

We will break down both of these boarding group orders below but first let’s take a quick look at all of the boarding groups for long-haul flights and short-haul flights.

British Airways boarding groups for long-hauls

Priority Group 1

  • First
  • Executive Club Gold Members
  • oneworld Emerald members

Priority Group 2

  • Business (Club World)
  • Executive Club Silver Members
  • oneworld Sapphire members

Priority Group 2

  • Premium economy (World Traveller Plus)
  • Executive Club Bronze Members
  • oneworld Ruby members

Groups 4 to 9

  • Economy (World Traveller)

British Airways boarding groups for short-hauls

Priority Group 1

  • Business (Club World)
  • Executive Club Gold Members
  • oneworld Emerald members

Priority Group 2

  • Executive Club Silver Members
  • oneworld Sapphire members

Priority Group 3

  • Executive Club Bronze Members
  • oneworld Ruby members

Groups 4 to 9

  • Economy (Euro Traveller)
British Airways Boarding Group Sign

Preboarding

For both long-haul and short haul flights, British Airways offers pre-boarding for a variety of different groups.

If you’re traveling as a family with a small child under two years old and/or have a young child in a pushchairs, you can be among the first to board. It’s recommended that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure so that you are ready for pre-boarding and the agents have enough time to load your push chair.

Some passengers do not care for family boarding getting lumped in with preboarding as they feel that it dilutes the value of priority boarding. This is especially true whenever huge “families” utilize preboarding. So if you are using family boarding, try not to be too liberal with your definition of family.

If you have a disability or require some type of mobility assistance, you can also utilize pre-boarding. It’s advised to contact British Airways 48 hours before your flight so that they can make special arrangements for you.

Anytime you are using pre-boarding, it’s a good idea to check in with the gate agent as soon as you arrive just so that you can verify that everything is in order. Airlines don’t always do a good job at announcing pre-boarding and so it always helps to double check everything at the gate.

Also, if you are wondering about unaccompanied minors and boarding, know that they don’t have a traditional UM policy and you can read more about that here.

Something interesting that British Airways sometimes does is that they bring up people who have to check their luggage at the gate during this time. This could happen because they have one of the last boarding groups and the flight is full or because they somehow got through with an oversized bag.

On some occasions, British Airways will allow these passengers to board during pre-boarding or shortly after. Sometimes the checking of bags and boarding of these passengers can be a little time consuming which can be frustrating for those with priority boarding.

British Airways plane

Long-haul flights

Priority Group 1

  • First
  • Executive Club Gold Members
  • oneworld Emerald members

If you’re flying first class, you’ll be among the first to board.

Some people heavily criticized the British Airways first class product for only being a slight step up from business class. While I agree it’s got some real room for improvement, I’ve enjoyed my experience on British Airways first class and you can read about it here.

Along with first class, the highest elite level members will be able to board: Executive Club Gold Members along with oneworld Emerald members. You should be able to see a sign with the emerald, sapphire, and ruby icons for one world elites.

One issue with the British Airways boarding process is that sometimes agents don’t give priority group one enough time to board before calling up the other priority groups.

There are instances where an agent might call up for group two only seconds after making the announcement for group one!

In fact, sometimes an agent might even lump all of the groups together. You could hear an announcement like boarding groups “one through three.”

It may not sound like a big deal but for people who really value their elite status, it can feel like you are losing out on real value. For example, if you are pushed to the back of boarding you may struggle to find overhead storage bin space which should not happen for someone with top elite status.

Also, calling so many people at the same time can result in a pretty disorderly boarding process. Sometimes it works but other times it doesn’t.

Generally, you may find the boarding process to be more orderly at London’s hub, LHR. But when boarding at countries outside of the UK, you may experience a lot of inconsistencies.

British Airways also have somewhat of a reputation for not policing boarding passes.

This is needed so that people from lower boarding groups don’t try to board early. Lots of airlines don’t properly police these things because they can slow down boarding and cause conflict/confusion between passengers and crew but British Airways seems to be a common offender.

At times, specific airports might enforce boarding groups harder than others so just because one airport is laid back about it, that does not mean that your next attempt to skip a couple of boarding groups is going to go so smooth.

With staff shortages, it’s very possible that some boarding issues have recently gone from bad to worse and it may take some major efforts by the higher ups to correct for the deficiencies. In the meantime, you can do your best to arrive to the boarding area early in order to try to secure a spot for your boarding group.

But other times, you may just have to deal with crowded areas full of gate lice, clueless passengers, and ground crew agents who are just trying to get the job done as quickly as possible.

Priority Group 2

  • Business (Club World)
  • Executive Club Silver Members
  • oneworld Sapphire members

The second group to board is business class along with the second level elites. British Airways recently revamped it’s business class product so that it’s now a much higher quality experience. As mentioned above, don’t be surprised if group two is lumped in with group one.

Priority Group 3

  • Premium economy (World Traveller Plus)
  • Executive Club Bronze Members
  • oneworld Ruby members

Groups 4 to 9

  • Economy (World Traveller)

If you purchase a Basic fare, you will be boarding in the last group. Otherwise, you would be in general boarding which consists of all but the final boarding group.

The boarding process for economy passengers can play out differently just like it can for premium customers. It’s possible that an agent could lump several groups together for an expedited process. Don’t be surprised to hear several groups called at a time.

But sometimes you might even see some of the groups lumped together by signage. For example, you could see a sign for groups four and nine but then a separate sign specifically for groups four through five. There may even be indicators for boarding positions based on your row.

British Airways Boarding Group Sign

Short-haul flights

You’ll notice that the boarding groups for short haul flights are very similar.

Missing is first class because British Airways only puts three cabin products on long-haul flights. Therefore, the highest class is business class and those will board with the Executive Club Gold Members and oneworld Emerald members as shown below.

On these shorter routes with smaller aircraft, getting the boarding order correct is probably even more important than the long-haul flights because overhead storage in space is more precious.

Priority Group 1

  • Business (Club World)
  • Executive Club Gold Members
  • oneworld Emerald members

Priority Group 2

  • Executive Club Silver Members
  • oneworld Sapphire members

Priority Group 3

  • Executive Club Bronze Members
  • oneworld Ruby members

Groups 4 to 9

  • Economy (Euro Traveller)

Arriving late to the boarding area

If you arrive late to the boarding area, British Airways will allow you to utilize the priority line to get ahead of other passengers as they state, “If you arrive after your priority group has been called, you can use the priority boarding lane to go through at your leisure.”

The biggest thing when doing this is to remember that you want to be respectful of other passengers. It can be off-putting when you cut others in line (even if you are justified in doing so). So just try to do this with some grace.

Boarding together

If you are traveling with others and receive different boarding groups, it’s still possible for you to board together. It’s recommended that you check with the gate and get them to sort it out.

Check-in requirements

If you’re curious about the cut off times for checking in, British Airways has several different cut offs.

It’s usually a good idea to check in as soon as you can so that you can decrease the odds of you getting bumped from a flight, so I always try to check in 24 hours prior to a flight. But here are the minimum times for those brave souls who are willing to cut things scary close.

AirportCheck-in close times
London Heathrow60 minutes before long haul flights depart
45 minutes before short haul flights depart
London Gatwick60 minutes before long haul flights depart
60 minutes before short haul flights depart
London City20 minutes before all flights depart
Other UK airports45 minutes before all flights depart
Short haul European airports45 minutes before all flights depart, except at:
Amsterdam, Amman, Antalya, Berlin (Brandenburg), Dalaman, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan (Malpensa) and Palma de Mallorca – 1 hour
Long haul international airportsAt least 60 minutes before all flights depart
Chart via British Airways.

British Airways boarding FAQ

When do families with small children board?

Families with small children can board during pre-boarding.

When do passengers with a basic fare board?

Passengers with a basic fare will board after general boarding.

When do elite passengers board?

Priority Group 1:
Executive Club Gold Members
oneworld Emerald members
Priority Group 2:
Executive Club Silver Members
oneworld Sapphire members
Priority Group 3:
Executive Club Bronze Members
oneworld Ruby members

If you have priority boarding, can you skip the general boarding line?

Yes, you can use the priority lane even if you show up when general boarding is taking place.

How many boarding groups does British Airways have?

In addition to preboarding, British Airways has nine boarding groups.

Final word

British Airways adopted the numbered boarding group structure for boarding like many other airlines.

Their system is a little bit more complicated because the groups differ based on short haul and long-haul flights, though. Also, they have a reputation for not enforcing boarding groups very much and lumping several groups together which means that your boarding experience may not be as smooth as it could be.

JetBlue Boarding Policy Guide (Window vs Aisle Seats) [2023]

Every airline has a different type of boarding policy (although a lot of them are pretty similar). JetBlue boards its planes by groups in a pretty standard fashion compared to other US airlines, such as United and American.

So boarding a JetBlue plane is pretty straightforward.

But there are some things that you likely will have questions about such as what boarding group will you likely get based on your seat (window vs aisle).

In this article I will answer all of the questions you may have about JetBlue’s boarding policy and groups.

JetBlue boarding groups order

There are a total of ten JetBlue boarding groups and these include:

  1. Pre-Boarding for customers with disabilities
  2. Mosaic and Mint customers
  3. Even More Space customers (Group A)
  4. Courtesy Boarding
  5. Group B
  6. Group C
  7. Group D
  8. Group E
  9. Group F
  10. All remaining customers

Below, I will go into detail as to who qualifies for each boarding group. Note that the below is an overview and provides general guidance but your specific boarding group may vary.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Pre-Boarding for customers with disabilities

If you need pre-boarding it’s recommended that you speak to a crew member at the gate prior to the boarding time.

Just let them know the type of assistance you may need and they can help you out with things like wheelchairs, service animals, or any equipment that might be needed.

If you have a disability and require special travel needs JetBlue recommends that you book your flights as soon as you can and that you add a Special Service Request (SSR).

Adding an SSR is easy and you can do it when you choose your own seat when you book online at jetblue.com or with the JetBlue app.

Just check the box under the traveler info, and dropdown menus will appear. There is no fee to add an SSR.  

You can find out more about disability seating here.

Unaccompanied minors can also board during pre-boarding as well. However, if they show up at the gate after pre-boarding has already ended or later they may board the aircraft at the end.

Keep in mind that JetBlue usually has designated seats on the last row of the aircraft for unaccompanied minors.

 Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments

Mosaic and Mint customers

Mosaic status is the elite status of JetBlue.

It comes with a number of benefits which include a free first and second checked bag, change and cancellation fees waived, 15,000 bonus points upon qualifying, expedited security line, early boarding, and additional bonus points.

Mint is the business class cabin for JetBlue and it is widely considered one of the best offered by any US airline. You can read more about what the Mint experience is like here.

JetBlue Mint seat

Even More Space customers (Group A)

JetBlue Even More Space customers get to board with Group A.

Even More Space is just like economy plus for other airlines and they provide you with extra legroom.

The extra legroom could be up to 7 inches which is pretty significant for economy seats so this can be well worth it for a lot of people who value that extra space for their feet and legs.

Courtesy Boarding for active military personnel and customers traveling with small children

After Group A is courtesy boarding which is for active military personnel and also customers traveling with small children. It’s always a good idea for active military members to have their military ID with them.

If you are traveling with a car seat or a stroller this would be the boarding group you would likely fall into.

Related: Comprehensive Military Airline Benefits and Discount Guide

Group B

Group B is the first general boarding group for JetBlue. If you are seated in the rear of the plane you will likely be a part of Group B.

Also, if you have a window seat towards the back of the aircraft your odds of getting Group B should be pretty high.

Group C

Group C is the second general boarding group and it caters to those in the middle seats, especially for those sitting towards the back of the plane.

However, if you have a window seat and are seated towards the front of the plane then this might be the group you get.

Group D

Group D will be for economy passengers seated in middle seats towards the front of the plane or people in aisle seats towards the back of the plane.

If you are boarding in this group and your plane is full there is a chance that you may not find room for your carry-on items in the overhead storage bin. This is especially true if you are flying on an E-190 aircraft.

Group E

This group will not be called if you are flying on an E-190 aircraft.

Group F

One of the last boarding groups. Again, don’t expect to have overhead storage bin on many flights.

All remaining customers

If you somehow did not fall into any of the above groups such as an unaccompanied minor arriving late you will then board last.

H/T: Flyertalk

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

JetBlue boarding area

When do you need to board the plane?

Your exact boarding time is usually dictated by two things: 1) your destination and 2) your aircraft.

The best advice for arriving at the proper time to board is to first see what boarding time is listed on your boarding pass whenever you check in and/or arrive at the airport.

You still need to be diligent about your boarding time even after your boarding time is printed on your boarding pass though.

The reason is that your boarding time could potentially change (and even your gate of departure could also change).

So it is best to double check your boarding times with the schedules available in the airport or with an airport agent.

Still, JetBlue does provide some general guidance for boarding.

For domestic flights each customer must board the aircraft at least 15 minutes prior to departure.

For international flights, each customer must board the aircraft at least 20 minutes prior to departure.

Note: In the event you had a connecting flight on the same itinerary that was late, it’s possible that the flight attendant could delay boarding in order to give you enough time to make it to the plane.

Related: SSSS on Boarding Pass? What Does It Mean & How to Avoid It!

Different boarding areas

On occasion, it’s possible that you won’t be boarding in a JetBlue boarding area.

This is the case when JetBlue uses another airline’s boarding area such as a boarding gate for British Airways. The boarding process will remain the same although you won’t have the same types of signage to follow.

In these cases, just listen carefully to when your boarding group is called and where they want you to line up since it won’t be quite as clear.

British airways boarding area
A British Airways boarding area used for JetBlue.

Boarding together on JetBlue

If you are traveling as a group you probably are interested in also boarding together as a group.

If you want to make sure that you will be boarding with other passengers make sure that you are on the same reservation AND that you check in together.

If you are on the same reservation and check in separately you will not be guaranteed to be in the same boarding group. This even applies to Mosaic members.

In the event that you fail to check in together I would contact an agent and see if they can get you in the same boarding group but it may not be possible.

Related: JetBlue Airways Baggage Fees Guide

JetBlue Boarding FAQ

What are the JetBlue boarding groups?

Pre-Boarding for customers with disabilities
Mosaic and Mint customers
Even More Space customers (Group A)
Courtesy Boarding
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
All remaining customers

How many boarding groups does JetBlue have?

There are a total of nine JetBlue boarding groups.

What boarding group will I get if I have a window seat?

You will often get one of the earlier boarding groups such as Group B or Group C but it also depends on where you are located in the plane (back or front).

What boarding group will I get if I have an aisle seat?

You will often get one of the later boarding groups such as Group D but it also depends on where you are located in the plane (back or front).

Will I get to board with my friends and family?

If you are on the same reservation and you also check-in together you should be able to board together.

When do unaccompanied minors board?

Unaccompanied minors will board during pre-boarding unless they arrive later. In that case, they may be the last to board.

What is the latest I can board the plane?

For domestic flights you can board at least 15 minutes prior to departure and for international flights, you must board at least 20 minutes prior to departure.

Final word

As you can probably tell, the boarding policy and boarding groups for JetBlue are pretty straightforward. They allow for pre-boarding and give priority to premium customers at the front and then board according to where people are situated in the plane.

American Airlines Boarding Groups Guide (Get The Best Seats!) [2023]

The boarding process for American Airlines is very similar to most other major airlines, such as United Airlines boarding. Below, I’ll show you how the American Airlines boarding groups work, including things like the boarding order and how to make sure you have room for your carry-on bags. 

I’ll then tell you everything you need to know about things like check-in and checked baggage so you’ll know when you can get to the airport and check your bags before your plane closes for boarding.

How do American Airlines boarding groups work?

American Airlines has a total of nine boarding groups and at the time of boarding each group should be called up individually. Note that it’s possible that each group might not get called up individually.

For example, sometimes agents might lump several groups together. So it’s a good idea to always monitor when you think you should be boarding.

Below are all of the different American Airlines boarding groups and the different types of passengers who will board.

Pre-boarding

If you are a passenger requiring assistance, such as an unaccompanied minor you’ll be able to board with American Airlines pre-boarding. (If you need to make special travel arrangements, you can make them online or call 800-433-7300.)

Pre-boarding is also where those with ConciergeKey members (the highest elite level) are allowed to board along with Five Star customers. However, those who need assistance getting in their seat should be called before elite members.

Boarding Group 1

First class or two cabin international Business class passengers will board in Group 1. Two cabin business class planes are those aircraft without a “true” first class (i.e, the highest class on the aircraft is business class).

Also, after a recent change, AAdvantage Executive Platinum members will board in this group.

Other passengers who can board with Group 1 are those active duty U.S. military members with military I.D.

Boarding Group 2

Group 2 allows those to board with Platinum Pro or those who have oneworld Emerald elite status. This is also where those business class passengers can board in those three cabin aircraft that do have first class.

Boarding Group 3

Group 3 allows those to board with Platinum or those who have oneworld Sapphire elite status.

Boarding Group 4

Group 4 allows those to board with American Airlines Gold and oneworld Ruby status. It also offer boarding to those with Air Pass and passengers flying Premium Economy.

If you hold the premium Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard you can also board with Group 4. This is the premium AA credit card issued by Citi that comes with Admiral’s Club access and additional AA perks like priority check-in, priority airport screening (where available), in-flight savings, and free checked baggage.

This card also offers a pretty decent sign-up bonus at times so it can be one of the best ways to rack up a lot of AA miles in a hurry.  

If you purchased Priority Boarding, you can also board with Group 4. The cost for Priority boarding can be from $9 to $74. Unless you’re flying on a Basic Economy fare, you can buy Priority for your trip on American marketed and operated flights during the following times:

  • Check-in on aa.com
  • Check-in at an airport kiosk
  • Through Reservations before departure.

Boarding Group 5

Group 5 is known as “Preferred Boarding.”

If you are flying Main Cabin Extra, you can board with this group and if you are an eligible corporate traveler you can also board with Group 5. (Main Cabin Extra is essentially economy with extra legroom and perks like complimentary alcohol on board.)

Finally, if you have an eligible AAdvantage credit card like the Aviator Red or the Citi Platinum Select, you’ll get preferred boarding. Cards like the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select also offer you complimentary checked baggage for domestic flights for you and several companions. If you do a lot of flying on American that can save you a lot of money.

In case you’re wondering, here are all of the eligible cards that will get you preferred boarding:

  • Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
  • CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
  • Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select American Express Card
  • Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Visa Signature
  • AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard
  • AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard
  • AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard

Group 5 is great because you shouldn’t have issues with overhead storage space. On a couple of recent flights I took, I had Group 5 boarding, and we had plenty of space in the overhead storage bins — it wasn’t an issue at all.

Boarding Groups 6 through 8

Group 6 consists of Coach Groups and then also Basic Economy on longhaul transoceanic flights. Basic Economy is the class that doesn’t allow you many perks like selecting a seat.

Group 6 boarding is when things start to get a little tricky with overhead storage space. It all depends on certain factors like how many elite travelers there are on your flight. You will often be able to find overhead storage space in Group 6 and even Group 7 but it might not always be right where you’re sitting.

Once you get higher up into Group 8, finding overhead storage space becomes much more difficult and you might have to gate check your bag in some cases.

Related: Airline Overhead Storage Bin Etiquette Guide

Boarding Group 9

Group 9 consists of Basic Economy within the U.S., Canada, Mexico & Caribbean. You will be the last to board the plane so as you can probably expect, finding overhead storage space can be very difficult to impossible.

H/T: Flyertalk

American Airlines plane on the tarmac

Missing your boarding group

If you are a higher boarding group and you arrive when a later boarding group is boarding you should be able to enter through your lane and bypass their line. For example, let’s say you’re a business class passenger who can board in Group 2.

Now let’s say that you were hanging out in the lounge and lost track of time and now they are calling for Group 5 when you arrive. You should be able to bypass any other groups and simply make your way to the gate agent in that case.

A polite way to do this is to head to the front of your boarding group line and then try to signal to the gate agent that you have a higher boarding group pass. This will allow you to cut the line without potentially causing an unwanted confrontation with other passengers.

Some people argue that you should just join the current line instead of cutting but that is a matter that is open for debate.

Boarding with other groups

If there are other members in your party that you’d like to board with this shouldn’t be a problem as long as you are moving “down.”

For example, if someone with a Group 3 boarding pass wants to board with Group 5 that should be okay. However, if someone with a Group 5 wants to board with Group 3 that would not be allowed.

American Airlines boarding group sign
American Airlines boarding groups.

How early should I get to the airport for American Airlines?

American Airlines states that you should arrive two hours before your flight for a domestic flight and three hours before your flight for an international flight.

That’s usually a pretty good rule of thumb, but I would also recommend to consider whether or not you have to check bags or not. If you’re not checking in bags you can often shave off 15 to 30 minutes for your arrival time.

Also, if you can rely on things like TSA Pre-Check and CLEAR you can shave some more time off your arrival.

Related: How Early Should You Get to the Airport?

When can I check in for an American Airlines flight?

If you’re like me and you enjoy getting to the airport early, you’ll probably want to know how early you can check-in for your flight.

You can check-in online or from the app starting 24 hours before and up to 45 minutes before departure (90 minutes for international).

When can I check my bags for American Airlines?

When checking your bags at the airport there are two deadlines you need to know about.

The first is the latest that you can check your bags and the second is the earliest that you can check your bags. By the way, if you are looking for information about American Airlines baggage fees click here.

The latest you can check your bags

To check bags at the airport, you must be there a certain amount of time before scheduled departure.

If you are flying within the United States, you’ll need to check your bags at least 45 minutes prior to departure. If you’re flying to or from destinations outside the U.S., you’ll need to check your bags at least 60 minutes prior to departure. 

But note that some airports require you to check your bags even sooner before departure. Check out the rules from the airports below (supplied by American Airlines).

Airport locationAirport codeCheck-in before scheduled departure
ArubaAUA75 minutes
Barcelona, SpainBCN75 minutes
Buenos Aires, ArgentinaEZE75 minutes
Dublin, IrelandDUB75 minutes
Georgetown, GuyanaGEO90 minutes
Madrid, SpainMAD75 minutes
Paris, FranceCDG75 minutes
San Juan, Puerto RicoSJU60 minutes
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin IslandsSTX90 minutes
St. Kitts and NevisSKB90 minutes
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin IslandsSTT90 minutes
Tampa, Florida
Applies only to the Consolidated Rental Car Center		TPA90 minutes
Tel Aviv, IsraelTLV75 minutes

The earliest you can check your bags

The earliest you can check your bags in will depend on the airport.

Generally, I try to check my bags in no earlier than four hours — this is a common deadline for many airlines and some might even impose a three hour deadline.

If an airline allows you to check bags earlier than 4 hours before departure consider that you are increasing the odds of your baggage getting lost by handing them over way before the airline typically has a standard procedure for them (just something to think about).

You can’t check bags more than 4 hours before departure when flying from the following airports:

  • Charleston (CHS)
  • Denver (DEN)
  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
  • Honolulu (HNL)
  • Kahului (OGG)
  • Kansas City (MCI)
  • Las Vegas (LAS)
  • Orlando (MCO)
  • Portland, Oregon (PDX)
  • Salt Lake City (SLC)
  • Seattle (SEA)
Honolulu (HNL) is one of several locations where you can’t check your bags earlier than four hours prior to your flight time.

When will American Airlines board the plane?

The time for boarding an American Airlines plane depends on what type of aircraft that you’re flying on.

For the most part, flights will start boarding 30 to 50 minutes before the scheduled departure. Generally, the larger the aircraft or the farther the destination, the sooner the boarding will begin.

Here are some estimated boarding times based on destination via Flyertalk. Keep in mind that these could differ based on your actual flight and boarding could occur earlier.

50 minutes prior to departure

From/To the United States and:

  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Asia
  • South American destinations: Asuncion, PY; Brasilia, BR; Belo Horizonte, BR; Curitiba, Br; Buenos Aires, AR; Rio de Janeiro, BR; Sao Paulo, BR; Lima, PE; Montevideo, UY; Porto Alegre, BR; Recife, BR; Salvador, BR; Santiago, CL; Sao Paulo Viracop, BR

45 minutes prior to departure

From/To the United States and:

  • Caribbean
  • Central America
  • Hawaii
  • Mexico
  • South American destinations: La Paz, BO; Santa Cruz, BO; Maracaibo, VE; Caracas, VE; Bogota, CO; Cali, CO; Medellin, CO; Guayaquil, EC; Quito, EC

35 minutes prior to departure

Domestic on these aircraft types: A321, A321S, A330, B757, B767, B787, B777

  • Within the 48 contiguous states
  • Alaska
  • Canada

30 minutes prior to departure

Domestic on these aircraft types: A319, A320, A321T, E190, S80, B737

  • Within the 48 contiguous states
  • Alaska
  • Canada
Boarding gate area for American Airlines
Boarding group for American Airlines.

After you check your bags and get through security you will need to wait until the plane begins the boarding process. You can find the estimated boarding time on your boarding pass.

Just note that this time is subject to change depending on the status of delays. In addition, it’s always possible that your gate could change as well so always keep your eye on the monitors.

When to arrive at the gate

You need to make sure you arrive at the gate 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure for flights departing from points within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.

For flights departing from points outside the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands, i.e., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Central/South America, Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, make sure you arrive 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure.

If you are not at the gate at that time, it’s possible that they will give your seat to someone else. The doors close 10 minutes before departure and you will not be allowed to board once the doors close.

Note: In the event you are coming from a connecting flight that was late, keep in mind the flight attendants will hold the door open for you — at least for a short while.

Coronavirus changes

If you are boarding a flight during the pandemic, don’t be surprised if you are asked to maintain 6 feet apart from other passengers while awaiting boarding. In addition, you will likely be required to wear a mask while waiting in the boarding area.

Related: American Airlines Lost and Found Guide

American Airlines Boarding FAQ

How can I get priority boarding on American Airlines?

You can get priority boarding by having elite status or flying in certain cabins such as business class.

You can also get priority boarding with Group 4 if you have the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.

When do Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select members board?

Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select cardmembers get to board with Group 5 which is known as “preferred boarding.”

When does business class board?

If you are flying internationally on a two cabin business class aircraft you will be able to board with group one.

How many boarding groups does American Airlines have?

There are a total of 10 boarding groups if you include pre-boarding.

Can I board with other groups?

You can board with other groups as long as you are boarding with a group that is lower than your initial boarding group.

For example, if you are in Group 5 you can board with Group 6 but not Group 4.

When does basic economy board?

Basic economy will be the very last to board and they will board with Group 9.

What happens if I miss my boarding group?

If you miss your boarding group, you should still be able to board as soon as you arrive to the boarding area (assuming that you arrive while the gate is still open).

When does boarding start?

Boarding will usually begin about 30 to 50 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

Final word 

The boarding process with American Airlines is pretty straight forward. There are many ways to get Preferred Boarding (Group 5) and those should allow you to have overhead storage bin space without much issue so I would generally try to get into that group.

Alaska Airlines Boarding Groups Guide: Don’t Get Left Behind! [2023 Updates!]

In 2018, Alaska Airlines decided to change its boarding policy in favor of something more simplistic. The new policy changed the labels for boarding groups and made a few other tweaks. Then, in 2023 Alaska Airlines made more changes to the boarding policy allowing credit card holders to get priority boarding!

In this article, I will tell you everything that you need to know about Alaska Airlines boarding groups and exactly what to expect with the current boarding policy.

Full list of Alaska Airlines boarding groups

The Alaska Airlines boarding groups include:

  • Pre-boarding (Military, disabilities, unaccompanied minors, etc.)
  • Priority Boarding (First Class, MVP Gold 100K)
  • Group A (Million Milers, MVP Gold, and MVP Gold 75K)
  • Group B (MVP members and guests in Premium Class seats)
  • Group C (Alaska credit card holders)
  • Group D (Main cabin in the back)
  • Group E (Main cabin in the front)
  • Group F (Saver)

I will go into more detail about each of these groups below.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Alaska Airlines economy cabin

How does Alaska Airlines boarding work?

The boarding process for Alaska Airlines is very similar to most other airlines, and I will break it all down below.

First, let’s start with choosing your seat.

After you input your personal details and making a booking, you should be prompted to select your seat. (In some cases the seat map may not be available.) The seat that you choose to select could end up affecting your boarding group and I will talk more about that below.

The next step is checking in at the airport.

Generally, for domestic flights, you want to arrive at least an hour before your flight’s boarding time if you’re not checking in bags and at least 90 minutes prior to your flight’s boarding time if you are checking bags (for inexperienced travelers, arriving two hours before departure is the standard). 

If you are an experienced traveler or are familiar with the airport and wait times of course you can arrive even later than the recommended times especially if you have TSA Pre-Check and/or CLEAR.  

Personally, I like to arrive at the airport extra early to give me the least stressful experiences as possible. It also makes it easier to enjoy airport lounges such as Alaska Lounges.

After you check in, you will have a paper boarding pass or you may have pulled up your boarding pass on the Alaska Airlines mobile app.

Personally, I like to have both a paper and a digital boarding pass. That way, if I lose the paper pass I have a digital copy of it and if my phone malfunctions or freezes up, I have a paper pass I can pull out.

If you have an issue with your boarding pass at the time of boarding, you will have to be pulled aside and you could lose your overhead storage bin space so it’s a good idea to have a back up plan.

Here’s what the boarding pass will look like compared to how the old boarding passes looked.

New Alaska boarding pass compared to old
Comparison of new boarding pass with old.

Alaska Airlines states that they want you to arrive at the gate 40 minutes prior to departure so that should be your goal at a minimum.

If you want to know your estimated boarding time, you should be able to find this on your boarding pass as shown above.

Just be aware that the departure time is subject to change, so make sure that you always verify the departure time with what is displayed on the flight monitors.

Boarding times may change depending on the route and aircraft and other factors at play but generally you can expect the boarding process to be announced around 30 to 40 minutes prior to departure.

This is not officially when boarding begins but this would be a good time to get ready to head over to the gate if you were not already there. As Alaska states, “This is your cue to gather your things and be ready, but you don’t need to move to line up.”

At about 30 minutes prior to departure, that’s when you can expect the pre-boarding to begin. And then, each group will be called up successively, possibly in five minute increments although it depends on how quickly or slowly passengers are processed.

Once you arrive at the gate and it is time for boarding, simply pay attention to the signs and they will guide you through the boarding process.

First, make sure that the sign contains your exact flight information such as your flight number and route.

Then just take a look at the left side of the screen. This will tell you the group that is now boarding. On the right side of that, you will see checkmarks for other groups that have boarded and that are currently boarding. If you belong to one of those groups that have already boarded, you should be allowed to board at that time.

Some signs may not show the now boarding group on the left and in those cases just look for the green checkmarks to see what groups are currently boarding or that have boarded.

Alaska airlines boarding screen
Alaska Airlines boarding sign.

Boarding groups explained

Alaska Airlines has a reputation for not strictly enforcing boarding groups. This has allowed people to board ahead of their designated boarding groups which sounds great except that it can lead to a disorderly process.

Therefore, I would advise our passengers to try to follow the published boarding group guidelines as much as you can simply to avoid confusion.

Pre-boarding

Unaccompanied minors

Unaccompanied minors are children who are 5 to12 years old and traveling without a parent, legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years old. There are special rules regarding traveling as an unaccompanied minor and you can read more about those here. 

Related: Ultimate Preboarding Guide: Who Qualifies & What the Law States

Customers with disabilities

If you have a visible disability (such as being in a wheel chair, on crutches, etc.), you will be able to board without questions. However, if your disability is not readily apparent it may be a good idea to notify the gate agent that you want pre-boarding.

Remember, you are able to self-identify that you need preboarding.

Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments.

Active members of the military

Alaska Airlines will allow active members of the military to board during pre-boarding.

On occasion priority boarding has also been offered to retired military members although that is a special scenario that may be tied to special occasions such as Veterans Day.

Related: Check out all of the benefits military members can take advantage of when flying.  

Alaska Airlines boarding area

Priority Boarding

If you are flying first class on Alaska Airlines then you can expect to be the first to board right after pre-boarding.

Don’t forget, first class passengers get other perks like free checked baggage.

Also, if you hold elite status as an MVP Gold 100K member you can board with Priority Boarding.

If an aircraft does not have a first class cabin then group boarding for those flights will just begin with Group A.

Alaska airlines first class cabin

Group A (Million Milers, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K, 100K)

Group A will consist of the two top levels of elite status which include Million Milers, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold.

If you are wondering about the requirements for obtaining elite status with Alaska Airlines here are the requirements:

Elite LevelMiles FlownSegments
Alaska MVP20,000 miles30
MVP Gold40,000 miles60
MVP Gold 75K75,000 miles90
MVP Gold 100K100,000 miles140
Alaska elite status level requirements.

If you are boarding with a partner or spouse who does not have elite status and therefore has a lower boarding group, many times they can board with you.

It’s not an official policy but there are many reports of elite members pulling their partners along to board with them even when their partners have a lower boarding group.

Just try to do this within reason.

If you have an entire group of people with you then you are much more likely to cause an issue. This is even true if everybody is on the same itinerary.

By the way if you’ve earned a lot of Alaska miles and need some ideas on how to best redeem them be sure to check out our best uses of Alaska Airline miles.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Group B (MVP members and guests in Premium Class seats)

If you are on the lowest level of elite status known as MVP, you will board with Group B.

Also, those individuals in Premium Class seats get to board with Group B.

Group C

Group C is where you will board if you hold an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card (personal or business). Just remember, you need to use your Alaska credit card to purchase your ticket!

Group D (Main cabin in the back)

If you are flying economy and your seat is towards the back of the plane then you will board in Group D.

Where exactly the “cut off” is for seats in the back depends on the type of aircraft you are flying on since some aircraft will have many more rows of seats.

But if you are trying to get into Group D, I would recommend choosing a seat beyond the emergency exit rows, beginning around row 20. If you really want to be on the safe side, you could go even further with a seat around row 25.

Group E (Main cabin in the front)

If you are flying economy and your seat is towards the front of the plane then you will board in Group E.

Don’t despair if you find yourself in this group because you still have a chance to secure overhead storage bin space.

We recently had Group E boarding and were pretty worried about having space for our luggage but it turns out we were perfectly fine.

With that said, I would try to get ahead of the line because by the time they got to Group D, Groups E&F were practically merging together and boarding so it helps if you can try to get ahead of that.

Otherwise, you may get left behind!

Group F (Saver)

The final passengers to board the plane will always be those who have purchased saver fares. These are the cheapest type of tickets available on Alaska Airlines.

Keep in mind that if you purchase a saver fare, you may not be able to select your seat. So if you are flying with other individuals and you want to sit together, this is not a great ticket good.

When boarding groups don’t matter

Your Alaska Airlines boarding group may not matter at small airports which can be common in places like Southeast Alaska.

For example, we flew first class out of Gustavus airport which is a tiny little single building terminal.

They did not have the room for a traditional boarding process and so it was more of a first come, first serve boarding process. So don’t expect to take advantage of your boarding perks at smaller airports.

Related: How to Get to Gustavus, Alaska (Glacier Bay)

Alaska Airlines boarding groups FAQ

What is the order of boarding groups for Alaska Airlines?

Alaska Airlines will board in the following order:

Pre-boarding (Military, disabilities, unaccompanied minors, etc.)
Priority Boarding (First Class, MVP Gold 100K)
Group A (Million Milers, MVP Gold, and MVP Gold 75K)
Group B (MVP members and guests in Premium Class seats)
Group C (Alaska credit card holders)
Group D (Main cabin in the back)
Group E (Main cabin in the front)
Group F (Saver)

How many boarding groups are there?

There are a total of eight boarding groups if you include preboarding and priority boarding.

Where can I find my boarding group?

You can easily locate your boarding group on your boarding pass. See the image above for details.

Who qualifies for pre-boarding?

Different groups may qualify for pre-boarding including active military members, those with disabilities, and unaccompanied minors.

What if I don’t get the right boarding group?

There have been reports of apparent glitches in the boarding group issuance process. If you are given a boarding group that does not correspond to your elite level status simply call Alaska Airlines or meet with an agent at one of the counters to fix the issue.

What is the Alaska Airlines boarding music?

Alaska Airlines will play music during the boarding process but the tunes are always changing. You can find their latest playlists here.

Does the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card offer priority boarding?

Yes, the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card allows you to board with Group C if you use the card to pay for your flight.

Does Alaska board from both doors?

If you are flying on regional flights (such as with Horizon Air) then your flight may be boarded from doors located at the front and back of the plane. This typically will not be used for 737s.

Do Portland Timbers fans get priority boarding?

Portland Timbers fans can still get priority boarding but only at Portland International Airport (PDX) when wearing Timbers jerseys or gear. Some have even commented that a simple scarf can work. Read more here.

How does Alaska Airlines coronavirus boarding work?

Alaska Airlines states: “To better allow for personal distancing, boarding procedures have been updated so guests board by row numbers in smaller groups from the back to the front.”

Since Alaska already boarded from the back this is not a huge change but they will be segmenting groups into smaller groups now.

If you have priority boarding and would like to board first, speak with an agent about doing so since some agents may not call priority boarding first.

Final word

As you can tell, the boarding policy is very simple and straightforward for Alaska Airlines. It seems like Alaska is pretty lax when it comes to allowing others to board with you when you have a higher boarding pass so that is something to keep in mind. And while gate agents me be lax on the order of the boarding groups, it’s a good idea to follow the boarding procedures as closely as possible.

Delta Air Lines Boarding Policy Guide: Another Switch to Group Ordering [2023]

Delta Air Lines has one of the more confusing boarding group orders since elite members are broken up more than others.

Still, it is relatively simple to follow given the different branded terms used to describe the boarding groups and the color schemes that go along with them.

What’s harder to keep up with are the different changes that they make like the one recently made to Diamond Medallion Members and First Class.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Delta Air Lines boarding groups and policies.

Full list of Delta Air Lines boarding groups

  • Preboarding
  • Delta One
  • Delta Premium Select or First Class
  • Diamond Medallion Members
  • Delta Comfort+
  • Sky Priority
  • Main cabin one
  • Main cabin two
  • Main cabin three
  • Basic Economy

If the Delta Air Lines boarding groups above do not look familiar to you it might be because Delta Air Lines used to have boarding groups one through six.

The first two boarding groups were for Premium and Sky Priority members while the remaining four groups were for boarding zones one through four.

But Delta Air Lines recently changed the boarding group classification to reflect the type of ticket fare purchased. As you can see in the chart below, there were eight different groups labeled according to fare.

But then in 2022 they did another reshuffling and added a specific boarding group for Diamond Medallion Members.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Old boarding group chart
Delta boarding sign

Delta Air Lines boarding groups explained

  • Preboarding
  • Delta One or First Class
  • Diamond Medallion Members
  • Delta Premium Select
  • Delta Comfort+
  • Sky Priority
  • Main Cabin one
  • Main Cabin two
  • Main Cabin three
  • Basic Economy

Pre-boarding

Unaccompanied minors

Unaccompanied minors are children who are 5-14 years old and traveling without a parent, legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years old. There are special rules regarding traveling as an unaccompanied minor and you can read more about those here.

Customers with disabilities

If you have a visible disability (such as being in a wheel chair, on crutches, etc.), you will be able to board without questions.

However, if your disability is not readily apparent it may be a good idea to verify with the gate agent that you can still get pre-boarding. This is something you self-identify with so you should not get much pushback.

 Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments.

Active members of the military

Delta Air Lines will allow active members of the military to board during pre-boarding.

Related: Check out all of the benefits military members can take advantage of when flying.  

Delta One or First Class

The Delta One product is the premium product offered by Delta Airlines. This product consists of fully lie flat seats and other amenities and you typically find it on long-haul international flights although it can also be flown on some domestic routes.

It now looks like first class passengers fall into this group who are flying on shorter flights such as on domestic flights across the country.

Related: 15 Best Ways to Redeem Delta SkyMiles

Delta Diamond Medallion Members

Delta Diamond Medallion Members are the top level of elites with Delta Air Lines and now they have their own boarding group right after Delta One.

Delta Premium Select

The groups consist of Delta Premium Select customers.

Delta Premium Select is basically just a premium economy product which is an upgraded class between economy and business class that is typically found on long-haul flights.

You’ll get a wider seat, additional recline, and an adjustable footrest and leg rest on Delta Premium Select.

It’s also possible that Delta will offer early boarding for customers traveling with carseats and strollers at this point. This is known as “early access.”

These groups used to be a part of the pre-boarding group but got pushed back after the changes in 2019.

Delta Comfort+

Delta Comfort+ is the upgraded economy class product.

It’s similar to Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines as it allows a little bit of extra legroom and comes with some additional perks.

The extra legroom might only be up to 3 inches more but for people of certain heights, those 3 inches can go a long way.

You can read more about it here.

Delta first class

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Sky Priority

Delta Platinum Medallion members and Gold Medallion members will board in this group.

A lot of people were not happy that Platinum and Gold members were forced to board after Delta Comfort Plus passengers but that is how the recent changes played out.

Members who have not boarded with another group will board here as well.

These include elite members belonging to the following groups:

  • Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold members
  • GOL Smiles Diamond members
  • SkyTeam Elite Plus members
  • LATAM Pass Black Signature, Black and Platinum Elite
  • WestJet Rewards Platinum and Gold Elite

Main cabin one

If you hold the lowest level of elite status with Delta, known as Silver Medallion, you will board with the first group of economy passengers.

Note: Silver Medallion Members will not have a dedicated Priority Boarding zone on Delta flights departing AMS and CDG due to Air France-KLM boarding policies.

Other passengers who board with the first economy group are Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Card Members. These are the co-branded Delta Airlines credit cards issued by American Express.

These cards also come with additional perks such as free baggage and in some cases a companion certificate.

Other members who will board in this group include the following:

  • Delta Corporate Travelers
  • Priority Boarding Trip Extra customers
  • Flying Blue Silver members
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members
  • Sky Team Elite
  • SkyMiles Select Members
  • LATAM Pass Gold+ Elite
  • WestJet Rewards Silver Elite

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Main cabin two

This group will consist of additional main cabin passengers who do not fall into the Main cabin three group based on the type of fare bucket they purchased.

Main cabin three

Main Cabin customers booked in T, X and V fares will be the last economy passengers to board before basic economy. You can see the available fare class displayed at the time of purchase when searching for flights.

For example, here is a look at a main cabin ticket displaying the “T” fare. If you booked that ticket, you would be boarding in Main Cabin three.

Search results showing economy fare.

Basic economy

Basic economy tickets are the cheapest type of airfare you can purchase. These tickets do not come with certain perks such as not allowing you to select your seat so as you can imagine you will be the last group to board.

While basic economy will not charge you for a carry-on item, you may not have space to store it on many aircraft. Therefore, you may have to check your bag which you can do for free.

Getting to the boarding area

On the day of your flight, you want to arrive at the airport around two hours prior to departure for a domestic flight. You must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to check in and you must arrive at the gate at least 15 minutes prior to departure.

These are just general guidelines and the actual time needed may be different based on the airport, your route, and whether or not you are checking bags. For example, if you are traveling with checked bags through ATL, you need to check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure.

If you would like to see a breakdown of the minimum check-in times for various airports click here.

If you are an experienced traveler or are familiar with the airport and wait times of course you can arrive even later than the recommended arrival times especially if you have TSA Pre-Check and/or CLEAR.  

Personally, I like to arrive at the airport extra early to give me the least stressful experiences as possible. Arriving extra early also means that you will be able to spend time hanging out at the Delta Sky Club if you have access.

In the past, you might hear an announcement or see a screen indicating a specific boarding group zone number but now you will see the branded term for your ticket fare when it is time to board.

For example, if it is time for Delta One/Diamond members to board you will see the purple signage along with the fare class posted on the screen.

You can find your estimated boarding time on your boarding pass (on the paper version or on the mobile version).

Related: Why You Should (And Shouldn’t) Check in Online for Flights

Delta sky club at LAX
Delta Sky Club.

Delta Air Lines boarding FAQ

What are the Delta Air Lines boarding groups?

Preboarding
Delta One or First Class
Diamond Medallion Members
Delta Premium Select
Delta Comfort+
Sky Priority
Main Cabin one
Main Cabin two
Main Cabin three
Basic Economy

When do American Express cardmembers board?

American Express cardholders of Delta co-branded credit cards are allowed to board with main cabin group one.

What are the Delta Air Lines boarding coronavirus changes?

Due to the coronavirus, delta made some temporary changes to its booking including allowing passengers to begin boarding at the back of the plane first. Find out about other changes here.

What is the latest I can check-in?

Assuming you were not checking in any bags, you must check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure but you must arrive at the gate at least 15 minutes prior to departure.

Do military members get priority boarding?

Yes, active military members can board during pre-boarding.

When do Diamond Medallion Members board?

Diamond Medallion Members now board directly after Delta One or First Class.

How many Delta boarding groups are there?

Counting pre-boarding, there are now 10 boarding groups.

Final word

The boarding order for Delta Air Lines is a little bit different from other airlines that prioritize elite members more. However, it’s still pretty easy to follow with the different color schemes and branding terms used for the different ticket fares.

Frontier Airlines Boarding Policy Guide [2023]

Frontier Airlines has a pretty straightforward boarding process for the most part. What’s great is that there are a few opportunities that allow you to get priority boarding even if you do not have elite status and I will talk about some of those below.

In this article, I will break down everything you need to know about the Frontier Airlines boarding policy.

Frontier Airlines boarding groups order

  • Special Services
  • Zone 1 (Priority Boarding)
  • Courtesy Boarding
  • Zone 2
  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Special Services

The very first group to board is “special services” which includes individuals in need of boarding assistance. This includes passengers who need a wheelchair or other similar type of equipment.

Remember, that when it comes to pre-boarding, you self identify as someone who needs assistance. You should not have to explain your full medical issue(s) to the gate agent and instead can just tell them that you identify as someone who needs extra time to board. By law, they are required to allow this.

Frontier Airlines does not make a special announcement for special needs boarding. So be sure to tell the gate agent that you need preboarding and then ask them what you need to do to ensure that you will be able to take advantage of that boarding.

This is also the time when unaccompanied minors were allowed to board but effective November 1, 2018, Frontier Airlines no longer accepts children traveling alone under the age of 15 years of age.

 Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments

Zone 1 Boarding (Priority Boarding)

If you purchase a carry-on bag you can get priority boarding. Remember, Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier which means that you have to pay for things like carry-on items.

Assuming you pay your baggage fees online during booking, a carry-on will be about $39 and your first checked bag will be about $34. To view the latest baggage fees read more here.

Passengers who purchased the Works or Perks can also take advantage of priority boarding. For those of you who don’t know, the Works is a special package that offers:

  • Carry on bag
  • Checked bag
  • Seat selection
  • Priority boarding
  • Flight flexibility
  • 100% refund ability

Meanwhile, the Perks offers:

  • Carry on bag
  • Checked bag
  • Seat selection
  • Priority boarding

You can read more about these packages here.

If you have elite status with myFRONTIER Miles, you can also get priority boarding.

There are three different levels of elite status with Frontier Airlines:

  • Elite 20k: Earn 20,000 Qualifying Miles or 25 Segments
  • Elite 50k: Earn 50,000 Qualifying Miles or 50 Segments
  • Elite 100k: Earn 100,000 Qualifying Miles or 100 Segments

Unlike other airlines where it is common to have many elite members on virtually every flight, on Frontier Airlines, you may not see as many elite members which means you can board even quicker if you are elite.

Courtesy boarding

Courtesy boarding is available to families traveling with small children. On the main website it says children under three years old but on the Barclays website for the Frontier Airlines MasterCard it mentions children under the age of five. So you may need to clear this up with an agent at the gate.

This boarding group is also designated for passengers requiring additional time or assistance.

Related: How Early Should You Get to the Airport?

General Boarding (Zone 2 to Zone 4)

General boarding will be the last to board the plane. Within general boarding there may be smaller groups which will typically board from the back of the plane to the front.

You can get Zone 2 priority boarding by holding the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

Just make sure that if you have the card you are logged in when booking your flight or that you have your membership account added to your reservation.

Keep in mind that you can spend your way to elite status with the Frontier Airlines MasterCard.

The terms from the Frontier Airlines MasterCard state:

Cardmembers will receive boarding priority and “ZONE 2” will be displayed on the member’s boarding pass so long as they are logged into their Program Membership Account when booking their flight, or had their Membership Account number added to their reservation. All “ZONE 2” passengers board after military passengers, elite status members, “Meet and Assist”, passengers with disabilities, or passengers with children under the age of 5, who need extra time down the jet way and ZONE 1 passengers. Only the primary cardmember is eligible for this benefit.

A lot of people dread being in general boarding because they are the last to board and therefore often don’t have space in the overhead storage bin.

This can happen to you when flying Frontier Airlines but because there are fees for carry-ons and checked bags are cheaper, you often see that there is more space available in the overhead storage compartments on Frontier Airlines flights.

Discount Den?

The Discount Den does not offer you priority boarding but it does provide you with some other valuable perks which include:

  • Special access to cheaper fares
  • Cheaper fares available to up to six people on the reservation
  • On valid Kids Fly Free flights, one kid under 15 can fly for free for every adult Discount Den fare purchased
  • Be the first to hear about news 

Related: Frontier Airlines Discount Den Review

Stretch seats

Stretch seats provide you with more legroom and are essentially the “economy plus” of Frontier Airlines. You can find the seats on different aircraft including: A319, A320, and A321 and they can be located in the front of the plane and also in the exit rows.

Sometimes you can receive a free upgrade to the seats but other times you will have to purchase them and the price can range pretty dramatically. I’ve seen prices range anywhere from $16 to $56.

It all depends on your route and when you purchase. If you purchase the seats during the booking process online you will likely get the cheapest price. However, if you wait until you arrive at the airport then you might see the price shoot way up.

Don’t get the stretch seat confused with the “big front seat.” The big front seats are essentially the business/first class of Frontier. The seats are a good deal wider than the stretch seats and also only sit in rows of two much like a traditional domestic first class.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Priority security

You can also get priority access in the form of priority security if you fall into one of the groups below:

  • You have additional needs
  • You are traveling as an Elite member of myFRONTIER Miles
  • You have purchased a carry-on bag
  • You have purchased the WORKS℠

In my experience, I prefer to just use TSA Pre-Check to gain access to an expedited security line. TSA Pre-Check is extremely convenient and also comes with the following benefits:

  • Shoes can stay on
  • Belt can stay on
  • Light jackets can stay on
  • Laptops allowed to stay in bag
  • Liquids (3-1-1 Rule) can stay in bag

Showing up for boarding

Knowing what your boarding zone is, is just one part of getting to your destination. The other component is making sure that you arrive at the boarding gate in time for your flight.

Here are the guidelines that Frontier supplies for domestic boarding:

  • 45 minutes prior to your departure, check in for your flight and for your bags will be closed.
  • 30 minutes prior to departure the boarding process will begin.
  • 20 minutes prior to departure, there will be a call for final boarding.
  • 15 minutes prior to departure, the doors will officially close.

Note: The timing will be a little bit different for international flights. For example, you will need to be checked in with your luggage no later than 60 minutes prior to departure for an international flight.

You will be able to find your departure time and boarding time on your boarding pass.

Just be aware that these times can change after you check in so always keep an eye out for the latest times on the display panels found throughout the airport terminals.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

Card art of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

I mentioned the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard earlier and here is a look at more of the benefits.

  • Welcome bonus (ranges)
  • 5X on Frontier purchases
  • 3X on restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases
  • Earn toward Elite Status
  • Earn a $100 Flight Voucher
  • Unlock Family Pooling
  • Priority boarding
  • Award redemption fee waiver
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $79 annual fee (not waived)

Frontier Airlines boarding FAQ

Where can I see my boarding group?

Your boarding group should be visible on your boarding pass. Check the bottom right corner although it could appear in different areas.

How to get a window seat on Frontier?

The best way to guarantee a window seat on Frontier Airlines is to select your seat at the time of booking.

Do you have assigned seating on Frontier?

Frontier Airlines will allow you to select your seat at the time of booking. However, if you do not select a seat you will be randomly assigned a seat from whatever seats remain at check-in.

Does my group or family get to sit together?

Frontier Airlines will try to keep your party together but the only way to guarantee it is by selecting your seats at the time of booking.

How much does it cost to select my seat on Frontier?

The price to choose your seat for standard seating may range from $17 to $55.

When does boarding begin for Frontier Airlines?

Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure on domestic flights.

Final word

As you can tell, the boarding process for Frontier Airlines is pretty straightforward. If you truly care about where you sit, my advice would be to select your seat beforehand, especially if you want to stay together as a group.

United Airlines Boarding Groups Guide: (Avoid Group 4 & 5!) [2023]

Figuring out the boarding process for airlines is not always the easiest task because there are so many different types of boarding groups (and sub-groups).

Between pre-boarding and all the elite level passengers, it can be tough to keep tabs on when you need to line up at the gate.

But we’ve got you covered.  

In this article, I will break down all of the United Airlines boarding groups and explain to you exactly how the boarding process works including how to avoid getting stuck in the dreaded Group 4 or Group 5 boarding groups.

I will also show you what to expect in terms of things like leg room with the different types of aircraft you might be flying in.

How many boarding groups does United have?

United Airlines has a total of five official boarding groups (plus pre-boarding): 

  • Pre-boarding (Top tier elites, Military, Disabilities, etc.)
  • Group 1 (Business class and first class, upper elite levels)
  • Group 2 (Lower elite levels, United credit card holders)
  • Group 3 (Economy passengers)
  • Group 4 (Economy passengers)
  • Group 5 (Basic Economy)

Keep reading below to find out who exactly qualifies for each of these boarding groups.

How soon to arrive before boarding a United flight?

The general rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before departure on a domestic flight and three hours before departure on an international flight.

If you are an experienced traveler or are familiar with the airport and wait times of course you can arrive even sooner than that, especially if you have TSA Pre-Check and/or CLEAR. 

Once you get to the airport, the first thing you want to do is confirm the boarding time and gate.

You can usually find the estimated boarding time on your boarding pass. Just note that this time is subject to change depending on the status of delays.

In addition, it’s always possible that your gate could change as well so always keep your eye on the flight monitors located throughout the airport and lounges. 

For a lot of flights, you can utilize the United Airlines app and set up push notifications for when boarding begins. Of course, it would still be wise to keep an eye on the time yourself just in case you don’t receive the push notification.

The planes usually start to board about 35 to 50 minutes prior to departure depending on the size of the aircraft. For example, a 737 may begin to board 35 minutes before departure but a 757 will be closer to 50 minutes. 

I like to arrive at the gate about 15 minutes prior to the estimated boarding time.

However, if you are flying on a large aircraft and you want to get close to the front of the line you might have to arrive even sooner than 15 minutes before boarding.

Related: How Early Should You Get to the Airport?

United airlines plane on tarmac

How does United Airlines boarding process work?

Once you arrive at the gate to board you should see signs telling you where you need to lineup.

Groups 1 and 2 will be able to line up but United may ask for groups three through five to have a seat until those groups are called at a later time.

Group 1 will board through the blue lane and Group 2 will board through the green lane (as you can see in the photo below).

The remaining Groups 3 to 5 will then board through the green lane when called.

If you are in Group 1 or 2 and show up late, you can always enter through the blue lane and bypass the line of other passengers. 

A good practice is to simply walk up to the front of the blue lane and then wait for the agent to motion for you to come forward.

This can avoid situations where other passengers feel like you have rudely cut them off.

Related: What Happens if You Miss Your United Airlines Flight?

United Airlines boarding group area
United Airlines boarding group signs.

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What order does United board its planes?

I will go into detail about each boarding group below but once again here is a summary of the order of United boarding groups per United’s website.

  • Pre-boarding (Top tier elites, Military, Disabilities, etc.)
  • Group 1 (Business class and first class, mid elite levels)
  • Group 2 (Lower elite levels, United credit card holders)
  • Groups 3 – 5 (Economy passengers)

Pre-boarding

Unaccompanied minors

Unaccompanied minors are children who are 5 to 14 years old and traveling without a parent, legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years old. There are special rules regarding traveling as an unaccompanied minor and you can read more about those here. 

Customers with disabilities

If you have a visible disability (such as being in a wheel chair, on crutches, etc.), you will be able to board without questions.

But if your disability is not as apparent, you should speak to a gate agent about getting priority boarding.

Remember that preboarding is something you self identify for so a gate agent should be very careful about pushing back on your reasoning for needing preboarding.

Typically, the gate agent should make an announcement about boarding with a disability but they may not. However, those with disabilities should be called before elite members, members of the military, passengers with small children, etc.

Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments.

Active members of the military

United Airlines does not require active members of the military to be in their military uniform.

Related: check out all of the benefits military members can take advantage of when flying.  

United Global Services members

United Global Services is the top elite status for United Airlines.

It is somewhat mysterious in that you have to get invited to join this status. The requirements have a lot to do with the amount of money that you spend and the types of airfare that you book. You can read more about United Global Services and the requirements for it here. 

Families traveling with children age 2 and younger

If you are traveling with children two years or younger, you can also get pre-boarding. 

Premier 1K members

Premier 1K is the second highest elite membership level. This elite level is not an invite only status and can be earned by meeting the following requirements:

Premier levelPQF and PQP Requirement
Premier Silver12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
Premier Gold24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP
Premier Platinum36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP
Premier 1K54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP
United Airlines preboarding sign

Group 1

Group 1 caters to the mid-level elite members and also to anybody flying first class, business class, or Polaris. 

Premier Platinum members

Platinum is the elite level just under 1K. 

Premier Gold members

Premier Gold is the level just under Platinum. 

Star Alliance Gold members

Star Alliance Gold status is the higher level of Star Alliance status and you will receive this if you are a United Premier Gold member. This status is useful because it comes with lounge perks.

Customers seated in premium cabins: United Polaris, United First and United Business

If you are flying in the front of the plane (United Polaris, United First, and United Business) then you will be able to board with Group One.

If you are flying on a large aircraft like the Dreamliner the line in Group 1 can get quite long so you may want to arrive extra early to the gate if you want to be the first to board. To find out more about the United first class experience click here. 

United Airlines business class seats

Group 2

Group Two is for the lower-elite members and also for certain customers who have co-branded cards or who have purchased priority boarding perks. This line can be pretty long sometimes, too. 

Premier Silver members

United Premier Silver is the lowest level of the status with United Airlines. This status can easily be achieved and you can even get it with Marriott status. Click here to read more about United Silver status.

Star Alliance Silver members

Star Alliance Silver status is the lowest level of Star Alliance status and you will receive this if you are a United Premier Silver member.

Customers who have purchased Premier Access or Priority Boarding

Even if you don’t have elite status and you are not flying business class or first class you can still get upgraded to priority boarding by purchasing it or by purchasing Premier Access.

Priority boarding prices start at $15 and whether or not it’s worth it just depends on how much you value getting on board earlier. 

If you choose to purchase Premier Access, in addition to Priority Boarding, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of dedicated airport check-in lines and exclusive security lanes, where available. Read more about purchasing Premier Access.

United Airlines check-in area
United Premier check-in area.

United Explorer, Club, Presidential Plus and Awards Cardmembers

If you are a United cobranded cardholder for the Explorer Card, United Club Card, or Presidential Plus Card you can also get priority boarding.

I am a big fan of the Explorer card because it offers some great benefits like free checked baggage (even on international flights), priority boarding, increased award inventory, and you also get two free day passes to United Club lounges each year. And on top of that the Explorer card often comes with a great welcome bonus. 

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Groups 3, 4, and 5

Groups 3 through 5 don’t line up until the others have begin boarding and it consists of pretty much everybody in economy class. The secret to getting a Group 3 vs Group 4 or Group 5 boarding group is to pick the right type of seat. 

Economy passengers who choose a window seat should get Group 3, passengers who pick a middle or aisle seat should get Group 4, and passengers who choose Basic Economy will get Group 5.

This order is optimized so that passengers don’t have to trample over each other and I confirmed with a United representative that they were still utilizing this order as of late 2022. 

Economy Plus

Economy Plus will get Group 3 although the United rep I spoke with said it’s possible for them to also get Group 4.

Economy plus is the slightly more expensive version of economy that allows you to have more leg room.

The prices for upgrading to economy plus will vary depending on the location of the seat and the duration of the route.

If you have United elite status you will often get bumped up from economy to economy plus. (This is the case even with the lowest level of status.)

United Economy

Traditional economy tickets will board before basic economy. 

Basic Economy

If you purchased a basic economy ticket you will be the last to board.

Basic economy tickets are the cheapest type of tickets and they do not come with privileges such as bringing on a free carry on or being able to select a seat.

These are not very ideal for families traveling who would like to stick together on the plane but if you are just trying to find the cheapest way to get from point A to point B this could be a good option.

There is an exception to note here. Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, will still receive their priority boarding.

Related: United Airlines Basic Economy vs Economy (Key Differences)

United plane cabin

Bringing on a carry-on 

If you are in the first few groups, you shouldn’t have any issues bringing on a carry-on to the aircraft but if you are boarding at the end, such as in Group 4 or Group 5 it’s possible that you might not have enough room for your carry-on in the over head bins.

In that case, you’ll need to gate check your bag. (Read here for more about what type of luggage you can bring on to the plane).

Related: Airline Overhead Storage Bin Etiquette Guide

Choosing a seat on United Airlines

The seats are assigned on United airlines. So unlike the Southwest boarding process, you’ll have a seat dedicated to you. You can choose your seat whenever you purchase your ticket or at the time of check-in. 

United seating details (seating chart)

Below is what you can expect in terms of leg room and seats with different United aircraft.

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

  • Business: 6’6″ pitch; 20.6″ width
  • Economy Plus: 35″ pitch; 17.3″ width
  • Economy: 30″ pitch; 16.3″ to 17.3″

Boeing 777-200 (777)

  • Business: 6’4″ to 6’6″ pitch; 18.8″ to 22″ width
  • Economy Plus: 34″ pitch; 18.1″ width
  • Economy: 31″ pitch; 17.2″ to 18.1″ width

Boeing 777-300ER (77W)

  • Business/Polaris: 6’6″ pitch; 18.8″ to 22″ width
  • United Premium Plus: 38″ pitch; 18.5″ width
  • Economy Plus: 34″ pitch; 17.05″ width
  • Economy: 31″ pitch; 17.05″ width

Boeing 737-700

  • Business: 38″ pitch;
  • Economy Plus: 34″ to 38″ pitch; 
  • Economy: 30″ pitch;   

Boeing 737-800 (738)

  • Business: 37″ pitch; 20.5″ width
  • Economy Plus: 34″ pitch; 16.3″ to 17.3″ width
  • Economy: 30″ pitch; 16.3″ to 17.3″ width

Airbus 320 (320)

  • Business: 39″ pitch; 19″ width
  • Economy Plus: 35″ pitch; 17″ width
  • Economy: 30″ pitch; 17″ width

There are several other different types of aircraft and also different versions of those planes. So if you want to check out a complete list of all of those click here. 

United boarding FAQ

What order does United board its planes?

Pre-boarding (Top tier elites, Military, Disabilities, etc.)
Group 1 (Business class in first class, upper elite levels)
Group 2 (Lower elite levels, United credit card holders)
Group 3 (Economy window passengers)
Group 4 (Economy aisle/middle passengers)
Group 5 (Basic Economy)

How can I get priority boarding?

You can get priority boarding by having elite status with United or by holding certain credit cards such as the Chase United Explorer card. You can also get priority boarding by flying in a premium cabin such as business class.

How do I know what time to board?

Your boarding time should be printed on your boarding pass. You can also use the United app.

Just be aware that boarding times are subject to change so always verify the boarding time by looking at the flight monitors at the airport.

When do military members get to board?

Active military members can board during pre-boarding. They are not required to be in uniform.

Do families get priority boarding?

Families traveling with children ages two or younger can board during pre-boarding.

When do United Silver members board?

Silver members will board with Group 2.

When do Chase United Explorer cardmembers get to board?

Chase United Explorer cardmembers will get to board with group two.

Final word 

It’s very easy to get priority boarding with United so that you board within the first two groups. In fact, it’s so easy that many times you’ll find that these lines are very long. If you’re not able to get a boarding position in the first two groups, consider choosing a window seat so that you can board the plane in Group 3 and stay away from the basic economy tickets that will have you boarding last. 

Ultimate Preboarding Guide: Who Qualifies & What the Law States

Are you trying to figure out what passengers qualify for preboarding and how the whole process works?

In this article, we rounded up the policies for different US airlines and also clarified the law regarding your rights to preboarding. Below, you’ll see exactly what federal law mandates and what type of passengers will qualify for preboarding.

Passengers who qualify for pre-boarding

There are two different ways to qualify for preboarding.

The first way to qualify is to fall into a category that is recognized by federal law and that requires the airlines to provide you with preboarding.

The second way to qualify is to fall into a category that is specific to the airline you’re flying with (and not mandated by law).

Let’s take a look at these different categories.

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Those who need additional time or assistance to board

If you are someone who needs additional time or assistance to board the plane, stow your accessibility equipment, or be seated you qualify as someone who can use preboarding.

So this goes well beyond only people who need wheelchairs and includes a very broad spectrum of people.

As I will explain below, this is mandated by law and is not an airline specific policy.

Unaccompanied minors

Unaccompanied minors are those passengers usually under the age of 16 who are flying without an adult.

Not every airline allows unaccompanied minors but for those that do, they should allow the unaccompanied minor to utilize preboarding.

Unfortunately, airlines are kind of bad about clearly including unaccompanied minors in their preboarding policy pages so sometimes you may need to verify this by calling in.

Active military with ID

Active military members are usually granted preboarding.

Some airlines state that you will need to show your military ID but others do not — still it is probably a good idea to have it on you. It does not appear that you will have to be in uniform to use this but again you may want to clarify. Sometimes it comes down to the gate agents.

Families with children under the age of 2

If you are a family with a child under the age of two you should qualify for preboarding with some airlines. You’ll want to clarify with the airline as to how many members of your family can join in with preboarding.

Elite members

Some airlines like United Airlines lump top elite members in with preboarding.

Personally, I’m not a fan of airlines doing this because it makes things a little bit more confusing than they need to be and it just is asking for DOT trouble.

As you’ll see below, when elite members are in preboarding those who need assistance should be called up before the elite members.

Remember — many people who utilize preboarding will not be able to sit in the emergency exit rows since those passengers cannot have mobility issues.

Boarding area for American Airlines.
Boarding area for American Airlines.

What the law states

Preboarding is not merely an optional courtesy offered by airlines. Instead, the right to utilize preboarding is required by federal law.

Specifically, 14 CFR §382.93 states:

As a carrier, you must offer preboarding to passengers with a disability who self-identify at the gate as needing additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated.

The Department of Transportation has provided additional clarification on who qualifies as preboarding. These include people who:

  • need a specific seat assignment
  • need to stow their personal folding wheelchairs
  • need additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated

The DOT states that these passengers must be boarded before all other individuals that qualify for other types of preboarding or priority boarding.

It is the Enforcement Office’s view that section 382.93 requires carriers to board passengers with disabilities who self-identify at the gate as needing to preboard for one of the listed reasons to board the plane before all other passengers, including first class passengers, elite-level passengers, members of the military, passengers with small children, etc.

It’s worth noting that airlines are not required to make a general announcement for preboarding.

However, if they make an announcement for other types of classes of passengers they are “strongly encouraged” to also make an announcement for persons with disabilities the opportunity to preboard.

This is just all the more reason to be proactive and to arrive early before boarding so that you can arrange for your preboarding.

To account for potential long lines, I would advise arriving around 20 minutes or more prior to boarding to work things out.

You can usually find your boarding time on your boarding pass but the boarding time will vary based on the size of your aircraft and your route. Generally, boarding starts about 30 minutes to 50 minutes prior to takeoff.

Scales of justice and Gavel
Federal law mandates preboarding for some passengers.

Where to request preboarding

You can make your request for preboarding during the booking process sometimes by selecting that you will need additional assistance.

You can also request preboarding at the ticket counter or at the gate. (The ticket counter is where you drop your bags off and the gate is where you lineup for boarding.)

If you think you will need to request preboarding at the airport, you may want to arrive just a little bit early in order to take care of your request. Sometimes the gate areas can get very busy and hectic and if you arrive early you can avoid the madness.

You can simply tell the gate agent that you want to request preboarding “for medical reasons” and that should be enough in the majority of cases.

Keep in mind that the law is clear that your status as a preboarder is a matter of self identification.

In theory, if you identify as someone who needs additional time or assistance to get into your seat, the airline should not have any say on whether or not your claim is valid.

Busy boarding area
You can request preboarding at the gate. Arrive early to avoid crowds.

Disclosing medical conditions

You do not need to supply a medical letter from your doctor or medical records to qualify for preboarding. You also don’t need to get into specifics regarding your medical condition.

All you need to do is express that you identify as an individual who needs additional time or assistance to board.

Some airlines like Spirit Airlines do a good job of making this clear.

They state:

We do not require information concerning the extent of your disability, but the more facts you can share with us, the better we are able to assist you and meet your individual needs. Should you require assistance to or from the gate, we offer a meet and assist service (see below).

What medical conditions qualify?

The law does not specify specific conditions that qualify for preboarding. In addition, airlines don’t have a published list of conditions that qualify either.

Instead, it comes down to whether or not your condition causes you to need the additional assistance that qualifies for preboarding.

Physical conditions

If you have a debilitating condition that causes you to need a wheelchair that is an obvious case that qualifies for preboarding. Also, if you have a visual impairment it’s pretty obvious you may need assistance.

But there are many other conditions that warrant people needing extra assistance that are not always so obvious.

For example, there are many people who deal with “invisible illnesses.”

Conditions like chronic pain, arthritis, dysautonomia, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, etc., are often not detectable by your physical appearance but they can still cause you great discomfort and slow you down when trying to board in a narrow cabin with narrow seats.

One bad pull on your luggage or arch in your back could trigger a bad flareup that could mess you up for weeks or even months. So for people dealing with that type of reality, they absolutely do qualify as needing extra time or assistance to board.

Mental health conditions

A big point of debate is whether or not mental health conditions should qualify someone for preboarding.

The law states that you qualify for preboarding if you need “additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated.”

It’s very feasible to imagine someone with a severe anxiety disorder that needs extra time to board without dealing with the rush of a normal boarding procedure.

If someone like this were triggered into a panic attack, that could absolutely slow down boarding and result in a potentially disastrous outcome.

So from that sense, I believe people with certain (severe) bonafide mental health conditions should be able to qualify for preboarding.

However, airlines don’t really make it easy to get guidance on this issue and so this is probably a very case-by-case type of situation.

Can other passengers preboard with you?

A popular question is whether or not other passengers can preboard with you. Most of the airlines are not explicit about how they handle this so you just need to clarify this with the gate agent.

Most likely, they will handle this similar to Southwest which allows one person from your party to accompany the customer with a disability.

They state:

We will allow one travel companion to act as an “attendant” and preboard with a Customer with a disability. In most cases, the Customer requires assistance from only one other person, and any additional family members or friends are asked to board with their assigned group.

That seems like a pretty reasonable policy for the vast majority of individuals who need preboarding.

Even if an airline is more generous, I would advise you to avoid taking advantage of this and trying to lump all of your family members into preboarding because that will contribute to the stigma that people utilizing preboarding already face.

And that brings me to the next point….

Dealing with the preboarding stigma

The unfortunate reality is that there is sometimes a stigma on those who use preboarding. It’s not usually directed towards those who are in need of obvious assistance such as those in wheelchairs.

Instead, it’s usually directed at people with invisible illnesses or to those who accompany people in need of preboarding.

One reason for this is that some passengers fraudulently take advantage of preboarding.

They don’t actually require true assistance or extra time but they enjoy the privilege of being able to board before others and take advantage of overhead storage bin space.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of some illnesses and conditions and how we value medical privacy in the US, I don’t really see a solution as to how to weed these people out.

So my advice is to simply not utilize preboarding unless you really think it is necessary. And if you are using it, try to keep to yourself and avoid trying to measure how other passengers feel about you.

There is no need for you to explain yourself or to seek validation from others and if they feel a certain type of way about are you using preboarding, just let them be and move on. Some people will always find something to complain about.

Filing a DOT complaint

If you have been denied preboarding or subject to scrutiny that you believe is unjustified or unlawful you may have a basis for filing a DOT complaint. If you would like to file a DOT complaint you can do that here.

Before filing a complaint, you might want to just contact customer service for the airline and try to resolve it with them first. The airline may even offer you compensation.

However, if you don’t get anywhere or you feel like this is a systemic issue, it might be worth filing a complaint so that others don’t have to deal with your same experience.

If you do end up filing a DOT complaint, DOT requires airlines to acknowledge consumer complaints within 30 days of receiving them and to send consumers written responses addressing these complaints within 60 days of receiving them.

US airlines preboarding policies

As you’ll see below, each airline provides a different level of detail and information regarding who qualifies as pre-boarding.

Alaska Airlines

  • Guests with disabilities who need help or a little more time to board
  • Families with children under the age of 2
  • Active members of the military

Link to Alaska’s policy.

American Airlines

  • Customers who need special assistance and families with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate.

When booking you may be able to:

  • Request wheelchair service
  • State if you’re traveling with your own mobility device
  • Request individual assistance if you have a hearing, vision, cognitive or developmental disability
  • State if you’re traveling with a service animal. Keep in mind, notice and approval is required at least 48 hours before your flight.

Link to AA’s policy

American Airlines aircraft.

Delta Airlines

  • Customers needing assistance or additional time to board
  • Active duty US military with ID

Link to Delta’s policy

Delta airlines seats

Frontier

  • Includes anyone needing wheelchair or other boarding assistance and unaccompanied minors.

Link to Frontier’s policy

Hawaiian Airlines

  • Guests needing assistance
  • Unaccompanied minors

Link to Hawaiian’s policy

Hawaiian Airlines boarding area

JetBlue

  • For customers with disabilities

Link to JetBlue’s policy

Southwest Airlines

“Preboarding is available for Customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft or stowing an assistive device.”

Something interesting about Southwest is that they state that if “a Customer with a disability simply needs a little extra time to board, we will permit the Customer to board before Family Boarding, between the “A” and “B” groups.”

I honestly don’t understand how that is compliant with the DOT since the law clearly states that if you need extra time (not just assistance) you should be able to take advantage of preboarding.

I’m wondering if due to the nontraditional boarding system Southwest utilizes, they have negotiated some sort of DOT middle ground.

Nevertheless, if you need extra time to board on Southwest they will issue you a new boarding pass with an extra time designation. This will allow you to board before family boarding.

Another interesting thing about Southwest is that they state that if you want to request preboarding you should do it at the ticket counter or departure gate where agents “are trained to ask fact-finding questions to determine if the Customer meets the qualifications described above.”

That sounds a bit intrusive given that the law is all about allowing self identifying passengers to use preboarding if they believe they need assistance or extra time. Do you really need a “fact-finding” process for that as if they were on trial?

Note: Customers who are preboarding because of a need for a specific seat onboard the aircraft should speak with the Operations (Boarding) Agent prior to the start of preboarding to alert the Agent to the seating need.

Link to Southwest’s policy

Spirit Airlines

  • Preboarding is available for Guests who wish to have a little more time on board to settle into their seats. Guests must inform the agent at the gate of their desire to preboard and be present at the gate prior to the boarding process.

Link to Spirit Airlines

United Airlines

  • Unaccompanied minors
  • Customers with disabilities
  • Active members of the military
  • United Global Services® members
  • Families traveling with children age 2 and younger
  • Premier® 1K® members

Link to United Airlines policy

Final word

As you can see, many people can qualify for preboarding.

Although some people think this is just a policy offered by airlines, preboarding for people who need extra assistance is actually required by federal law. In addition, other passengers may fall into the preboarding category depending on the airline’s policy.

If you need preboarding, the best route to take is to arrive early for boarding and to notify the agent at the gate that you identify as someone who needs extra time or assistance to board.

If you feel the need to reveal the extent of your medical condition you can do so but you are under no obligation to reveal details about your medical diagnosis.

Ultimate Guide to Airline Boarding Policies

For the seasoned traveler, lining up for boarding and finding a perfect seat is almost an automated ritual.

But for new travelers or for those switching to new airlines, knowing how to best handle the boarding policies of a given airline isn’t always so clear, especially when they do change from time to time.

In this article, I’ll break down a lot of the key things you need to know about airline boarding policies. We’ll cover things like the cut-off times for check-in, when to show up to the boarding zone, and what to expect for different boarding groups.

You’ll also find detailed descriptions for the boarding policies for some of the major US airlines.

Boarding policy guides

Each airline is going to handle boarding a little bit differently and so it will help if you get familiar with the individual airline’s policy before boarding your first flight with them.

For a deep dive into the boarding policy of a given airline, check out the guides below:

Check-in

The boarding process really begins at check-in because that is when you will be issued your official boarding pass. Typically, you can check in online or in the app 24 hours prior to departure.

If for some reason you’re not able to check in online it could be a sign that you might have to deal with SSSS, which is a secondary screening measure.

Checking in ahead of time is a good idea because you can check to make sure that your boarding pass looks proper and if you have something like TSA Pre-Check you can also make sure that it appears on your boarding pass.

In addition, if you happen to be running late to the airport you can bypass the check in process and save yourself a little bit of time if you already did it online.

It can also be helpful when keeping tabs on upgrades and when trying to avoid getting involuntarily bumped from flights.

Note: If you’re flying Southwest checking in is a must to ensure that you get a good boarding position.

If you don’t check in online, you can still check in as soon as you arrive at the airport. Usually, this can be done at a kiosk so you don’t even have to deal with staff.

Just remember that there are cut off times for checking in. Also, if you have bags to check, the cut off time is even sooner.

Below are the general cut off times for both check in and checking bags but keep in mind the exact cut off times will vary based on your airline, aircraft, and route.

Check-in

These are the latest times you should check in for your flight:

  • Domestic: 30 to 60 min before departure
  • International: 1 to 1.5 hours before departure

Checking bags

These are the latest times you should check bags for your flight:

  • Domestic: 30 to 45 min before departure
  • International: 60 min+ before departure

Getting to your gate

Your gate is where you will find your plane and the gate number could be found on your boarding pass and also on flight information screens throughout the airport and in lounges.

Sometime you may not be assigned a gate number until just before your departure.

Also, it’s possible that your gate number could change after it has been issued on your boarding pass so it’s a good practice to verify your gate number because sometimes you could be assigned a new gate that is pretty far away which will require you to make extra time to get to it.

If you want to accompany someone to the gate you can apply to get a gate pass which is something that allows you to accompany someone through TSA and to the gate.

Usually, this is used to guide a child to the gate or someone who needs some type of assistance but it can also be used for goodbyes for military members and others.

Tip: Some people prefer not to apply for that pass and instead purchase a fully refundable airline ticket which gives them full access to the gate as well as lounges.

Boarding areas and zones

Each airline might do something different but for the most part boarding areas are set up with two different boarding zones.

On one side, you have priority boarding which will include elite members, first class, etc. And the other side will include economy passengers.

If you have priority boarding you usually can line up just before boarding is called without an issue. I do this on almost every flight in order to hopefully get photos of an empty cabin for this blog.

The key is that I stand near the end of the partition or rug so as to make sure that I don’t block the boarding pathway so that crew members can get in and out.

Sometimes I get unfriendly looks when doing this but I honestly don’t care because I need the shots for the blog and I’m not interfering with the crew or other passengers.

However, if you are an economy passenger they don’t want you lining up until your boarding group is called.

So the best practice for most passengers is to just find a seat in the gate area and relax until their boarding group is called. The problem is sometimes there is nowhere to sit and you are sort of forced to linger somewhere.

In those cases it’s best practice to just try to stay out of the way of high traffic thoroughfares. Usually, this will be the main corridor in the terminal and also one or two paths between the main corridor and the gate.

Generally, you’ll need to be in the boarding area at least 15 to 30 minutes prior to departure for a domestic flight and at least 45 minutes before departure for an international flight.

If you’re cutting it too close like 5 to 10 minutes before departure, the gate might be closed and you could be denied access to your flight!

Boarding groups

Pre-boarding

The first group to board is pre-boarding.

Every airline might do pre-boarding a little bit different but this is where the following people board: those with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, and others who need assistance or extra time.

Sometimes, the very top elite members and military members can board at this time as well as adults with small children (under two).

If you have a visible disability (such as being in a wheel chair, on crutches, etc.), you will be able to board without questions.

But if your disability is not as apparent, such as someone with an “invisible illness,” it might make you more comfortable to first speak to a gate agent about getting priority boarding. They should be able to lay out the requirements for you to decide if you fall into that category.

Typically, the gate agent should make an announcement about boarding for those who need extra time and there is no prying into your specific condition due to health laws.

Be aware that if you are pre-boarding based on some sort of disabled status you will likely not be able to sit in the emergency row.

Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments.

If active military members are allowed to board during pre-boarding, they may not need their military uniform but it’s a good idea to verify that.

Related: Check out all of the benefits military members can take advantage of when flying.

Sometimes the pre-boarding line can be astoundingly long. It can feel like other passengers are taking advantage of pre-boarding and maybe they are but remember that invisible illnesses are a very real thing. Try not to judge.   

First/business class

If you are flying in a three cabin plane with a separate first class and business class, first class will usually get to board before business class.

Often, first/business class passengers are lumped into the same boarding group with some of the top elite levels and lower elite levels may get assigned a boarding group just after first class passengers.

If you show up to boarding after your group has already been called you may be allowed to head directly to the scanning station through the zone dedicated to priority boarding.

However, if economy passengers are utilizing all boarding zones it’s probably best to just hop on the end of their line. (There’s a great debate on this issue.)

Note: If you are the very first passenger to board after pre-boarding, you may be asked to notify the crew when you step on the board.

Credit cards

If you have a co-branded credit card, you often get priority boarding.

Typically, a premium credit card with a very high annual fee ($400+) will get you a better boarding group while the cards with the lower annual fees around $100 will get you boarding just after them.

For example, with American Airlines if you hold the premium Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard you can board with Group 4 but cards like the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select offer Group 5 boarding.

This means that by utilizing the right credit card you might be able to board with elite passengers or just after them. Some cards require you to purchase your airline ticket with them to get the benefits but others just require you to be a cardholder.

Sometimes you can also purchase priority boarding.

For example, with United Airlines even if you don’t have elite status and you are not flying business class or first class you can still get priority boarding by purchasing it or by purchasing Premier Access for $15.

Family

Each airline may have its own family boarding policy.

As mentioned above, if you are traveling with children two years or younger, you may be able to get pre-boarding. 

But some airlines have policies for older children. For example, on Southwest if you are traveling with a kid 6 or under, you can board in between Group A and Group B (this is the family boarding time).

It’s always a good idea to check with an agent at the gate if you are curious about the family boarding policy.

Economy

Economy passengers often get put in the last several boarding groups. These boarding groups might be arranged based on whether or not you have a window seat or aisle seat to make boarding easier.

Basic Economy passengers can expect to be put in the very last group unless they have some type of credit card or elite status that applies and preserves their priority boarding.

On occasion, an airline might call up multiple groups to board at once so all the economy passengers could be called up at the same time.

Note: If you are placed in one of the last boarding groups there is a good chance that there may not be room in the overhead storage bin for your carry-on and you might have to check it out the gate.

Selecting a seat

Seat selection is usually free for your standard fares although some airlines will try to get every dollar they can from you and will require you to pay to select your seat.

Usually for first/business class you can choose whatever seat you want without having to pay extra. (Some seats might be blocked off for elite members.)

For economy seating, you might be able to choose any seat in the middle and towards the rear of the plane but you may be charged for seats with extra legroom or seats toward the front of the main cabin.

Basic economy passengers will be assigned seats randomly in a lot of cases although sometimes they could pay extra to choose their seat.

It’s a good idea to check a site like SeatGuru to see what other people are saying about the seats.

Everybody has their own preference but here are a few tips for selecting your perfect seat:

  • Bulkheads can give you extra legroom but don’t provide you with a seat to slide your personal item under
  • Emergency exit row seats may have more legroom but could have limited recline; they also can be colder
  • Watch out for “window” seats that don’t have a window that lines up with your seat
  • Seats near the galley or lavatory can be noisy
  • Smaller planes may have economy cabins arranged in 2-3 configurations which means a couple can sit together by themselves
  • Business class cabins sometimes have a smaller secondary cabin which offers more privacy

Storing your carry-on

Once you make it to your seat, the typical process is to store your carry-on in the overhead storage bin and then to place your personal items such as a backpack under the seat in front of you.

It might make you a little bit uncomfortable to hold up the line while putting your carry-on bag in the overhead storage bin but don’t worry — that it’s just how boarding goes.

If there is no storage space in the carry-on bin directly above your seat simply move down to the next compartment and store your bag there.

There’s debate about whether or not economy passengers should be able to utilize the storage compartments in first class. (Most first class passengers would probably be against this but flight attendants still allow it sometimes.)

Just make sure that you place your carry-on vertical (portrait) rather than horizontal (landscape) in the storage bin so that it takes up less space.

If you are struggling to find an open spot or your carry-on is heavy then try to recruit a passenger or flight attendant to assist you so that you don’t take too long.

Also, be mindful about other passengers so that you don’t knock anybody around while lifting up your carry-on.

If you have a jacket or large coat, the proper etiquette is to keep it on your person, at least initially.

After other passengers have boarded and room remains in the storage compartment, you can put your jacket up there but it’s not very courteous to place it there from the beginning since you could be occupying space for a carry-on bag that cannot be stored elsewhere.

Also, don’t place your jacket on the back of your seat since it could encroach on the personal space of the passenger behind you. Plus, you don’t know how dirty those seats might be.

Tip: Some planes might have a coat closet which will solve this problem for those in premium cabins.

Etiquette on switching seats

During the boarding process, it’s not uncommon for someone to ask to switch seats with you or for you to make that same request.

Usually, this is done to keep a family or a group sitting together but sometimes people just don’t want to sit in an aisle or window seat.

If for some reason you need to ask someone else to switch a seat with you, try to ensure that they will get the same type of seat that they previously had.

For example, you generally don’t want try to exchange your aisle or middle seat for their window seat or vice versa.

Understand that while requesting a seat switch is entirely reasonable, you should never expect someone else to give up their seat, even if you feel like you have a completely legitimate reason for your request. Don’t get upset or rude if they deny your request and simply move on to asking someone else.

If you’re struggling to find someone to swap seats check with the flight attendant and they might be able to facilitate the seat exchange better.

Final word

Boarding the plane can be a stressful process for some people but if you break it down into different steps it’s pretty easy to get through it without any pain.

The biggest tip I have is to try to obtain some form of priority boarding with a credit card so that you never have to worry about overhead storage bin space and you consistently have the same boarding group.

Hawaiian Airlines Boarding Groups & Process Explained [2022]

Are you getting ready to fly Hawaiian Airlines but trying to make sure you understand the boarding process clearly?

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Hawaiian Airlines boarding groups and give you some insight into the boarding process.

You’ll find out when you can check in and when the latest is that you can check your bags when heading to different destinations such as between islands or to and from the mainland.

Full list of Hawaiian Airlines boarding groups

Hawaiian Airlines has a total of 10 boarding groups and they are as follows:

  • Pre-boarding
  • Premium Cabin
  • Zone 1
  • Zone 2
  • Early Boarding
  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Main Cabin Basic seats

Keep reading below and I’ll break each of these groups down into detail.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Check in and checking bags

Whether you are flying Hawaiian Airlines international, inter-island, or to and from the mainland, you can check in online 24 hours prior to your flight.

My recommendation would be to download the Hawaiian Airlines app and to do everything on your mobile device. It just makes things easier to receive notifications regarding your flight.

Hawaiian Airlines recommends different times for arriving at the airport based on your destination/route.

Here are the recommendations that they make:

  • North America to and from Hawaii: Arrive in the check-in lobby 2 hours and 30 minutes prior to departure.
  • Neighbor Island flights: Arrive in the check-in lobby 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to departure.
  • International flights: Arrive in the check-in lobby 3 hours prior to departure.

If you have bags to check then you need to make sure your bags are dropped off before the cut off times which are the following:

  • North America to and from Hawaii: no later than 45 minutes prior to departure
  • Neighbor Island flights: no later than 30 minutes prior to departure.
  • International flights: no later than 1 hour prior to departure.

Note that some airports in Hawaii do checked bags a little bit differently. Once your bags are weighed and receive luggage tags, you may have to personally drop them off at a TSA screening station.

This usually does not take a lot of time but it is a departure from the norm in a lot of cases.

Related: Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Fees Guide

Hawaiian airlines check-in area

If you are an experienced traveler or are familiar with the airport and wait times of course you can sometimes arrive even later than the recommended arrival times especially if you have TSA Pre-Check and/or CLEAR.  

Personally, I like to arrive at the airport extra early to give me the least stressful experiences as possible.

Typically, that’s because I’m spending time in a nice airport lounge but keep in mind that Hawaiian Airlines does not have the most premium airport lounges.

You can read about the Hawaiian Airlines airport lounges at HNL here but they are pretty much on par with a basic Priority Pass lounge (or worse).

Arriving at the gate for Hawaiian Airlines boarding

Hawaiian Airlines states that you need to arrive at the gate area no later than 30 minutes prior to departure. If you arrive after that time, it’s possible that you could be denied boarding or put on a later flight!

So to avoid any disastrous outcomes, just try to be at the boarding area a couple of minutes before boarding begins. You should be able to find the time boarding begins on your boarding pass. (It’s usually located right next to where your boarding gate is found.)

When you arrive at the gate area, you will see boarding lane signs in the gate area designating two boarding lanes: one for first/business class and one for main cabin guests. (The first/business class lane is also used for elite members.)

The gate agents usually don’t like when economy passengers line up early because there are so many economy passengers that they can quickly become way too congested near the gate.

However, if you are a first class passenger they often allow you to line up early.

Just make sure that you leave plenty of room in the lane for people to get in and out. I usually line up early but I stand towards the end of the lane so that I’m not in the way of anybody at any time.

Hawaiian airlines boarding gate sign

Hawaiian Airlines boarding groups explained

Once you are in the gate area, it’s just a matter of waiting for your boarding zone to be called.

If you are not sure what boarding zone you are in then just take a look at your boarding pass and you should be able to find it clearly stated (although sometimes it’s not there).

Below, I’ll cover all of the different boarding groups and give you some details as to who is allowed to board in each group.

Pre-boarding

Just like every other major airline, Hawaiian Airlines allows for pre-boarding first.

Pre-boarding for Hawaiian Airlines will include special passengers like unaccompanied minors and also those with disabilities or special needs. For example, those needing wheel chairs.

Note that Hawaiian Airlines does not provide for pre-boarding for active military and instead they put them in a separate boarding group.

 Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments.

Premium Cabin

Premium cabins are going to include both first class and business class passengers.

The designation of your cabin may depend on your destination so there may not be any “business class” for flights between islands or to and from the mainland.

If you are not at the gate when boarding for premium cabins is called you could still use the premium cabin lane to enter and that will allow you to bypass any lines currently waiting for economy seats.

Articles you might be interested in:

Hawaiian airlines first class cabin

Zone 1

The next boarding group will be for zone one which includes Pualani Platinum Members. Something interesting about these passengers is that they can board with up to two guests.

Zone 2

After Pualani Platinum Members, the next elite members who can board include Pualani Gold Members and Premier Club Members. They are also allowed to board with two guests.

Early Boarding

After zone two, boarding for main cabin or “economy” will begin. The first passengers allowed on the plane include those eligible for early boarding.

This includes families with children under two years old and also active military members.

I’m not sure why military members don’t get pre-boarding but perhaps it has to do with the high volume of military travelers to and from Honolulu?

Hawaiian airlines boarding gate

Zone 3

Zone 3 is when passengers with Extra Comfort seats can board.

These are the seats that have slightly more legroom and their very own power outlets but you need to pay a little bit extra for them.

The price will vary depending on the length of your route. To give you an example of the pricing, I checked out the price from LAX to HNL and the Extra Comfort prices ranged from +$92 to $127 per seat.

These seats can also get you Priority Security at Austin, Honolulu, Las Vegas, New York, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.

Also, on international flights you can get a comfort (amenity) kit.

Hawaiian airlines extra comfort seats

Zones 4 & 5

Zones four and five are for economy passengers. If for whatever reason you do not see a boarding zone on your boarding pass Hawaiian Airlines recommends you to board with zone four.

Zone 6

And finally, the last boarding group to board the plane will be those passengers with Main Cabin Basic seats.

Hawaiian Airlines boarding FAQ

When can you check in for a Hawaiian Airlines flight?

You can check in online 24 hours prior to your flight.

When should you arrive at the airport for a Hawaiian Airlines flight?

North America to and from Hawaii: Arrive in the check-in lobby 2 hours and 30 minutes prior to departure. Neighbor Island flights: Arrive in the check-in lobby 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to departure.
International flights: Arrive in the check-in lobby 3 hours prior to departure.

How many boarding groups does Hawaiian Airlines have?

They have a total of 10 groups including:

Pre-boarding
Premium Cabin
Zone 1
Zone 2
Early Boarding
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Main Cabin Basic seats

When do you need to arrive at the gate area for Hawaiian Airlines?

You should arrive at the gate area around the time listed on your boarding pass for boarding. But you should never arrive later than 30 minutes prior to departure or you may not be able to board the plane.

When do passengers with Extra Comfort seats board on Hawaiian Airlines?

Passengers with Extra Comfort seats board in Zone 3.

Do US military members get pre-boarding with Hawaiian Airlines

US military members get early boarding but do not get pre-boarding.

Final word

The boarding process for Hawaiian Airlines is about as straightforward as they come.

They have some small differences with things like pre-boarding for military passengers and allowing guests to accompany you during boarding but for the most part things are pretty standard.

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