American Airlines Overhauls Its Boarding Groups & Priority Order

Here we go again. American Airlines is shuffling its boarding process, again, and this time, it’s not just a minor tweak. For anyone who cares where they line up, this one’s worth paying attention to.

Starting May 1, 2025, American rolled out a new boarding procedure across its domestic network. The airline says it’s all about efficiency, cutting delays, and easing the eternal overhead bin crunch. But in my opinion, this isn’t about who flies the most. It’s about who pays the most. It’s a clear reshuffling of who gets VIP treatment and who gets nudged back in line.

Let’s break down what’s changing, and why some of American's most loyal flyers are likely to feel...demoted.

American says boarding will now begin 35–40 minutes before departure on most domestic narrow-body flights, 5 minutes earlier than before.

The airline’s stated goal here is to give passengers more time to get seated and reduce the boarding drama. In theory, this works. In practice, it seems like it's just sidestepping the real issue: too many carry-ons, too little bin space. And that problem is driven by Americans’ own baggage fee structure.

As long as checked bag fees exist, passengers will carry on more, as it is the economical thing to do. Five extra minutes might ease a little congestion, but it won’t fundamentally change the boarding experience.

Here’s the real headline. American is reshuffling its boarding groups. And in doing so, it’s elevating paying premium-cabin passengers above even its most loyal elite members.

Previously, First Class and Executive Platinum elites boarded together, which was a nice gesture toward loyalty. Active duty military also got early boarding, grouped with the highest-tier elites. Most airlines do it like this.

Under the new system:

It’s not a massive operational change, but it’s a major philosophical one. American is drawing a sharp line between loyalty and revenue, and it’s choosing revenue. This is part of Americans ongoing effort to be more “premium”.

Here’s how the new order shakes out, effective May 1:

It’s still a nine-group system. But the new structure sends a clear message: loyalty has been reordered, and those with premium dollars now go first.

United Airlines lets its top elites board before First Class, something MileagePlus loyalists genuinely value. American is now doing the opposite, perhaps hoping to make its premium cabin feel a little more premium. Or more likely, it’s simply prioritizing those who bring in revenue over those who bring loyalty.

Delta uses a more branded (and arguably confusing) setup: “Sky Priority,” “Main Cabin 1,” etc., but generally boards Medallion elites with or before First Class. It’s not as black-and-white as United’s, but still more loyalty-friendly than American’s new setup.

Maybe. But probably not in the way American hopes.

Yes, five minutes might ease a little pressure during peak times. But it doesn’t fix the root problem: too many rollaboards and not enough overhead bins. That’s a baggage policy issue, not a boarding time one.

Unless American suddenly decides to waive bag fees (spoiler: it won’t), don’t expect boarding to feel any less chaotic. It’ll just start a few minutes earlier.

Short answer: yes. Executive Platinums are some of American’s most vocal and brand-invested customers. They fly often, spend a lot (though perhaps not as much as ConciergeKeys), track upgrade percentages, and because of this they notice everything.

To those folks, this feels like a demotion, symbolic, but real. And being nudged behind even low-fare First Class flyers sends a clear, and not especially flattering, message. It reinforces a growing perception that loyalty matters less and less unless it’s backed by a premium cabin ticket.

On paper, this is a minor change. But for frequent flyers, it sends a loud message: loyalty alone doesn’t cut it anymore. Paying passengers get priority. Loyal elites move down a rung.

Whether or not five extra minutes at the gate reduces delays, the emotional impact on frequent flyers is real. And once again, the psychological perks of elite status—the ones that make all those miles and Loyalty Points worth it—are being chipped away.

At the end of the day, elite status isn’t just about perks. It’s about feeling like the airline sees you. And with this move, a lot of Executive Platinums may be feeling a little less seen, which could backfire on American if their EPs see their value decreasing.