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How Did I Drop From Boarding Group 1 to Group 5 on American?

March 24, 2017
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3 min read
American Airlines Planes at O'Hare
How Did I Drop From Boarding Group 1 to Group 5 on American?
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"Reader Questions" are answered three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.

American Airlines has changed its boarding groups and TPG reader Dave seems to be getting the short end of it, as his Facebook message relates...

[pullquote source="TPG Reader Dave"]I just received word that my Citi AAdvantage credit card benefits have changed — I now get Group 5 boarding instead of Group 1 boarding. Can you provide some direction in this matter?[/pullquote]

On March 1, American switched from an already long 9 boarding groups to a now seemingly endless 10 groups (when you include Concierge Key members). Of course, neither version of the boarding procedure prevents everyone from crowding the gate the moment the boarding door opens. At the very least, you can safely assume that regardless of your group, when you're called to board you'll have to politely ask at least two people to move so you can actually get on the plane.

But if you have the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, up until this point you've enjoyed Group 1 boarding privileges. That's no longer the case, as Citibank informed cardholders like Dave and myself in a recent email...

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Now, you might very well be wondering how Citi can claim we're going from Group 1 to Group 5 but somehow not changing the order in which we board? Is this a stealth devaluation in which an airline or bank is trying to spin a negative as a positive?

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While that's usually a valid concern, in this case Citibank is correct. Because what many folks don't realize is that the old "Group 1" wasn't actually the first group on the plane. In fact, there were many people who were previously invited to board ahead of Group 1 — they just didn't have a group name or number. This included first-class passengers, those with elite status, active military, holders of the high-end Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard and those who had purchased priority boarding.

In fact, so many customers were allowed to board before Group 1 that Group 1 was effectively the fifth group called to board. So American finally decided to call this what it really is and add group numbers to the non-numbered passengers, which means the previous Group 1 is now called Group 5, even though it hasn't actually moved down in order.

Here's American's comparison chart of the old boarding groups versus the new groups, with eligible Citi AAdvantage credit card holders circled in both procedures...

This chart shows 9 groups, but Concierge Key members board ahead of everyone, making 10 total groups.

So, Dave, while it may seem like we're getting shafted, we're actually just being renumbered. Hope this helps and thanks for the question. If you're a TPG reader with a question you'd like answered, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or send an email to info@thepointsguy.com.

Featured image by Corbis via Getty Images

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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  • Annual Fee is $325.
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