Starting 1 May 2025, American Airlines will begin boarding flights five minutes earlier than before, aiming to improve the boarding process and reduce congestion in the jet bridge. The change applies to both domestic and international flights, with the goal of creating a smoother experience for both passengers and crew.
Under the new policy, boarding for Airbus A319 and A320 flights will begin 35 minutes before departure, instead of the current 30 minutes. For Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 flights, boarding will start 45 minutes before departure, instead of 40.
Five minutes may not sound like much, but on a crowded flight, it could mean the difference between strolling off the plane straight to passport control or waiting at baggage reclaim for the carry-on you were forced to surrender at the door.
According to Rachel Warner, a spokesperson for American Airlines, those extra minutes will give the crew more time to assist passengers, play professional-level Tetris with oversized hand luggage, and ease the passenger pile-up in the jet bridge. It should also allow them to complete whatever mysterious pre-departure rituals they always seem to be performing behind that curtain before they let us board.
New boarding technology to enforce group order
But American Airlines isn’t stopping there. In the never-ending quest to make the science of boarding more efficient, the airline is also introducing new technology designed to enforce boarding group discipline. This system, already tested at three airports – Albuquerque, Washington Reagan, and Tucson – will now be deployed at more than 100 airports across the network.
This technology aims to make the process more orderly and reduce frustration caused by passengers boarding out of turn. It is part of a broader effort to ensure that American’s 10 boarding groups, from ConciergeKey members at the front of the line to Basic Economy passengers at the very end, are respected. Anyone attempting to jump the queue and board before their group is called will trigger a loud alarm, have their boarding pass rejected, and be sent back by gate agentsto wait with their assigned group.
If you’re flying soon, it might be worth memorising your group number unless you don’t mind starting your trip as the villain everyone’s glaring at for the next five hours.
American Airlines believes these changes will not only improve punctuality but also enhance the overall passenger experience. After all, spending less time standing in the aisle while others stow their bags or waiting at the baggage claim for a last-minute checked carry-on makes for a smoother start (or end) to any trip.
