Airlines with priority boarding

Board your plane early and settle your bags in the overhead bin.

Priority boarding is a cool airline perk designed to reward frequent flyers and those who fly in premium cabins and higher seat class. For these groups, priority boarding is complimentary. Others may either purchase priority boarding or purchase the airfare with eligible airline credit cards and get priority boarding as a reward.

What is priority boarding?

Priority boarding is the process at which certain customers can board the plane before others. This can give you enough time to settle your bags in the overhead bin and relax before takeoff.

How can I get priority boarding?

• • Earn elite status.
    Frequent flyers who have earned elite status with an airline often have the benefit to board early. Some airlines let elite status members of partner airlines use this perk.

• • Purchase higher class ticket.
    Passengers in the premium cabins and on first or business class usually get to board first.

• • Get an eligible credit card.
    Some airline cobranded credit cards come with priority boarding for the main cardholder and passengers traveling on their reservation. If you travel often, this perk can save you time and money.

• Purchase priority boarding.
  Most airlines let you buy priority boarding. However, this is typically tied to a single flight and if you change it, you lose this perk. Also, the price varies depending on your itinerary.

Compare credit cards that offer priority boarding

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Name	Product	Welcome Offer	Rewards	Annual Fee	Filter values
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express		60,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months, plus $50 after your first Delta purchase in the same timeframe	2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		60,000 bonus miles after you use your new card to make $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase in the first 3 months. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express		75,000 miles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Plus $100 after making a Delta purchase in the same time	2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x miles for all other purchases	$195		Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you make $3,000 in purchases on your new card within your first 3 months. Plus $100 after making a Delta purchase in the same time. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express		75,000 miles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months	2x miles on direct Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$450		Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
United℠ Explorer Card		40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months	2x miles at restaurants, on hotel stays and purchases from United and 1x miles on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card		60,000 points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months of account opening	Earn 2x points on Southwest® and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases and 1x points on all other purchases.	$149		Earn 60,000 points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®		50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in the first 3 months	2x miles on American Airlines, dining, and gas and 1x miles on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($99 thereafter)		Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after you spend $2,500 in the first 3 months.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®		50,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months	2x miles on American Airlines and x miles on everything else	$450		Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
United MileagePlus® Club card		50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	2x miles on tickets purchased from United and 1.5x miles on all other purchases	$450		50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Credit Card		4x points on all purchases on up to $30,000 in the first 12 months, then 3x points on Aer Lingus and 1x points on all other purchases	3x points on Aer Lingus and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 4x points on all purchases on up to $30,000 in the first 12 months, then earn 3x points on Aer Lingus and 1x points on all other purchases after that.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®		Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening and after paying the annual fee.	Earn 5x miles on purchases at flyfrontier.com, 3x miles on restaurant purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$79		Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening and after paying the annual fee.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Allegiant World Mastercard® Credit Card		15,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days	3x points on Allegiant air, hotel, car rental and attractions, 2 points on dining and 1x points on all other purchases	$59		Earn 15,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Who’s eligible for priority boarding?

Most airlines offer priority boarding to specific customers without paying a fee, including:

How to use priority boarding

Some airlines will include priority check-in and security along with priority boarding. This can help you reach the gate faster.

Once there, check your boarding pass to see which boarding group you’re in. Wait until the announcer calls your group to board. Some airline mobile apps offer push notifications to let you know when boarding starts.

Bottom line

Elite status members and passengers traveling in premium cabins enjoy priority boarding. Eligible airline credit card owners also get this perk while everyone else has to purchase it.

If you like to get priority boarding without paying for it, consider an airline credit card.

Frequently asked questions

• How much does priority boarding cost?

  The price of priority boarding depends on the airline and your flight. It can cost anywhere from $7 to $75 or more.

• What kind of priority boarding do credit cards offer?

  Eligible credit cards typically let you board after elite status members, passengers traveling on premium classes and active US military personnel, but before economy passengers.

• Do authorized credit card owners get priority boarding?

  No, unless they are traveling on the same reservation as the primary cardholder.