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How to get priority boarding with United Airlines
Settle in sooner and find a place for your carry-on bags.
Priority boarding on United Airlines will you get you on the plane before other passengers. Active US military members or families with children 2 years old or younger are entitled to preboarding. Otherwise, you can earn your spot in the first boarding groups with elite status, by purchasing priority boarding or by using an eligible United credit card with complimentary priority boarding.
Priority boarding order.
A certain hierarchy is laid out to determine who boards the plane first. Check out the table below to find out where you might stand in the line.
| Pre-Boarding |
|
| Group 1 |
|
| Group 2 |
|
| Group 3 – 5 |
|
How to get United Airlines priority boarding
You can get United priority boarding if you:
- Purchase a higher fare class.
Flying on United Polaris, United First and United Business classes get you Group 1 boarding. - Earn elite status.
Premier 1K members get preboarding, Premier Platinum and Gold members board Group 1, and Premier Silver members board with Group 2. - Earn elite status with partner airlines.
As a member of the Star Alliance, United grants priority boarding to frequent flyers on partner airlines. Once you reach elite status with a partner airline, that status converts to elite status with the alliance. Star Alliance Gold members board with Group 1, while Silver members board with Group 2. - Get an eligible United credit card.
The United℠ Explorer Card and the United MileagePlus® Club card let you board with Group 2. Companions traveling on your reservation also benefit from this perk. - Being an active duty US military member.
Carry your military ID to preboard your United flight. - Purchase United priority boarding.
If you don’t meet any of the conditions to earn United priority boarding, you can buy one starting from $15.
Our pick for United priority boarding
Compare credit cards with United Airlines priority boarding
Only two United credit cards let you board with Group 2 by simply being a card member.
How to get United Airlines priority boarding with your credit card
- Get an eligible United Airlines credit card.
- Use your card to purchase United airfare and include your MileagePlus number on your reservation.
- You will automatically receive a Group 2 priority boarding.
Who gets priority boarding?
Entitled to preboarding are unaccompanied minors, customers who need assistance, active members of the military, families traveling with children age two and younger, and the ultimate United travelers who have earned Premier 1K elite status or are invited to the United Global Services status.
Next to board are United and Star Alliance elite tiers and customers who fly in premium cabins. Owners of eligible United credit cards and those who purchased priority boarding come next.
Bottom line
If you don’t belong in any of the groups entitled to get United priority boarding, you can either purchase one for your flight or you can get an eligible United credit card and get priority boarding on United-operated flights.
However, if you prefer a different airline, check out other airline cards that offer priority boarding and compare your options.
Frequently asked questions
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