How to get priority boarding with United Airlines

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.

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 gets 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.

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.

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Name	Product	Welcome Offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
United℠ Explorer Card		Up to 70,000 bonus miles: 60,000 miles after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 miles after you spend $6,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months months	2x miles on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 miles after you spend $6,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months months your account is open.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
United Club℠ Infinite Card		Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.	$525		Get United Club membership with access for you and two guests at any United Club or Star Alliance lounge -- a value of up to $650 annually.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
United Quest℠ Card		Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.	3 miles on United® purchases after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles at restaurants, on select streaming services and all other travel, 1 mile on all other purchases	$250		Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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How to get United Airlines priority boarding with your credit card

Using an eligible credit card to snag priority boarding is simple:
1. Get an eligible United Airlines credit card.
2. Use your card to purchase United airfare and include your MileagePlus number on your reservation.
3. You will automatically receive a Group 2 priority boarding.

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. For more information on the MileagePlus program and its benefits, check out our full United MileagePlus guide.

However, if you prefer a different airline, check out other airline cards that offer priority boarding and compare your options.

Frequently asked questions

• How will I know which boarding group do I belong?

  The boarding group is printed on your boarding pass. For example, boarding group 3.

• How do I earn elite tier status?

  You need to fly a certain number of qualifying miles or segments with United Airlines and to spend a certain amount of qualifying dollars on United tickets. Check out our guide on the MileagePlus program to learn more.

• Can authorized cardmembers use priority boarding?

  Not unless they are on the primary cardmember’s reservation.

Pictures: GettyImages