Priority boarding is the right to board ahead of other passengers, granted through status, fare, a card or an extra payment.
Priority boarding is the right to board ahead of other passengers, granted through status, fare, a card or an extra payment.
Also called: Early boarding, Boarding group.
How it works#
Its practical value sits almost entirely in overhead bin space: board early and the carry-on stays with you, board late and it gets gate-checked. On flights heavy with hand luggage that is worth real money; on empty flights it is worth nothing. Group order follows the airline’s status hierarchy, not the order people queue in.
Not to be confused with#
Priority boarding is not the same as a guaranteed seat: the seat is already in the booking, boarding order only decides who walks on first.
In German#
The German term is Vorrangiges Boarding. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Elite status: Elite status is a tier in a loyalty programme that grants extra benefits for a limited period once a qualification threshold has been met.
- Carry-on rules: Carry-on rules are an airline’s limits on the size, weight and number of bags that may be taken into the cabin.
- Basic economy: Basic economy is a network airline’s cheapest fare, with baggage, seat selection and changes stripped out of the price.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onStatus and lounges.