The American Airlines boarding process usually begins almost 30-45 minutes before the departure time. Passengers can hear the announcements about when boarding starts for each group. The airline organizes its boarding into considerable groups to help simplify the process. Boarding Groups American Airlines assigns passengers to specific groups based on their ticket class, frequent flyer status, and certain services. Group 1 is generally reserved for first-class passengers, followed by Group 2 for AAdvantage elite members. Groups 3-9 include general passengers, with Group 9 being the last to board.