Questions and Answers

Lucky,

I have the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard which comes with some benefits like Group 1 Boarding,First Checked Bag Free, etc. If I was to purchase a Basic Economy ticket with this card would I still be granted the benefits like Group 1 boarding, free checked bag etc.?

Yes, you’ll retain those benefits. See Lucky’s post from yesterday:
[URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/01/18/american-airlines-basic-economy/[/URL]

Especially this bit (underlining mine):
[B]Bags[/B] – One personal carry-on item that fits under the seat (such as a purse or small backpack) is allowed. No overhead bin luggage may be brought on board. Larger carry-ons such as a rollerboard bag must be checked at the ticket counter for the applicable checked-baggage charge. Basic Economy customers who bring more than an under-seat personal item to the gate will incur regular checked baggage charges plus a $25 gate service charge per bag.

[U]Elite customers and eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers will be allowed to bring one personal item, one rollerboard, and they maintain their current free checked bag allowance.[/U]

[B]Boarding [/B]– Basic Economy customers will comprise the last boarding group and will be seated in the Main Cabin. [U]Elite customers and eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers will continue to receive Priority or preferred boarding even when purchasing this fare[/U][B].[/B]

excellent, thank you

In addition to what [USER=184]@MidSouth Skier[/USER] has written, the old Group 1 is becoming the new Group 5 for boarding. [URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/01/18/american-boarding-order-2017/[/URL]

A Basic Economy fare on AA usually means Group 9 boarding once that fare launches. If you have the AA card, you’ll be in Group 5 instead.

So you are saying so I will be bumped fro Group 1 to Group 5? Is that across the board even if I purchase a standard economy ticket and not the Basic?

Well, “Group 1” has always been Group 5 in practice, there were just four groups of “Priority Pre-Boarding” that were called before Group 1.

I wouldnt call it being “bumped” AA is just renaming all their boarding groups. As it stands now, There is “Priority Boarding” before Groups 1-4. Priority boarding consisted of AA Elites, Uniformed US Military, Oneworld Elites, Alaska Elites and AA CitiExecutive card holders. What AA is doing is giving them group numbers instead of calling it Priority.

i followed the link and I get it now, so basically it’s still the same a First Class, Platinum, etc. going first, they just will have a Group number now

Yes.

That still doesnt change how long it takes these airlines to board a 737, which is ridiculous when other airlines can board an A380 or a 77W quite quickly.