Which airline credit cards offer the best priority boarding perks?

Airline credit cards offer a variety of flashy perks, but one fundamental benefit is about saving time rather than money: priority boarding.

This benefit, included with many airline credit cards, can get you out of those long gate lines in time to find overhead space for your carry-on bag before the rest of the passengers trundle aboard.

Here's a look at what boarding privileges come with cobranded airline credit cards, followed by details on each airline to help you understand the nuances.

Airline boarding groups overview

Airline	Cards	Boarding privileges
Alaska Airlines	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/rIJc46z" target="_blank">Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/8KPdsCD" target="_blank">Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/jHsBRE1" target="_blank">Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card</a></strong></li> </ul>	Group C (4th of 7 groups) <p>&nbsp;</p>
American Airlines	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/olzGviR" target="_blank">Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/221410949?pid=221410949&amp;name=Citi%C2%AE%20%2F%20AAdvantage%C2%AE%20Executive%20World%20Elite%20Mastercard%C2%AE&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> </ul>	<ul> <li>Group 4 of 9 (officially)</li> <li>8 out of 12 (effectively)</li> </ul>
American Airlines	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/ADOv5Jn" target="_blank">Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/22146206?pid=22146206&amp;name=Citi%C2%AE%E2%80%AF%2F%20AAdvantage%20Business%E2%84%A2%E2%80%AFWorld%20Elite%20Mastercard%C2%AE&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/Ktiyx8L" target="_blank">Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®</a>&nbsp;</strong>(see <a href="/tc/11024?pid=11024&amp;name=Citi%C2%AE%20%2F%20AAdvantage%C2%AE%20Globe%E2%84%A2%20Mastercard%C2%AE&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/card-review-citiaadvantage-platinum-select/">Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®</a>*</strong></li> </ul>	<ul> <li>Group 5 of 9 (officially)</li> <li>9 out of 12 (effectively)</li> </ul>
Delta Air Lines	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/HYwqIfz" target="_blank">Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/gFpCLMH" target="_blank">Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/5mh8tMx" target="_blank">Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/pZNc1it" target="_blank">Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/LJp2jtD" target="_blank">Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/KTU5kP7" target="_blank">Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card</a></strong></li> </ul>	Zone 5 of 9
Frontier Airlines	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/T7w1chp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®</a></strong>*</li> </ul>	Group 4 of 7
JetBlue	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/Ei2Nbsx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JetBlue Business Card</a>*</strong></li> <li><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/jetblue-premier-card-review/">JetBlue Premier Card</a>*</strong></li> </ul>	Group A boarding (4th of 11 groups)
Southwest Airlines	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/2kri7sI" target="_blank">Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/6703?pid=6703&amp;name=Southwest%C2%AE%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Performance%20Business%20Credit%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/iHNuWby" target="_blank">Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card</a> </strong>(see <a href="/tc/22125792?pid=22125792&amp;name=Southwest%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Plus%20Credit%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/Q1DqlOJ" target="_blank">Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/6157?pid=6157&amp;name=Southwest%C2%AE%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Premier%20Business%20Credit%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/southwest-rapid-rewards-premier-card-review/">Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card</a>*</strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/eZfrDm2" target="_blank">Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/6269?pid=6269&amp;name=Southwest%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Priority%20Credit%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> </ul>	<ul> <li>Group 5 of 8</li> <li>Potentially board in Groups 1-4 if an Extra Legroom or preferred seat upgrade is available and received</li> </ul>
Spirit Airlines	<ul> <li><strong>Free Spirit® Travel Mastercard®</strong>*</li> <li><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/free-spirit-travel-more-mastercard-review/">Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®</a>*</strong></li> </ul>	Group 2 of 5
United Airlines	<ul> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/v5Iy82W" target="_blank">United℠ Business Card</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/6874?pid=6874&amp;name=United%E2%84%A0%20Business%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/united-club-business-card-review/">United Club℠ Business Card</a>*</strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/4Ne52gD" target="_blank">United Club℠ Card</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/6976?pid=6976&amp;name=United%20Club%E2%84%A0%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/RTfFjSb" target="_blank">United℠ Explorer Card</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/22035884?pid=22035884&amp;name=United%E2%84%A0%20Explorer%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><strong><a href="https://ift.tt/FRmuf1V" target="_blank">United Quest℠ Card</a></strong> (see <a href="/tc/7752?pid=7752&amp;name=United%20Quest%E2%84%A0%20Card%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> </ul>	Group 2 of 6

Unfortunately, several airlines do not make priority boarding part of their credit card benefits. The notable absentees include:

• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®*
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
• Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®*
• JetBlue Card*
• JetBlue Plus Card*
• United Gateway℠ Card (see rates and fees)

*The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

How to ensure you receive priority boarding

For the vast majority of cobranded airline credit cards, you don't need to use your card to purchase your flight — whether you're paying cash or just covering taxes and fees on an award ticket — to receive priority boarding. Instead, the benefit is tied to your frequent flyer account. As long as your loyalty number is attached to your reservation (and to any eligible companions on the same booking), you should receive the appropriate boarding group automatically.

There are a couple of exceptions:

• With Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, you'll need to pay for your flight with your cobranded Atmos or Hawaiian credit card to receive priority boarding benefits
• For Spirit Airlines, it's a good idea to carry your cobranded Spirit card with you when traveling, as you may be asked to present it at the gate.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines uses seven boarding groups, plus preboarding, for a total of eight announcements to board the plane.

• Preboarding: Passengers who need help or extra time to board
• Priority boarding: Passengers traveling in the first-class cabin and Atmos Titanium members
• Group A: Atmos Million Miler, Atmos Platinum and Atmos Gold elite members, families with small children and active-duty military members
• Group B: Atmos Silver members and guests in premium class seats
• Group C: Those with Atmos Rewards credit cards who book their flight with an Atmos credit card
• Group D: Guests in Main seats in the back half of the plane
• Group E: Guests in Main seats in the front half of the plane
• Group F: Guests in Saver seats

Atmos Rewards cardholders receive priority boarding benefits. They board in group C, which effectively is the fourth group out of seven. They must purchase their flight with their card to receive priority boarding.

Related: Why the Atmos Rewards Summit was our favorite new personal credit card last year

American Airlines

American Airlines' boarding procedure includes nine boarding groups plus special preboarding options. The good news: If you have one of the major American AAdvantage credit cards, it should get you onto the plane early.

• Preboarding: Passengers needing special assistance
• ConciergeKey members
• First: First class on domestic flights and Flagship First on international flights
• Business: Business class on domestic flights and Flagship Business two-class international planes
• Family boarding: Families with children under two years old
• Group 1: AAdvantage Executive Platinum elite members and active-duty U.S. military with valid military I.D.
• Group 2: AAdvantage Platinum Pro and Oneworld Emerald elite members
• Group 3: AAdvantage Platinum and Oneworld Sapphire elite members
• Group 4: AAdvantage Gold and Oneworld Ruby elite members, AirPass members, premium economy passengers, travelers who bought priority boarding and Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard members
• Group 5 (Preferred boarding): Main Cabin Extra (excluding Basic Economy), AAdvantage members with at least 15,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage Business Select travelers and other AAdvantage credit card holders (excluding MileUp cardholders)
• Group 6: All other AAdvantage members
• Groups 7-8: Economy members
• Group 9: Basic economy (within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean)

The best you can hope for as just an AAdvantage cardholder is to be in the eighth boarding group out of all 12 effective groups. As for those who get onto the plane with Group 5, they include members with the following credit cards:

• Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
• Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

While most AAdvantage credit cards are created equal when it comes to boarding, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will give you a one-group advantage over the others. That makes sense, considering it has a much higher annual fee than the others ($595) and also includes other high-end perks, such as Admirals Club access.

Note that you only have to hold one of these travel cards for the benefit to apply — you don't have to purchase your ticket with it.

Related: American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it

Delta Air Lines

Delta has nine boarding groups, including preboarding, which can seem confusing. However, a Delta cobranded credit card can help you move into Zone 5.

• Preboarding: Customers needing assistance or additional time to board and active-duty U.S. military personnel with ID
• Zone 1: Delta One and Delta First
• Zone 2: Delta 360 members, Diamond Medallion members and Delta Premium Select customers
• Early boarding for customers with car seats and strollers
• Zone 3: Delta Comfort customers
• Zone 4: Sky Priority: Platinum and Gold Medallion members, Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold members, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, LATAM Pass Black Signature, Black and Platinum Elite members and WestJet Rewards Platinum and Gold Elite members
• Zone 5: Silver Medallion members, Delta Corporate Travelers, Delta SkyMiles cardmembers (Gold, Platinum and Reserve Amex), Flying Blue Silver members, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members, SkyTeam Elite members, SkyMiles Select members, LATAM Pass Gold+ Elite and WestJet Rewards Silver Elite members
• Zone 6: SkyMiles members in the main cabin
• Zone 7: Non-SkyMiles members in the main cabin
• Zone 8: Basic Economy

Assuming you don't have Sky Priority or other elite status and you're just flying economy, the best you can hope for — no matter which Delta credit card you carry — is to board with the first group in the main cabin. That means you're in the fifth out of nine zones.

While overhead space will likely be available at that point, it's not a sure bet, considering all the passengers who can board before you.

People with the $650-per-year (see rates and fees) Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex don't board any earlier than those with the far-cheaper Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex ($350 per year; see rates and fees) and Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150; see rates and fees).

Related: The best credit cards for Delta flyers

Frontier Airlines

This budget carrier has a cobranded credit card with Barclays that will get you onto the aircraft relatively early.

Here's how Frontier's boarding process goes.

• Preboarding: Customers with disabilities, active-duty U.S. military, families with children under 2 years old and Frontier Miles Elite Diamond members
• Group 1: Frontier Miles Elite Platinum and Gold members and customers who purchased a Business Bundle, Premium Bundle or Board First service
• Group 2: Frontier Miles Elite Silver and Frontier Miles members who purchased a carry-on bag or an Economy Bundle
• Group 3: All other customers who purchased a carry-on bag or an Economy Bundle
• Group 4: Frontier Airlines World Mastercard members, Frontier Miles Elite Silver members and customers who purchased priority boarding or premium or exit row seats
• Group 5: Frontier Miles members
• Group 6 and 7: The rest of the cabin who booked Basic fares

Carrying the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard from Barclays will squeeze you in at the start of general boarding — or the fifth group out of seven. This lines up with most other airlines' cards but might be slightly better or worse, depending on how many other passengers purchase carry-ons or one of the fare-bundling options.

Related: Why now is the perfect time to get the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

JetBlue

With the JetBlue Business and JetBlue Premier Card, you'll receive Group A boarding on all JetBlue-operated flights.

Here are JetBlue's boarding groups:

• Preboarding: For customers with disabilities
• Mosaic 3 and 4 and Mint passengers
• Mosaic 1 and 2 customers
• Group A: Even More Space customers and JetBlue cardholders
• Courtesy boarding: For active military members and customers traveling with small children
• General boarding: Groups B, C, D, E and F
• All remaining customers

If you hit Mosaic status through flying or credit card spending, you move up to the second overall boarding group and have overhead space basically guaranteed.

Related: 25 cities in 11 days: How this JetBlue flyer earned 350,000 points and 25 years of elite status

Southwest Airlines

Holding a Southwest credit card will help you get on the plane earlier.

Southwest has seat assignments and boarding groups.

Here's how the boarding process works:

• Groups 1 and 2: Choice Extra passengers, A-List Preferred members and A-List members and eligible credit card holders who upgrade to an extra-legroom seat (if available within 48 hours of departure)
• Groups 3 through 5: Choice Preferred passengers and A-List members who didn't get an extra-legroom seat, and all Southwest cardholders
• Groups 6 through 8: Passengers who purchase a Choice fare and passengers flying on a Basic fare board last

All of the Southwest cards guarantee at least Group 5 boarding, though if you receive an earlier boarding position based on elite state, fare or seat type, you will move up in the boarding order (to Groups 1-4).

Related: Comparing Southwest card benefits: The Southwest Plus, Premier and Priority go head-to-head

Spirit Airlines

For an airline known for a no-frills approach to seat selection, carry-on bags and printing boarding passes, holding a cobranded card can help you board a bit sooner.

• Preboarding: Passengers who need special assistance
• Group 1: Passengers who purchased Spirit First or have Free Spirit Gold status
• Group 2: Passengers who purchase Shortcut Boarding or Premium Economy fares, who have Free Spirit Silver status or who have a Free Spirit card
• Family Boarding: For those traveling with small children ages 3 and under
• Group 3 and 4: Passengers who purchase Value fares

If you really do take advantage of the airline's lowest fares, carrying its credit card will give you a leg up on the rest of the bargain hunters. It's a good idea to carry your Free Spirit card with you in case you need to present it at the boarding gate.

Related: Spirit Airlines launches new inflight trading cards

United Airlines

United's boarding procedures involve seven groups. Each group includes many possible passengers and takes a unique approach to boarding.

• Preboarding: Unaccompanied minors, customers with disabilities, families with children ages 2 or under, active military members and United Global Services and Premier 1K elite members
• Group 1: Premier Platinum and Gold elite members, Star Alliance Gold members and passengers in United Polaris, first class and business class
• Group 2: Premier Silver elite members, Star Alliance Silver members, customers who purchase Premier Access or priority boarding, United Explorer Card, United Quest Card, United Club Card, United Business Card, United Club Business Card, the United Presidential Plus or the Awards Card cardholders (last two cards are no longer open to new customers)
• Groups 3: Economy and economy plus passengers at window row seats and exit row seats
• Group 4: Economy and economy plus passengers in middle seats
• Group 5: Economy and economy plus passengers in aisle seats
• Group 6: Basic economy passengers (in eligible markets only)

The information for the United Presidential Plus and Awards cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If there are multiple passengers on the same reservation seated in economy, each traveler will get the highest applicable boarding group given to any of the travelers within the reservation (except basic economy, which will always be Group 6 unless you're a Premier elite member, Star Alliance Gold member or select United cardholder).

Those with the basic United Gateway Card card don't receive any boarding or baggage privileges. United's credit cards run the gamut of annual fees, such as the United Club and the United Club Business Card's annual fee of $695 at the top. However, all cardholders get to board at the same time.

Related: The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers

Bottom line

Carrying an airline's midrange or premium credit card will get you on the plane early. However, in these days of elite status bloating, "early" is a relative term.

In many cases, you'll still beat most of the economy cabin passengers onto the plane, helping you secure overhead space for your bag. This perk alone is probably not worth carrying a credit card.

Still, by combining it with other benefits like free checked bags and discounts on inflight purchases, you can maximize your airline credit card to make the flying experience that much better.

Related: 5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, click here.