The U.S. airline industry is experiencing a surge in passenger traffic in 2024, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reporting several record-breaking travel days this year. This has brought renewed attention to the value of early boarding upgrades, especially as airlines adjust policies and travelers look for every advantage in a crowded sky.

Recent changes—including Southwest Airlines’ shift away from its traditional open seating to assigned seats—have reshaped the boarding experience and made early boarding opportunities increasingly significant. But with airline fees stacking up, is priority boarding worth the cost?

Boarding Basics: What Determines Your Priority?

Where you stand in the boarding line is affected by several factors:

• Cabin Class: Passengers in first class, business, and increasingly, premium economy, board before those in main economy.
• Loyalty Status: Frequent flyers who achieve elite status are often granted earlier boarding as a core benefit. According to Airlines for America, nearly 50 million American travelers held some form of elite status with a major U.S. carrier in 2023.
• Credit Cards: Many co-branded airline credit cards offer cardholders priority boarding, but typically only when the ticket is purchased with the card.
• Special Groups: Regulations require those with disabilities or special needs to have the opportunity to pre-board; many airlines also extend this courtesy to active military and families traveling with young children.

Key takeaway: Unless you meet specific criteria, you could find yourself facing a fee or a middle seat near the back of the plane—making the early boarding debate highly relevant for leisure and business travelers alike.

Why Is Early Boarding in High Demand?

As aircraft cabins fill up faster than ever, competition for overhead bin space has intensified. According to Delta Air Lines, more than 40% of complaints from coach travelers are about a lack of baggage space. Boarding earlier not only secures space for carry-ons but can also reduce stress and provide time to settle in.

“The number one reason to buy the early boarding upgrade is if you have a carry-on for the overhead bin,” says Sara Wilcox, advisor at Fora Travel, echoing a sentiment that’s taken on new urgency as airlines reduce free checked baggage allowances and charge more for checked bags.

Early Boarding Options: What Are Your Choices?

• Paid Priority Boarding: Most major airlines, such as United and American, offer early boarding as an à la carte fee. For example, United’s “Priority Boarding” can be purchased for $24 per segment, while American’s “Preferred Boarding” starts around $10, though pricing can vary by route and demand.
• When to Buy: These add-ons may be available at the time of booking, in manage-my-trip portals, or even at the airport before departure. Some airlines bundle boarding with other perks, like extra legroom seats or complimentary drinks.

For many, the investment is justified if it means avoiding the hassle of gate-checking a bag or squeezing into the last available seat.

Credit Card and Loyalty Perks: Moving Up for Less

Airline co-branded credit cards often promise priority boarding as part of their reward packages. For instance, Delta SkyMiles credit cardholders board in the Main Cabin 1 group, ahead of general boarding. However, terms apply: the ticket must typically be purchased with the card, and some cards carry annual fees upward of $100 to $600 depending on benefits.

Loyalty programs also provide this perk to elite status holders. According to market research firm Atmosphere Research Group, obtaining elite tier status requires flying 25,000 miles or spending at least $3,000–$6,000 annually, positioning frequent business travelers as the biggest beneficiaries of early boarding priorities.

These perks are valued not just for convenience, but for their potential to reduce out-of-pocket spending on add-ons.

Premium Fares: Early Boarding—and Much More

Opting for premium cabins, like business, first, or premium economy, automatically includes early boarding, seat selection, and extra baggage allowances. Premium economy, for example, is generally 30–50% more expensive than regular economy, based on Skyscanner’s 2024 data, but significantly cheaper than business class. In addition to earlier boarding, you’ll enjoy wider seats, more legroom, and sometimes upgraded meal service.

Travelers with sufficient points or miles can upgrade to premium seats and take advantage of early boarding—a strategy that can stretch your loyalty rewards further. However, as Stella Shon of UpgradedPoints notes, cash upgrades often deliver the highest value per dollar or mile spent compared to redemption for tickets or onboard purchases.

Southwest’s New Approach: Assigned Seats and Boarding Groups

Southwest Airlines, long known for its unique open seating plan, began rolling out assigned seating in January 2025. This shift closely aligns Southwest’s process with broader industry norms and comes in response to record bookings and customer demand for more predictable travel experiences.

The airline now sells fares with specific seat assignments and revised boarding groups, compelling some travelers who relied on early check-ins for favorable seats to reconsider their strategies—especially business travelers accustomed to buying Business Select fares for earlier boarding positions.

Should You Pay for Early Boarding?

While the upgrade can offer peace of mind and a smoother travel day, experts say not every traveler needs to pay for early boarding. “If getting a seat up front or guaranteed overhead bin space is crucial to you, the cost may be justified,” says Sally French of NerdWallet. But if you are flexible or traveling light, you may prefer to save your money, especially as most airlines will assign you a seat for free—though it’s likely to be further back in the cabin.

Pricing for early boarding and related perks has increased alongside demand in 2024, driven in part by capacity constraints, labor shortages, and robust travel demand. Airlines make billions per year—$34.8 billion in 2023, per the U.S. Department of Transportation—from ancillary products like seat assignments, baggage fees, and priority boarding.

Business travelers and families with carry-ons are the biggest winners, while solo or backpack-only flyers might opt to forgo the fee.

Main Takeaways for 2024 Travelers

• Evaluate your need for overhead bin space and your tolerance for inconvenience before paying for early boarding.
• Review your existing credit cards and loyalty programs to see if you already qualify for priority boarding perks.
• Consider the total cost versus benefits, especially if you travel frequently or with others.
• Keep an eye on evolving policies—like Southwest’s move to assigned seating—that may impact your experience and planning.

Travel is booming and the boarding gate has never been more competitive. Making an informed decision about early boarding can help you start your trip with less stress and, potentially, more comfort.