priority boarding

Meaning

This term describes a service offered by airlines that allows passengers to get onto the airplane before standard ticket holders. It is typically purchased as an extra fee or given as a benefit to business-class passengers and frequent flyers. The tone is neutral and professional, commonly used in airport signs and announcements.

Examples

• Since we purchased priority boarding, we got to get on the plane first and find space for our bags.

  Since we purchased priority boarding, we got to get on the plane first and find space for our bags.

• Passengers with priority boarding are invited to line up at gate 4 now.

  Passengers with priority boarding are invited to line up at gate 4 now.

• My airline credit card gives me free priority boarding on all domestic flights.

  My airline credit card gives me free priority boarding on all domestic flights.

• We didn't have priority boarding, so we had to wait in a long queue at the terminal.

  We didn't have priority boarding, so we had to wait in a long queue at the terminal.

• Is priority boarding included in the price of a business class ticket?

  Is priority boarding included in the price of a business class ticket?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have the first boarding.

  ✓ I have priority boarding.

  'First boarding' is not a standard travel collocation. Use 'priority boarding' to describe boarding early.

• ✗ Let's go to the priority boarding line.

  ✓ Let's go to the priority boarding lane.

  While 'line' is understood, airports officially designate these areas as 'lanes' or 'zones.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you pay an extra ten dollars, you can get ___ and avoid the long queue.

  💡 The option to get on the plane before other passengers.

  Show answer

  priority boarding

• The gate agent announced that ___ was now open for first-class passengers.

  💡 Early entry onto the aircraft.

  Show answer

  priority boarding