March 1 marked the launch of a new boarding process for American Airlines customers.

With the addition of a new fourth elite status tier, Platinum Pro, the airline renumbered and renamed its boarding groups.

Groups, reflected on boarding passes, are now numbered one through nine, and the airline announces boarding by group number as opposed to status level or cabin.

Group 1 is for first or business classes and U.S. military. Group 2 is for business-class passengers on a three-class international flight and passengers with Executive Platinum or oneworld Emerald status. Group 3 is for Platinum Pro, Platinum and oneworld Sapphire members. Group 4 is now AAdvantage Gold, oneworld Ruby members, Alaska MVP members, American Airlines Airpass members and Citi AAdvantage Executive cardholders, as well as passengers who purchase priority boarding.

Group 5 consists of passengers in American Airlines Main Cabin Extra, premium economy and eligible AAdvantage credit cardholders. Current groups 2, 3, and 4 became Groups 6, 7 and 8, and Group 9 will be for basic-economy ticketholders when the product launches.