In what situations can passengers receive priority boarding?

Priority boarding is designed to enhance the boarding experience for specific groups of passengers who may benefit from it. The correct answer highlights situations in which certain passengers are granted priority boarding privileges—namely, for those with special needs, families with young children, and business class passengers.

Passengers with special needs may require additional assistance or time to board the aircraft, making it beneficial for them to board first. Families with young children often need more time to get settled and may have additional items to manage, such as strollers or diaper bags. Business class passengers typically enjoy various privileges as part of their ticket purchase, which often includes priority boarding, thus allowing them to settle into their seats without the rush of general boarding.

The other options do not capture the specific or inclusive criteria for priority boarding. An approach that offers priority boarding for all passengers regardless of ticket class would undermine the purpose of prioritization, as it wouldn't help those who truly need the assistance. Limiting priority boarding to only frequent flyer members would exclude valuable groups like families and those needing special assistance, while offering this for off-peak travel times isn’t standard practice and might not align with United Airlines' boarding policy.