American Airlines is tackling a common boarding frustration known as “gate lice” — the passengers who crowd the boarding gate before their group is called, hoping to get on the plane earlier for better seats or overhead bin space.
This behavior often disrupts the boarding process and annoys other travelers.
To address this, the airline is testing new technology at certain airports (Albuquerque and Tucson) that enforces boarding order more strictly.
When passengers try to board before their group is called, the system alerts the gate agent with a beep and displays the correct boarding group, ensuring they’re sent back to wait their turn.
Essentially, it publicly calls out those jumping the line, adding a bit of social pressure to follow the rules.
The goal of this system is to make the boarding process smoother and fairer, particularly for those who have paid for priority boarding.
If this trial proves successful, the system could roll out to more airports, potentially becoming a standard feature in future boarding procedures.
In short, American Airlines is aiming to keep boarding in order by using technology to politely but firmly stop people from cutting in line