Airlines are now making moves to crack down on the latter – or “gate lice” as they are known by aviation insiders. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) highlighted the havoc that can be caused by “skip boarding” (the official term) during an industry event this week. According to , Nick Careen, IATA’s head of operations and safety, said: “It’s a term used when you see people queueing in their own line and doing it on purpose.
It’s skipping the boarding process. “When they get to the front it’s sometimes easier just to let them through rather than turn them away.” American Airlines is one airline trialling new technology to enforce boarding groups and cut queue jumping at the gate.
In trials at Albuquerque, Tucson and Washington airports, passengers scanning their boarding pass before their group number is called will now be met with an alarm sound. The computer will also display an alert message for gate agents, who can then instruct pushy passengers to stand aside until their group is called to board. Airports often encounter long boarding queues as passengers attempt to be the first in the cabin and secure coveted space in the overhead bins – regardless of whether their boarding group number has been called.
American Airlines said the move intended to “improve the boarding experience” and “ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding”. A total of ten groups, ranging from from ConciergeKey members to basic economy.
