Sunday, November 24, 2024 American Airlines is expanding its efforts to manage “gate lice”—passengers who crowd the gate before they are called to board—by introducing new technology at more than 100 airports across the U.S. in time for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas travel seasons.
The move follows successful trials in Albuquerque, Washington, and Tucson last month. The innovative boarding system will prevent passengers from using their boarding passes before their assigned group is called. If a passenger attempts to board early, the system will trigger an audible alert for gate agents and display a message on the screen, prompting staff to direct the passenger to step aside until their group is called.
For travelers accompanying someone in an earlier boarding group, gate agents can override the alert to continue the process smoothly. According to American Airlines, early feedback from the trials has shown the technology not only improves boarding efficiency but also helps anticipate connection times for incoming flights. Major airports such as Austin-Bergstrom International and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International will be among the first to implement the new system aimed at curbing queue jumping.
The airline’s boarding priority is determined by factors including fare type and AAdvantage status. Julie Rath, American Airlines’ senior vice president of airport operations, shared that the company has received positive feedback from both customers and staff,.