American Airlines Introduces New System to Tackle ‘Gate Lice’ During Boarding

American Airlines is testing a new boarding system designed to prevent passengers from boarding the plane before their designated group, a phenomenon often referred to as “gate lice.” This term describes passengers who prematurely gather in front of the gate and attempt to board early, disrupting the orderly boarding process.

The new system, currently being tested at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ) and Tucson International Airport (TUS), uses technology to flag passengers who try to board out of turn. When a passenger’s boarding pass is scanned and they are not in the correct boarding group, the system triggers an audible beep and displays the passenger’s actual group number on the screen for the gate agent to see. This public notification ensures that passengers are held to their designated boarding times.

The technology is part of American Airlines’ effort to improve the boarding experience and ensure that customers who have paid for priority boarding receive the benefits they are entitled to. The airline has expressed satisfaction with the initial results and plans to expand the test to other locations, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C..

The issue of “gate lice” has been a source of frustration for many passengers, particularly those in later boarding groups who often find limited space in the overhead bins and may be required to check their bags. American Airlines has one of the highest rates of mishandled bags among major airlines, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, making the enforcement of proper boarding procedures even more critical.

Passengers who have witnessed the new system in action have shared positive feedback on platforms like Reddit, praising the effectiveness and fairness of the new technology in maintaining order during the boarding process).