American Airlines expands its crackdown on 'gate lice'
FILE - American Airlines airplanes are seen past a traveler walking through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Nov. 22, 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines is expanding a new technology that aims to cut down on what’s been referred to online as "gate lice," or when passengers attempt to cut the line during the boarding process.
The carrier announced on Wednesday that the technology, which alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group, is now being used at more than 100 U.S. airports.
The priority to board at the gate is assigned based on several factors, including the fare purchase and those with the carrier’s AAdvantage status or membership.
American Airlines tested the technology over the last month at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Tucson International Airport (TUS) in an effort to "improve the boarding process."
"We’ve heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase," Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery, said in a statement.
Rath said the initial positive response "exceeded our expectations" and American is "thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for (customers) ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday."
FILE - Passengers wait to board at an American Airlines boarding gate. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
When a customer tries to cut the line early at boarding, the airline said a gate agent politely lets the traveler know they’re unable to accept the pass and asks the customer to rejoin the line when their boarding group is called.
In some instances where a customer may be able to board out of order, like when traveling with a companion of higher status, the agent has a quick way to override the alert and accept the pass, American Airlines said in the statement.
The slang term "gate lice" has gained traction on social media in recent years. Though it's not known who invented the phrase, several travel blogs and Reddit forums discuss "gate lice" at length.