If you fly American Airlines and like to jump ahead in the queue when you board your flight, don’t think about it.
Waiting in line to board stinks, but you eventually get out of line and board your plane, anyway. With new technology, American Airlines gate agents can now catch customers when they try to board planes prematurely, according to Yahoo.
How is American tracking and cracking down on “gate lice” (people skipping ahead in airplane boarding)? Here’s what to know.
How is American Airlines cracking down on gate lice?
When customers skip ahead in the line before their assigned boarding group is called, it triggers an audible sound and gate agents will tell them to wait their turn.
So far, Albuquerque, Tuscon and Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C., have been test markets for the technology.
Is American catching gate lice in Ohio? Which Ohio airports does American Airlines serve?
As of now, the new American Airlines technology is not being tested in airports in Ohio.
According to the American Airlines website, they do serve their flights in Ohio airports, including:
Why is this new technology being created?
New technology is being tested to ensure that American Airlines customers receive their benefits, including priority boarding. Many customers pay for early boarding privileges, so the technology will provide transparency and fairness for all customers.
Currently, American Airlines is in the first phase of testing this new technology.
Why do customers attempt to skip ahead of everyone to board their plane?
Why do some customers find boarding so frustrating? Scott Keyes, the founder of flight deals site Going.com, understands why. He said that some passengers who skip the lines want the limited overhead bin space instead of checking their bags, which can be an inconvenience.
“They don’t have access to their belongings in-flight and wait for their luggage to be returned to them at their destinations,” Keyes said (via Yahoo).
