About a month and change ago, American Airlines began piloting a new program that they hoped would stop people from boarding before they should. The system used technology to automatically and audibly flag someone who was trying to board before it was their turn.
The test run, which was done at Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport over the last month, was apparently deemed successful that they’re now expending it to over 100 airports nationwide.
Here are some recent headlines about the news, from well-known sites:
- Forbes: American Airlines Ramps Up ‘Gate Lice’ Crackdown In Time For The Holidays
- Fox News: American Airlines cracks down against ‘gate lice’ as airport passengers skip lines amid boarding process
- Investopedia: American Airlines Expands Anti-‘Gate Lice’ Technology To 100 Airports
Several travel bloggers also announced how American Airlines was advancing their technology to help deter gate lice.
The thing is, despite what all these entities’ headlines say, American Airlines’ new system won’t stop gate lice at all.
What American Airlines’ new system does & doesn’t do
American Airlines’ new system may stop someone in Group 8 from boarding when they’re only up to Group 3. But it’s not going to do anything about people hanging out at the gate, waiting for their boarding group to be called. That’s a whole other problem – and a ulti-facted one, at that – unto itself.
The airlines that have successfully stopped gate lice
I’d be hesitant to say that Americans are the only group of people who become gate lice, but if nothing else, we’re one of a few. And of US-based commercial airlines, there’s only one that’s consistently and successfully stopped gate lice from happening – Southwest Airlines.
Instead of using a “group” system, Southwest assigns each of its passengers a boarding number, they board in that numerical order, after first lining up in that numeral order. Having passengers line up to board stops the “clumping” of gate lice.
Rumor has it that even when Southwest abandons its open seating for assigned seats, they’re still going to use the pylons to assist with boarding. I don’t know how they plan to implement that, but I’d be 100% behind it. If that’s the case (again, don’t quote me on it – I only read it in one place and I don’t even remember where it was, so at this point I’m saying it’s a rumor), even though their system is going to change, hopefully the lack of gate lice will continue.
The only other U.S. airline that got close to eliminating gate lice was United, back when they piloted this program for loading. I thought it was awesome…since they never implemented it beyond the pilot stage, I guess they didn’t. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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2 comments
Unusually, I disagree with you. I think that once people get acclimated to not being able to cut in early then the gate congestion will ease. Ultimately the best way to get rid of gate lice is to allow free checked bags so people don’t feel as compelled to get on the plane earlier with bags they could have checked but didn’t want to due to the cost.
Nope, I don’t think it will help gate lice. The people who try to cut in early are in the vast, VAST minority. They just mill about because they want to get on the plane “first,” once their group is announced. Plus “everyone else is doing it” so there’s that herd mentality, mixed with some FOMO. But you’re right; if they felt more comfortable about checking bags and not incurring a fee, less people might turn themselves into gate lice. Although I suspect the “first,”/FOMO/herd mentality might still prevail. After all, we ARE Americans… 😉 (note: airlines in other countries now also charge for checked bags, yet they generally don’t become gate lice)