'About time': Airlines crack down on annoying airport behaviour with new boarding technology
It's an annoying airport act that could actually delay your flight, and now airlines are cracking down on the behaviour.
We experienced it ourselves just the other weekend. While trying to board a flight after our group number had been called, we witnessed numerous passengers standing at the gate entrance before being told to step aside and get out of the way.
Airport workers have dubbed these kind of travellers 'gate lice', and now airlines are introducing technology to stop it from happening.
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Passengers who queue at a gate too early are known as 'gate lice'. Getty
American Airlines has been piloting a system in recent weeks to flag when people attempt to board before their group has been called.
"We are in the early phase of testing new technology used during the boarding process," the airline said in a statement to The Washington Post.
"The new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team."
How it works? When someone tries to board with the wrong group, its software gives an "audible signal" and shows the airline staff a message with the correct group.
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What are gate lice?
Urban Dictionary provides a relatively in-depth definition of the term 'gate lice'.
They are described as "passengers, often inexperienced flyers in [economy] class, who crowd around or line up at a gate at an airport completely blocking the boarding area and preventing First and Business Class passengers from being able to get on the plane when they're allowed to.
"They can also cause delays and confusion if a passenger in a wheelchair needs to board as the chair has to plough through the mass of gate lice hovering around the gate.
"When it's time to board, they have to be shooed from the front boarding area to the back of the line, delaying the flight for everyone."
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Plenty of travellers thought the new addition to the boarding process was a "genius" idea, sharing their reactions on social media.
On Reddit, one person shared they had themselves heard an "error beep" and witnessed passengers being told to "please step aside."
"I saw this in action yesterday," another person added. "It was great. I saw about 5 people get punted out of line for trying to board before their group was called. About time!"
Passengers will be turned around if their group hasn't been called. Getty
Flight attendants and airline staff have been calling out the habit for years. There are even social media pages dedicated to passenger shaming.
Flight attendant and co-creator of the blog Two Guys on a Plane Rich Henderson said people really have "no business standing right at the gate".
"Just stay as out of the way as possible of the boarding area until your group is at least close to being called," he told Business Insider.
