How American Airlines Is Fighting ‘Gate Lice’ in the Boarding Process

Hate what a mess boarding an airplane can be? So do airlines.

Many flights see dozens of passengers line up to board well before they should in order to snag limited overhead bin space. Some travelers try to scam their way onto flights early with wheelchairs. All told, the process is a source of stress for just about everyone involved at a time when most people likely just want to sit down and take off—which is why airlines are continually trying to refine things.

American Airlines (AAL) is the latest.

American Airlines Takes Action Against ‘Gate Lice’

American is changing a procedure that may help eliminate “gate lice.” For those of you unfamiliar with the term, “gate lice” is a pejorative used to describe people who hover around boarding gates well before it’s time for their group to board.

“Generally you’ll find more ‘gate lice’ … heading to or back from leisure destinations, and traveling at peak leisure times,” said Gary Leff, proprietor of the travel blog View From the Wing. “Sundays in Orlando, for instance!”

American Airlines is testing a system at three airports—Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico; Tucson International Airport in Arizona; and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport—that will produce a sound to alert gate agents when people try to board before their group is called.

“We are in the early phase of testing new technology used during the boarding process,” American Airlines said in a statement to Investopedia. “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.”

Other Airlines Tackle Boarding Challenges

Southwest Airlines (LUV), meanwhile, this summer announced it would be changing an open seating policy that had been in place for more than half a century, moving to assigned seats more in line with most of the industry.

In doing so, it may inadvertently address another boarding wrinkle sometimes called the “Jetbridge Jesus” phenomenon. To get an early start on open seating, some Southwest passengers request wheelchairs so they can board early and get desirable seats. Some Southwest flights see 20 or more passengers need wheelchairs to board, but only a few who need them to deplane,View From the Wing reported.

Behold, the healing powers of flying! (“Preboarding for those with disabilities is protected by DOT regulations,” a Southwest spokesperson told Investopedia. “It’s not our place to pontificate on those disabilities.”) Assigning seats might not completely eliminate some travelers’ desire to board early, but it could reduce the tension that lead some to seek an edge.

Whatever Southwest’s intention when it announced the change—it had been under pressure for months from activist Elliott Investment Management to shake up the company—passengers will be thrilled that one of their annoyances could go away.

Among other airlines adjusting their seating policies, United Airlines (UAL) earlier this year launched a feature that would alert travelers if seats they preferred on crowded flights became available after they booked their tickets, according to reports, and last year launched a “window-to-aisle” boarding process it says is intended to speed the process.

Delta (DAL), meanwhile, earlier this year returned to boarding by zone numbers rather than by named groups, reportedly a bid for more simplicity.