This Airline Is Cracking Down on People Who Cut the Boarding Line

Few parts of the travel process can be more fraught than boarding an airplane. That’s evident to anyone who’s boarded a flight recently and witnessed groups of passengers line up to board even before the first zone (of many) is called. In fact, frequent flyers have a term for these overeager types: “gate lice.” It refers to passengers who crowd the boarding gate and attempt to jump ahead in line. And now, at least one airline is aiming to combat the trend with new technology. Find out how it works below.

Why Boarding a Plane Takes So Long

The primary factor that slows down the boarding process is the time it takes for each passenger to store their overhead carry-on luggage, according to Jason Steffen, an astrophysicist at the University of Nevada. With the advent of baggage fees, travelers looking to avoid these fees — which keep going up — are bringing larger carry-ons, leaving less room in the overhead bins. 

While some airlines are attempting to address the problem by retrofitting aircraft with larger overhead bins, baggage fees remain an important source of revenue and are likely here to stay. That creates another problem: Travelers tend to crowd the gate area, anxious to find room for their full-size carry-on bags in the overhead bins, with some even attempting to jump the line. 

Kristie Tse, a psychologist with Uncover Mental Health Counseling, told Thrillist that “crowding the gate often stems from a mix of anxiety and a desire for control. Individuals may feel an overwhelming urge to secure their position, fearing they might miss out or face consequences if they don’t act quickly. This behavior can indicate underlying insecurities or a lack of trust in the process.” 

Another key issue is the complexity of boarding groups. While airlines have an obvious incentive to board a plane as quickly as possible (more time flying equals more revenue), an important consideration is segmentation. Airlines choose to reward their biggest spenders and credit card holders with boarding priority, even if that goes against the science of boarding most quickly. It also offers them an important upsell opportunity for those wishing to settle in sooner. 

American Airlines Introduces New Boarding Technology 

In October 2024, Dallas-based carrier American Airlines, the world’s largest airline by passengers carried, said that it was testing a new system at select airports that will produce an audible alert to gate agents if a passenger attempts to board before the assigned group on their boarding pass, prompting the agent to send the passenger to the back of the line. 

After successful trials, the carrier announced in mid-November that the new boarding technology would be expanded to more than 100 airports across the U.S., just ahead of the busy holiday travel season. 

In explaining the reasoning for the new technology, the airline shared in an interview with travel website The Points Guy, “Our customers want a calm boarding experience, they want it to be seamless, they want to be able to board with their group and not have other customers in front of them.”

It’s aimed at combating the “gate lice” problem: Not only do passengers line up before they’re called, but many passengers have figured they can get away with jumping ahead in the process since boarding enforcement is left up to busy and often overworked gate agents. The technology being trialed by American Airlines aims to take the burden of enforcement off gate agents to create a more orderly system.

How To Get Priority Boarding

Of course, playing by the rules and boarding with your assigned group often doesn’t alleviate the stress of finding space for your carry-on. Because of that, you may be looking to join an earlier boarding group on your next flight. 

Unless you’re part of a qualifying group — such as those with disabilities, passengers traveling with small children, and active military personnel — you’ll have to shell out a little extra. First- and business-class tickets board in the earliest groups, and if you know where to look, those upgrades might be cheaper than you think. If first or business class isn’t in your budget, many airlines — including Southwest — offer a la carte options to secure a better boarding group for a fee.