American Airlines impose new system guaranteed to get rid of 'gate lice'

There's enough to worry about when going on holiday when it comes to the airport.

Have you got the passports, did you pack your own luggage, are you ready to be invasively scanned? Adding more to your airport stress, getting on the plane can be an ordeal all on its own.

Whether you've paid for first class, speedy boarding, or are forced to ride it out with the rest at the back, the issue of 'gate lice' is a growing one.

Before you ask, no, that's not getting a case of head lice while you're waiting to board - What they are is much more annoying.

Gate lice are a growing problem for airlines (J. David Ake/Getty)

Instead, these so-called gate lice try and board early by slipping in alongside a group that isn't theirs.

We all know the routine - people with mobility issues first, and then, you're called forward according to where you're sat on the plane. Well, that's how it should be.

According to The Washington Post, American Airlines is trying to tackle gate lice with a new system that 'guarantees' to squash them like actual bugs.

American Airlines explains how gate lice will be flagged by an 'audible signal' that alerts the gate staff that someone is trying to board outside of the correct group.

The airline told TWP: "We are in the early phase of testing new technology used during the boarding process.

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."

American Airlines has so far tested the gate lice tech at Albuquerque and Tucson's airports, with plans to continue a rollout to other locations, including Washington's Reagan National Airport.

Although Delta Airlines doesn't use any boarding enforcement tech (making it sounds like a free for all), it switched to a numbered zone system earlier in 2024. United Airlines said, "Our gate agents monitor the boarding process."

American Airlines' system has proved popular on Reddit, with passengers praising it as a way to stamp out gate lice.

The OP said it was 'great' to see people trying to board in the wrong class being told to step to the side. Some airlines already try and enforce this anyway, but it sounds like an audible sound and embarrassment could be the deciding factor here.

Someone else said: "I despise those people.....AA / all airlines can't enforce these boarding rules soon enough."

Another added: "I saw this in action yesterday. It was great. I saw about 5 people get punted out of line for trying to board before their group was called. About time!"

A third pointed out: "It’s horrible frustrating when you are following the rules and others are allowed to break them!

However, people break the rules because they can. If the airlines won’t enforce their own boarding policy, why should the passengers. If it’s that important, they would enforce it.."

Flying is never exactly a stress-free experience, but if gate lice are sent to the back of the queue, it'll hopefully be less of a stampede to the gate when the crew announces boarding.