American Airlines Cracks Down On “Gate Lice” With New Technology

American Airlines is testing new technology at select airports in Virginia, Arizona, and New Mexico to end a process known as “gate lice,” which is when passengers cut lines in hopes of boarding a flight early. This system detects passengers boarding out of turn, triggering an alert and prompting the gate agent to ask them to wait for their group.

They gather at the airport gate as passengers wait to board in their assigned groups. With a distracted gate agent, they slip into line and board before their group is called. Airlines have coined a term for these overly eager travelers: “gate lice.” American Airlines is one of the first to tackle the issue head-on.

Why are some people so eager to board early? Experts believe it’s less about seat preference—since seats are assigned—and more about claiming overhead bin space. As more and more people have carry on bags because of the increased fees with checked bags, this has become a problem as storage space fills up quickly. As a photographer, it is vitally important to get gear into the overhead bin and if you do not have status on an airline late boarding zones can cause a problem since there are times when everyone does not even get one space in the overhead compartment.

For airlines like American, “gate lice” are more than just a minor irritation. Crowding the gate can create confusion and delay the entire boarding process.

It’s also unfair to passengers with legitimate priority boarding, and in some cases, overly determined early boarders have used wheelchairs to gain early access.

With Southwest Airlines now offering assigned seating, there’s no longer an advantage to boarding early to secure a seat. But as long as checked bag fees persist, some passengers may continue sneaking aboard early to ensure overhead bin space.