American Airlines starts cracking down on "gate lice"

I like it

I love it! This is definitely one of my pet peeves.

I guess I do not see where enforcing what are already policies is so revolutionary. I can recall Delta agents turning people away when they tried to board early, but if it helps with enforcement, great.

Rushing the gate is a bit amateur, the pro's just request wheelchair service, you get to board way early! https://www.cbsnews.com/news/frontier-ceo-says-passengers-are-abusing-wheelchair-services/

I'm just surprised they need an automated gate to do this - traveling from Australia recently, gate staff were openly refusing to board people in the wrong group, and telling them in no uncertain terms to sit down. No gate needed...

I saw this on Sunday at Copenhagen airport. They had started boarding, and were, say at Group 3.

Someone went up with the group to board and when they scanned their boarding pass at the automated turnstile, indeed it emitted a noticeably different (negative) beep, and the gates remained closed. The people looked up in confusion at the gate staff, one of whom told them (loudly enough that we could hear) something along the lines of "that's because you are Group 4, and we are not boarding that group yet."

I liked it !! I don't like being considered gate lice though !

I always thought they sent them back. I have see gate agents send people back. On SW I am always amazed at all the wheelchairs people who suddenly don’t need it to get on the plane.

I did giggle at the term, but yes cracking down on the policy is something I am for. Why can't people just wait their turn? At my home airport, SEA, it isn't bad most of the time. My husband and I tend to stay way back, and for one flight an agent noticed that as she was working the lane ropes, and we asked if we were in her way. When they started boarding she came and got us and took us first, I think because we were so polite. I didn't ask, but that was the only reason.

The reason they need automated gates is a large number of "Gate lice" are actually elite level frequent fliers who are more than happy to demonstrate that they have the emotional maturity and sense of entitlement of a two year old being told NO at the toy store. They curse, they rant, they threaten because after all "DYKWIA"

Because of my age and the cane I travel with I am usually allowed to pre-board. I try not to fly with American Airlines anyway, but I sure hope this doesn't happen if you are pre-boarding. How embarrassing it would be.

I've seen this happen in ATL with Delta. I don't recall if the boarding pass scanner made a specific beep, but the gate agents will tell someone their boarding group hasn't been called and then make them do the walk of shame, usually followed by the announcement along the lines of "ladies and gentlemen we are boarding Delta One passengers ONLY at this time. If you are not in the Delta One cabin please remain seated until your boarding group is called."

I thought "gate lice" was the term for people who just crowd the gate even though they are in a later boarding group - not specifically the people who try to board earlier than their group. (I first heard the term on the Passenger Shaming instagram account years ago). You know, people who board in Zone 6 but are practically breathing down the gate agent's neck in the meantime.

I could be wrong, but I believe some people rush the gate because they are worried there will be no room in the overhead bin for their carryon.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to board the back of the plane first so the line would flow faster.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to board the back of the plane first so
the line would flow faster.

I was reading an article that it does make more sense but the airlines can't do that now because of the multiple levels of boarding they've created as upcharges. On a flight last year on Delta I counted 9 boarding zones. My airline of choice has 5-6 depending on the flight. It's even created a lower level of Economy at the back of the plane and boards last. I was recently on flights with EasyJet and Vueling which are both discount airlines. The lines in the terminal were chaos but boarding went quickly because it was done from doors at the front and back of the plane.

I saw the article - surprised it is being presented as "new innovation". I saw the procedure in action on my pre-Covid frequently flown foreign-owned airline many times.

I have also seen American send lower boarding group number holders being sent to the back of the line even without beeps. I remember several cases when it was clear that the travelers honestly did not know anything about boarding groups and were confused. I don't see the need to embarrass folks that aren't frequent travelers - airports are confusing and unwelcoming enough without adding to the situation.

As to there being too few overhead spots for the last boarding groups - I have been impacted by that. One of my frequent routes is a smaller domestic plane. Boarding group 3 or later is inevitably required to gate check. One of our bags was destroyed after being gate checked with the requirement of pick-up at luggage collection in Chicago. I generally pay for expedited boarding if I don't have it already for my flight.

I flew Porter Airlines (a Canadian, mainly domestic, airline) a couple of weeks ago, and they boarded back to front on my outgoing flight. It went very smoothly, and I think it made a lot of sense.

”I could be wrong, but I believe some people rush the gate because they are worried there will be no room in the overhead bin for their carryon.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to board the back of the plane first so the line would flow faster.”

I admit it; I am one of those people who want to board as soon as I can - only because I want my carry on bag in the overhead above me, so I will try to be first when my section is called. I have had situations where it was already full when I boarded, and it’s a pain to have the bag back & few rows and trying to obtain it walking upstream when everyone is exiting downstream.

My husband was so surprised when I was fine boarding last on a flight once, but that was because we didn’t have any luggage. No reason to get on the plane until the end.

I do have a funny story. I was waiting to board at Seattle for an international flight, and it was a gate in A across from the bathrooms. I came out of the bathroom, and people were lined up in the first class and other line. Since I was in the first group of the non-first class, I walked up and stood in the other line to be ready to board after the Premium group boarded. Well….apparently while I was in the bathroom, they had announced that anyone who needed extra time should stand in this second line….as this line was given the signal to go before the 1st class group! At that point I was stuck in the dividers and just went with the others - LOL! Early boarding and a little humor.

Alaska Airlines used to board back-to-front. I think the most efficient way to board would be back-to-front by window seats, first. Middle seats, second. And aisle seats last. (Kids could board with their parents.) But, that would require the discipline that’s lacking in the current clump of people wanting to get on the plane first.

There would be a lot less gate lice if they could get the baggage rats under control. You know, the rats that flagrantly travel with “carry on” that doesn’t even come close to fitting in a sizer. Yesterday we saw a woman with an oversized carry on and a second carry on claiming it was her personal item trying to get them into the overhead bin but she couldn’t lift neither of them herself. Disgusting rats. Get rid them and the lice will follow.

The baggage rats. I like that. But there are a lot of “those people”.
Perhaps they should just have two boarding groups. Those with carry on and those without. Board the carry ons last. Would be easier to seat the plane. None of those people blocking the aisle trying to stow their stuff. I have not seen any boarding plans that include his method.
Or, allow all carryons first, but they are all in the back of the plane. You carry on, you get such a seat.

The reason they need automated gates is a large number of "Gate lice" are actually elite level frequent fliers

If they're elite level frequent fliers then they invariably have priority boarding anyway as a perk and so are the first to board.

This is one of the reasons I really like Icelandair. Here at SEA at least they are very strict with luggage size for carryon and they make you put your luggage in the sizer and they weigh it. It doesn't matter if you are flying economy or saga class. Then at the gate they have a scale and sizer as well in case anyone did not check in at the regular desk.

I thought "gate lice" was the term for people who just crowd the gate even though they are in a later boarding group - not specifically the people who try to board earlier than their group. (I first heard the term on the Passenger Shaming instagram account years ago). You know, people who board in Zone 6 but are practically breathing down the gate agent's neck in the meantime.

Sadly "gatelice" are often the airline elite. They just want to blame all the people in Zone 6 but... if you pay attention you notice that a lot of them are flashing things like "Diamond Medallion" tags on their bags for Delta. The "DYKWIA' group is actually the WORST gate lice group because they are convinced that being first on the plane wins them a prize (no idea what I've never competed). I watched one of these jerks knock over a senior citizen to force his way to the front of the line (she was preboarding but that didn't stop this DYKWIA passenger)

We watched this in Milan last month on Swiss Air. A simple sorry, you’re not in this boarding group a couple of times was enough to embarrass several people and stop it. As far as carryons, Swiss was very strict with the size which is significantly smaller on their inter-European flights versus their international. I wasn’t happy to have to gate check my bag in my state of international flight fogginess but I have to admit that the boarding process to get on and off the plane went more quickly without people trying to stuff large bags into small spaces.

I am disappointed that several of you have had bad experiences with or observations of "elite" fliers. I actually had to look up the term "DYKWIA". I'm sure the attitude exists - but I hope my record of not encountering it despite my frequent flights holds.

My experience of the "elite frequent flier" travelers is that many have arrived from the airline lounge shortly before boarding begins. They (dare I say "we" as I am sometimes a member of this group?) have not staked out a seating area earlier in the waiting process and often no seating close to the boarding area is available. Further, as boarding is soon to begin, standing for a short time is not a hardship. So, they/we "elites" do tend to congregate near the boarding area - this is the most efficient area to wait.

I have observed that some airlines and airports are better at indicating where different boarding groups will queue. This seems to streamline the process.

Honestly, I just yell, “ hey” which often causes them to stop but there have been the arrogant “ I’m special “ wannabes who simply don’t care.

When I pass them in the aisle I’ve been known to loudly inquire “ happy now.?”

I’m intolerant of rudeness.

Sadly I flew AA to and from SFO in the past few days & didn’t see them enforcing it. In fact on my way to SFO they called group 5 and before 5 could even line up they called 6. This has happened several times to me now & it really irks me. Sure enough, even though I was group 5 there was no room for my carry on except several rows back. Fortunately once boarding was completed I could move it to first.
On my return I had the exit row from SFO and the overhead bins were full of AA equipment. Emergency things so important but yet again no room for carry on. Seat wasn’t even comfortable. There’s more legroom but I swear the actual seat width is narrower. I wish CLT were not an AA hub.

Before I retired, I was a business traveler who was fortunate at least in respect that I travelled business class as standard. That plus typically being platinum meant I was always among the first groups to board. While I would occasionally see anxious flyers who were rightfully worried about carryon luggage fitting (since airlines changed their policies and pricing for baggage) but this was far less common than described in what appears to me to be sensationalized, unserious reporting. With that said it is perfectly understandable that some folks are angered by line jumpers. The reward for line jumping seems to be securing a spot for your luggage-- which American and other airlines really ought not be rationing so parsimoniously-- which is unfair to those who waited their turn. Airlines fixing that small but real problem is appropriate-- although it seems that they could fix by not nickel and diming passengers for their luggage too.

In any case, happy travels!

I admit to being one of those who sometimes gets up and stands near the line up area (not IN the actual line up) before my zone is called. I'm more likely to do this if I'm in the last boarding zone, or if I have a short layover at the destination . But I also do this so I can stand and move my feet, do some subtle stretches and knee bends, etc., before I get on the flight. I don't get in the actual line until my zone is called or until the line is obviously petering out, though.

This sort of thing was rarely an issue before airlines started charging to check bags.

Wow!! ...........

I appreciate it when the gate agents encourage people to stay seated, or stay well away from where the boarding lines form. So frequently, there's such crowd of "near" the line that you can't tell who is/isn't lined up. I've politely waited behind someone who actually isn't in line yet, which is irritating. Now I tend to loudly ask "are you in line?" and way too frequently they are not.

We solve the problem of competing for overhead bin space by checking a bag and only carrying what can fit below the seat in front of us.

Yesterday at IAH I was amused to see a huffy lady who had more than two carryon items and was stopped at the boarding door to consolidate them. Good for the airline - more of this please. It's amazing to see the barge-sized suitcases coming down the aisle.

….just to make you feel better about waiting…..

https://youtu.be/qhxlZC8BZJ4?feature=shared

:))

I was Group 1 for many years. Now, Group 3 for life. Does anyone know who is in Group 2? Never see anyone board in that group.

Sorry, back to the topic. Glad to see this more strongly enforced. I occasionally see the agent ask someone to come back when their group is called. But I suspect that AA management noticed agents were not enforcing this enough so they added a technology component to force the agent to deny boarding. I am also guessing that the agent can't let the person be registered as boarded unless they enter some override procedure.

When my wife and I travel together she is not usually in Group 3. So, we ask the agent to let her through. Most airlines are ok with this. I have a feeling it is going to be more difficult in the future.

If this is being done, good !

Since I fly basic Economy " they " placed me almost always in Group 4 . That is what I have come to expect. If not, my luck changes to being placed in Group 5.

So a few weeks ago, I was flying from Louisville to Atlanta. Gate agent calls pre-boarding tons of people. I just ignore this. Agent calls first class. I have a first class ticket, I am literally the only person boarding. I get on and the cabin is completely full, except for my seat

So where are those people gate lice? Or was everyone in the first cabin but me needing extra time or assistance to board I I guess it is possible they all needed extra assistance but I would say the odds of everyone in a first class given, but one person needing extra time and assistance is highly unlikely

Referring to our fellow man as lice and rats, is this where we really want to be?

I was Group 1 for many years. Now, Group 3 for life. Does anyone know who is in Group 2? Never see anyone board in that group.

It depends on the airline;. on United, I am always group 2 because I have their credit card. At my airport, about half the plane seems to board in that group.

I do wish airlines would consistently post what group is boarding. I wait for my group, but sometimes I get to the gate and there is a big mass of people and I have no clue where they are in the boarding process. A lot of times it can’t be helped because there is often very little seating in the gate area. Another pet peeve of mine is when people take up multiple seats in the gate area with bags and luggage.

What I really wish is that airlines would be consistent on carry-on sizes and personal item sizes and enforcement. I see a lot of people whose ”personal item” is nearly as large as their rollaboard and they are also carrying various other items (e.g., coats, shopping bags, pillows, bags of food, etc.).

What I really wish is that airlines would be consistent on carry-on
sizes and personal item sizes and enforcement.

We can all dream, sadly I've given up hope. On my flight home from Barcelona two weeks ago the couple in front of me had 3 carry-ons each and nothing was done. Maybe the conventional airlines need to take lessons from the discount airlines. On my EasyJet flight from Barcelona to Lisbon, the gate agent went down the line doing a precheck of tickets to make sure no 'gate lice' were in the wrong line and at the same time checking to make sure bags and quantities met the requirements. One guy behind me was told his suitcase was too large; it was a ratty old thing and so he pulled his clothes out and put them in a plastic bag and carried them on that way. Left his suitcase behind. I was waiting for some kind of security reaction when a suitcase was left in the middle of the airport with no owner, but nothing happened.

Referring to fellow our man as lice and rats, is this where we really
want to be?

"Gate lice" is the raison d'être for the story going viral. It is a perfect example of clickbait, smack-you-the-face and grab your attention phrase.

Sure, line jumpers are annoying.

But so is this type of journalism and so is referring to anyone as lice-- be it some unnamed airline employee or Hitler.

Happy travels! Now where did I put my beer? It was around here somewhere....

"Referring to fellow our man as lice and rats, is this where we really want to be?"

Rats and lice don't have the "choice" that our fellow man does. For me, that makes this conduct worse.

Edit: And really, calling them "rats and lice" is just referring to their reprehensible choices. As I said, Rats and Lice are not that bad.

Edit2: Speaking of Rats, did anyone see this: "Passenger films "super rat" scuttling across plane mid-flight from Dallas to LA
(video)"

Passenger films Rat scuttling across plane