Airline testing new boarding method to catch out controversial travelling habit

American Airlines is testing a new boarding system to catch out holidaymakers that abuse a popular travelling habit.

The US airline has announced that it will be using new technology to find travellers who attempt to board before their designated group is called.

Talking with Travel + Leisure, American Airlines shared that it will be using an audible sound to signify if a passenger is attempting to board a plane too early. The new tech is currently being tested at Albuquerque International Sunport airport and the Tucson International Airport, with plans to add it to other locations soon, including to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

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“We are in the early phase of testing new technology used during the boarding process,” an American Airlines spokesperson said to Travel + Leisure. “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.”

The test will occur when scanning boarding passes, and if the passenger is trying to board before their designated group, a sound will alarm when their pass is scanned. So far, the airline has been pleased with the results. American is not the first airline to try new measures regarding boarding processes. Last year, United Airlines altered its boarding procedure to allow travellers in window and middle seats to board earlier in an effort to speed up the entire process.

Earlier this year, Delta Air Lines changed how it classifies its boarding ones, switching to a number based system. From next year, Southwest Airlines is hoping to change its open seating process to an assigned seating one. In a Reddit post, one passenger commented: “Was flying out of ABQ yesterday and saw the test boarding system for the first time.

“As usual, group one was flooded with people but several people ahead of me when trying to scan their boarding pass got an error beep. The gate agent proceeded to tell them ‘sir/mam you are group five, please step aside’. Was awesome to see this enforced and looked like it was system driven vs gate agent having to make that call.”

Another added: “I saw about five people get punted out of line for trying to board before their group was called. About time!” A third user mocked: “t will be great to get rid of the GATE LICE!”

The issue of passengers jumping their boarding group has been a pet peeve of travellers for years. Usually, those who board in earlier groups do not have to wait at the airport gate for as long and are able to store their hand luggage overhead more easily. Those in the latter groups are usually left to battle past people already comfortably sat down to get to their seat, and potentially have to store their luggage in a locker that is not directly near to them.

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