American Airlines introduces a new way to combat «collars» — what does this mean?
24 october 2024 в 17:13
American Airlines has just introduced a new way to stop «gate lice» — but what does that even mean? Travelers flying with this airline are wondering what this means for the boarding process. However, anyone who has traveled in recent years knows about one main complaint: crowded gates during boarding.
«Gate lice» are passengers who crowd around the gate when their boarding group has not yet been called. As travelers know, access to the overhead bins can seem like a race against time. Therefore, some people block the gates, and consequently, other passengers, in order to board the plane as quickly as possible.
American Airlines does not refer to their customers as «gate lice». However, the term has become popular on social media after the company introduced a new tool to speed up the boarding process.
In a statement obtained by USA Today, a representative of the airline noted that they are «in the early stages of testing new technology used during the boarding process», which «is designed to provide customers with advantages in priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding process by providing greater visibility of the boarding progress for our team».
Rachel Warner, a representative of American Airlines, also explained to the publication why the company is experimenting with new technology.
«It's a privilege that depends on where (the customer) can sit on the plane, or their status of advantage, or if they have a credit card», she noted. «We want to make sure our customers have the opportunity to board in the order they should. … We are always looking for ways to make the boarding process easier for our customers and for our employees. There is so much for the gate agent to do, so we are constantly looking for ways to use technology to make it easier for both groups».
Airports where American Airlines has begun using its new boarding platform include Albuquerque International Sunport, Tucson International Airport, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
«Gate lice» are passengers who crowd around the gate when their boarding group has not yet been called. As travelers know, access to the overhead bins can seem like a race against time. Therefore, some people block the gates, and consequently, other passengers, in order to board the plane as quickly as possible.
American Airlines does not refer to their customers as «gate lice». However, the term has become popular on social media after the company introduced a new tool to speed up the boarding process.
In a statement obtained by USA Today, a representative of the airline noted that they are «in the early stages of testing new technology used during the boarding process», which «is designed to provide customers with advantages in priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding process by providing greater visibility of the boarding progress for our team».
Rachel Warner, a representative of American Airlines, also explained to the publication why the company is experimenting with new technology.
«It's a privilege that depends on where (the customer) can sit on the plane, or their status of advantage, or if they have a credit card», she noted. «We want to make sure our customers have the opportunity to board in the order they should. … We are always looking for ways to make the boarding process easier for our customers and for our employees. There is so much for the gate agent to do, so we are constantly looking for ways to use technology to make it easier for both groups».
Airports where American Airlines has begun using its new boarding platform include Albuquerque International Sunport, Tucson International Airport, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
© Kolganov Andrey
