Airlines are spending a fortune to fight 'gate lice'

A passenger described witnessing a gate agent protest the pesky practice.

Mar 1, 2025 - 16:38

Airlines are spending a fortune to fight 'gate lice'

In 2024, American Airlines (AAL) spent millions of dollars developing software that will block people from boarding before their zone has been called.

People who do this are sometimes called by the pejorative term "gate lice." The practice is common precisely because of how easy it is to sneak through. Gate agents are usually on a time crunch to complete boarding and consequently they will often not argue with passengers who have lined up early. The sneaky passengers typically have a lower fare class and should therefore wait for passengers in higher zones to board first.

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'The ability to board with their assigned group is important'

The software, which American Airlines has already rolled out in a number of airports across the country, either opens the gate door or lets out a beep and keeps the gate closed depending on the type of boarding pass the traveler scans.

"We've heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it's a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase," Julie Rath, SVP of airport operations at American, said in a statement in November 2024. She added, the "response from customers and team members" they've observed since starting the rollout "has exceeded [the airline's] expectations."

The pilot program was initially tested in airports in Tucson and Albuquerque before being gradually expanded to more cities across the country. This week, a traveler at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) described witnessing a gate agent stop a passenger who tried to board early.

As the technology has not yet been installed at many regional airports like Pensacola, the agent was reportedly turning away said "gate lice" on her own.

Traveler describes 'a wonderful gate agent turning away folks'

"A wonderful gate agent this morning at PNS was actively turning away folks from boarding whose zones had not been called," a traveler using the u/Particular_Typical name on Reddit's forum for American Airlines wrote. "The flustered and angry zone nine passenger attempting to board with zone five was a hoot."

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The traveler's account received a very positive response because, as first said by American Airlines, there has been growing passenger frustration around more frequent chaos at the gate as well as travelers who flout boarding rules.

"Why do people push to board earlier and spend more time waiting on the usually hot plane?" another Redditor wrote under the post. "Is it just to be able to have a spot for their carry-on?"

The alternative viewpoint is that the beeping sound that erupts when passengers try to board treats passengers who may not have even realized they're boarding early like criminals.

Such extensive reliance on new technology can also create situations in which something breaks down and there are major bottlenecks. Last spring, the new eGates that the British government has been rolling out at airports across the country to speed up customers for British and EU citizens caused hours-long lines after a breakdown caused by a technical glitch.