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American Airlines introduces technology that warns passengers who try to board before their turn.
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Travelers can expect to see it in action at more than 100 airports this holiday season.
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The new technology also gives staff more information about passenger and boarding group connections.
American Airlines is cracking down on passengers who try to sneak into an earlier boarding group.
The airline is introducing new technology that will allow gate agents to catch overzealous boarders at more than 100 airports nationwide, the company said in a news release Wednesday.
When a flyer attempts to board their flight in an earlier boarding group than assigned, the gate agent’s scanner will recognize the wrong boarding group and notify them with a special two-tone sound. That alerts the officer to tell the passenger to wait his turn – and can also draw unwanted attention to the passenger.
Boarding groups are intended to allow passengers with higher-priced tickets, members of the U.S. military and certain airline status holders to board planes earlier than those who have not earned or purchased these benefits.
“We have heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it is a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase,” said Julie Rath, senior vice president at the airline, in the company’s statement. press release.
American has been testing this new software at airports in Tucson, Arizona over the past month; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Washington, DC. The airline said that after receiving positive feedback from both customers and team members during this trial period, it decided to roll out the technology in time for the holiday season.
Flyers can now expect the updates at non-hub airports in cities like Austin, Texas and Atlanta. The company’s hubs – including airports in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles – will receive the technology in the coming months, the airline said.
While the crackdown may be bad news for people traveling in groups, it’s likely great news for airline employees. Seasoned travelers, flight attendants and gate staff say one of their biggest pet peeves is people crowding the gate before boarding begins or trying to jump the boarding line. They even call some of these passengers “port lice.”
Read the original article on Business Insider
