American Airlines has introduced new boarding technology in over 100 U.S. airports to prevent passengers from cutting in line and boarding out of turn.
The technology alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan their boarding pass before their assigned group is called, ensuring that passengers wait their turn to board.
The big picture: The rollout of this new software comes after successful tests in three locations – Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Tucson International Airport.
- Passengers and American employees have responded positively to the new boarding process, surpassing expectations, according to Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations.
The big picture: Analysts suggest that this move by American Airlines is aimed at bringing order to the boarding process and reducing frustration among travelers who witness line cutting in airports.
- However, some concerns have been raised regarding the additional steps passengers may need to take if they are part of a traveling group split across different boarding groups.
- The boarding technology has been designed to maintain order without causing embarrassment to passengers, as the alert is not accompanied by a loud sound or the passenger’s name being called over a loudspeaker.
What we’re watching: The expansion of this technology just before the peak Thanksgiving travel period is seen as both beneficial for improving the boarding process and potentially challenging for airport employees who may need more time to adapt.
- It is anticipated that other airlines may follow American Airlines in implementing similar gate-control technology to address the issue of passengers cutting lines at airports.
