Travelers are urging airlines to actively suspend line cutters during the boarding process.
American Airlines has already begun to ban people from boarding ahead of the right zone.
Last year, before Thanksgiving, Americans deployed new technology used while on boarding, allowing passengers to hear gate agents when they attempt to board prior to designated challenges, Fox News Digital reported.
American Airlines passengers claim they have witnessed crackdowns on “lice” before boarding
Other airlines have not yet adopted this protocol, and travelers appear to be aware of the negative effects of gate lice.
Anyone who tries to board an airplane in front of a designated zone is called a “gate lice.” (istock)
Flight passengers took them to Reddit sub-thread R/UnitedAirlines to share their frustration over travel trends and how it negatively affects other passengers.
“(American Airlines) has led the way in sabotaging annoying people who are too ignorant to ride in their assigned groups, or they’re just being fraudulent to ride faster,” a Reddit user wrote.
Users also said that it will affect the way gate lice accumulates carry-on baggage.
“This issue is really important because the overhead bin space is premium. There’s nothing worse than having to keep the queue behind the seat and wait (everyone) for (everyone) to retrieve it.
“Aisle Lice” is the annoying nuisance of the latest air travel to spark social media debate
Other Reddit users jumped into the conversation to share their feelings about the gate lice.
Reddit users (not in the photo) have called on the airlines to crack down on “gate lice” just like American Airlines. (istock)
“As a gate agent, this bothers us as much as you do,” one user wrote. “Sometimes people are mean and tapping QR codes on their phones, so they can’t see the group number, but they’ve started to do that in particular over the past few weeks.
“Yeah, you get stenching occasionally from people in group 1, but it’s not too much trouble to have to grab a plane bag and check it out there. It’s the same as a family with children.
Another user who recently said he flew on an international flight said that he drove people away because the gate agent wasn’t on board in the assigned group.
“They also had flight attendants and ensured that all boarding had one large/roller carry-on in an overhead bin (backpack, jacket etc. They were forcing them to place a large carry-on vehicle under their seats.
American Airlines cracks down on “gate lice” when airport passengers skip line during the boarding process
“I absolutely loved this. Everyone could get a bag overhead. It was close to where you sat. And it seems like anyone used to this airline didn’t bother boarding later, knowing there was space for their items.”
“We hope United and other airlines will force this, making the entire boarding experience easier,” the user added.
Fox News Digital contacted United Airlines and American Airlines for comment.
Many people say there is a problem with people on the plane in front of their assigned zone. These passengers should take valuable bin space and not leave the luggage room of fellow passengers. (istock)
United have their own boarding process that has been going on since 2023. All this is to prioritize seating locations.
At the time, an internal memo was sent by the Chicago-based airline saying, “We notified staff about the boarding policy where economy passengers with window seats (boarding) in Group 3 have passengers with middle seats in Group 4 and passengers with passengers in Group 5 aisle seats.
A seating plan called Wilma represents an aisle in the window, saving up to 2 minutes in the boarding process for each flight. This change affects all national and certain international flights.
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California-based etiquette expert Rosa Linda Randall shared insights into why new technology is needed.
Etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall responded to the need for an alert system when boarding, saying, “As our social skills and courtesy become weaker, we seem to be guaranteed to create a boarding technology position.” (istock)
“There have always been passengers trying to avoid the general boarding process. Today, it’s become more common. Rather than acknowledging it or shrugging with clichés when caught, “it’s not harmful to try it,” they’re belligerent and hope that they’ll meet their demands,” Randall said.
“Gate lice can have a variety of reasons to jump before their assigned zone. Apart from flying tightly connected or traveling with impaired passengers, wait your turn,” she added.
Randall said anyone boarding before the assigned zone would be “non-compassionate” if they chose to place their luggage in “Prime Bin Space.”
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“Next time, do you sticker carry-on with seat allocation? If you don’t follow simple guidelines, airlines are forced to create rules. And yes, for us who try to follow the rules and practice courtesy, it stinks and frustrates,” she said.
“lice” passengers are no longer just cutting the line, but are now taking valuable overhead bin space from fellow passengers. (istock)
“If only general courtesy is practiced, AA or other airlines do not need to create new positions. As our social skills and courtesy fade, it appears that we are guaranteed to create a boarding technology position,” Randall said.
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“The days of solid reminding other passengers, aka peer pressure, to return to the zone designated for gate lice, are gone. Speaking can quickly turn into a brawl today.”
Daniella Genovese of Fox Business contributed to this report.
