American Airlines is testing new technology to address the issue of passengers trying to board the plane before their assigned group. The system produces a noise when a passenger attempts to board early, alerting the gate agent and prompting the traveler to rejoin the line and wait their turn.
This technology is currently being tested at several airports, and American Airlines has reported positive results. The goal is to ensure that passengers receive the benefits of priority boarding while improving the overall boarding experience by providing greater visibility into the boarding process.
Airlines often offer “priority boarding” as a perk for business and premium-economy fliers, as well as travelers with frequent-flier status or a co-branded credit card. This can be frustrating for those with cheaper tickets or who don’t fly with the airline regularly. However, there are some exceptions, such as families with young children, travelers who need additional assistance, and service members. The motivation for passengers to try to board early is often the desire to secure overhead bin space, which can be limited, and to avoid the inconvenience of gate-checking their carry-on bags.
