American Airlines is testing a new technology at three airports across the country during the boarding process that aims to cut down on passengers who try to cut the line.
The technology, which is being tested at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport in New Mexico, Tucson International Airport in Arizona and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia, alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group.
The cause of line-cutting is limited overhead space and charges for checked bags. No one wants to cram into economy class seats early. They want to beat out the other cattle for overhead space. They need the space because they have a giant carry-on with their clothes for a week to avoid checked bag fees.
The airlines used to load the back of the plane first, but now they sell the rights to get on the plane early to frequent flyers and business class.
Actually, I do.
I hate, hate, hate waiting in line. I just want to board the plane and sit.
I usually check a bag (free checked bags) and just have a personal item.
I try to make sure I am first for my group.
If I have a personal item only, then I will board last or last of my group. I’ll have plenty of time in that airplane seat during the flight.
Not to mention, the low reliability of checked bags. I’m sure many people have had their bags lost, and can’t deal with the hassle even if they’re lucky enough to have an AirTag in it.
With low pay going to baggage handlers, I don’t see them improving anytime soon.
When our kid was 2 we checked her car seat. How could they possibly lose a car seat, I thought. Well that’s exactly what happened and we didn’t get it back for days. Had to buy one in the meantime and they are so fucking expensive.
The cause of line cutting is douchebags. But I get your point, and I agree the biggest douchebags are the airlines.
Still, don’t cut in line, everyone.
My guy, the line is a status symbol one earn by paying bonuses up front or letting their company pay.
There is no greater good here. Line cutters aren’t somehow immoral.
If everyone boarded in logical patterns of staggered odd window even window odd middle even middle odd aisle even aisle boarding, with no pairs or groups allowed, you’d be on to something.
But it falls apart the moment you look at how it’s actually done. Status and rewards, and seat class, then whatever is left. Cutting in line because you didn’t spring for an $80 seat upgrade that amounts to “better” padding in the headrest and 1 extra inch in your legroom is insane.
What a technology! A speaker hooked up to the same computer that’s scanning boarding passes. What a time to be alive.
I was going to say, maybe they should focus their time and money on solutions that stop them sucking so badly as an airline. This is way down there as a real problem in that sense. But you’re right, this is a comically low-bar solution, and is kind of embarrassing for them to flex on.
ETA: Some other issues they should really be focusing on include:
- Significant increases in plane maintenance safety issues (as reported by their own pilots union).
- Major problems/concerns with how they treat disabled customers.
- Weak IT security that left that airline (along with others) crippled by cyber-attacks last summer.
- Grossly underestimating summer travel demands.
- Inconsistent service levels from flight attendants.
ETA: Some other issues they should really be focusing on include:
Also?
Boeing.
They really should be looking at Boeing.
Very good point!
I prefer the low tech way of shaming them myself.
Meanwhile in the sane world -
Why not just limit the size of carry-on like every other airline?
Can we do the same thing for people who don’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom? (I think there was a far side comic with that)
There’s an Alamo Drafthouse in Austin that kinda does that with the bathroom.
You walk up to a bay of sinks. To the left is a door to a room with urinals and to the right is a hallway with a bunch of toilets. It’s everybody’s bathroom, there’s not a separate men and women and the stall doors are actual doors that you can’t see through. Since everyone is coming out the same way passed the bay of sinks, everybody will know if you washed your hands or not.
Edit: toilets are to the right, not left
People cut the boarding line? Why? It’s a fucking plane. Your seat is assigned. What’s the rush? Stay out in the comfy lounge as long as possible. Avoid standing and waiting for people to shuffle on. Enjoy the leg room and aircon as long as possible. There should be ZERO desire in you to stop what your currently doing to go cram yourself into a plane. Get up to board at the very last possible moment. Let the idiots cut. You shouldn’t even be.in line then anyway, only when there’s one person left in it.
Many do it to ensure they get overhead space for their carry-on, a result of airlines charging for checked luggage.
I’ve stopped having carry-on beyond what can fit under a seat, because of this.
If it’s assigned seating last is best. If it’s southwest… Being able to pick your seat sooner is better. (And maybe if you have a carry on and don’t want to be forced to checkout)
Don’t pick your seat in public… Ew!
Southwest are moving to assigned seating next year. I hope they still keep an orderly boarding process where everyone has a number. Maybe they’ll start boarding special people first, then from back to front.
Now do it for southwest, where it actually matters.
This is testing automation to replace jobs. As good as this is, it is a design meant to cut jobs.
Not sure who’s job it would replace. Right now policing boarding order is done by one person who is responsible for a bunch of other things that are critical for the flight. Even if they want to trim staff, and they do, that isn’t a place they can do it.
There is a difference between jobs that are actually able to be automated, and jobs business grads and upper management think can be automated.
That person is responsible for handling the weight and balance for passengers, bags, fuel, and cargo, acting as the interface for the above and below the wing personnel, managing access to the jet bridge and aircraft, securing the aircraft on the ground, and scanning in passengers. Policing boarding order is a very very small part of the job. Even if they find a way to automate the boarding process, you still need an operations agent. Airline management can be questionable but they aren’t that bad.
More likely would be trying to get rid of the CSRs, something some airlines have done. That causes its own problems though.
I wonder how much they could have lowered their prices by if they hadn’t spent the time developing this idea and spent the money on buying and installing the equipment?
