One of my biggest pet peeves when I am flying is people who cannot follow the rules when it comes to boarding (and disembarking, for that matter). I was thrilled to see that American Airlines is on my side and is testing a new boarding process technology that will crack down on people who try to board earlier than their assigned boarding group.
The new technology will create an audible alert to the boarding agents, letting them know the passenger is boarding earlier than their boarding group. Agents will then (presumably) ask the passenger to step aside and wait for their correct boarding time. According to a report by CBS News, “gate agents still retain some discretion over the boarding process.” In other words, if they get the alert, it is up to them to decide whether you must wait to board. If you are traveling with a group and have a later boarding group than everyone else, they may let it slide (but they may not!)
The airline released a statement stating that “the new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team.”
The new technology is being tested at Albuquerque International Airport, Tucson International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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