American Airlines is currently testing a new technology at three airports in the United States to streamline the boarding process and prevent passengers from cutting the line. The technology is being trialed at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport in New Mexico, Tucson International Airport in Arizona, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia.
The innovative system alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger attempts to scan their ticket before their assigned boarding group. This feature aims to ensure that customers receive the benefits of priority boarding smoothly and enhances the overall boarding experience by providing better visibility into the progress of the boarding process for the airline's team.
American Airlines explained that in cases where a passenger tries to board out of order, such as when traveling with a companion of higher status, the gate agent can quickly override the alert and allow the pass to be accepted. The airline emphasized that gate agents handle these situations politely, informing the passenger that their pass cannot be accepted and asking them to rejoin the line when their designated boarding group is called.
While the technology is currently in a trial phase, American Airlines expressed satisfaction with the initial results. The airline is optimistic about the potential of this new system to improve boarding efficiency and customer experience in the future.
