In travel news this week: American Airlines tackles line-jumpers, the world’s best bars for 2024, plus National Geographic and Lonely Planet reveal their top destinations for the year ahead.
Gate lice: What they are and why they’re a problem
This is going to be tough news to hear if you’re someone who likes to gather around the airport gate before your designated boarding time, either because you’re an anxious flyer or you’re really keen on grabbing that overhead bin space. There’s a not-very-flattering term for those exhibiting the behavior: “gate lice.”
It might feel harmless, but swarming the gate can lead to congestion, confusion and longer wait times. To tackle the problem, American Airlines is trialing new technology at airports in New Mexico, Arizona and Virginia. Passengers who attempt to board before their assigned group is called will set off an error beep, alerting the gate agent — and also rule-abiding fellow passengers. The line-cutters are then sent back to board with their rightful group.
“We’ve been pleased with the results of the test so far,” AA told CNN by email.
In other airport news, following the headlines last week that a New Zealand airport has put a time limit on hugs, London’s Heathrow Airport has got in on the action with new signage declaring, “Max hug time, unlimited. Fond farewells in Departures, encouraged.”
Now that sounds like a challenge. Heathrow is technically a 24/7 operation, so get working on your squeeze stamina.
