I realize this isn't the Newsstand, but since I started to post on this topic yesterday, I'm going to share the link in the Buzz forum. The Associated Press has a news story on how United Airlines and others are using additional boarding lines to combat "gate lice." The story actually uses the term in the article.
United reduced the number of boarding groups from seven to five while adding lanes in gate areas - from two to five at big airports. That's designed to eliminate "gate lice" - the name road warriors use for those anxious passengers with big carry-ons who cause a traffic jam by creeping forward long before their group is called.
The reason I was going to post on this is because I recently took a United flight where the multiple lines were used. Even though I didn't have a priority number, I really liked being able to get in a proper line and know when it was my turn to board.
Creating separate lines took up very little space. It solved the problem. Will the other airlines listen? Oh, and do any Flyertalkers dislike the multiple lines?
UAPremExecflyer
Jul 31, 2013 8:12 am
There's a 207 page (and growing) thread on this topic in the UA forum
Originally Posted by UAPremExecflyer
(Post 21189504)
There's a 207 page (and growing) thread on this topic in the UA forum
Dumb me didn't look. However, if one airline starts doing something great (or awful) and it is only discussed in that airlines section, other flyers will never hear about it. I usually fly Delta, and almost never visit the United site.
And I did find the use of the term "gate lice" interesting as it clearly came from this board.
dcman2
Jul 31, 2013 9:50 am
New boarding system eliminates "gate lice"
They did this on a recent Singapore flight I was on. It worked better for 400 people than the normal system works for 175.
Gamecock
Jul 31, 2013 10:25 am
They'll just develop a resistance.
cordelli
Jul 31, 2013 1:48 pm
Multiple lanes does not eliminate them, just puts them in little rows, and when the row fills up (four or five people) they still block the others. It's certainly a step in the right direction though.
