American Airlines is implementing new technology to combat skip boarding, where passengers attempt to board before their assigned group.
Over 100 airports will adopt this system to streamline boarding during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas travel periods following successful trials.
The technology prevents early boarding by denying entry on passengers’ boarding passes and alerts gate agents to enforce protocols.
Positive feedback indicates that this initiative enhances the boarding experience for travelers, reinforcing the importance of adhering to assigned boarding groups.
Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, shared: “We’ve heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase. The initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations, so we are thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.”
