'Gate lice' are swarming boarding gates at airports: The annoying case of impatient passengers

If you think ‘gate lice’ is any different from hair lice, you aren’t wrong.

Gate lice tend to swarm in large groups, are difficult to shake and their annoying presence can linger long after they first appear.

To tackle this infestation at airports, a US carrier, American Airlines, has been piloting a new system in recent weeks to resolve this problem once and for all and make the boarding process for passengers smooth.

But who exactly are ‘gate lice’? How are American Airlines planning to tackle it? Here’s a closer look.

What does ‘gate lice’ mean?

“Gate lice” is a term used to describe passengers who board before their designated group is called, often crowding the gate as early as possible, in an attempt to board early and secure overhead bin space.

One flight attendant recently told Reader’s Digest that ‘gate lice’ are people who crowd the boarding gate, which “makes it difficult for those with legitimate needs for preboarding to get to the boarding door.”

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Another term used is “boarding group jumpers.”

Gary Leff of the airline industry website View from the Wing told NPR, “Generally you’ll find more ‘gate lice’…heading to or back from leisure destinations, and traveling at peak leisure times. Sundays in Orlando, for instance!”

Why do people ‘gate lice’?

The issue of “gate lice” emerged from a real problem, Ben Mutzabaugh, managing editor of aviation content for travel blog The Points Guy, explained to Fortune.

In 2008, airlines pushed to raise the fee for checked bags following which passengers increasingly opted for carry-on luggage to avoid both the fee and the wait at baggage claim. This led to heightened demand for limited overhead bin space, as no one wanted to be the first passenger forced to gate-check their bag.

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“Once that started to become the new normal, and people understood that as the reality, it did create a lot of anxiousness among players to try to get on the plane early,” Mutzabaugh told the magazine.

However, Leff points out that early boarding isn’t just about securing bin space.

What gate lice really want, he says, is the sense of relief and control that comes with finally reaching their seat: “They’ve done everything they can to make sure their travel goes smoothly; everything in their control from getting to the airport to getting through security and onto the plane is done,” he told NPR.

This collective boarding anxiety, though, has the potential to turn chaotic. The Federal Aviation Administration has already referred 43 unruly passengers to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) this year, and since 2021, has forwarded 310 of the most serious cases—including incidents of assault against flight attendants or other passengers—to the investigative agency.

Also read: What is ‘raw-dogging’ on flights, the latest travel trend?

How’s American Airlines tackling the problem?

American Airlines is testing new technology to alert passengers and gate agents when someone attempts to board before their seating group is called.

The system will emit an “audible signal” whenever a passenger tries to board early, prompting the gate agent to redirect the passenger back to their assigned group.

We are in the early phase of testing new technology used during the boarding process," American Airlines told Newsweek in a statement. “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."

According to NBC News, this system is already being trialled at Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, Tucson International Airport in Arizona, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia.

“We’ve been pleased with the results of the test so far,” the airline told NPR.

This update comes as other airlines make changes to their boarding processes. Southwest, known for its “open seating” model, announced it would transition to assigned seating starting in 2026. In 2023, United Airlines began boarding economy passengers with window seats first, according to NBC News.

Mutzabaugh noted the American Airlines’ strategy is “wise” as it spares gate agents from dealing with unruly passengers. “You can be mad at the machine, but that’s probably better than being mad at the gate agent,” he said, adding, “A little order goes a long way these days.”

With input from agencies