American Copies United, Will Start Enforcing Boarding Priority…Will It Work?

American Airlines says it will start enforcing boarding priority using a system United Airlines has used for many years. While it may not work flawlessly, it should reduce the number of folks trying to board early and empower gate agents to more gracefully turn folks away.

American Airlines’ New Boarding System Mimics United In Attempt To Enforce Boarding Groups

View From The Wing notes that under a new trial system, if a passenger scans their boarding pass before their group number is called, they will be met with an audible tone. At that point, a gate agent will ask the passenger to step aside until their group number is called. This has been tested in Albuquerque (ABQ) and Tucson (TUS) and will shortly expand to Washington National (DCA).

As American explains:

We are in the early phase of testing new technology used during the boarding process. 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.

As a frequent United Airlines flyer and infrequent American Airlines traveler, I was honestly surprised that American has not adapted this change already (sort of like how it took United 10 years longer than American to offer meal service pre-orders…).

At United, at least in my experience, it works exactly as American explains above. And indeed, I hear that beep a lot…I pre-board due to my Premier 1K status and all the time I run into Group 1…or 2…or 5 passengers trying to board early. It’s really quite easy: the system beeps red and the gate agent (usually nicely, sometimes bluntly) tells you to step aside and wait your turn.

If you’re traveling with a spouse or companion in a lower group, you can still board together with the higher group number and just let the agent know…it’s easy enough for the gate agent to click override and allow the person onboard. Hopefully on American, like United, there will not be additioanl “exceptions” made (the only time I see those on United is when the gate agent appears in a rush to board the plane as quickly as possible).

View From The Wing likes the new AA system and says “no one has to stand there like with United’s boarding pens where passengers line up in their assigned group, with each group having a different area (airport and gate-allowing) far in advance of boarding.” I don’t see that when flying United, though. United also has a priority lane and a general lane and groups 3, 4, and 5 are invited to remain seated until their group is called…sounds identical to me.

CONCLUSION

American Airlines is testing a new (for itself) boarding software that will beep when a person boards ahead of their group being called. Based on how I’ve seen thsi play out at United, this is a good move and should work well to discourage passengers from brazenly trying to board early.