Gate lice is a pejorative term used to describe a phenomenon observed among air travelers where passengers gather in front of boarding gates before their designated boarding time. The term has gained recognition within the community of frequent flyers, particularly on platforms such as

Flyertalk FlyerTalk (stylized in lowercase) is an Internet forum for discussion of airline frequent-flyer programs, hotel loyalty programs and other issues related to travel. The site was founded in 1998 by Randy Petersen and was acquired by Internet B ...

. This phenomenon may make the boarding process more cumbersome. For instance, it can lead to congestion, longer wait times for those who have prioritized boarding, and confusion. To avoid behaving in this manner, it is recommended to stay in one's seat until one's boarding zone is called.

Contributing factors

The rationale for gate lice behavior may be due to various contributing factors. Some attribute it to the inexperience of certain travelers who may not fully comprehend airline boarding procedures. Additionally, the presence of elite fliers with priority boarding privileges board early, forming clusters in front of the gate and contributing to congestion. Airport gate designs can also play a role, for example at

O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately northwest of the Chicago Loop, Loop business district. The airport is ope ...

gate layouts are conducive for congestion. The baggage fees may also play a role, as some passengers may seek to board early to secure overhead bin space to potentially avoid fees. Also, people may seek the overhead bin space to avoid lost luggage. In some cases, people may seek overhead bin space to store items required on the flight.

Psychological Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

factors may also play a role. When people see other people crowding the boarding area, there may be a social tendency to move towards

conformity Conformity or conformism is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to social group, group norms, politics or being like-minded. Social norm, Norms are implicit, specific rules, guidance shared by a group of individuals, that guide t ...

. Also, the overhead bin space may be viewed as a limited resource leading to

competition Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, indi ...

. The underlying uncertainty and competition may lead to anxiety and hostility. Waiting in line may also help bring a sense of control as well as relieve anxiety. Following the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, the phenomenon has increased possibly as travelers have become more anxious.

Industry response

Some airlines have implemented measures to address the challenges posed by gate lice. This includes the creation of dedicated lanes for elite fliers and the removal of special pre-boarding privileges for families with small children. Various airlines, such as United,

Continental Continental may refer to: Places * Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US * Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US Arts and entertainment * ''Continental'' (album), an album by Saint Etienne * Continen ...

Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...

Northwest The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A '' compass rose'' is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west— ...

, and

Southwest The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A '' compass rose'' is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west— ...

, have introduced priority boarding programs catering to specific customer groups. As of October 2024,

American Airlines American Airlines, Inc. is a major airlines of the United States, major airline in the United States headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the ...

was testing a program in several U.S. airports that alerts gate agents to passengers who attempt to board before their assigned boarding group. The system creates an audible signal when the passenger's boarding pass is scanned before their boarding group is called.

References

{{Reflist Airports Travel