American Airlines is testing a new technology at three airports across the country during the boarding process that aims to cut down on passengers who try to cut the line.
The technology, which is being tested at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport in New Mexico, Tucson International Airport in Arizona and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia, alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group.
What a technology! A speaker hooked up to the same computer that’s scanning boarding passes. What a time to be alive.
I was going to say, maybe they should focus their time and money on solutions that stop them sucking so badly as an airline. This is way down there as a real problem in that sense. But you’re right, this is a comically low-bar solution, and is kind of embarrassing for them to flex on.
ETA: Some other issues they should really be focusing on include:
- Significant increases in plane maintenance safety issues (as reported by their own pilots union).
- Major problems/concerns with how they treat disabled customers.
- Weak IT security that left that airline (along with others) crippled by cyber-attacks last summer.
- Grossly underestimating summer travel demands.
- Inconsistent service levels from flight attendants.
ETA: Some other issues they should really be focusing on include:
Also?
Boeing.
They really should be looking at Boeing.
Very good point!
Can we do the same thing for people who don’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom? (I think there was a far side comic with that)
There’s an Alamo Drafthouse in Austin that kinda does that with the bathroom.
You walk up to a bay of sinks. To the left is a door to a room with urinals and to the right is a hallway with a bunch of toilets. It’s everybody’s bathroom, there’s not a separate men and women and the stall doors are actual doors that you can’t see through. Since everyone is coming out the same way passed the bay of sinks, everybody will know if you washed your hands or not.
Edit: toilets are to the right, not left
Meanwhile in the sane world -
Why not just limit the size of carry-on like every other airline?
I wonder how much they could have lowered their prices by if they hadn’t spent the time developing this idea and spent the money on buying and installing the equipment?
I prefer the low tech way of shaming them myself.
People cut the boarding line? Why? It’s a fucking plane. Your seat is assigned. What’s the rush? Stay out in the comfy lounge as long as possible. Avoid standing and waiting for people to shuffle on. Enjoy the leg room and aircon as long as possible. There should be ZERO desire in you to stop what your currently doing to go cram yourself into a plane. Get up to board at the very last possible moment. Let the idiots cut. You shouldn’t even be.in line then anyway, only when there’s one person left in it.
Many do it to ensure they get overhead space for their carry-on, a result of airlines charging for checked luggage.
I’ve stopped having carry-on beyond what can fit under a seat, because of this.
Now do it for southwest, where it actually matters.
