NEW YORK (AP) — American Airlines is testing new technology during the boarding process at three airports across the country that aims to cut down on passengers trying to cut lines.
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 when a passenger tries to scan a ticket. Group assigned to them.
“The new technology is designed to make it easier for customers to receive the benefits of priority boarding and to help improve the boarding experience by giving our team more visibility into boarding progress,” American Airlines said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.
American Airlines, a gate agent, politely informs the customer that they cannot accept the pass and asks the customer’s boarding team to rejoin the line when called. In the few cases where a customer may board irregularly while traveling with a high-status companion, there is a quick way to override the agent alert and accept the pass, American Airlines said in a statement.
Although the technology is still in the testing phase, the airline said it is pleased with the results so far.
