Airport gate attendant praised for ‘threat’ to people cutting the line

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy “Gate lice” has become a widely used term to describe passengers who cut in line when boarding a plane, and one gate agent has come up with a method to control it. “Gate agent stated if he caught anyone trying to board before their zone was called, he was automatically confiscating and gate checking their carry-on bags.” Anyone who tried to bring on more than one carry-on item would also be subject to the same punishment, they said. Gate lice are getting out of control,” one person suggested in the comments as the original poster pointed out that the gate agent would also make any line-cutters go to the back of the line. A third added: “They should make the line cutters stand next to the gate agent so everyone can side-eye and silently judge them as they board.” Aside from gate agents, some airlines have recently implemented new technology to mitigate “gate lice.” Back in November 2024, American Airlines announced that over 100 airports across the U.S. would be switching to their new technology system after successful trials in Albuquerque, Washington, and Tucson.