American Airlines is testing technology to prevent queues at boarding gates

American Airlines is testing a new technology at three airports across the country during the boarding process that aims to reduce passengers trying to cut the line.

The technology, 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 attempts to scan a ticket in advance. group assigned to them.

“The new technology is designed to enable customers to easily enjoy priority boarding benefits and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into the boarding process for our team,” American Airlines said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press.

American Airlines said a gate agent politely informed the customer that they could not accept the card and asked the customer to rejoin the queue when the boarding group was called. In some cases where a customer may board an out-of-order flight, such as when traveling with a higher-status companion, the agency has a quick way to override the warning and accept passage, American Airlines said in its statement.

Although the technology is still in its experimental phase, the airline said it is pleased with the results so far.