American Airlines expands “bed bug” efforts ahead of Thanksgiving travel

American Airlines has announced that it is expanding its new technology to end a process known as “gate lice,” which is when passengers cut the lines in hopes of getting on a flight early.

The system will audibly flag when a passenger attempts to board the aircraft before their designated task is called and will automatically reject the ticket.

American Airlines first piloted the technology last month at Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, Tucson International Airport in Arizona and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

It will now expand to more than 100 airports ahead of the holiday season.

AMERICAN AIRLINES CRACKS AGAINST ‘GATE LICE’ AS AIRPORT PASSENGERS SKIP CHINESE MID-BOARDING PROCESS

Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery, said in a press release that it is important to them that customers can board with their assigned group.

American Airlines continues to roll out technology that will alert staff if a passenger attempts to board the flight before the designated time. (iStock)

“The initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations, so we’re excited to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Rath.

Travelers boarding with a companion who has a previous boarding group may still do so. The agent will override the alarm accepting the boarding pass, according to the press release.

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American Airlines first tested the technology at three airports and announced Wednesday that it will soon be rolled out to more than 100 airports. (iStock)

The technology “gives team members more insight into the number of customers in each boarding group” and “shows the estimated time of arrival for inbound flight connections,” according to American’s website.

Some of the airports listed in the expansion program are Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.

The term “port lice” has gained traction on social media in recent years. Although it is not known who coined the phrase, several travel blogs and Reddit forums discuss “port lice” at length.

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In October, a representative from American Fox News Digital told via email: “The new technology is designed to ensure customers get the benefits of priority boarding with ease.”

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia are among the 100 airports set to roll out the program this holiday season. (iStock)

The representative added that it “helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team.”

Jacqueline Whitmore, a former flight attendant and etiquette expert based in Mount Dora, Florida, told Fox News Digital via email that she supports American Airlines’ latest tactics.

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Fox News Digital reached out to American Airlines for further comment.