A recent traveler took to the subreddit r/americanairlines to praise a gate agent at Pensacola International Airport for strictly enforcing boarding zones and maintaining order at the gate, as reported by Fox News.

“A wonderful gate agent this morning at PNS was actively turning away folks from boarding whose zones had not been called,” the user wrote.

The term “gate lice” is often used to describe passengers who crowd the boarding area or attempt to board before their designated zone is called.

To address this recurring issue, American Airlines has been testing technology that alerts gate agents when passengers try to board out of turn.

“The new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team,” an American Airlines spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital.

According to the American Airlines website, the new technology enhances boarding efficiency by tracking passenger groups and incoming flight connections. While not yet fully implemented, a nationwide rollout is underway as the airline continues cracking down on early boarders.

One Reddit user noted the increased enforcement, commenting, “Sounds like AA has been enforcing it more and more of late. This is at least the 5th post [I’ve] seen about this over the past few months.”

American Airlines first introduced its “gate lice” alert system in November, just ahead of the busy holiday travel season. “The initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations, so we are thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Julie Rath, American Airlines’ senior vice president of airport operations, reservations, and service recovery, in a 2024 press release.

The airline plans to expand the use of this technology across more gates, aiming to maintain an orderly boarding process and prevent passengers from skipping ahead in line.