I’m a flight attendant – passengers are annoying but I absolutely hate ‘gate lice’

Add gate-crashers to the long list of passengers cabin crew can’t stand.

Flight attendants are speaking out against “gate lice” crowding airport boarding areas, saying selfish travelers believe they are better and more important than other fliers.

“I absolutely hate gate lice,” Brian Hart Hoffman, who was a flight attendant for eight years with US Airways and Alaska Airlines, told Thrillist.

Said to have been coined in a 2005 FlyerTalk discussion thread, “gate lice” refers to passengers who hover around the gate like insects before it’s their turn to board so they can secure storage space above.

The derogatory label has picked up steam just two decades later, especially in crewmember circles. Hoffman says the gate rush is not only super unnecessary, but it can also delay takeoff, preventing passengers from boarding.

In some cases, these campers can even obstruct fliers departing from an aircraft that has just arrived.

“Some of the dedicated ‘lice’ are in place blocking things while the plane is coming down from the inbound flight,” griped the former crew member, who accused them of believing they are more “important than anybody”. another flying.â€

Meanwhile, Rich Henderson, host and mastermind behind the two boys on the plane blog, said gate lice sometimes get in the way of crew members and cleaners trying to board, which can also result in delays. Derailers can also make it difficult for people in wheelchairs or those who require other forms of assistance to cross.

Airline workers aren’t the only ones having a problem with the growing infestation of port lice.

“The last two times I’ve flown it has made my blood boil to see this mass of people crowding around the gate and just standing there without moving,” complained one person on one of the many forums circulating on Reddit. “It’s that simple and the GAs announce it every time – ‘please remain seated until your boarding group is announced.’ However, without fail the gate lice always gather.”

On the aforementioned FlyerTalk forum, an alleged United Airlines Premier 1K status called the loss of the gate one of their biggest “downfalls.”

“Get the hell out of the way so I can ride, thanks,” they grumbled.

Some witnesses to the flight even accused the flight attendants of allowing the gate license to cut the line. “On four of my last five flights, I’ve seen people with Group 3 or higher push in front of me, hand their ticket to the GA, the GA tells them they’re boarding Group 1, and proceeds to tear up the ticket theirs and let them ride,” claimed one forum user.

However, some defended the gate slam on the grounds that there is not enough storage space on an airplane for everyone, making the practice necessary.

“My son, who was on a 40k award trip from LAS to ORD, was among the last to board as he was near the front,” said one fan on the flight forum. “As the overhead bins were full, he was told to check his bag. The flight was late anyway, and the extra time waiting for his bag kept him from getting to his apartment until after midnight. He had to be at work at 6 in the morning”

They added: “In the future, shouldn’t we board early to make sure our luggage makes it?”

While ex-crewman Hoffman acknowledges that baggage policies affect passenger behavior, he contends that flyers can mitigate gate loss by “thinking about other people.”

Kristie Tse, a psychologist with Mental Health Counseling Revealed, called gate lousing a psychological issue.

“Gate closing often stems from a mixture of anxiety and a desire for control,” she said. “Individuals may feel a strong urge to secure their position, fearing that they may lose out or face consequences if they do not act quickly. This behavior may indicate uncertainty or a lack of confidence in the process.”

This gate anxiety, in turn, can be exacerbated by seeing other crowds, such as a herd mentality.