Minnesotans Who Fly; One Airline Is Cracking Down On This…

If you’ve ever flown somewhere, you probably completely understand that the actual traveling time is shorter than driving, when that’s even an option, but flying presents its own challenges.  

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From having to get to the airport early to clear the TSA screening, to hoping your flight isn’t delayed by weather, mechanical issues, or more. Then of course, you hope there are no problems during the flight itself, for obvious reasons. 

When I fly, I always get a nervous feeling in my stomach until I see my luggage come around the luggage carousel. If you’ve ever had your luggage lost, or left behind as happened to me, there is some apprehension about this happening. 

I used to fly several times per year, and I was surprised at how often airlines would oversell the flight, and then have to offer vouchers for future flights if you would take a later flight. 

Between the scare with luggage, and flights being overbooked, I always felt there was no real accountability for the airlines. There was no one to slap their wrist for leaving my luggage in Atlanta because they anticipated less items per passenger than what was actually on the plane. 

If you feel that way too, here’s something else that says the airlines are looking at other things instead of keeping up with our suitcases or making sure that when the plane’s capacity is reached, they stop selling seats on that flight.  

American Airlines is testing new technology that allows them to know if you are what they call “gate lice”. According to the Moring Brew, they quote an article from National Public Radio, “gate lice” is someone who boards their flight ahead of the “group” or “zone” they are in. For example, instead of waiting until group “D” they go with group “A”.  

This technology will sound a loud alert to let the gate officials know that someone is trying to go out of order.  

If you are planning to fly through Washington, Tucson or Albuquerque, this new technology is in use now and the airline reports that it's working well. 

I am a guy who believes in following the rules, but of all the money and time this took to develop and now test, I’m thinking there are better things the airlines could have spent that money on to correct some of their short comings instead of giving us one more thing to distract us from the areas where I feel they could improve.