TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)—American Airlines is expanding new software to more than 100 airports to improve the boarding process.
With the holiday season starting next week, American Airlines has added new software to ensure customers benefit from boarding in their assigned groups.
The new technology will also help team members with more visibility into the boarding process, American Airlines said.
Within the last month, American Airlines has used the new technology at the Albuquerque International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Tuscan International Airport to help with the boarding process.
“We’ve heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase,” said Julie Rath, American’s Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Reservations, and Service Recovery.
According to American Airlines, if a customer boards before their assigned group is called, the new software will not allow the boarding pass to be accepted.
An audible sound will alert the gate agent and customer that their group has not been called yet. If the alarm goes off, an American team member will ask the customer to rejoin the line when their boarding group is called.
“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,” Rath said.
American Airlines can override the alert for customers who are traveling with someone else who is in an earlier boarding group.
In the coming months, American Airlines is expected to expand the software to hubs and other airports.