Plane Passenger Praises Gate Agent’s ‘Threat’ to Potential Line Cutters: 'Best Thing I've Heard'

An airline passenger offers his praise after hearing an interesting pitch from a boarding agent about potential cord cutters.

In a recent post on Reddit, a passenger detailed a solution by airport workers to deter dodgy passengers from trying to board before their group is called (aka “ears”).

“This is the best thing I’ve heard in a while,” began the post by a user who goes by the name FAPietroKoch on Reddit. They then went into detail about the employee’s unconventional threat to rule breakers.

“The gate agent stated that if they caught anyone trying to board before their zone was called, they would automatically confiscate and check their carry-on bag,” the user wrote.

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The penalty also applied to those who tried to sneak multiple pieces of hand luggage, as most airlines allow only one hand luggage and one personal item per economy class passenger.

“Anyone with more than one large carry-on could also be subject to confiscation,” the user explained.

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A passenger with a hand bag at the airport.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

While it’s unclear whether the agent’s actions were in line with the employee’s guidelines, many commenters praised the agent for the entry along with the original poster (OP) and even offered their own ideas on how the employee could have taken it a step further.

“Kudos to that gate agent. What they also need to do is mark their boarding pass and make them board after zone 8. The ears are getting out of control,” one person wrote.

The OP responded to the comment, noting that the agent actually announced that the cutters would “go to the end of the line” if caught.

Another user added: “Even better! They should also have a loud beep when their code scans so everyone knows it’s a person trying to skip.” Another user who was in favor of the punishment responded: “A little public shaming isn’t a bad thing.”

Another user suggested: “They should put rope cutters next to the gate agents so everyone can watch them from the side and silently judge them as they board.”

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Passengers waiting in line to board the plane.

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Some airlines have begun implementing new systems that prevent passengers from breaking the line before their boarding zone or group is called.

In October 2024, American Airlines began testing new technology that sends an audible signal to alert gate agents whenever a passenger tries to jump out in front of others.

“We are in the early stages of testing the new technology used during the boarding process. The new technology is designed to ensure customers can take advantage of priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team,” American Airlines said in a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time.

While the airline first introduced the technology at Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico and Tucson International Airport in Arizona, it has since been expanded to more than 100 airports across the United States, according to its website.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education