‘Gate Lice’ Etiquette Explained | HuffPost Life

The boarding process can be one of the least enjoyable aspects of air travel. Even if your flight starts boarding at the scheduled time, it tends to be a slow operation with long lines, confusing procedures, chaotic movement and cranky people. And then there are the “gate lice.”

Contrary to the name, gate lice does not refer to an outbreak of parasitic insects that live on your scalp at airport boarding gates. But it does refer to a different kind of irritation, one involving human travelers.

Below, travel and etiquette experts break down the gate lice phenomenon and what you should know before your next flight.

“‘Gate lice’ is a nickname for the people who crowd around the boarding gate way before their group is called,” said Jesse Neugarten, the founder and CEO of Dollar Flight Club. “You’ve probably seen it before, everyone hovering and creeping closer to the gate agent even though boarding hasn’t started or they’re in one of the last groups.”

Whether it’s out of impatience or a desire to secure space in the overhead bins, gate lice swarm the boarding area with an energy that suggests they might be boarding early in the process.

“It’s that chaotic scene and the eagerness ― or anxiety ― of travelers boarding, hoping their bag has a place,” said Lauren Gumport, vice president of communications at Faye Travel Insurance. “‘Gate lice’ is not an official term, of course ― just a bit of traveler lingo that captures a very common and mildly irritating phenomenon at the gate.”

“Eager travelers tend to flood the gate out of impatience, especially if there is a delay ― or more so these days it’s to ensure they are in the best position possible to get onboard with plenty of overhead bin space near their seat,” said Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for the flight alert service Going.

She noted that some people even try to skirt the boarding process by hovering around the gate so they can sneak through with an earlier boarding group and have a better chance of snagging bin space.

“The last thing anyone wants to do nowadays is get separated from their bag, and if they can board first in their group or sooner, they better their odds at even a small space being left behind for those in a worse boarding position,” Nastro added.

These days, more passengers are choosing to fly with just a carry-on suitcase to avoid needing to arrive at the airport earlier and lug around a big heavy bag. Traveling light is better for the environment as weightier luggage necessitates more fuel and thus increases your carbon footprint as well. Airline policy also contributes to the greater competition for bin space, as passengers are hesitant to gate check their bags.

“By charging for luggage and then telling full-flight passengers there will not be enough overhead space, airlines create scarcity and increase anxiety,” said Jodi R.R. Smith, the president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “Now you have a situation where passengers feel they must be on the plane ASAP otherwise there will not be enough space for their belongings. Let’s face it, no one wants to spend longer on the plane, but people want to board first to make sure there is still room in the overheads.”

In many travelers’ minds, standing around for 20 minutes is worth snagging the coveted bin space.

“Some folks also just feel anxious about missing their group, even though the process is usually pretty organized,” Neugarten said.

Gate lice behavior also might not be a conscious choice for many travelers.

“Personally, I understand the almost subconscious habit people get into while boarding, mindlessly standing near the gate as if the gate is a moving subway car and you have to jump on before the doors close,” Nastro said.

Inexperience with air travel may also play a role, as can general nerves around flying.

“Some travelers may not fully understand boarding procedures and believe they need to be near the gate early to avoid missing their turn,” said Maddi Bourgerie, a travel expert with the RV rental marketplace RVshare. “It could also be due to psychological factors like social conformity and competition can drive people to gather near the gate when they see others doing so. For others it might simply be that waiting in line provides a sense of control or reduces travel anxiety.”

“Gate lice are really a problem,” Smith said. “They make it difficult for those deplaning to exit the gate area, as well as making it difficult for those attempting to board the plane.”

She believes it is the responsibility of gate agents to encourage people who are not actively boarding to stay seated or stand to the side to allow others to pass.

“I think gate lice behavior is counterproductive,” Bourgerie said. “While the anxiety behind it is understandable, it creates unnecessary stress for everyone involved. It causes congestion, slows down the boarding process, inconveniences passengers with legitimate boarding needs and can even lead to flight delays.”

The gate lice phenomenon seemingly exemplifies the herd mentality. The more individual passengers who choose to crowd the area, the more that follow and do the same.

“You will notice some people’s faces get visibly annoyed when people try to ‘cut’ in front of them or crowd the gate area, even though it appears they are doing something similar ― which is always funny to me since at the end of the day we are all getting on the plane,” Nastro said.

Although she used to worry about dwindling overhead bin space, Nastro said she has changed her approach.

“Nowadays, however, I am one of the first people to gate-check my carry-on if I don’t have the best boarding group, and it’s made my travel stress way lower,” she explained. “Unless you’ve got a few connections, it’s not the end of the world to board in whatever position you end up boarding in ― and I hate people who cut lines, so I try not to be that person. The older I get, the less time I want my back to sit on the plane any longer than it has to.”

“As a traveler, respecting the boarding process not only helps others but also contributes to a more pleasant and efficient journey for everyone involved,” Bourgerie said.

In recent years, some airlines have taken steps to counteract the gate lice phenomenon. American Airlines even implemented new boarding gate technology that makes a noise when passengers attempt to board before their group is called.

“Avoid trying to board before your group is called so you avoid getting publicly shamed or side-eyed,” Nastro advised. “If you are worried about overhead bin space and you have a tight connection or something valuable you are traveling with, speak to a gate agent or flight attendant and see if they can assist. No guarantees, but I’ve seen them work some magic.”

Otherwise, you might choose to book a less-crowded flight and/or go to the airport a bit earlier and check your luggage.

“Travel light whenever possible,” Smith recommended. “If the gate agent is allowing passengers to check bags for free, do. And just like we learn in kindergarten, wait your turn. From the airline-side, they could allow each passenger one piece of checked luggage for free. This would incentivize more passengers to check their bags and reduce the competition for the overhead bins.”

You can also consider getting a travel credit card with your most frequently flown airline.

“That way, you can check your bags for free and not worry about overhead bin space,” Neugarten said. “Most of the gate lice situation comes from people trying to find room for their carry-ons. If you don’t need it, you can just hang back, relax at the gate and board after everyone else who’s stressing out.”

He emphasized that every passenger is just trying to reach their destination safely, so a little patience and self-awareness at the gate goes a long way. No need to add to the stress of travel by further crowding the boarding area.

Gumport also advised waiting for the gate lice madness to subside if you aren’t concerned about overhead bin space.

“Distract yourself with a podcast, playlist or book so you’re less focused on the chaos around you and board later,” Gumport said. “Boarding is never the fun part. But it’s part of the journey.”