(NEXSTAR) — We’ve seen two strong years of travel, and experts say that trend will likely continue through 2024. With more people heading to the airports, you may also find yourself witnessing some less-than-desirable behaviors.
We’re not talking about unruly passengers or those who try to bring a firearm through TSA (though both incidents have been on the rise since the pandemic). It’s the more minor behaviors, like what flyers do before boarding the plane.
If you’re familiar with flying, you know that come boarding time, groups of passengers are called to board the plane in a specific order. Those who paid a bit more for their seat are typically first, and those flying in the main cabin are last.
Logically speaking, it may seem like the easiest thing to do is wait to join the boarding line until your seating group is called.
Not everyone follows that advice, though.
As you may have experienced, there are sometimes passengers who will stand near the boarding line area well before their turn. Those passengers have earned an unfortunate moniker among the frequent flyer community: gate lice.
“Gate lice is a really nasty way of referring to people that cluster near boarding areas that can clog up the boarding lanes,” Clint Henderson, frequent traveler and managing editor at The Points Guy, tells Nexstar.
These hovering passengers can block others from easily boarding, Henderson adds. The term doesn’t always refer to those who are last to board though, he explains.
“It can also refer to elites who want early boarding even if they aren’t the first group to be called to board.”
There could also be a bit of psychology at play. Speaking with The Washington Post, University at Buffalo psychology professor Shira Gabriel said it could be a bit of conformity: if you see a group of people crowding around the boarding area, you may find yourself drawn to join in.
Gabriel added that “gate lice” may be trying to ensure they get access to limited resources, like overhead space for their carry-on.
But, as Henderson noted, getting into the boarding line or area too soon could make the boarding process more cumbersome.
“Passengers should only gather near the boarding doors if they know they are among the first passengers to be called, which includes those who may need extra time due to disability or high-status elites who get early boarding privileges,” he explains.
It isn’t just the early waiters that have gained nicknames. According to Henderson, those who are late to board or are boarding late without a seat assignment have been referred to as “spinners” and “runners.” And if you’re someone who shuts the window blind when you sit down, you could be described as a “view killer.”
If you’re hoping to be a no-nickname, friendly flyer, the etiquette experts at the Emily Post Institute recommend arriving early, staying calm, and to “take responsibility for your own comfort.”