American Airlines has announced the expansion of its advanced boarding technology to more than 100 airports across the US, just in time for the busy holiday season.
This platform is designed to ensure customers board in their assigned groups, providing support for both passengers and team members during the boarding process, in a system very similar to that already employed by many airlines.
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The technology has undergone successful trials at select airports, including Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Tucson International Airport.
As American Airlines rolls out this technology to additional airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the company will continue to refine the system based on ongoing feedback and insights.
The aim is to extend the technology to hubs and other airports in the following months.
American Airlines airport operations, reservations and service recovery senior vice president Julie Rath said: “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.
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By GlobalData“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.”
The new system alerts gate agents and customers with an audible sound if someone attempts to board before their assigned group.
However, for customers travelling with a companion in an earlier boarding group, gate agents can easily override the alert with a one-click solution.
The platform provides visibility for team members on the number of customers in each boarding group, enabling agents to manage the boarding process efficiently.
It also displays the expected arrival time for incoming flight connections, providing team members with greater awareness of possible misconnections.
American Airlines offers a tiered boarding process based on various factors such as ticket purchase, AAdvantage status, eligible AAdvantage credit cards, and military service.
The airline ensures that all AAdvantage members, upon enrolment and adding their number to their trip, receive Group 6 priority, with status members having higher boarding group priorities.
The platform simplifies the boarding process by consolidating multiple applications into one user-friendly interface, aiding on-time departures.
