American Airlines tests tech to catch passengers boarding early
NEW YORK (PIX11) --- American Airlines is testing new technology that monitors passengers who try to sneak on the plane ahead of their assigned boarding group, the company said Thursday.
An airline source told PIX11 News it has been "pleased with the results" so far.
The new technology is being tested at three U.S. airports, including New Mexico's Albuquerque International Sunport, Tucson International Airport in Arizona, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia.
"We are in the early phase of testing new technology used during the boarding process. The new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits 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.
The airline was hit this week with a $50 million penalty for its treatment of disabled passengers from 2019 to 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The DOT investigation found several cases where passengers with wheelchairs were either mistreated or their wheelchairs were damaged or delayed in arriving.
American Airlines said it is working to improve the travel experience for customers traveling with wheelchairs and mobility devices.
Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here.