11/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/20/2024 13:04
FORT WORTH, Texas - Just in time for the holiday season, American Airlines is expanding technology that supports the boarding process to more than 100 airports across the U.S. The technology platform ensures customers receive the benefit of boarding in their assigned group and supports team members with more visibility into the boarding process.
The airline has successfully trialed this modern technology over the last month at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Tucson International Airport (TUS) to gain early insights on ways to improve the boarding process.
"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," said Julie Rath, American's Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Reservations and Service Recovery. "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."
If a customer boards before their assigned group is called, the new software will not accept the boarding pass and instead makes an audible sound to alert the gate agent and customer that the group has not yet been called. In these instances, the American team member will invite the customer to rejoin the line when their boarding group is called.
For customers traveling with a companion in an earlier boarding group, the agent has a simple one-click solution to override the alert and accept the pass to continue boarding.
American offers multiple boarding groups which are associated with travelers' ticket purchase, AAdvantage® status or membership, eligible AAdvantage® credit cards, U.S. military service and more. All AAdvantage® members receive Group 6 priority as soon as they enroll in the program and if their AAdvantage® number is added to their trip. Status members receive increasingly higher boarding group priority as a benefit associated with their status level.
The ability to confirm customers can board in their assigned group is just one feature of an innovative software platform developed in-house at American to support the airline's team and customers.
Designed from team member feedback, the new platform:
American will continue to gather insights and refine the technology through the rollout to more than 100 spoke airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) over this holiday period. In the coming months, the airline will further expand the technology to hubs and other airports.
Media b-roll: American Airlines expands boarding technology
About American Airlines Group
As a leading global airline, American Airlines offers thousands of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. Learn more about what's happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. To Care for People on Life's Journey®.