What kind of traveller are you at the airport ? Do you hang back in the boarding area until your row is called or are you someone who queues up at the gate as soon as possible? Apparently, if you are the latter you're part of a rather annoying group of passengers , according to flight attendants, called 'gate lice'. In fact, lining up at your boarding gate too early not only causes frustration for staff, but could also delay your flight. READ MORE: The best time to visit Japan and where to avoid the crowds Urban Dictionary provides a relatively in-depth definition of the term 'gate lice'.
They are described as "passengers, often inexperienced flyers in [economy] class, who crowd around or line up at a gate at an airport completely blocking the boarding area and preventing First and Business Class passengers from being able to get on the plane when they're allowed to. "They can also cause delays and confusion if a passenger in a wheelchair needs to board as the chair has to plough through the mass of gate lice hovering around the gate. "When it's time to board, they have to be shooed from the front boarding area to the back of the line, delaying the flight for everyone.
" READ MORE: Eight free things you can do in Melbourne to give your wallet a break Indeed flight attendants and airline staff have been calling out the habit for years. There are even social media pages dedicated to passenger shaming. Flight attendant and co-creator of the blog Two Guys on a Plane Rich Hen.