Are you behaving like a “door lice”? Take the test!
If you’re used to taking a plane to travel, it’s a safe bet that you’ve already experienced this funny situation. While the aircraft is not even present on the tarmac, an endless queue almost systematically forms in front of your boarding gate. And you may be one of those people who, for fear of missing their flight, crowds in front of the boarding gate in single file. In the United States, this attitude has a term, we call it, being a “door lice”. And this name is not really flattering.
In reality, the primary motivation of these people is simple: to have their identity card or passport validated first and to get through the door as quickly as possible to avoid having their suitcase put in the hold. Because the fact is that these “door lice” are mainly users traveling with cabin baggage. The underlying objective is to save time. Indeed, if their suitcase is put in the hold, it’s already wasted time on arrival waiting for it on the carpet, without being 100% sure of finding it one day.
On the other hand, such behavior is not without risks and without consequences on the work of ground staff. Indeed, as the Washington Post reveals: “Passengers who queue too early risk clogging airport aisles, lengthening wait times for groups who have been called to board, and create general confusion. These groupings of people can also make movement more difficult for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs and who need more space to move around the aisles of an airport.
So, how can we really explain this phenomenon of door lice? This is relatively complicated, but psychologist Audrey Tang indicates in Metro UK that waiting in line can make these people “feel in control”, which could reduce stress. In addition to feeling reassured, queuing at the boarding gate, even if it requires standing for more than 30 minutes, could also result from a competitive spirit for some. A door lice always prefers to be first and have an advantage over others (if getting on a plane first really qualifies as an advantage). In fact, we advise you to respect the crew’s instructions and board in the established order. Firstly, priority passengers whose “speedy boarding” mention appears on their boarding pass, then secondly, users with a classic ticket, often entitled “no priority”.