Having observed many gate lice & cutting idiots over the years, this is spot on

[theking]

Flight attendant of 10 years reveals whether it's okay to cut the boarding line

You know those people who crowd the gate even if there's still an hour left until boarding? Flight attendants have a word for that, according to Henderson, and it's not something you want to be called: "gate lice."

"Just stay as out of the way as possible of the boarding area until your group is at least close to being called," he told Insider. "If our frequent fliers and top-tier people aren't even close to getting on the plane and your crew isn't even close to getting on the plane, you really have no business standing right at the gate."

But at least "gate lice" are waiting for their turn to board — unlike passengers who cut the line before their group is even called.

If you haven't tried pre-emptively boarding, you've at least thought about it. Whether or not you get in trouble for boarding before your zone depends on the airline and gate attendant, Henderson said, adding that he doesn't recommend trying and finding out.

"There's some gate agents that if you're nice and just smile and act like everything's normal, they won't care or they won't notice that you're not in that assigned zone," he told Insider. "But there are others that if you're caught they will out you and they will shame you."