Airline workers have a secret name for people who queue early to board the plane

Travelling overseas comes with a lot of waiting.

Waiting to save the money to go, waiting for the best flight deals, waiting in line for security, then waiting for passport control - so it's understandable the last thing you want to do is wait to board the plane, leading you to lurk by the gate the second it opens - but this little habit could have earned you a rather unflattering nickname from airport staff.

Dubbed ‘gate lice’, these persistent queuers haunt airport gates globally - but why? It doesn’t get you there any faster, and it can cause further problems if people who need additional assistance need to plough their way through the milling crowds. Psychologist Dr Audrey Tang  thinks it’s about control.

“Queuing for boarding as soon as we are able to, can help us to feel in control, which in turn makes us less stressed. Knowing you have time, especially with luggage or children, can also play a part. Maybe some people just like to be first but its largely to do with keeping ourselves calm.”

But other experts have slightly different opinions - for example, Shira Gabriel, a psychology professor at the University of Buffalo told the Washington Post that pack mentality plays a part in why people choose to queue up at the gate.

“People will do any weird thing if they think that’s the way to behave. When you see people lining up, getting ready, it makes you feel there’s a benefit for that," Shira said.

And there may well be - those who are first on the flight may get access to overhead lockers nearest their seats, the best access to armrests and of course, several more minutes in the most uncomfortable seats on earth - what's not to like?

Rich Henderson, a former flight attendant of 10 years and co-creator of the blog ‘Two Guys on a Plane’, told Business Insider gate lice should just stay well clear until their group is “at least close to being called”.

"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," he said.

It’s not just milling about at the gate that could earn you a nasty nickname though - Clint Henderson, a frequent traveler and managing editor at The Points Guy, told Nexstar there’s plenty of bad behavior that will earn you a moniker.

Those who are late to board or are boarding late without a seat assignment have been referred to as “spinners” and “runners.” And if you’re someone who shuts the window blind when you sit down, you could be described as a “view killer.”

He admits the name ‘gate lice’ is “really nasty” - but that they do cause a lot of hold up to what should be an otherwise easy process.

The Daily Star