American Airlines Draws the Line Against Boarding-Group Cutters - WSJ

All major U.S. airlines do their best to maintain boarding order since priority boarding is a perk for frequent fliers, credit-card holders and big spenders, and is often available for purchase. But American is the first to develop an automated system that instantly flags offenders. 

How was this not already a thing?

Chad Vossen, a 46-year-old chief creative officer for a video marketing company in Virginia, knew nothing of the test until he and a colleague tried to board in Group 6 instead of Group 8 for a flight to Phoenix. They had done it on other American flights and others, in hopes of avoiding gate-checking their camera equipment.

So he’s cool with the people he cheated having to gate-check their bags?