4 ms·

I was always thinking, if they let people in only via front doors, why they don't let the passengers from the back enter first. If people enter randomly, the on

by jakub_g 11y ago

I was always thinking, if they let people in only via front doors, why they don't let the passengers from the back enter first. If people enter randomly, the ones in the front are blocking everyone else while they're putting their luggage in overhead lockers etc. Maybe this is because of what you wrote :)

prohor 11y ago
Take a look on study below, with simulations of various types of boarding. Surprisingly random boarding is faster than back-to-front. Faster is outside seats first then middle. And the fastest in fact is outside first and back-to-front, but that would be difficult to force people. http://menkes76.com/projects/boarding/boarding.htm http://menkes76.com/projects/boarding/boarding.htm
- jakub_g 11y ago
  That's a pretty cool link, thanks for sharing!
fluxquanta 11y ago
JetBlue is the only airline I've been on that loads from back to front or (on one occasion I have experienced) from both the front AND the rear (it was at a tiny airport where we actually walked on the apron to a manual staircase at the rear door).
Jemaclus 11y ago
It turns out that the back-to-front is what they actually do now. I believe the most efficient method, as determined by the Mythbusters, is the WILMA (Window-Middle-Aisle) technique. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1S3-Kv6R8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1S3-Kv6R8
- ChuckMcM 11y ago
  Well it would be if they didn't fill the plane with "early" boarding options that all monetize, you've got your frequent fliers, your affiliated card users, your "business first" perk buyers, Etc. I was the first person in the first "regular" boarding group on a flight recently and I counted 62 people who were allowed to board "first" (and sitting all over the plane) for various reasons.
- nradov 11y ago
  The problem with WilMA is that by the time they get to "A" all of the overhead bins are completely full. So those of us who prefer aisle seats end up being forced to gate check our carry-on bag.
  - Jemaclus 11y ago
    As an aisle-preferrer, I sympathize and agree!

by jakub_g 11y ago

prohor 11y ago

Take a look on study below, with simulations of various types of boarding. Surprisingly random boarding is faster than back-to-front. Faster is outside seats first then middle. And the fastest in fact is outside first and back-to-front, but that would be difficult to force people. http://menkes76.com/projects/boarding/boarding.htm http://menkes76.com/projects/boarding/boarding.htm

jakub_g 11y ago
That's a pretty cool link, thanks for sharing!

fluxquanta 11y ago

JetBlue is the only airline I've been on that loads from back to front or (on one occasion I have experienced) from both the front AND the rear (it was at a tiny airport where we actually walked on the apron to a manual staircase at the rear door).

Jemaclus 11y ago

It turns out that the back-to-front is what they actually do now. I believe the most efficient method, as determined by the Mythbusters, is the WILMA (Window-Middle-Aisle) technique. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1S3-Kv6R8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1S3-Kv6R8

ChuckMcM 11y ago
Well it would be if they didn't fill the plane with "early" boarding options that all monetize, you've got your frequent fliers, your affiliated card users, your "business first" perk buyers, Etc. I was the first person in the first "regular" boarding group on a flight recently and I counted 62 people who were allowed to board "first" (and sitting all over the plane) for various reasons.
nradov 11y ago
The problem with WilMA is that by the time they get to "A" all of the overhead bins are completely full. So those of us who prefer aisle seats end up being forced to gate check our carry-on bag.
- Jemaclus 11y ago
  As an aisle-preferrer, I sympathize and agree!