4 ms·

With a little googling, at the very least it's clear to me that some form of back-to-front is most efficient, and Southwest inevitably doesn't do that because t

by kolbe 2y ago

With a little googling, at the very least it's clear to me that some form of back-to-front is most efficient, and Southwest inevitably doesn't do that because the first people on want to be closest to the front in order to get off quicker.

vundercind 2y ago
Southwest fills front to back and aisle and window before middle. It’s practically optimized to be bad.
- kolbe 2y ago
  While this is true in theory, I don't know if it's been established in fact. There's some sort of rumor/myth/legend that Southwest's open seating is most efficient in practice, but I can't see any data to support this claim, and I'm dubious of it. The models don't cleanly capture things like breaking up families, adding confusion, etc. Southwest also has an interesting incentive structure where you're rewarded for being on time and getting into position with a better seat. While on other airlines, your incentive is the other way, where you'd prefer to stay off the plane as long as possible. I don't know the net practical effect.
  - xscott 2y ago
    Another feature is that they let "parents with small children" board earlier in the process, so if you get on after that you can avoid sitting near the screaming, crying, and kicking seats.
- readthenotes1 2y ago
  Southwest has the fastest turnaround times amongst the major US airlines, so there must be something wrong with theory. https://www.oag.com/blog/innovative-airline-operations-the-turnaround https://www.oag.com/blog/innovative-airline-operations-the-t...
space_fountain 2y ago
Yes, but no airlines use this boarding flow. Most do more or less the worst boarding flow. They board front to back. Here's an article claiming southwest wins in the real world (https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/16/business/airline-boarding-process-explained/index.html#:~:text=Southwest%20Airlines%20has%20the%20fastest%20boarding%20process%20of%20any%20major%20airline%20by%20simply%20allowing%20people%20to%20claim%20the%20first%20available%20seat.%20It%20works%20because%20passengers%20spend%20less%20time%20waiting%20in%20the%20aisle%2C%20and%20have%20more%20freedom%20to%20sit%20where%20it%E2%80%99s%20least%20crowded https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/16/business/airline-boarding-pro...)

by kolbe 2y ago

vundercind 2y ago

Southwest fills front to back and aisle and window before middle. It’s practically optimized to be bad.

kolbe 2y ago
While this is true in theory, I don't know if it's been established in fact. There's some sort of rumor/myth/legend that Southwest's open seating is most efficient in practice, but I can't see any data to support this claim, and I'm dubious of it. The models don't cleanly capture things like breaking up families, adding confusion, etc. Southwest also has an interesting incentive structure where you're rewarded for being on time and getting into position with a better seat. While on other airlines, your incentive is the other way, where you'd prefer to stay off the plane as long as possible. I don't know the net practical effect.
- xscott 2y ago
  Another feature is that they let "parents with small children" board earlier in the process, so if you get on after that you can avoid sitting near the screaming, crying, and kicking seats.
readthenotes1 2y ago
Southwest has the fastest turnaround times amongst the major US airlines, so there must be something wrong with theory. https://www.oag.com/blog/innovative-airline-operations-the-turnaround https://www.oag.com/blog/innovative-airline-operations-the-t...

space_fountain 2y ago

Yes, but no airlines use this boarding flow. Most do more or less the worst boarding flow. They board front to back. Here's an article claiming southwest wins in the real world (https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/16/business/airline-boarding-process-explained/index.html#:~:text=Southwest%20Airlines%20has%20the%20fastest%20boarding%20process%20of%20any%20major%20airline%20by%20simply%20allowing%20people%20to%20claim%20the%20first%20available%20seat.%20It%20works%20because%20passengers%20spend%20less%20time%20waiting%20in%20the%20aisle%2C%20and%20have%20more%20freedom%20to%20sit%20where%20it%E2%80%99s%20least%20crowded https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/16/business/airline-boarding-pro...)