Best Boarding Technique

[sam_gordon]

So Mythbusters tried to find the "best" aircraft boarding technique last night. They measured speed of boarding as well as customer satisfaction (how it "felt" to the customers).

I don't see the full episode on their website, so I'll try to recap.

The "legacy" airlines way (back to front) was the slowest, and didn't have a great customer satisfaction score.

The "Southwest" airlines way (no assigned seating) was the fastest, but had the WORST customer satisfaction score.

The "WilMA" way (windows, middle, aisles) was only slightly slower than Southwest (by ~30 seconds IIRC), but had a GREAT satisfaction score.

There were a couple modified "WilMA" ways, one of which did very well is both speed and satisfaction.

As much as we talk about boarding here, I thought this would be interesting.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Not seeing the episode I can see for families the window, middle isle would be great satisfaction. But, I thought when you got the boarding pass it had a seat assignment or was that because of the seat assignment made during reservation only?

 

[goofy4tink]

No matter what type of boarding there is, there will always be those idiots that mess it up. I have no issue with back to front boarding....but seriously people...find your seat and sit down! It's not rocket science...look up, see the row number, then the seat letter. Should be easy. Don't stand there, trying to shove in an oversized carry on bag....and certainly don't stand several rows down from yours and use that overhead bin!
I actually like SW's boarding process...at least in theory. I think that every person boarding should have to place their bp on their lap. No saving seats that way. No bp in the seat, the seat is empty. Period. Families boarding? Mom and dad with the kids. Period.
Oh, and those gate gnats? You know..the passengers that clog the entry to the jetway, waiting to dash as soon as their row is called. I can't tell you how many times I've purchased xtra leg room, with JB, which also means I get to board early, and have had to weave my way through that group. Or, those families that feel they qualify when the gate attendant announces family boarding, for those that may need extra time getting situated. Seriously? Your family of 6 needs to board early for what reason? Because I don't see any youngsters...mostly preteens and teens.
But, it's never going to change. People are going to continue feeling that they are more entitled than others.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not seeing the episode I can see for families the window, middle isle would be great satisfaction. But, I thought when you got the boarding pass it had a seat assignment or was that because of the seat assignment made during reservation only?

SW does not use assigned seats. They just use a 'boarding order', then it's "first come, first served".

No matter what type of boarding there is, there will always be those idiots that mess it up. I have no issue with back to front boarding....but seriously people...find your seat and sit down! It's not rocket science...look up, see the row number, then the seat letter. Should be easy. Don't stand there, trying to shove in an oversized carry on bag....and certainly don't stand several rows down from yours and use that overhead bin!
I actually like SW's boarding process...at least in theory. I think that every person boarding should have to place their bp on their lap. No saving seats that way. No bp in the seat, the seat is empty. Period. Families boarding? Mom and dad with the kids. Period.
Oh, and those gate gnats? You know..the passengers that clog the entry to the jetway, waiting to dash as soon as their row is called. I can't tell you how many times I've purchased xtra leg room, with JB, which also means I get to board early, and have had to weave my way through that group. Or, those families that feel they qualify when the gate attendant announces family boarding, for those that may need extra time getting situated. Seriously? Your family of 6 needs to board early for what reason? Because I don't see any youngsters...mostly preteens and teens.
But, it's never going to change. People are going to continue feeling that they are more entitled than others.

MB even threw some "monkey wrenches" into the boarding... folks who "had" to go to the bathroom, some who stood in the aisle and folded their suit coats before putting them away, infants, and I think something else. I don't think they arranged for anyone to 'save' seats and then have someone try to sit in the saved seats.

BTW, the 'SW' and 'WilMA' boarding methods cut ~10-13 minutes off the 'Legacy' airline boarding method.

 

[DebbieB]

No matter what type of boarding there is, there will always be those idiots that mess it up. I have no issue with back to front boarding....but seriously people...find your seat and sit down! It's not rocket science...look up, see the row number, then the seat letter.

I flew on American in June and they also have the seat number/letter on the armrests. I thought that was a good idea. A couple of times I have quickly looked up at the row number on the overhead and ended up back or ahead a row.

Oh, and those gate gnats? You know..the passengers that clog the entry to the jetway, waiting to dash as soon as their row is called. I can't tell you how many times I've purchased xtra leg room, with JB, which also means I get to board early, and have had to weave my way through that group.

That drives me crazy too. When I used to fly a lot and had status, I would be zone 1 or 2. There's always seemed to be a large group with zone 5 blocking the entrance to the line (you could see their boarding passes).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

All legacy airlines do not board back to front. UA, for example, after Groups 1-2, boards windows, middle, aisle. They also have separate line for boarding groups, so that helps ease congestion at the boarding gate.

 

[PlutoPony]

One issue with back to front boarding is stowing carryon bags. Gotta love it when people in the last rows get on 1st and proceed to stick their bags in the first overhead spaces on the plane so they don't have to haul their stuff to the back. Then people with seats in the front get on and there's no space in the overheads at their seats and they have to go to the back of the plane to stow their luggage..... Really makes a cluster of boarding and deplaning.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

All legacy airlines do not board back to front. UA, for example, after Groups 1-2, boards windows, middle, aisle. They also have separate line for boarding groups, so that helps ease congestion at the boarding gate.

The episode of Mythbusters first aired in 2012, so that may make some difference. -- Suzanne

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The episode of Mythbusters first aired in 2012, so that may make some difference. -- Suzanne

Perhaps, but UA boarded the same way in 2012.

 

[sam_gordon]

The episode of Mythbusters first aired in 2012, so that may make some difference. -- Suzanne

ummm, no, it aired last night. From the Mythbusters 'Episodes' website:

Plane Boarding -- Aug. 21, 2014

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/2014-episodes.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

One issue with back to front boarding is stowing carryon bags. Gotta love it when people in the last rows get on 1st and proceed to stick their bags in the first overhead spaces on the plane so they don't have to haul their stuff to the back. Then people with seats in the front get on and there's no space in the overheads at their seats and they have to go to the back of the plane to stow their luggage..... Really makes a cluster of boarding and deplaning.

And then people will complain because they're being held up by those in the front of the planIe having to move backwards in order to get to their bags. It doesn't happen a lot but when it does, I wish FAs would do something about it. I realize we don't 'own' the overhead bin above us, but we should be able to expect to use one that is close to us.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

ummm, no, it aired last night. From the Mythbusters 'Episodes' website:



http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/2014-episodes.htm

The poster said the episode originally aired in 2012.

 

[sam_gordon]

The poster said the episode originally aired in 2012.

I've never seen an episode guide for a certain season (in this case 2014) list episodes from previous seasons.

ETA: If you go to the 2014 episode list I linked, there is nothing listed between March 1, 2014 and July 10, 2014. I assume they did reruns during that time, but they're not listed. It's also listed in imdb as originally airing last night (Season 16, Episode 7) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383126/episodes?year=2014&ref_=tt_eps_yr_2014

 

[bumbershoot]

The "WilMA" way (windows, middle, aisles) was only slightly slower than Southwest (by ~30 seconds IIRC), but had a GREAT satisfaction score.

Mystifying. I despise that method. And to me it slows things down and causes confusion because if you're with family, you're going to be different boarding groups. So you end up asking *someone* about it, who then tells you that you can board with the earlier one since you're sitting together (specifically talking about boarding with my 10 year old here), so then you're mixing up the group numbers anyway.

I like SW's way of doing it. But I want them to HAVE a policy about seat-saving, instead of just allowing or not allowing it at random (b/c they have no policy either way).

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I've never seen an episode guide for a certain season (in this case 2014) list episodes from previous seasons.

ETA: If you go to the 2014 episode list I linked, there is nothing listed between March 1, 2014 and July 10, 2014. I assume they did reruns during that time, but they're not listed. It's also listed in imdb as originally airing last night (Season 16, Episode 7) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383126/episodes?year=2014&ref_=tt_eps_yr_2014

Maybe they have done it in 2012 and 2014?

Here us a link to the results from the 2012 episode: http://mythbustersresults.com/airplane-boarding

-- Suzanne

 

[The Mayor]

I have boarded SW flights that have boarded in 20 minutes or less on numerous occasions and on the so called "major" airlines taken up to 45-50 minutes to board with assigned seating. Very much prefer SW than any assigned seating airline.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe they have done it in 2012 and 2014?

Here us a link to the results from the 2012 episode: http://mythbustersresults.com/airplane-boarding

-- Suzanne

I apologize.

 

[seashoreCM]

Yet another method that some airlines including Delta have used in the past.

Hopscotch. First a section near the back. Then a section near the front. Then antoher section near the back. Then another section near the front. Etc. The goal was to have two (or maybe three) areas of concentrated stowing compared with just one in the back to front boarding method. (Ever lit a fireworks sparkler in the middle as well as at the end and it finishes burning faster?)

They assign zone numbers for boarding order, not section arrangement.

One advantage of looking the other way regarding seat saving: Fewer instances of someone sitting next to someone he really does not want to sit next to and who really does not want to sit next to him.

One disadvantage of putting your bag in an overhead bin near the front while you make your way to the back: It might get taken down and left in a seat and by the time the flight attendant announces for the owner to claim it, all the bin space is taken.