NWA Boarding Procedure

[GDUL]

Has anyone recently flown NWA? I read about their new "open" boarding procedure on their website, copied here:

While first class, World Business Class, WorldPerks Elite members, travelers in exit rows and those with special needs continue to be offered priority boarding at the start of the boarding process, all other customers are now invited to board at their convenience as part of the airline’s new open boarding process.

How does this work? I'm assuming that they don't board by row from the rear of the plane anymore (talking about the economy class seats). Is this correct? NWA claims that it saves about 7 minutes in boarding time but it seems like it would be somewhat chaotic as people tried to board. Is it similar to SWA's boarding procedures? Would there be any advantage to sitting in the front of the plane vs the back (or vice versa)?

Thanks!

 

[Pinnie]

I'll let ya know. In a few days I have a NWA flight to Atlanta. I think it's gonna look like SWA at the gate if that's the case. Got to nab those overheads, ya know!!

pinnie

 

[delilah]

We just flew NWA in June from Orlando to Indianapolis. I am not sure when it started. When we were in Indianapolis, we boarded by row, on Sunday. When we boarded at Orlando, they just had a general boarding call, and everybody was free to get in line and board anytime they wanted. It didn't seem to make boarding any faster or easier, at least not to my thinking. We are not pushy-shovey people, however, so we are more than happy to wait our turn patiently in line to board.

 

[antmaril]

We flew Detroit to Denver on Northwest a couple of weeks ago and when general boarding was called, we were able to board without regard to our row. There was no boarding rear to front.

It went smoothly and I do think it was more efficient.

 

[safetymom]

I flew on NW and they just announced boarding. The plane loaded very quickly, much quicker than usual. They do this on Jet Blue also. I like the fact that everyone moves a little quicker now.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

NWA claims that it saves about 7 minutes in boarding time but it seems like it would be somewhat chaotic as people tried to board.

I don't know how it could be more chaotic. It's been my experience that most airlines which board by rows don't stop you when you board out of order anyway, and no matter how boarding is done, you always get stuck waiting in the aisles for someone trying to haul a huge carry-on down the aisle or taking forever to get into their seat.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)
One person's taking forever will never go away but we must note that, with back to front boarding, there is just one small area of concentrated stowing that starts at the back and gradually moves forward. The ideal situation, not yet consistently achieved, is for there to be stowing all up and down the aisle at the same time. Southwest's open boarding, window-middle-aisle, and various other methods are somewhere in between.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[jodifla]

I loved the general boarding on NWA last month. It went much faster than the row by row boarding.

 

[Servants of Evan]

It's also easier on the gate staff. There's no more checking seat assignments with the "We called rows 29-18 and you're row 15, you need to step aside" sort of issues. Now they only glance to see that you're at the correct gate and hopefully don't wind up on the wrong aircraft.