Changes to Boarding

[Garry Emanuel]

This seems to have flown under the radar:-

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/qantas-changing-the-way-passengers-board-its-planes/story-e6frfq80-1227360628610

[Zac M]

Very much so, I believe it has been standard practice in ADL and OOL for some months now. I never really thought to post it.

[Rowan McKeever]

Not a moment too soon IMHO!

[Radi K]

An Andrew David idea no doubt. Same as 30 min turnarounds.

[David Knudsen]

I'd love to see someone (Tiger?) trial the Window-Middle-Aisle boarding method, demonstrated to be the fastest on Mythbusters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1S3-Kv6R8

[Todd Hendry]

I'd love to see someone (Tiger?) trial the Window-Middle-Aisle boarding method, demonstrated to be the fastest on Mythbusters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1S3-Kv6R8

It's a great idea and method.

Even if it was implemented I doubt it'll work. Not everyone listens at an airport. So the pax will just do what they want. And the ground staff and cabin crew can't say anything to them in case they upset the pax.

[Radi K]

If you have flown Southwest, you will note that they board via sequence number. You line up next to poles at the gate that have the numbers. It would be great if the same concept was applied except for seat rows like Dave suggested.

Todd, free seating (unassigned) gets people listening and eager to board :)

[Zac M]

How does free seating work with trim? I have never understood that. Obviously if the aircraft is full it works fine but when its a light load generally seats have to be kept vacant for trim. Do they put signs on the seats or just move people out of them, or just carry extra ballast???

[Lukas M]

Had a chat with a Southwest pilot once about that, he said W&B starts becoming a problem on light loads (30% and below), more pax are needed toward the front. In saying that I was told the trend is pax will fill the front first anyway (get off quicker) so rarely becomes an issue.

[Max C]

Jetstar used to put a bright orange belt across each row of 3 seats that was not to be occupied depending on the expected passemger load.

[Justin L]

If you have flown Southwest, you will note that they board via sequence number. You line up next to poles at the gate that have the numbers. It would be great if the same concept was applied except for seat rows like Dave suggested.

Todd, free seating (unassigned) gets people listening and eager to board :)

United do something similar now for boarding. While still assigned seating, they have poles with the zone number signposted above it with those black elastic lane things making rows. You line up in your zone row and they call each zone and board from that queue.

Alaska Airlines clearly display the rows they are boarding on the LCD screen at the boarding gate and adhere to it and works well.

Mexican LCC Vivaaerobus do a hybrid of the Southwest and United system. It is free seating like Southwest, but they board in zones like United. You line up in your zone row (not in any particular numbered order like Southwest within the zone) and board from there. Works well and everyone (customers and staff alike) politely follows the procedure.

What I like about the Southwest, United, and Vivaaerobus examples above is that is organizes the gate area - which is especially useful not only for people waiting at the gate but keeps things clear for those people who run up to the gate to see that it's boarding but haven't heard or weren't listening for the boarding announcements.