Physicist cuts plane boarding time in half • Hacker News Board

Re: Physicist cuts plane boarding time in half

#111

Post by dalke » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 9:50 PM UTC

davvid wrote: post #53

colonelxc wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, the main problem with this method is that it is socially unacceptable to split up families and groups while they wait to board and are boarding. I think a slightly less efficient approach would be to somewhat batch up rows. So instead of having all of the people in the window aisle on one side of the plane enter, how about have 1 row of people (typically 3) on one side of the plane. Instead of doing every row at…

Another simple solution would be to board from back-to-front. Right now it's front-to-back: the business-class passengers (at the front of the plane) board first. Economy class boards last and each passenger has to walk through the congestion. Getting business-class travellers to give up their sense of entitlement and board last could be a little tricky, though. I'm sure there's a psychological marketing trick that c…

When I've flown first, I can say that I would rather spend those 10 minutes being pampered ("would you like a drink?") than waiting in the general lounge.

Now, if I could be in the club lounge, that's a different thing. Being bumped to first class doesn't get you that level of access.

Re: Physicist cuts plane boarding time in half

#112

Post by stretchwithme » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 11:27 PM UTC

joeyh wrote: post #64

stretchwithme wrote: post #7

Imagine how much boarding time could be slashed if robots handled the baggage. The line stops moving when people are trying to store their bags, even if stepping aside for a moment would significantly reduce delays for others.

If the airlines cared about this problem, they could eliminate much of it by dropping the checked baggage surcharges. Enormous bags that barely fit or whose owners can't lift them was IIRC not as much a problem 12 years ago, when checked luggage was free.

Or they could charge for both services. Or charge a fee fr total poundage of passengers and their luggage.

Yeah, it has become more awkward to board since they imposed these fees. I switched to a smaller bag so I could carry it on.

And I fly Southwest when its possible. They don't have fees for the first few bags and their boarding process has actually gotten better in the last few years.

Re: Physicist cuts plane boarding time in half

#113

Post by sfriedrich » Thu, Sep 01, 2011, 6:36 AM UTC

Shouldn't he have cut it in half and then half again by now. Hopefully we can keep cutting it in half!

Re: Physicist cuts plane boarding time in half

#114

Post by madh » Thu, Sep 01, 2011, 5:40 PM UTC

martingordon wrote: post #13

He should totally patent his boarding method. Who cares that it could save the airlines billions? He could rake in so much dough by licensing the method or suing airlines who use his method without a license! And if the patent is vague enough, he could probably collect on all the other inferior boarding methods too! In all seriousness, the boarding problem only got worse once airlines started charging for bags as peo…

Exactly. Most of the time is people dealing with luggage. I wish airlines other than Southwest were less myopic.

Plus don't forget all that time spent getting through airport security, especially with liquids and toiletries. Airlines should charge for carry-ons, not checked bags.