Seems amazing that airlines can figure out how to offer cheap fares, be they cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages, yet cannot settle on the most efficient way to board passengers. Sometimes there seems to be as many different boarding methods being used as airlines flying.
Passenger load factors are running at all times high, averaging a little over 82 percent last year. Boarding has been further complicated by an increase in carry-on bags due to checked baggage fees. Never have so many fought so hard for so little space. Most passengers primary goal is to get on the plane ahead of others to ensure that overhead space is still available.
Airlines usually board their first two groups of passengers in a similar manner. First they invite their First Class and/or Business class passengers to board, as well as elite members of their frequent flier programs. The number of elite fliers is higher than ever, in part because of the many codeshare deals between airlines and industry mergers. Special need passengers usually board next and include people traveling with infants and small children, the elderly, and travelers with disabilities.
Afterwards airlines boarding methods vary widely:
Rear to front, often by zone.
First window, then middle, then aisle seats board, with all rows boarding at the same time.
Window, middle, aisle seats board from rear to front by zone.
Rear window, rear middle, front window, front middle, real aisle, finally front aisle seats.
Open seating by group, with no assigned seats.
Open seating with all passengers boarding at the same time.
Allow passengers without large carry-on bags to board first, regardless of their seat location.
None of the above approaches has gained anywhere near universal acceptance by the airlines.
Some passengers used to want to sit in the front of the plane because of the desire to be last on and first off. That strategy is not necessarily desirable today. Passengers in the front of planes, unless allowed to board early, are finding most, if not all overhead space filled by passengers in the rear who left their bags in prime storage space. www.cheapfares.com