Suggestion: Airplane Loading
You know how airlines have tried all sorts of schemes to speed up loading airplanes, from letting anyone on in any order, to loading the back first (typical), to letting people choose any available seat (Southwest), to some now trying front and back? Well, I think I have a possibly best way which none have tried:
Load by number of carry-on bags.
Load anyone right away who has no carry-on bags.
Then, load anyone with only one.
Then load anyone with two.
Continue with three, then four, etc. You could even allow an infinite number of carry-on bags in theory, because people with the most bags would get on last, when they know they run the risk of there being no more space for them in the overhead bins.
My idea is likely to work precisely because one of the reasons people rush onto the plane is to grab space for their carry-on bags. If they knew that the space-hogs wouldn't be allowed on until after they get on, then you'd have a very orderly seating of everyone without bags.
Furthermore, I believe this would encourage people to check more bags (carry on fewer) so they could get on faster. This would speed up boarding as well, because if you don't have any, you get on, sit down, and you're in. What currently slows down most boarding is people trying to cram bags into overhead bins.
What do you think?
Sarah
Load by number of carry-on bags.
Load anyone right away who has no carry-on bags.
Then, load anyone with only one.
Then load anyone with two.
Continue with three, then four, etc. You could even allow an infinite number of carry-on bags in theory, because people with the most bags would get on last, when they know they run the risk of there being no more space for them in the overhead bins.
My idea is likely to work precisely because one of the reasons people rush onto the plane is to grab space for their carry-on bags. If they knew that the space-hogs wouldn't be allowed on until after they get on, then you'd have a very orderly seating of everyone without bags.
Furthermore, I believe this would encourage people to check more bags (carry on fewer) so they could get on faster. This would speed up boarding as well, because if you don't have any, you get on, sit down, and you're in. What currently slows down most boarding is people trying to cram bags into overhead bins.
What do you think?
Sarah
posted by SarahSheard at
9:04 AM
2 Comments:
A friend sent this offline, which I'll post anonymously:
"Size can be just as much a problem with carry-on bags as number.
I was once on a flight with a school trip where every student had a largish carryon bag with wheels. The bags were about 2 inches too big to get two bags side by side in the overhead, so each one had to go in long-wise and took up 3/4 of the bin."
Absolutely, I agree. If a bag doesn't fit in the little bag-simulator, then it counts as 2 bags. "I'm sorry, that's 2 bags. You'll have to wait until people with 2 bags are allowed on."
By
SarahSheard, at 11:04 AM
I absolutely LOVE this idea. Please write to ALL the airlines and suggest it. It would actually work!
By
Anonymous, at 11:56 AM
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