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Virgin America considers new boarding: baggage-free passengers first
It happened to me the other day. I had my plane ticket in hand and stepped aboard the soon-to-depart airplane, but couldn't sit down. Why? Because of the 15 people in front of me who needed to find spots in overhead bins for their carry-on suitcases. We all know that the boarding process has slowed down because of baggage fees. More people are opting to stow their suitcases as carry-ons rather than check them.
Virgin America is testing a way that might speed up the entire process.
It would mean that anybody without carry-ons would board first. Then, everybody with carry-ons would board second.
I think it's brilliant. Fewer people would be in the aisles, meaning that the folks with bags might be able to find overhead space more easily. And hey, fewer people would be annoyed. It has the potential to work, and I'm glad to see that an airline has the foresight to consider it as an alternative to the norm.
That said, I might personally choose to stall, if given the choice. I usually prefer to be one of the last people on the plane (I'd rather spend my time standing in the airport than sitting on the plane). If others rationalized the delayed boarding in the same way, would that just negate all of the positive aspects of this new system?
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Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Dave Oct 21st 2009 11:51AM
That is a fantastic idea. People would board faster, and save those of us with no carry-on luggage from waiting behind the guy with the too-big bag who is trying to cram it into the too-small space above the seat. It...just...won't....FIT!!!!! In the meantime, how about a few extra-large seats for the bigger passengers who take up 1.5 seats? Really, instead of fighting the issue, just put a couple rows of seating spread out to accommodate the big, big folks.
http://www.greenmantshirts.com
rob Oct 21st 2009 2:52PM
It might work well, but some of us with carryons have simply a briefcase thats stored under the seat infront.
30 legs of travel and the only time that I've used the overhead bins is when I'm in a bulkhead.
Scott Oct 23rd 2009 6:34AM
Thry already do that. It's called first class.
Katie Oct 23rd 2009 9:58AM
I am a frequent traveler myself and always check my bag. Out of the 100,000 miles that I have logged on numerous airlines, only once was my baggage lost and it was returned to me within 5 hours. Many airlines will offer up to two free checked bags if you join their frequent flyer program. That way, you don't have to worry about always watching your bag or wheeling it into the bathroom when you have to go. I do agree that they should let those individuals that have checked their luggage first, but we also need to get the flight attendants on board with it. I am one of those people that can preboard because I am considered an elite member, but was asked to take my small backpack out of the overhead so that someone could make room for their luggage. I freaked at the flight attendant. Simply stated, I check my bag, and so should everyone else. I know that the fees can be outrageous, especially if you check multiple bags....but come on, pay the 15 bucks and stop your b*tchin'! Have some consideration for those that actually check their bags, because they aren't the ones holding up the boarding process trying to shove their huge bag into a small space. And being almost 6 feet tall, there is no way I am putting my small backpack under the seat in front of me, where the heck would my legs go?
steve326m Oct 22nd 2009 1:59AM
Here's an idea.
The airlines here in The Philippines do it very simple. No ifs, ands, or buts or discussions. They allow passengers 1 and only 1 carry on and it must be within certain measurements (The bag MUST fit in the baggage measuring box) and it MUST NOT weigh over 7kg (15.4 lbs) PERIOD. Those exceeding it must either check it in or leave it behind. Check ins on the larger crafts (Airbus A3xx) etc can go up to 20kg (44 lbs). Smaller crafts (ATR-72 series) only 15kg (33 lbs). Above that is excess fees but are more reasonably priced then the US by far. If the US adopted this, things would be 5x better.
God Bless,
Steve & Myrlita
Bacolod City, PH
Formally of MA.
Corey O Oct 22nd 2009 10:18AM
as long 1Kers or the equal are boarding first... works for me.
jay love Oct 23rd 2009 7:20AM
what is all the fuss, the plane is not taking off until everyone has boarded safely and all put away, then and only then will anyone be leaving? all the hype to be the first one on is silly. how about the airlines here just simply stop charging extra fee's for bag's and raise the ticket price as a whole accordingly for everyone, then they will still gain the additional revenue needed to make a profit and all tickets will be ten or twenty dollars more than before? simple, no collecting more fee's, less carry on bag's, and people that have to wait three extra minutes in the aile standing won't be bitching and griping as much, simple???
cori Oct 23rd 2009 9:59AM
The fuss is while we waste precious time with passengers sneaking on too many bags and too large bags fighting for bulkhead space... time is wasting and THAT cuts into time alloted to catch our connections.
neighb Oct 23rd 2009 11:08AM
J-Luv,
The "fuss" with being on the plane early has to do with the passengers in row 39 boarding first in the "we-will-begin-boarding-from-the-rear-of-the-plane" method currently in use, is that they are stowing their enormous, gigantic bags in the overhead compartment above MY seat in row 6 instead of back where their row is located. This, in hopes of making sure they get a space for the bag (with their entire earthly possessions inside) and not having to "fight traffic", upon landing and arrival, to retreive a bag six rows BEHIND the one where their seat was located since that overhead was already crammed with their rowmates' luggage.
As for the bigger seats suggested by one liberal, gasbag poster: SOME OF US DIDN'T VOTE FOR SOCIALISM IN THIS COUNTRY!! Try pushin' away from the dinner table a bit earlier, sweetheart. And lay off that 10-Twinkee-a-day routine.
Ali Cat Oct 23rd 2009 7:33AM
Maybe if airlines treated luggage better and didn't lost or misplace luggage then some of us business travelers wouldn't mind "Checking" our bags. It's the people traveling for leisure, some of whom only get on an airplane once a year that are slowing down the boarding process. Trust me, legged over 118,000 this year alone and I see who is slowing the process down, NOT the business traveler!!!!
APLUS Oct 23rd 2009 7:45AM
AIRLINES SHOULD ALSO START BOARDING THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE FIRST IN THIS ORDER .5.4,3,2, 1 WOULD'NT IT MAKE MORE SENSE LESS HOLD UP IN THE ISLES EVEN WITH FIRST CLASS SEATING IT REALLY WOULDNT MAKE A DIFFERENCE YOU REALLY DONT GET FIRST CLASS SERVICE UNTIL YOU'RE AIRBORNE ANYWAY, BOARDING USUALLY THE #1 CAUSES MOST OF THE HEADACHES AND DELAYS ANYWAY ......SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT....
har223 Oct 23rd 2009 7:49AM
Why not? There are always these characters who bring on suitcases which should have been checked through. This way the rest of us can sit back and watch them pummel their bag into the space above.
kay Oct 23rd 2009 12:03PM
Sounds great, but if a passenger gets seated at the aisle, and the other two have bags, then that passenger has to get in the aisle twice for the others??? I say ban any carry on baggage.
JOHN Oct 23rd 2009 10:01AM
IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I ALWAYS RESERVE AN AISLE SEAT WAY IN ADVANCE. I'M 6'6' TALL AND HAVEHAD MAJOR SURGERY ON MY FOOT AND KNEE SO AISLE SEATS ARE A MUST. FOLKS WITH CARRY-ON LUGGAGE TRAIL SUITCASES ON WHELLS BEHIND THEM, SLING OVERSIZE BAGS AND KNAPSACKS BEHIND THEM AND STILL HAVE ASSORTED ITEMS THEY TRY TO MANEUVER IN THE AISLE AS THEY GO BY. I'VE HAD MY FACE CUT BY OVERSIZE BAGS, BEEN CONSTANTLY SLAMMED BY BAGS, AND THESE IDIOTS DON'T EVEN HAVE THE COURTESY TO APOLOGIZE.
I CAN JUST SEE THESE JERKS IN AN EMERGENCY - FIGHTING TO SAVE THEIR BAGGAGE EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL BE INJURED OR DIE.
THE AIRLINES NEED TO ME MORE RESTICTIVE, NOT LESS.
Bob Oct 23rd 2009 10:03AM
John - no need to shout. : ) Have a good flight.
webo Oct 23rd 2009 8:48AM
Here is a great idea. Re-regulate the airline industry! Several things will happen:
1. Ticket prices will go up and marginal travelers will stop flying and use alternative technologies to communicate with other people, do their work, etc.
2. Fewer passengers means fewer people in the terminal, on the plane, parking in the lot, etc...
3. Fewer passengers means more room for business travelers and occassional travelers who can really afford to use airlines as a means to travel.
4. Good service and ontime arrivals will return as airlines can no longer use price as method of getting and retaining customers.
We've turned air travel into fast food. You get what you pay for...
Wynona Oct 23rd 2009 9:18AM
This pre-boarding gets me! I agree there are special cases. I traveled to Reno two months ago. As I was waiting There were two big women brought to the gate with pre boarding passes. While waiting they got up from the wheel chairs and walked to the small restaurant down the passageway, got two large bags of food and sat back in the wheel chairs, then they waited for the attendants to push them on board!! A gentleman who had lost his foot above the ankle was in the line pushed to the rear while these two cows got on?!! This country is too greedy and selfish! What ever happened to common courtesy? As for the baggage, only one bag should be allowed to be a carry on and not the entire trunk of ur closet! It should be of an appropiate size to fit in the overhead bins.
Ted Oct 23rd 2009 9:15AM
Last Friday out of BWI on AirTran the gate agents looked at the crowd and determined they had more luggage than the overhead bins would hold. So, they offered priority boarding to those who checked their bags. I was in a later group and gave up my bags to board first; I got off in the first few people and my bags arrived as I got to baggage claim - worked great!!!!
Donna Beaupre Oct 23rd 2009 9:44AM
They always have boarded the rear of the plane first when I have flown. In AU they are VERY specific as to what bags get carried on - asit should be. measured & weighed. OK, those with NO bags get on first--that works, then, the ones with bags get on and have a window seat so the isle person has to get up and out into the isle....theory looks good, but will it work. We were flying one time and a lady got on with a bag she couldn't put above, the stew had just had back surgery and couldn't do it for her and I told my husband NO, if the lady with the suit case couldn't put it up there, she should have checked it. The man that did get up to help her could hardly get it in the spot. She should have checked her bag
Bree Oct 23rd 2009 9:40AM
I agree with the author, I would rather the order be reversed. I hate sitting in those crammed airplane seats waiting for all the passengers to board and take their seats. I think carry-on passengers should board first, followed by the passengers without carry-ons. Then, once the plane lands, passengers with checked or no luggage should be able to exit first so that we don't have to wait for 20 mins for all the carry-on passengers to grab their bags that they had to stow three rows behind their seats b/c there wasn't enough room above them!!