The secrets of a quick embarkation
Join Date: Jun 2009
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it seems that the discipline of following the boarding row numbers has gone out the window. the number of times i have seen everyone rush toward the gate when the groundstaff announces the preboarding is mindboggling. even worse, the "out of order" pax are processed anyway. i think a (figurative) slap on the wrist and a trip to the back of the queue for anyone trying to board out of order would help epople focus.
the spatial awareness comments are also extremely valid. even among regular travellers. but sometimes the actions of non frequent travellers are the most frustrating...at all points of the process. i remember tyler brule, columnist in the ft, did a fantastic tongue in cheek article suggesting that infrequent travellers should be forced to wear yellow or orange vests (like construction workers do) to identify them as clueless so they could receive extra help.
classic!
the spatial awareness comments are also extremely valid. even among regular travellers. but sometimes the actions of non frequent travellers are the most frustrating...at all points of the process. i remember tyler brule, columnist in the ft, did a fantastic tongue in cheek article suggesting that infrequent travellers should be forced to wear yellow or orange vests (like construction workers do) to identify them as clueless so they could receive extra help.
classic!
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Most time is spent in stowing excess hand baggage. The sooner pax are stopped bringing on excess the better. Senior CC member should tell ground staff and Captain that they will stand by the door and reject all excess, that ground staff have let through, on safety grounds.
After a few lengthy delays management will get the message and in the long term, all will benefit.
After a few lengthy delays management will get the message and in the long term, all will benefit.
For short haul, hand luggage stowage is always the biggest issue, so -
1. Single item of hand luggage - absolutley no exceptions - not even for duty free.
2. Forbid airlines from charging for hold luggage.
DHU (SLF)
1. Single item of hand luggage - absolutley no exceptions - not even for duty free.
2. Forbid airlines from charging for hold luggage.
DHU (SLF)
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Perhaps regular flyers have a better sense of what's involved in boarding?
Wife to window seat = safe and comfortable [I would love a window seat one day!].
Husband opens overhead before standing in seat footwell.
Wife 'passes parcel'
Husband does the same.
Sit down, strap in, shut up.
Is that so difficult? Obviously it is.
Wife to window seat = safe and comfortable [I would love a window seat one day!].
Husband opens overhead before standing in seat footwell.
Wife 'passes parcel'
Husband does the same.
Sit down, strap in, shut up.
Is that so difficult? Obviously it is.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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the number of times i have seen everyone rush toward the gate when the groundstaff announces the preboarding is mindboggling. even worse, the "out of order" pax are processed anyway.
I don't understand the mentality when you have allocated seats. You have a seat, you know what it is, you are at the gate, the plane isn't going to leave without you, so wait your turn !!. When I worked with Lufty, they were trialling a zonal boarding procedure. Windows were in Zone A, Middle seats in Zone B and Aisles were in Zone C. The theory being that everyone in windows would go on first, followed by those in middle seats and those on the aisle would board last. They claimed to be able to board a full 747 in 15 minutes if everyone followed it correctly (we only had 737's, A320's and CRJ's at our station though). Not sure whether they kept it going though.
Thread Starter
So the amount of cabin baggage and the willingness of pax to board by row can make all the diffence?
The point Leezyjet makes is important if boarding. handling agent staff makes a fuss to enforce either the delay would be larger.
So what can be done?
Rwy in Sight
The point Leezyjet makes is important if boarding. handling agent staff makes a fuss to enforce either the delay would be larger.
So what can be done?
Rwy in Sight
Join Date: Jan 2008
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One of my top bug bears was the passenger who decides to stand in the aisle slowly stowing their luggage, folding their coat, faffing with their numerous duty free bags while seemingly oblivious to the scrum of passengers in the aisle behind them. It's obviously tricky when you have children with you etc but just a little awareness of other pax trying to get to their seats would be a good thing.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Ok, this might be just me... 2 adults + 2 small children (done then when they were babies too!).
Plan your seating beforehand: are we 1 adult + 2 children or 1 adult + 1 child. Are we sitting across from each other or in two different rows. Either way doesn't matter but good to know our relative positions.
Minimal hand baggage, big stuff goes in hold. Children put in seats immediately and told not to move (Adults in aisle seats). Bags away, toy/book each for the kids. Seat belts on. Done.
Funny but we're all ready while most business pax are still farting around with their giant suitcases...
I mean, it is not that hard to sit down in a seat is it? Fortunately I'm usually locked away behind the cockpit door and miss the crap our cc have to take...maybe I shouldn't mention the cattle prods to them....
fc101
Plan your seating beforehand: are we 1 adult + 2 children or 1 adult + 1 child. Are we sitting across from each other or in two different rows. Either way doesn't matter but good to know our relative positions.
Minimal hand baggage, big stuff goes in hold. Children put in seats immediately and told not to move (Adults in aisle seats). Bags away, toy/book each for the kids. Seat belts on. Done.
Funny but we're all ready while most business pax are still farting around with their giant suitcases...
I mean, it is not that hard to sit down in a seat is it? Fortunately I'm usually locked away behind the cockpit door and miss the crap our cc have to take...maybe I shouldn't mention the cattle prods to them....
fc101
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When I worked with Lufty, they were trialling a zonal boarding procedure. Windows were in Zone A, Middle seats in Zone B and Aisles were in Zone C.
I cannot understand why it takes people 5 minutes to sit down nce they've found their seat. But then I also can't understand why everyone in front of me takes 5 minutes to check in and I'm done in 30 seconds.
Join Date: Jan 2010
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I think it has been said several times over these 2 pages, one way or another.
Passengers are frequently/usually completely ...
unaware, selfish, disorganised, stupid, overloaded with bags/DF ... etc etc.
Oh, and incapable of working out that seat rows number from the front!
And in a single-aisle aircraft, there's bu66er-all the CC can do about it.
Passengers are frequently/usually completely ...
unaware, selfish, disorganised, stupid, overloaded with bags/DF ... etc etc.
Oh, and incapable of working out that seat rows number from the front!
And in a single-aisle aircraft, there's bu66er-all the CC can do about it.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Coupla of years ago, Barcelona. EZY to NCL, 8 women from smoggyland (Teesside) have paid for Speedy Boarding - at gate with god knows how many cabin bags/duty free bags etc. Remote stand, so bus. Arrival at remote stand - front steps only. 8 smoggies prove capabilty of being in top rugby scrum by getting up steps first. 2 have lost boarding cards so immediate hold up (would they stand to one side - no way !). Party then proceeds less than 1/8 way down cabin, but wanting seats on both sides.
Frantic pa from flight deck that slot about to be lost.
Smoggies decide that they all collectively want to move forward 2 rows. Much heaving of various cabin bags out of overhead to alternative positions. Hardly anybody else has yet got into a seat - 2 busloads of pax standing outside in baking heat. Polite but firm request from yours truly to excuse me please leads to mouthful of expletives and discussion amongst group as to "what's his problem ?". Finally I push them out of the way (you can get away with that as a pax), and wave of frustrated pax follow. Just made t/o slot.
If the gate had stopped them boarding the bus with the excess bags in the first place, it would have been less disruptive, and probably taken less time.
Frantic pa from flight deck that slot about to be lost.
Smoggies decide that they all collectively want to move forward 2 rows. Much heaving of various cabin bags out of overhead to alternative positions. Hardly anybody else has yet got into a seat - 2 busloads of pax standing outside in baking heat. Polite but firm request from yours truly to excuse me please leads to mouthful of expletives and discussion amongst group as to "what's his problem ?". Finally I push them out of the way (you can get away with that as a pax), and wave of frustrated pax follow. Just made t/o slot.
If the gate had stopped them boarding the bus with the excess bags in the first place, it would have been less disruptive, and probably taken less time.
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Single aisle aircraft boarding handy hints....
1. Pack all your little bits and pieces that you'll want during the flight in a bag that goes under your seat. If it's in your overnight luggage then put it in your hand\manbag before you board. No-one can move past you when you are occupying the only aisle on the aircraft while you repack your belongings. Yes even if you breathe in, lean over a seat or pretend you are not really standing in the aisle.
If you do need to get something out of your stowed luggage do so after takeoff. Chances are it's nothing you'll need for the few minutes it takes to get airborne.
2. Check your luggage in. Learn to carry less when you travel, it makes life so much easier for you. Do you really want to be dragging a heavy bag around the airport then fighting for locker space onboard? The test of whether a bag should be onboard is the test unit, not whether or not you can personally carry it or if it fits in the overhead locker. There are carry-on limits for a reason, one of them is available space the other one is safety. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be hit in the head with someone's oversized bag.
3. If there is no space in the lockers above your seat put it somewhere else. Even if that somewhere else is over another seat. No point in bringing it all the way down the aisle to where there is no locker space then going against the flow of traffic to try and take it back up the aircraft to an available spot. I promise no-one is interested in your bag and you can collect it again on your way out.
4. If you have a window seat get on first. If you have an aisle seat get on last.
5. Do not plan on using the toilet onboard before take off. Use the one in the terminal instead. People using the loo's holds up boarding and preparing the cabin and in some instances isn't allowed for safety reasons. The ones in the terminal are also nicer, more spacious and more convenient.
6. If you need someone to move so you can get into your seat say "excuse me", it lets the other person know that you need them to do something. Just standing there so they can read your mind isn't the most effective way to go about it.
1. Pack all your little bits and pieces that you'll want during the flight in a bag that goes under your seat. If it's in your overnight luggage then put it in your hand\manbag before you board. No-one can move past you when you are occupying the only aisle on the aircraft while you repack your belongings. Yes even if you breathe in, lean over a seat or pretend you are not really standing in the aisle.
If you do need to get something out of your stowed luggage do so after takeoff. Chances are it's nothing you'll need for the few minutes it takes to get airborne.
2. Check your luggage in. Learn to carry less when you travel, it makes life so much easier for you. Do you really want to be dragging a heavy bag around the airport then fighting for locker space onboard? The test of whether a bag should be onboard is the test unit, not whether or not you can personally carry it or if it fits in the overhead locker. There are carry-on limits for a reason, one of them is available space the other one is safety. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be hit in the head with someone's oversized bag.
3. If there is no space in the lockers above your seat put it somewhere else. Even if that somewhere else is over another seat. No point in bringing it all the way down the aisle to where there is no locker space then going against the flow of traffic to try and take it back up the aircraft to an available spot. I promise no-one is interested in your bag and you can collect it again on your way out.
4. If you have a window seat get on first. If you have an aisle seat get on last.
5. Do not plan on using the toilet onboard before take off. Use the one in the terminal instead. People using the loo's holds up boarding and preparing the cabin and in some instances isn't allowed for safety reasons. The ones in the terminal are also nicer, more spacious and more convenient.
6. If you need someone to move so you can get into your seat say "excuse me", it lets the other person know that you need them to do something. Just standing there so they can read your mind isn't the most effective way to go about it.
A real slow down is when a pax boards a three class aircraft through L1 with seat number 29F and look up at 1A then 2A etc. hoping by some magic that their assigned seat is in one of the premium cabins .
.
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1) Get rid of duty-free shopping at airports. If your country sucks so hard you need to shop at the airport to find bargains, then go home and vote in some politicians who will lower your taxes.
2) CC should get over the fact that people need to carry on hand luggage. If airlines didn't lose such a high percentage of checked baggage, or didn't charge the price of an extra ticket for a few pounds of extra weight, people would be more willing to check it instead. There's a very good reason people are willing to roll or tote their hand luggage all over a large terminal...the poor service at the baggage handling end of things.
3) Understand that not everyone is a frequent traveler and sometimes even if they are, they must be re-directed when they pull their overhead bin tricks. As the aircraft fills up, the boarding gets slower, and then stalls when people can't find anywhere to stow baggage up there even if they carry-on only 1 item. Many times the bins are filled with smaller 2nd items (computer bags, purses, duty-free items, folded up jackets, etc) that could and should be stowed under the seat in front of their own by from people who board first, who have already stowed a 1st item overhead. I've been at airlines where the CC know there will be problems with a full load so they make PAs regarding stowing 2nd items under the seat to allow space.
(Frequent travelers know when they're being space-hogs, however, so it's fair game to crush their duty free shopping/computer bag/suit jacket if they've done this and you need some room, all in the name of speeding up the boarding)
2) CC should get over the fact that people need to carry on hand luggage. If airlines didn't lose such a high percentage of checked baggage, or didn't charge the price of an extra ticket for a few pounds of extra weight, people would be more willing to check it instead. There's a very good reason people are willing to roll or tote their hand luggage all over a large terminal...the poor service at the baggage handling end of things.
3) Understand that not everyone is a frequent traveler and sometimes even if they are, they must be re-directed when they pull their overhead bin tricks. As the aircraft fills up, the boarding gets slower, and then stalls when people can't find anywhere to stow baggage up there even if they carry-on only 1 item. Many times the bins are filled with smaller 2nd items (computer bags, purses, duty-free items, folded up jackets, etc) that could and should be stowed under the seat in front of their own by from people who board first, who have already stowed a 1st item overhead. I've been at airlines where the CC know there will be problems with a full load so they make PAs regarding stowing 2nd items under the seat to allow space.
(Frequent travelers know when they're being space-hogs, however, so it's fair game to crush their duty free shopping/computer bag/suit jacket if they've done this and you need some room, all in the name of speeding up the boarding)
Join Date: Mar 2008
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My biggest hate on single aisle aircraft where airlines don't allocate seats is that pax fill seats from the front, rather than making their way down the cabin.
I'm always very polite when asking people to move down the cabin to choose their seats but quite often I get rolled eyes or a rude response. Said pax are also usually the 1st to complain if we depart late. I will always take extra care of pax who assist me with boarding & know the drill.
Helping people stow bags keeps the flow going too, even if it results in a bit of a sweaty boarding... but I could do with the exercise
I'm always very polite when asking people to move down the cabin to choose their seats but quite often I get rolled eyes or a rude response. Said pax are also usually the 1st to complain if we depart late. I will always take extra care of pax who assist me with boarding & know the drill.
Helping people stow bags keeps the flow going too, even if it results in a bit of a sweaty boarding... but I could do with the exercise
Join Date: Nov 2000
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The last few times I've flown with both Virgin and Emirates they have opened the gate early so that when you get to the gate it is open and everyone can board as they arrive at the gate. It avoided the unseemly rush that normally occurs when the FIDS indicate boarding and you get to the gate only to wait around for another 20 minutes. Air Canada also check your ticket when loading by seat row and turn those back that try to board out of sequence. The lady who does this is frequently an elderly harridan who brooks no argument, but it works.
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Still loading paxs onto VC10s one last week full 127 pax 14mins. (seats are still backwards!) As for the other charters 757s Tri Stars A330s we go for a women and kinder and the sick and lame first and allow a 5 min gap until rest of pax move and only allow 20 at a time up the steps. Strictly enforce company policy on hand luggage and if the pax give you verbal shut them off the flight straight away! rest of paxs get the idea fairly quickly. normally alowing 20 -25 mins to load a 200seat fit aircraft, normally manage it in considerably less. this works for free seating as well as allocated but I usher the groups out in setting order normally get them on much faster than free seating. Also control check in staff so all families allocated seating in same area so brats are localised ( normally at the rear to allow other pax on and off faster.