Astrophysicist finds fastest method of plane boarding
Paxing All Over The World
Thread Starter
Boarding Sequence Methods
Here is another bit of light relief... I was very amused to read this. As if anyone thinks that modern pax will follow such a sequence? The comments by readers that follow it, pose all the practical reasons why this will never work.
BBC News - Tests show fastest way to board passenger planes
Since pax do not listen to and follow the current boarding sequence and that most staff do not prevent pax boarding out of sequence - this is just good for a laugh. As one reader said, "Classic case of a solution in search of a problem."
This can be in JB faster than the nude travelling troll.
BBC News - Tests show fastest way to board passenger planes
Since pax do not listen to and follow the current boarding sequence and that most staff do not prevent pax boarding out of sequence - this is just good for a laugh. As one reader said, "Classic case of a solution in search of a problem."
This can be in JB faster than the nude travelling troll.
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I once saw about 150 squaddies board an RAF VC10 at Prestwick in around three minutes. Whichever way they were doing it, that's the best way.
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I suspect the number of announcements (if they can hear them) needed just to call the pax in boarding order would take more time than the standard mad rush. And when the first 15 pax called to board haven't reached the gate yet?
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Astrophysicist finds fastest method of plane boarding
Astrophysicist finds fastest method of plane boarding
BBC News - Tests show fastest way to board passenger planes
Tests show fastest way to board passenger planes By Jason Palmer Science and technology reporter, BBC News
The current most common boarding method clogs the aisles and rows
The most common way of boarding passenger planes is among the least efficient, tests have shown.
The best method has been the subject of study for years but now various approaches have been put to the test.
Boarding those in window seats first followed by middle and aisle seats results in a 40% gain in efficiency.
However, an approach called the Steffen method, alternating rows in the window-middle-aisle strategy, nearly doubles boarding speed.
The approach is named after Jason Steffen, an astrophysicist at Fermi National Laboratory in Illinois, US. Dr Steffen first considered the thorny problem of plane boarding in 2008, when he found himself in a long boarding queue.
He carried out a number of computer simulations to determine a better method than the typical "rear of the plane forwards" approach, publishing the results in the Journal of Air Transport Management.
Several authors had already proposed an order in which those seated in window seats boarded first, followed by middle seats and then aisle seats - dubbed the Wilma method. But Dr Steffen's best results suggested a variant of this.
He suggested boarding in alternate rows, window seats first, progressing from the rear forward: seats 12A, for example, followed by 10A, 8A and so on, then returning for 9A, 7A, 5A and so on, and then filling the middle and aisle seats in the same way.
The approach avoids a situation in which passengers are struggling to use the same physical space at the same time.
Only now, though, has the idea been put to the test. Jon Hotchkiss, a television producer making a show called This v That, began to consider the same problem of boarding efficiency and came across Dr Steffen's work.
Mr Hotchkiss contacted Dr Steffen, offering to test the idea using a mock-up of a 757 aeroplane in Hollywood and 72 luggage-toting volunteers.
The pair tested five different scenarios: "block" boarding in groups of rows from back to front, one by one from back to front, the "Wilma method", the Steffen method, and completely random boarding.
In all cases, parent-child pairs were permitted to board first - reflecting the fact that regardless of the efficiency of any boarding method, families will likely want to stay together.
The block approach fared worst, with the strict back-to-front approach not much better.
Interestingly, a completely random boarding - as practised by several low-cost airlines that have unallocated seating - fared much better, presumably because it randomly avoids space conflicts.
Boarding methods put to test
But the Wilma method and
; while the block approach required nearly seven minutes to seat the passengers, the Steffen method took just over half that time.
Dr Steffen said that broadly, the results aligned with the predictions he made in 2008.
"As far as the actual amount of time it took to fill the plane, the times didn't agree - because I didn't know how long it took people to put their luggage away and walk down the aisle," he told BBC News.
"The basic conclusions I drew were realised; the method I proposed did the best, and the other ones landed where I would've predicted."
Dr Steffen will now get back to his usual work, putting together plans to find planets around other stars using the Kepler space telescope. But he hopes that commercial airlines will take an interest in his approach - especially given that he estimates it could save them millions.
"I haven't received a phone call yet, but the day is young, so maybe that will change," he said.
BBC News - Tests show fastest way to board passenger planes
Tests show fastest way to board passenger planes By Jason Palmer Science and technology reporter, BBC News
The current most common boarding method clogs the aisles and rows
The most common way of boarding passenger planes is among the least efficient, tests have shown.
The best method has been the subject of study for years but now various approaches have been put to the test.
Boarding those in window seats first followed by middle and aisle seats results in a 40% gain in efficiency.
However, an approach called the Steffen method, alternating rows in the window-middle-aisle strategy, nearly doubles boarding speed.
The approach is named after Jason Steffen, an astrophysicist at Fermi National Laboratory in Illinois, US. Dr Steffen first considered the thorny problem of plane boarding in 2008, when he found himself in a long boarding queue.
He carried out a number of computer simulations to determine a better method than the typical "rear of the plane forwards" approach, publishing the results in the Journal of Air Transport Management.
Several authors had already proposed an order in which those seated in window seats boarded first, followed by middle seats and then aisle seats - dubbed the Wilma method. But Dr Steffen's best results suggested a variant of this.
He suggested boarding in alternate rows, window seats first, progressing from the rear forward: seats 12A, for example, followed by 10A, 8A and so on, then returning for 9A, 7A, 5A and so on, and then filling the middle and aisle seats in the same way.
The approach avoids a situation in which passengers are struggling to use the same physical space at the same time.
Only now, though, has the idea been put to the test. Jon Hotchkiss, a television producer making a show called This v That, began to consider the same problem of boarding efficiency and came across Dr Steffen's work.
Mr Hotchkiss contacted Dr Steffen, offering to test the idea using a mock-up of a 757 aeroplane in Hollywood and 72 luggage-toting volunteers.
The pair tested five different scenarios: "block" boarding in groups of rows from back to front, one by one from back to front, the "Wilma method", the Steffen method, and completely random boarding.
In all cases, parent-child pairs were permitted to board first - reflecting the fact that regardless of the efficiency of any boarding method, families will likely want to stay together.
The block approach fared worst, with the strict back-to-front approach not much better.
Interestingly, a completely random boarding - as practised by several low-cost airlines that have unallocated seating - fared much better, presumably because it randomly avoids space conflicts.
Boarding methods put to test
- "Block" boarding - 6:54
- Back-to-front - 6:11
- Random - 4:44
- Wilma method - 4:13
- Steffen method - 3:36
But the Wilma method and
Dr Steffen said that broadly, the results aligned with the predictions he made in 2008.
"As far as the actual amount of time it took to fill the plane, the times didn't agree - because I didn't know how long it took people to put their luggage away and walk down the aisle," he told BBC News.
"The basic conclusions I drew were realised; the method I proposed did the best, and the other ones landed where I would've predicted."
Dr Steffen will now get back to his usual work, putting together plans to find planets around other stars using the Kepler space telescope. But he hopes that commercial airlines will take an interest in his approach - especially given that he estimates it could save them millions.
"I haven't received a phone call yet, but the day is young, so maybe that will change," he said.
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I find the most efficient way for me to board is to book F class and wait to be escorted from the lounge at the last minute - ho, ho ho.
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These idealized simulations seem to overlook the very real constraint of passenger realities: Small children accompanying their parents, and other situations where one passenger is dependent (i.e. the non-SLF) on another.
Other than that,
Other than that,
Airlines have tried just about every boarding scheme imaginable. The one theory applied which seems to work in practice is the SWA "chaos theory" cattle car approach. No matter what scheme is applied, most airline boarding problems seem traceable to the almost universally thoughtless and inconsiderate brain dead airline passenger! Present company excluded of course... 
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Maybe if you were boarding a plane full of astrophysicists.
However, given most passengers leave their brains in the boot of their cars upon arrival at the airport, it'll never happen. You're stuck with the idiot sitting in 4A deciding that actually he'd much prefer 15C, passengers coming forward for boarding who have not yet been called and then the doddery old fart with the massive carry-on luggage who takes 10 minutes to pack their belongings away.
And that's before you contend with the average handling agent employee delegated the task of ensuring this all happens.
However, given most passengers leave their brains in the boot of their cars upon arrival at the airport, it'll never happen. You're stuck with the idiot sitting in 4A deciding that actually he'd much prefer 15C, passengers coming forward for boarding who have not yet been called and then the doddery old fart with the massive carry-on luggage who takes 10 minutes to pack their belongings away.
And that's before you contend with the average handling agent employee delegated the task of ensuring this all happens.
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thoughtless and inconsiderate brain dead airline passenger
You're stuck with the idiot sitting in 4A deciding that actually he'd much prefer 15C, passengers coming forward for boarding who have not yet been called and then the doddery old fart with the massive carry-on luggage who takes 10 minutes to pack their belongings away.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Config the aircraft as a freighter and palletise the pax. That way, they can all be seated even before the plane is on the blocks. Don't laugh, it may be MO'L's next idea. 
So much hatred, for no reason at all.
And anyway, I expressly excepted present company and used a smiley. Lighten up Francis!
Free seating seems to encourage people to grab a seat and sit down. Perhaps people also subconsciously block the aisles less because they know others are in a hurry to find a good seat or those blocked are motivated to push past. Bus boarding is almost always quicker too, particularly when it is raining. My vote is for random boarding. One thing I do not understand is why he tested it with 72 passengers. Maybe 150 or 189 would be the same, but I am not sure if the dynamics are identical.
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I have often wondered, as SLF, why they don't just ask us to form a queue with rearmost Pax first and fronters last. It could be easily policed at the gate boarding card scan by just asking for Pax by the next seat number.
I'm sure Pax would get the idea quickly if it became routine.
Some boarding even seems the other way round....
I'm sure Pax would get the idea quickly if it became routine.
Some boarding even seems the other way round....
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Looking at the video, is it just coincidence that the pax seem to be arriving from back to front in each window/middle/aisle group ?
And I agree with Single Chime that in Japan they manage to load full widebodies in 20 minutes, with people strolling on whenever they want in that 20 minute opening, so why not elsewhere ?
And I agree with Single Chime that in Japan they manage to load full widebodies in 20 minutes, with people strolling on whenever they want in that 20 minute opening, so why not elsewhere ?
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The obvious train of thought goes that if you fix the boarding efficiencies, they'll fix the unloading efficiencies as a by-product or shortly afterwards.
Besides, in case of fire = no luggage - that's the greatest issue to face. Maybe centrally lockable overhead cabinets in case of fire?
Besides, in case of fire = no luggage - that's the greatest issue to face. Maybe centrally lockable overhead cabinets in case of fire?
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The easiest, quickest and most efficient method of boarding based on my own experience as a frequent flyer is simply to do away with hand luggage and allow only small handbags or shoulder bags that do not have to be stowed aloft. I find that families with children seat quickly but the hold up is with people in the aisle trying to lift their luggage into the overhead lockers.
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Manchester - Dubai a few weeks ago, Emirates.
Monitor shows green - Go to gate. Walk to gate, (family of five) and board straight away. A few at a time, as they come, over 30-40 mins. Worked great. NO queues, waiting, congestion etc.
The problem is cooping up 250 or more people alongside the plane in the "gate holding area" then expecting them to board sensibly and swiftly, by numbers, zones etc. Then they're all farting about stashing luggage, finding seats etc.
Of course, onward sector (DBX to BKK) and return boardings were the usual chaos.
Monitor shows green - Go to gate. Walk to gate, (family of five) and board straight away. A few at a time, as they come, over 30-40 mins. Worked great. NO queues, waiting, congestion etc.
The problem is cooping up 250 or more people alongside the plane in the "gate holding area" then expecting them to board sensibly and swiftly, by numbers, zones etc. Then they're all farting about stashing luggage, finding seats etc.
Of course, onward sector (DBX to BKK) and return boardings were the usual chaos.