A new carry-on luggage 'valet' service and 'new' boarding

[PAXboy]

This from Delta:
Could a new carry-on luggage 'valet' service end the fight for overhead storage space on flights? - News & Advice - Travel - The Independent

To the question posed, I think the answer is NO - not a chance. But as a PR exercise that might work???

In the PR written article:

The new “Early Valet” system will offer passengers on busy US routes the chance to have a steward take their luggage from them at the gate and place it in the compartment above their seat. The hope is that the new wheeze will reduce the impact of the frantic scramble for seats as passengers battle each other for space in overhead compartments near their seats.

So either:

1. A 'steward' will take the bag at the gate and carry it all the way onto the aircraft.
2. A member of Cabin Crew will take the bag at the door of the aircraft and carry it to the seat?
3. It is not stated how the 'steward' then makes their way back up the aisle against the flow of incoming pax or if the bags are trule taken at the gate and loaded before the pax.

Later, the article moves on to another topic with KLM boarding:

Last year Dutch airline KLM introduced a boarding process called “Smart Boarding”, which sees passengers issued with a boarding number and called forward by large screens, only allowing one person at a time to board the aircraft.

You mean - just like the process of "Boarding by row numbers" as they did until the pax ignored them and the agents realised that it was pointless to try and stop the thundering herd and better to let the pax sort it out for themselves? Even if it took longer?

I know, I'm too cynical and I've been paxing for too long ...

[ExXB]

I'm guessing they will have a cart where they can stack a few bags and then one (or better two) staff to store the carry-on before passengers board.

If properly pre-sorted and done methidically from front to back this could speed up boarding.

But, on ghe other hand, if they have got all that time why not start boarding earlier? I remember that (years ago) CP, on one of thier short lived all business products had 'trickle' boarding. They opened boarding 45 mins before departure and pax could board as and when they chose. Seemed almost civilised.

[Opsbeatch]

I love the way the Japanese board the aircraft, window seats first, centre then aisle seats. Obviously, that wouldn't stop the bunfight for overhead bins but the boarding process is much quicker and smoother...

[Mark in CA]

Maybe I'm more cynical than you, PAXboy, but when I read about this I couldn't help thinking it sounded more like they are testing a new premium service they want to offer -- pay extra to ensure your carry-on stuff get into the bin above your seat. Sort of like premium seating, it's premium carry-on stowage.

[mixture]

Won't last long ... its America, so one of the valets will chip his fingernail on a piece of passenger luggage, file a class action lawsuit for a billion dollars against the airline who will then hastily withdraw said service.

[PAXboy]

Mark in CA Yes - could well be and as a way of getting extra revenue? Smart.

Opsbeatch it used to be that we in the West could load a 747 in rows from the back (or a single aisle for that matter) and folks would check their boarding card and wait for their row to be called. When people jumped the gun, they were politely turned back by the gate staff to wait their turn. But, after another few years, the agents found that the abuse they got was not worth it and so the free for all began.

Of course, in Italy, the free for all has been the standard method of boarding since anyone can remember

[1DC]

On a delayed flight out of Paphos last week, all the old folk,who still think that "Manners" means something formed a line up to the desk. When the flight was called all the chavs and other general bums and stiffs joined the children first group,pushed the old folk out of the way and nobody said a word. Unfortunately a sad reflection of these times..

[Davef68]

There are not many air services that haven't been monetised for 'premium' yet - check-in, seats, security, parking, hold baggage, boarding. Carry on luggage location must be the last egalitarian thing left.

Not surprised someone has seen a way to make a fast buck from the smug entitled.

Maybe O'Leary's idea of monetising on board toilets may come to fruition.....

[ExXB]

I'm confused. Are they charging for this? My impression was that they were not, just trying to expedite boarding.

[PAXboy]

There was no mention of how much but no one is going to offer that for free - as every pax would then ask for it. Sounds like 'market testing' to me.