Solving the Line Cutting Issue?
Jun 27, 2012, 12:23 pm
#1
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Solving the Line Cutting Issue?
Delta has tried out automated gates that scan the bp in a turnstile fashion.
It seems to me WN could benefit from this more than other airlines. Imagine, a machine that is properly programmed will never allow A53 to board with A17
.
http://www.startribune.com/business/160326795.html
It seems to me WN could benefit from this more than other airlines. Imagine, a machine that is properly programmed will never allow A53 to board with A17
. http://www.startribune.com/business/160326795.html
Jun 27, 2012, 12:28 pm
#2
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Jun 27, 2012, 12:37 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MCO
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Would never work with Southwest's generous cancellation and no-show policies. If A19 decides not to show up, but doesn't bother deleting his BP, after A18 goes through, the machine would expect A19. A20 wouldn't be able to get in, because he'd be "cutting". It'd require manual override. Once manual override is enabled, the entire system is shot to hell and it'd be no different than it is now, because no GA is going to spend half their day shouting in the terminal "A19? Is A19 here??" any more than they're going to spend half their day telling A50 to go away when he's lined up with A20.
Jun 27, 2012, 1:04 pm
#4
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Would never work with Southwest's generous cancellation and no-show policies. If A19 decides not to show up, but doesn't bother deleting his BP, after A18 goes through, the machine would expect A19. A20 wouldn't be able to get in, because he'd be "cutting". It'd require manual override. Once manual override is enabled, the entire system is shot to hell and it'd be no different than it is now, because no GA is going to spend half their day shouting in the terminal "A19? Is A19 here??" any more than they're going to spend half their day telling A50 to go away when he's lined up with A20.
Jun 27, 2012, 1:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MCO
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And once you allow +/- 5, then A25 boards after A20, skipping 21-24. Then the system allows A30 to board, because it's 5 greater than the last guy, still skipping 21-24 in addition to 26-29. And then A35 could sneak in, still skipping 21-24 and 26-29, and also 31-34. Because the system has absolutely no way of telling whether 21-24 are still sitting there waiting to board or if they're a family of 4 who took a different flight and didn't bother telling anyone at Southwest.
Jun 27, 2012, 2:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
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it could still be setup so that the gate agent has to enter an override code each time a boarding card 5+ numbers from the expected or last scanned boarding pass was scanned. This could save/trigger an exception report would then be available for WN managemnet.
So this would allow A16, A21, A26, A31, A36 to be scanned with no error.
The gate agents often game the system anyway--holding them in a pile to scan in sequence/later...
So this would allow A16, A21, A26, A31, A36 to be scanned with no error.
The gate agents often game the system anyway--holding them in a pile to scan in sequence/later...
Jun 27, 2012, 4:17 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
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Jun 27, 2012, 7:58 pm
#8
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 1,627
Delta has tried out automated gates that scan the bp in a turnstile fashion.
It seems to me WN could benefit from this more than other airlines. Imagine, a machine that is properly programmed will never allow A53 to board with A17.
http://www.startribune.com/business/160326795.html
It seems to me WN could benefit from this more than other airlines. Imagine, a machine that is properly programmed will never allow A53 to board with A17
. http://www.startribune.com/business/160326795.html
Jun 28, 2012, 3:00 am
#9
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Would never work with Southwest's generous cancellation and no-show policies. If A19 decides not to show up, but doesn't bother deleting his BP, after A18 goes through, the machine would expect A19. A20 wouldn't be able to get in, because he'd be "cutting". It'd require manual override. Once manual override is enabled, the entire system is shot to hell and it'd be no different than it is now, because no GA is going to spend half their day shouting in the terminal "A19? Is A19 here??" any more than they're going to spend half their day telling A50 to go away when he's lined up with A20.
Jun 28, 2012, 3:03 am
#10
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And once you allow +/- 5, then A25 boards after A20, skipping 21-24. Then the system allows A30 to board, because it's 5 greater than the last guy, still skipping 21-24 in addition to 26-29. And then A35 could sneak in, still skipping 21-24 and 26-29, and also 31-34. Because the system has absolutely no way of telling whether 21-24 are still sitting there waiting to board or if they're a family of 4 who took a different flight and didn't bother telling anyone at Southwest.
Jun 28, 2012, 8:38 am
#11
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 8
Saying in a loud and authoritative voice: 'Excuse me sir, you board with the B group, this is for A16-30'. That usually solves the problem. If not, guess who with their 6ft, 300lb frame is going to park it in the middle seat next to the offender?
Jun 28, 2012, 10:27 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
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I think the best solution would be to board by status.
After the legitimate pre-boarders are on then:
Board Business Select: if you are not BS, you do not board.
Board A+: If you are not A+ or BS, you do not board.
Board A-List: If you are not A-List, A+, or BS, you do not board.
Board EBCI: If you are not EBCI, A-List, A+ or BS you do not board.
Family boarding is after EBCI even if they are still taking A's.
Let everyone else find the people saving seats for them or fight over middle seats.
Out-of-order passengers within the group would be possible, but not with the vast difference in number of a B-20 slipping in behind BS.
Side benefit: A+ and A-list that have changed flights or purchased inside the 36 hour window could board at the end of their group even if they get C-5.
Jun 28, 2012, 11:36 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 445
What about basic limits same as the official boarding process:
turnstile allows A1-A30
A31-A60
B1-B30
etc
wouldn't solve A29 boarding after A2, but it would prevent the most egregious problems.
Or a really simple solution; if someone with a really incorrect position hands their boarding pass over, they're still allowed to go through so the line doesn't slow down, but a loud computer voices says "HEY YOU CUT THE LINE". Social ostracizing would work wonders!
turnstile allows A1-A30
A31-A60
B1-B30
etc
wouldn't solve A29 boarding after A2, but it would prevent the most egregious problems.
Or a really simple solution; if someone with a really incorrect position hands their boarding pass over, they're still allowed to go through so the line doesn't slow down, but a loud computer voices says "HEY YOU CUT THE LINE". Social ostracizing would work wonders!
Jun 28, 2012, 12:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
You are assuming they care.
Jun 28, 2012, 12:20 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 445
If they could simply walk away, then it wouldn't matter. But they'll be stuck on the plane with the other passengers for at least an hour. Maybe there could be a FA announcement: "Please note, the gentleman sitting in 7C cut the line and should have boarded much later. Feel free to stare and make him uncomfortable for the remainder of the flight, and thank you for flying Southwest!"