I was on a flight from DTW to MEM recently where they were trying out a new boarding procedure as an experiment...

Order was:

1) Passengers who need assistance
2) First class / exit rows
3) Elites
4) Passengers without large (aka rollerbags)
5) Everyone else.

For most FT'ers, this won't be an issue ... except it seems steps 4 and 5 would delay *not* expedite departures.

Two questions:

1) Has anyone else experienced this?

2) Any bets on how long it'll last?

Bob H