Originally Posted by
bocastephen
Every flight I've been on or observed with the two lane method was a complete cluster - a massive mob of people the GAs wouldn't or couldn't control, line jumping, pushing/shoving, etc.
No thanks....keep the chutes and people physically separated and out of the way...the issue is who should be in which chute.
The chutes are the smartest thing UA introduced to the boarding process.
In the cases where there rooms for all 5 lanes it's not terrible but could be much better (especially with uber long 1/2 lines where they kind of merge and cross as it gets further out) -- but in the places where its 1/2/3-4-5 it's a complete cluster.
I recently had a handful of domestic Australia flights on Virgin Australia and their boarding process, at least for their 738s is "Business and Platinum/Gold" (first and then through the purple lane at any time) and "All Other Passengers" -- no groups 1-364, no rows X and higher, no families, just essentially "everyone else". (I think the GAs looked for and boarded elderly/disabled before making any announcements) I felt like the entire boarding process just moved much more quickly. (The fact that most of the stations were boarding both front and back couldn't hurt).
The overhead bins didn't seem to be nearly as full either...