Originally Posted by
bocastephen
If we had GA's who kept the boarding area clear and moved people away who shouldn't be there, then yes - I agree it would work. ...
That is the key. Too many GA's make too many exceptions. Too many pre-boards. Too many exceptions (oh go ahead).
No more pre-boards except wheelchairs and those pre-requesting it. Step up early and you go to the back of the line. No exceptions. The whole process would go smoother as people would not want to do the walk of shame.
Originally Posted by
lincolnjkc
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...
CX does something similar...
First Class & top elites
Business Class & second tier elites
Prem Econ & third tier elites
Economy
The tell you to sit down before they are ready, but you can stand if you want. And most important, they have no problem showing you to the correct line. Very quite. Very orderly. And the plane seems to board a lot quicker.