Originally Posted by
woodenshoe101
So split 200 pax into say... roughly 8 groups?
Kidding aside, part of the reason (I believe) the number system at WN works well is not just the numbering, but the combination with no assigned seating. The first boarders will generally look for the next open row, meaning that the line keeps moving. Assigned seats make this inherently more complex as now you have to fit all the puzzle pieces in the right place instead of every piece just ending up in a random spot.
I thought we were talking about gate crowding, not boarding efficiency. Nobody boarding on WN has to fight and maneuver their way through a big crowd of people because there is an orderly line already formed and it's kept to the side of the gate.
Boarding efficiency is such a difficult problem to solve, and on top of that airlines are already doing non-optimal things like boarding first/comfort+/elites in their own groups, I'm convinced by the time they get to main cabin they don't really care.