Originally Posted by Olton Hall
From experince, the method that seems to work the quickest is "Everyone board at once" I've had this three times. All three times completely full flights. Once on a BA A320, then a BA 777, and earlier this year on a CO 733.
Tonight I had FC, Platnum Elites, Gold Elites, Silver Elites, Elite Access Rows 20-25......., Everyone else Row 20-25, etc. It took over a half an hour to board a 733 doing it this way.
Interestingly, JAL boards its domestic Japanese flights this way. You'll see them board a full 747 (with over 550 seats) in 15 minutes just by boarding everyone at once. (There is not even pre-boarding for elites.)