<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Clarence Iba:
These have been in operation in TUL, DAL, and AUS for about two weeks now. (At least on the dates I've flown). Seems to slow down the boarding process actually, but I'm sure it makes their post-departure paperwork easier somehow. Would be nice if there were two per gate, but i'm sure that's way too pricey.</font>
Interesting, because my Companion and I had the same conversation last weekend when flying through BWI. My take was that as long as there is any line at all in the jetway to get on the plane, there's no increase or decrease in boarding time. Once boarding starts now, passengers wait longer in the terminal than in the jetway, but the overall result is basically the same.
I also agree that the agents are getting more proficient with the readers as time goes by. I've also seen a few who 'give up' on the readers if they're not cooperating, take the tix, then go back and scan after everyone's boarded.