"Strict ordering slashes tarmac time"
 

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/0802.../4511040a.html

Duh.

I've seen this rear-forward in action, on NW. On an ORD-DTW flight, the flight-crew was about to time-out. There was about 20 minutes to board the plane and close the door, or this last flight of the day would be cancelled, and the gate crew would have had to rebook and/or put up the entire plane for the night. In an amazing display of coordination, the GAs were able to line up the entire plane down the concourse, from the back of the plane forward, gate-checking anything that even appeared oversized. I was in 5B on a DC-9, so I was the 2nd-from-last person to board the plane. They repeated "do what you're told, or you're spending the night in Chicago" enough times, that people actually started to listen. I can only imagine that when the plane got to DTW, the ground crew kept wondering "where'd all these bags come from?!?!". :)

I've given up trying to figure people out. My favored seat on a 757 is 6A, and probably about 80-90% of the time, I have to get 6B to move. And about 50% of that time, they huff that they have to get out. You gotta figure... if your'e on the aisle, and the seat next to you is empty, you're pretty much going to have to let someone in...

Steve B.

More evidence that NW's Total General Boarding or Open Boarding or whatever they're calling it now makes no sense whatsoever.

It doesn't affect us that directly as elites (except when NW GAs ignore the carpet and preboard processes), but we do get delayed if boarding delays cause late departures.

If the research done by other airlines, such as UA's "WILMA" boarding and US' "Reverse Pyramid" boarding has shown that those approaches are faster ways to board, and other network carriers (AA, DL, CO) successfully use zone/seating area boarding, then what makes NW so smart about total chaos boarding being faster.

Those other airlines did research to determine "what is the fastest way to board an airplane" and came up with different approaches from NW yet conceptually similar to each other (though differing in details). While NW came up with alleged research that total chaos boarding is faster. I think the NW research question must have been "what is the fastest way to board an airplane, given GAs with lousy attitudes and poor morale who are unwilling to pay attention to any policy."

Sounds like NW did some real world research on that ORD-DTW flight.

I've been saying for a long time that after the elite boarding, they should start with the window pax and those seated in the same row traveling with them, which would keep the aisle pax from blocking the aisle while the window and center pax get settled.

There's still nothing like get the plane boarded quick or miss your flight to motivate the pax.

I was on a DTW-SEA flight recently. The equipment was a 757, which are notoriously difficult to board quickly. 40 minutes prior to departure, a flight attendant exited the jetway, whispered something to the sole gate agent, and ran away from the gate with her purse. The gate agent made several curt comments over the PA system regarding the lack of any seat-switching and completely-booked flight status.

As the clock ticked away, passengers inquiring about being seated together or switching to an aisle or window were were turned away with terse comments by the gate agent. 20 minutes prior to scheduled departure, the flight attendant returned and the gate agent immediately began boarding. It was complete mahem, with passengers jamming the jetway door. It only took 28 minutes to board, but it was quite hectic. There were multiple announcements at the gate and on the plane about taking seats quickly, storing bags and jackets below seats, etc.

There was elite boarding on this flight, and it appeared there were many passengers who boarded early, requiring all those passengers in rows 30+ to climb past all of those pre-boarded/early-boarded passengers. Another classic example of how boarding rear to front, windows to aisle would expedite the entire process.

Night (NW) and Day (CO)
 

Boy, I had a similar experience to the OP but is was on CO. We had 15 minutes to board a completely full MD-80 on Christmas Eve (with all the extra holiday carry-on stuff). However, the CO gate agent and supervisor came out and nicely explained the situation. In a very nice tone, they explained that this plane must leave on time to ensure that everyone would make their very short connections at IAH.

Amazingly (the holiday spirit, perhaps?), everyone nicely cooperated and boarded the aircraft quickly and efficiently. We were all seated with EVERYTHING stowed (no gate checked bags) 4 minutes EARLY!!!^

Needless to say, the FA's and pilots were absolutely ASTOUNDED. In fact, it took 5 more minutes to get all the cargo loaded! When I returned, I saw the same supervisor, thanked him, and wrote a favorable letter to the station manager.

But there was no yelling, badgering, or stern warnings from the CO staff.

Out of curiosity, how is elite preboarding working lately? I've only been in F for a while (surprising given the number of ex-SFO flights...) and I have just heard the gate agents announcing F. Didn't stick around to see if they then announced elites, or went straight to the mass orgasm of coach.

It's hit an miss, but 99% of the time they do preboard elites.

About 100% of the time (and I have tested this theory about 5 times in the past 6 months) they don't care if your elite. I had co-workers and my wife, both of whom are not on my PNR walk either in front of behind me, never was any of them stopped or questioned and none of them have Elite status of course.

More recent though, I am starting to see now - instead of asking for people who need assistance, they go get them prior to even announcing anything, they line them up or once they start letting some on, they'll go to the seats and get more (who they think needs assistance) - be it elderly or people with children.

This action seems to not disturb the waiting-to-run pax so it seems to be working. Then they call F and then WP/ST Elites.

The problem with NWA is because they general board, everyone gets in line once things they pick up the mic. I have had to wait through elite call and through a majority of general call because I am not the type of person to push my way through the people who form line walls. Now when I know I am going to be in Y - I just stalk the lanes, keeping sure to stay out of the way but also in the way at the same time.

When I flew Delta a couple weeks ago, they boarded a full DL's DC9 equivalent in like 15 minutes. Plus, no one really got up except those who seemed to be F and DM's.

On a side note, my most recent DTW to MBS I went through with my bag (oops) and had to go back to get a green tag. When I went back the GA was telling an "older" (not really elderly - but close (guessing LOL)) couple they had to wait till general boarding as it was FC only. The woman said "They always let us board first because we need time."

I left before I heard the rest of that conversation, but I did not see them board right away after me. It was really strange LOL

Delta's "DC9 equivalents" are the MD-88 (142 seats) and MD-90 (150) seats, both of which are larger than any NW DC-9.

Was on a full DL 767-300 (250 seats) ex TPA this morning that was boarded & pushed back in 35 minutes.

Well... that's a 2-row heavy. Having two rows, and a few places to cross, usually helps with boarding.

Steve B.

Especially easy when they use door 2 which, IIRC, DL usually does on the 763s and 752s at TPA.

Well... since we're mostly Elites here on FT, when boarding from 2L, loading Y becomes such an irrelevant discussion... ;)

Steve B.

Door 2 on a 763 is in the rear of the plane, I believe...But the 2 aisles allow for quick loading/unloading.

When I'm in Y on the 757s, I like to sit in the door 2 exit window seat, it's a pain (sometimes literally) during boarding, but loads of room and a quick exit. On NW's 753s actually like 40 A/F better when I don't have to hurry off the plane. Of course I like 1A the best, but I don't always get the UG.

You're correct, I only flew one 763, that was DL in F back in October. I guess with being in 1E, I was far enough away from the boarding so I just didn't notice too much while relaxing with my Dewar's rocks.

I'm much more used to seeing 757s, both at DL's and NW's gates.