Southwest testing faster deplaning process at San Jose, Sacramento airports
May 30, 2017, 4:43 pm
#1
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Southwest testing faster deplaning process at San Jose, Sacramento airports
Anyone seen this yet? My home airport is SMF and I can't see how they would do it without using stairs to the tarmac for the back exit, then back up to the terminal.
http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article...n-11183003.php
http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article...n-11183003.php
May 30, 2017, 4:48 pm
#2
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They did this for a brief period of time at SMF, but all I remember is the option to board the aircraft through the rear door.
Yes, you had to walk across the tarmac from the rear stairs, just as you have always had to do at Burbank airport.
Yes, you had to walk across the tarmac from the rear stairs, just as you have always had to do at Burbank airport.
May 30, 2017, 5:00 pm
#3
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AA & US before it have done this for years with Shuttle flights, especially at LGA. Air stairs are used for the rear exit and there is an announcement made, reminding passengers that the option is available.
It can knock the deplaning time way down, but it does take a bit of cooperation because passengers in the last 10 rows who for one reason or another don't want to or cannot use the air stairs need to wait for the <2 minutes it takes for those headed to the rear to head back. Because driving air stairs takes a level of competence which some GA's who can't seem to connect a jetway to the cabin door, the rear-exiting pax are often done before the front cabin door is even open.
It can knock the deplaning time way down, but it does take a bit of cooperation because passengers in the last 10 rows who for one reason or another don't want to or cannot use the air stairs need to wait for the <2 minutes it takes for those headed to the rear to head back. Because driving air stairs takes a level of competence which some GA's who can't seem to connect a jetway to the cabin door, the rear-exiting pax are often done before the front cabin door is even open.
May 30, 2017, 5:47 pm
#5
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I've seen it done at Burbank and Long Beach where there are no jetways and everyone has to walk on the tarmac between the plane and terminal. In those cases, there's usually a ramp rolled up to the front door and a set of air stairs rolled to the back door (both for boarding and deplaning).
Though they don't always do it if the flights aren't completely full - as I learned the hard way sitting in row 20 on a half full flight to LGB thinking I'd be the first down the rear stairs only to hear on landing that we were only deplaning out the front!
Though they don't always do it if the flights aren't completely full - as I learned the hard way sitting in row 20 on a half full flight to LGB thinking I'd be the first down the rear stairs only to hear on landing that we were only deplaning out the front!
May 30, 2017, 8:57 pm
#6
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I've had a couple of flights into SJC with the rear door available for deplaning. Turns out the real problem is that unlike BUR where you go down one set of (air)stairs to the ground-floor doorway into the terminal, at SJC you descend the airstairs, then you have to take another set of (low clearance, I almost bumped my (6'3") head) winding stairs three flights up into the front-door jetway and the low-mobility folks get caught unaware of what they had to do, and slow everyone behind them to a crawl.
Jun 1, 2017, 10:43 am
#7
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Anyone seen this yet? My home airport is SMF and I can't see how they would do it without using stairs to the tarmac for the back exit, then back up to the terminal.
http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article...n-11183003.php
http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article...n-11183003.php
Jun 1, 2017, 10:46 am
#8
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It sounds like this gets everyone off the plane sooner, so it sounds like it's good for Southwest, but it doesn't save time for the passengers who must walk down the stairs, across the tarmac, and back up the stairs into the terminal, all while carrying luggage, kids, car seats, etc. It's basically a quicker turnaround for the aircraft at the expense (in convenience and time) of some customers.
This will also change some people's decisions about whether to go for aisle seats in the very back of the plane.
This will also change some people's decisions about whether to go for aisle seats in the very back of the plane.
Jun 5, 2017, 11:08 am
#9
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I've had a couple of flights into SJC with the rear door available for deplaning. Turns out the real problem is that unlike BUR where you go down one set of (air)stairs to the ground-floor doorway into the terminal, at SJC you descend the airstairs, then you have to take another set of (low clearance, I almost bumped my (6'3") head) winding stairs three flights up into the front-door jetway and the low-mobility folks get caught unaware of what they had to do, and slow everyone behind them to a crawl.
A compete failure on WN's part using stairs in the rain going down and then climb three levels back up that takes more time.
Jun 5, 2017, 11:11 am
#10
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I imagined using two jetbridges like they do for international flights and they even use three for the Airbus 380. At SJC thete is a secrete door that leads directly to the baggage claim. For those connecting there should be an elevator and for those claiming baggage open the door that leads directly to the Tetminal B Baggage claim
A compete failure on WN's part using stairs in the rain going down and then climb three levels back up that takes more time.
A compete failure on WN's part using stairs in the rain going down and then climb three levels back up that takes more time.
Jun 5, 2017, 1:22 pm
#11
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Jun 6, 2017, 7:59 am
#12
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I remember years ago, (this was early 2000's) at SAN. If your WN flight pulled into Gates 1-2-3 area in terminal one, airstairs front and back doors were used. It was really fun if you didn't have problem navigating the stairs.
Jun 8, 2017, 2:12 pm
#13
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AS does this (or used to) on many of their flights. I found it was faster for deplaning but boarding time didn't seem much improved. I always suspected many travelers were just uncertain or uncomfortable with the idea of boarding from the back, so I'd find that even ones in the "rear boarding" lanes would often just move to the jet bridge side of the line once they passed the GA.
Jun 9, 2017, 2:16 pm
#14
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AS does this (or used to) on many of their flights. I found it was faster for deplaning but boarding time didn't seem much improved. I always suspected many travelers were just uncertain or uncomfortable with the idea of boarding from the back, so I'd find that even ones in the "rear boarding" lanes would often just move to the jet bridge side of the line once they passed the GA.
(I like city buses so this isn't a slam on that)
Jun 15, 2017, 3:39 pm
#15
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FWIW, in the Bay Area (and IIRC the Sacramento area) most riders use Clipper cards to pay, and you can board from any door.