Boarding Time?
Oct 30, 2018, 8:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 226
Boarding Time?
Has anyone else noticed a focus on beginning boarding right at the published boarding time or a few minutes early? Something I have seen over the last few weeks/months. Not ideal on tight connections without assigned seats.
Oct 30, 2018, 12:41 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,924
And if it happens on all flights (your first and your connection) is there really an impact? There's only a negative impact if it only happens on the connection and not the first flight, but it's actually beneficial to you if it only happens on the first flight.
Oct 30, 2018, 1:31 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: VX Gold/WN Companion
Posts: 682
They tend to board "early" more on weekends with fuller flights when there is a higher amount of non frequent travelers present and any time you are on an 800 full flight where there are more seats to board
Weekdays I have not notices any changes,
Weekdays I have not notices any changes,
Oct 31, 2018, 5:50 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
And by "a few minutes" early, are we talking like three minutes, or ten? Three minutes could probably be explained by simple statistical error, more or less experienced gate staff, someone's watch is fast, etc.
Oct 31, 2018, 8:08 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 226
We’re just talking 5 minutes or so but it’s enough to be frustrating if you have a tight connection or if you want to get something to eat before the flight.
It’s definitely not like it was years ago where the previous flight was scheduled to arrive at the 30 minute mark. These planes seem to sit on the ground a lot longer.
It’s definitely not like it was years ago where the previous flight was scheduled to arrive at the 30 minute mark. These planes seem to sit on the ground a lot longer.
Oct 31, 2018, 8:26 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The "boarding time" is purely notional. It starts when the aircraft, crew, and operations team (gate, baggage, fuel) are ready for it to start. The flight is then ready to push as soon as all passengers who were timely at the gate are onboard and the various flight closing formalities have been completed. No reason to delay boarding or departure for something purely artificial.
This is true of almost all carriers. On WN it has the potential of causing some annoyance because WN does not assign seats. Thus, if you happened to hold A1 and don't arrive from a connection until T-20, you will wind up boarding way down the pecking order and presumably in a lousier seat.
That is simple of the choices one has to make when flying WN. Neither good nor bad, Simply a choice.
This is true of almost all carriers. On WN it has the potential of causing some annoyance because WN does not assign seats. Thus, if you happened to hold A1 and don't arrive from a connection until T-20, you will wind up boarding way down the pecking order and presumably in a lousier seat.
That is simple of the choices one has to make when flying WN. Neither good nor bad, Simply a choice.
Oct 31, 2018, 9:46 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
The "boarding time" is purely notional. It starts when the aircraft, crew, and operations team (gate, baggage, fuel) are ready for it to start. The flight is then ready to push as soon as all passengers who were timely at the gate are onboard and the various flight closing formalities have been completed. No reason to delay boarding or departure for something purely artificial.
I had a similar observation about my routine every morning before going to work. The alarm goes off at the same time every day. I hit the snooze three times, or just twice on the mornings I have to shave. I shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, make my lunch and head out the door to drive to work (four miles). After the alarm goes off the first time, I usually don't even look at a clock again unless I happen to glance it on the car radio on the way to work. But I manage to arrive at work within plus or minus just a few minutes every day. Gain a few seconds here and there; lose a few here and there too.
That last sentence can be applied to the gate and boarding prep too I would think.