DELee

For most of United's A/C, the space is already there.

The new 737s have deeper/taller bins that allow for 3 rollaboards to be placed side by side. This would be a retrofit to the older A/C. Also if the center support could be engineered out, you could get another 3-4 inches of useable space between 2 rows.

The new 773s have the same problem as the older 772s where the bins were designed for a different era and don't have the total depth required to hold a rollaboard wheels first. This could be remedied but Boeing doesn't seem to care.

From what I recall, the A319s and A320s don't have these problems but I really don't have enough experience since the current United Air Lines seems to think that 737s are the cat's meow.

For the regional jets and prop planes, no amount of engineering is going to allow rollaboards to be stowed in those overheads.

David

threeoh

I've always thought they should make any bag that would be a legal carry-on free to check. That would probably solve the bin-space problem and the airline would still get plenty of ancillary revenue from larger checked bags.

I guess this is the defacto policy if you don't mind carrying the bag to your first gate: once (with no status) I wanted to check a bag through on a long connection so I wouldn't have to lug it between terminals. Didn't want to pay $25, so I carried the bag through TSA, went straight to the gate and gate-checked it for free, then went off to buy some food for the flight.

FL390

Flew out of Cleveland this morning. All the gates I saw have this new process. No one lined in in the two chutes early but there were a lot of people licing around the entrance and as the boarding time drew closer they were all inching closer. I pre boarded with GS so I walked in front of everyone and stood near the front. That move got me lots of lovely stares. Aircraft was a full 737-800.



I connected through ORD and gate B19 also has this new system. This aircraft was the EMB145. Again I pre boarded and there where only a few lice around but I assume that was because it was a 50 seat aircraft with no first class. B20-24 still had the old Group 1-5 cattle chutes. B19 is a tiny narrow gate with limited room.

AlanInDC

What I wonder about: airlines have boarded millions of passengers for decades and they still haven't figured out the most efficient way to do it. What's up with that? No research and development?

fly18725

The issue is constantly researched and new processes are tried. The problem is that the fastest way to board - the free for all with aggressive carryon policies - pisses elites off. Airlines are trying to find a sub-optimal balance.

helvetic

I think that's a fantastic idea!

Boraxo

F bin space should be reserved for F and the FA for F could easily enforce (could also make gate announcement). That would also let F board last as is the case with many non-US carriers which would also permit faster boarding. However that will still not resolve the problems of massive lines for groups 1 & 2 at hubs where I've seen 50-75% of the passengers boarding.

Yes this would result in faster boarding and is quite feasible as I think there are some airlines (Qantas) that require tags for all hand baggage. Simply make elites use permanent plastic tags and require big red "paid" tags for non-elites. Could also restrict "free" bag to 22" if you wanted to maintain ancillary revenue for 26"+ Could also charge BE a higher fee for carry-on.

mduell

Something else that might solve it is timely bag delivery. When it's 40 minutes after arrival to the first elite tagged bag at IAH, MCO, LAS, etc checking something that you can carry on is an exercise in wasting your own time.

dorisrpas

I agree 100%, because it is all about the money for infrequent travelers. I hear all the time "Just wait, they'll ask for volunteers to check their bag so we wont have to pay."

As for the chutes, I like them. Yeah, need big gate area for them to work which is a problem. But going back to 2 lanes isn't gonna be great. If they can't do 5, then should have 3 lanes with live signage with one lane for the boarding group, second lane for the next boarding group, and third Bypass lane.

That way, one group can board, another group can queue. When the first group is done boarding the live signage can flip and the queued group becomes the boarding group and the empty lane becomes the next queue lane.

Apologies for forgetting what those live electronic signs are called ... been a long week.

notquiteaff

Right. I don’t mind checking bags on AS because I can be pretty much assured that I will have it within 20mins of arrival. UA... not so much.

(I am elite with both, so no fee or problem getting overhead bin space on either airline)

kale73

That's the thing that drives me crazy: huge mobs blocking the terminal walkway.

I, too, usually travel with only a small duffel bag and my laptop bag. If necessary, both of them can fit under the seat, but I have always been able to find space for my duffel, even when I'm the last passenger to board the aircraft. Even though I carry much less / smaller luggage than most others, I still often feel that I've "overpacked". Why do people travel with so much junk?

Imagine how much more "differentially special" you'd feel using your Netjets Marquis Card!

findark

+1. Close the bins and then board F last - would solve my anxiety about licing the gate ^

flyerbaby19

If it's all about saving checked bag fees, maybe make a carryon $30 and a checked bag $25. although i'm pretty sure there is a significant cost to them for checked bags hence they prefer people carry on.

NewYork1K

B20 at ORD has it as well...

FreqFlyerCLE

Departing from CLE this afternoon. GA said “We are testing a new boarding procedure ...thank you for your patience as we work to improve our boarding experience.” One GS said he wasn’t happy with the change and GA asked him to please let UA know his thoughts. People are sitting mostly but a few are standing in gate area, just not lined up like before. Lots of people in area saying they liked previous process.