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There are a few points in my vacation travels that really get me wanting to quit the parade and go home. Boarding the aircraft to anywhere has got to be one of the top annoyances for me and I suspect for a great many other travellers, based on the facial expressions or lack there of.
The routine usually is to board the passengers in need of assistance or extra time first. The family with the kids in strollers and the disabled should get priority. Then it’s first class if it exists on you plane. Well they pay the premium and should get some perks other than glass and china. I have been among the first class and the disabled groups and it is awkward looking back at the distraught ordinary passenger group. It’s especially embarrassing if you don’t look handicapped, like queue jumping at the grocery store.
Back on topic. The rich and those needing assistance should go first. After that, it’s a free for all mad dash as the rows are called for the regular herd. It’s like the plane will leave before you get seated if you don’t crowd the traveller in from of you all the way. Oh and don’t forget to look annoyed and put out over the whole experience as you stop numerous points to allow carryons to be hoisted into position and adjusted to fit snugly and safely.
The carryon is becoming a great point of controversy. With “charges for checked” being plucked from your pocket book, the carryons have multiplied and gotten bloated which antagonizes to problem of squeezing down the isles to your seat. especially when you are travelling light or even empty handed.
Virgin is now allowing the passengers with no carryons or very small ones to board before the horde. It’s simple and makes sense. Passengers find their seats and are out of the traffic lanes when the hard core packers are turned loose. Of course it all falls apart when the no carryons in an isle seat has to get up and out to allow the heavy packer to settle into the middle or window seat. But that happens with the carryon people too.
Boarding is not an easy time for any vacationer, but it just got a little bit better for some and hopefully easier and faster for all.
Virgin America’s latest – a new boarding procedure that might actually make sense
The boarding process is no one’s favorite part of a trip. First there’s the tension of “will we actually start boarding or will there be a problem?” Then there’s the crush of people who always jam the gate area, regardless of their boarding priority.
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