Is random boarding faster than structured boarding groups? 14

Actually, the first encounter I ever had with boarding groups was on a flight to the US. All flights I have had before, mainly in Europe, were what you describe as: "Hey guys, plane's ready."

i just went on a flight recently and they said: “boarding groups 1-4, 5, 6, everyone get on” and it was the fastest i’ve ever gotten on a plane and it made me think of this haha

I just love coming back to this content whenever I board a Plane. I have "Boarding Group 51" right now. I'll get up from my waiting seat towards the end of it, since i have an aisle seat.

It is funny to think that no boarding system at all is superior to every boarding system used by airlines today.

I’d heard before that random boarding was significantly faster than group boarding back to front. I think they’re trying to avoid fights for position in line... but they could just assign boarding group numbers randomly and then it would trick people into feeling like there was group organization when there was really none. Just avoiding jostling in random board mode. But of course, if they’re going to change it, they ought to use the alternate row speed max version.

"The plane is here, go ahead everyone" is what we do in Asia tho. (first-class still goes first ofc)

In Ireland we all board the airplane randomly (with the exception of priority boarding). It pretty fast. We also have exit/entrances in the front and back of the airplane, reducing the time boarding and leaving the airplane

Just do the Southwest... "Sit where you want i don't care"

This must be the fourth or fifth time I've read this content, but every time, when I see that perfect boarding ballet, I legit have tears in my eyes. It's too beautiful. TToTT

The easiest method is to be in a pandemic, there’s like 10 people per flight.

I just experienced flying on Southwest for the first time yesterday and I love the way they handle boarding. There's no first class nor assigned seating. You get a number based on when you checked in (or a better number if you paid for automatic check-in or have loyalty status), and you line up at the gate by number. The line is then let loose to get on the plane and everyone sits wherever they want. One peculiar side effect of this is if you're not carrying a large bag, you have a shot at getting a better seat because the overhead bins fill up faster than the seats do. This creates an incentive to check your bag, which Southwest graciously lets you do for free.

Granted this airline only operates 737s so there may be problems with this method for larger planes, or on flights that need to sell premium seats to be viable, but I've found it to be much more pleasant than the usual.

Wait... there are flights that DON'T board randomly?!

My country’s airlines use the random method, and it actually works pretty well. Also, most European low-cost airlines also do it. To be honest, I’ve only been on flights were the method used was the random one.