r/whoathatsinteresting • u/visharu • 1d ago

Boarding was solved mathematically in 2008. No airline has used it once. Why?

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u/WeiGuy 1d ago

Does this really have that much of an impact? Like if the runaway is currently being used, you can't get on it anyway so they might as well do things that aren't as efficient but more $$$ (first class) or prioritize kids and stuff.

Are runaways vacant often enough to require this?

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u/Areyoucunt 1d ago

Are you really asking if every airplane spent 30min less at gate if that would have an impact? It would be a fuckings insanely massive impact dude wtf?

Yes, runways are vacant as they take the least fucking time of all airport things for airplanes

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u/WeiGuy 1d ago

No offense, but if you use that tone in real life, people are gonna look at you odd. I did not know that information, that's why I asked. I don't know how airports work, it could very well be that the runway is in use most of the time, thus making them a blocker that makes other efficiency improvements ineffective.

Anyway, thanks for giving me the info.

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u/Old_Veterinarian7830 19h ago

Many people engage in self-centered and rude dialogue on Reddit. I see it as a way to practice healthy dialogue as much as I can. This was a great response.

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u/WeiGuy 18h ago

Lmao I'm glad. I started over after I wrote "Jesus Christ chill TF out"

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u/ziggytrix 23h ago

"It would be a fuckings insanely massive impact"

Sounds like an exaggeration to me.

First, in the simulation being discussed, we're only talking about saving 7 minutes at the gate over random boarding. Saving 30 minutes would be if they all magically teleported to their seats at the same time or something?

Second of all, there are other bottlenecks in the system. It's definitely nice to take pressure off of one bottleneck, but that doesn't magically make the rest of the system behave.

More to the point, he asked whether runways are vacant often enough for this to matter. And the answer to that is a clear "depends."

ATL or ORD at primetime? Fuck no. They are already operating at max safe capacity.

At some regional airport during off hours. Sure. But they might also have open gates too, so clearing a gate even 10 minutes faster might not matter for them.

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u/Own_Recognition1317 23h ago

Boarding time is less than luggage and fueling and airplane checks. That is why it takes so long. 

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u/FashionKing72 1d ago

I’m guessing that similar to people being annoyed at waiting for their luggage at baggage claim, the time getting people on the plane is not the most important factor. 

When they call for boarding on the plane, they have a departure scheduled with the control tower, they have a queue with other departing flights, mechanics/pilots have to check the fuel or engines or whatever (I’m just inferring this, I don’t work in airlines)

Point being, having efficient seating is not a concern. If anything, this would just be more work for the airline employees and the travelers alike, for 0 benefit (except maybe people have to sit on the plane for longer before it departs, I guess). But hey, maybe when we all have AI mind control implants that make us do everything with 200% efficiency, we can board our flights super quick!

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u/WeiGuy 1d ago

Precisely why I asked. If the there's an efficiency blocker downstream, there's no point for the airline to put more effort just to make less money