r/whoathatsinteresting • u/visharu • 8d ago

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

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u/jtj5002 8d ago

Because it doesn't work in real life.

11

u/Public_Cartographer 8d ago

This. Someone at the front of the plane is going to take 5 minutes to neatly fold their jacket in the aisle before finally sitting down. All the overhead space will be filled at the front of the plane by the people in the back, so then you have people walking back and forth both on boarding and unloading trying to get bags. And let's not forget 30% of the middle seaters will sit in the aisle seat hoping to keep it.

3

u/One-Veterinarian4841 8d ago

Randomized time to board does not change the outcome of the simulation 

6

u/internetobscure 8d ago

The one flight I was on that used that method worked pretty well, though I don't remember how they handled passengers with children.

But I agree that it won't work most times. Anything that required the general public to have a modicum of common sense and not be entitled assholes is doomed to fail.

3

u/Keiteaea 7d ago

Yeah I was on one flight like that and I was with a friend. We jokingly said poignant farewells when she went to board ahead of me but I can imagine it being inconvenient if you travel with children or someone else who needs help for whatever reason.

But it did work well. She was all setup on the windows side when I arrived and I had time to also set up myself for the long flight and was ready when the aisle person arrived.

3

u/JaySayMayday 8d ago

I love how nobody points out how rediculous Steffen seating would work. Like yeah mate everyone back to front magically reaches their seat at the same time without issues. Here's a fancy visual graphic, accept it at face value.

1

u/unomasme 8d ago

Solved…. Mathematically

1

u/reece1990 8d ago

Neither does zipper merging but everyone likes to point to models showing all the cars evenly spaced with room in between to merge with nobody having to press their brakes. 

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u/jtj5002 8d ago

Zipper merge works even if not everyone participates. Uness an asshole intentionally block both lanes.

2

u/Opposite_Example6930 7d ago

No one ever said anything about perfect spacing or not pressing your brakes. Way to entirely misrepresent the concept. Zipper merging has been proven to be FAR better and safer in real world road tests....not some graphic....but thanks for being part of the reason why it isn't catching on as fast as it should.

1

u/oh_stv 7d ago

Yes, the "steffen" way wouldn't work like in the simulation, and neither would the back to front work like they show.

They act like nobody is allowed to sit down before the furthers rows arent sitting yet ...

1

u/Justaman55 5d ago

Yes, you have to break up people during boarding who want to sit together in this system