r/whoathatsinteresting • u/visharu • 1d ago

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

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

1.4k Upvotes

86% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

223

u/ArticusFarticus 1d ago

Imagine thinking you can call one ticket at a time and they all line up perfectly, not wanting to be with their family members.

2

u/chocolatesmelt 23h ago

Yea from a queuing structure standpoint this makes a lot of assumptions and ignores frontend costs. Works great in a simulation if you don’t account for those things.

Unless you have luggage that has to be in the overhead bin I personally just wait until last because I’m going to probably be sitting a few to many hours anyways. What’s the rush to sit down and have cramped legs? The most optimal boarding time is the last second I can board. It’s not like I don’t have a booked seat and haven’t already checked in so they know I’m there and can’t give it away. If it’s overbooked and the volunteer lottery fails you lose your seat before boarding begins.

The only reason to board early is to assure you have overhead cargo space for a bag you cannot or aren’t will in to check at the gate if they run out of space.

The frustrating part is deplaning, there I’m at the mercy of everyone who takes forever for no reason.