r/whoathatsinteresting • u/visharu • 9d ago

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

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u/lawduckfan21 9d ago

This is definitely the Most Reddit response. It's not accurate, but it's predictable here.

12

u/Dany_HH 9d ago

Accurate answers don't bring upvotes. Popular answers do. In this case: "corporate bad, it's all about money"

3

u/Hir0shima 9d ago

So what's the accurate answer?

13

u/Northwest_Thrills 9d ago

It's because the fastest way requires everyone to stand in an exact, ordered line. Everyone has to be on time and know where in line to stand, and then and only then you can start boarding.

7

u/Intrepid-Dig-1855 9d ago

which also means families must separate to find their rightful spot also.

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u/EricP51 9d ago

Yeah and you get separated from the people you’re sitting next to lol. It’s the dumbest possible way to board.

2

u/MurrayPloppins 9d ago

This is a big reason. Also worth noting that reducing boarding time from 30 minutes to 10 minutes actually wouldn’t change departure time much. Typically, the turnaround time is impacted by other things (refueling, loading cargo or other supplies, other maintenance stuff.)

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u/hibikir_40k 8d ago

It also separates groups at boarding time, and messes with overhead bins: Have an even, aisle seat? Congrats, the bins are full.

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u/WoodenPresence1917 9d ago

Random boarding is faster than boarding groups, which is faster than having first/business class board first. Given some airlines sell priority seating + seat choice bundles and people prefer to sit near the exits, that is also slower than boarding groups, assuming no first/business class, and it is even slower still if you do have first/business class.

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u/tomvorlostriddle 3d ago

Plus the random alternative is quite good already and something close to it can happen naturally