Why do most airlines seem so inefficient at loading and unloading passenger.

[DCal430]

I just got back from my trip to Hawaii and I flew United (let me say likely last time too). They seem very inefficient at how they load and unload passenger. Our plane to Hawaii was delayed by 4 hours, so while in the airport I observed planes from AA and Delta load and unload people as well from what I observed:

1. It takes the plane usually 45 minutes to an hour from unloading passengers on the first plane to loading all of the passengers on the second plane.

2. Even though our flight was already delayed by over hours, they still took 45 minutes to load all of the passengers on the plane. It just seem to take a very, very long time load everyone on the plane. We also had to stand around in long boarding lines for what seemed like 15 to 20 minutes. I suspect it takes a while for people to find their seats. So everyone has to stand and wait for them.

I fly Southwest usually and they usually take 15 to 20 minutes from unloading the old passengers to loading the new one. Things seem to go much quicker. There is no standing around for long periods of time in line, you are assigned a spot in line and you walk in the plane immediately. Much more efficient.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It depends on the passengers. There are always folks who demand their 15 minutes of "I'm special" from the crew. There are also many airlines who are regularly understaffed.

 

[iamwiz82]

SWA planes are much smaller and there is no seat assignment. Personally I hate that design, i don't feel the need to rush the plane to get a halfway decent seat.

 

[BillGates]

1) It's the passengers, not the airlines
2) People are stupid

 

[Scotteq]

Clearly, the airlines need to implement a 'RORO' {Roll On, Roll Off} stacking and crating system for their passengers. Pack... errrrr.... Seat the passengers at the gate, flip up the aircraft's nose, and shove 'em in like a living PEZ dispenser.

 

[DCal430]

SWA planes are much smaller and there is no seat assignment. Personally I hate that design, i don't feel the need to rush the plane to get a halfway decent seat.

The planes I am talking about are similar in size to SWA planes. Even 737 from United, AA, and Delta would take close to an hour to load an unload. It clearly is the airlines as all the flights had the same issue.

 

[DCal430]

1) It's the passengers, not the airlines
2) People are stupid

The problem was I was at the airport for a good 6 hours there and home, and every flight it was the same thing. They were all very slow.

 

[DCal430]

I suspect it has a lot to do with the assigned seating, that takes a great deal of time to do.

 

[AmdEmAll]

Its the passengers blocking the aisles while they take their sweet ass time getting all their crap. And you have to remember once the plane deboards the plane needs to be cleaned.. weight and balance, restock food and drinks, etc.

Southwest is basically a flying bus.. they probably don't clean as much, no food, and you get no assigned seat.

 

[DCal430]

Its the passengers blocking the aisles while they take their sweet ass time getting all their crap. And you have to remember once the plane deboards the plane needs to be cleaned.. weight and balance, restock food and drinks, etc.

Southwest is basically a flying bus.. they probably don't clean as much, no food, and you get no assigned seat.

SWA at least gives you peanuts or pretzels, United and all of the other airlines give you nothing, now. Since the seats are given people take their time, if you had to rush to get the seat you want so no one steals it, then you tend to move faster.

 

[AmdEmAll]

SWA at least gives you peanuts or pretzels, United and all of the other airlines give you nothing, now. Since the seats are given people take their time, if you had to rush to get the seat you want so no one steals it, then you tend to move faster.

Most airlines give you a snack or have first class that receives an actual meal. United is a terrible airline so I wouldn't be surprised if they gave out nothing. They won't be around much longer. AA is full of problems as well. Jet blue and Virgin on the other hand are awesome. Leather seats, in flight entertainment in all seats.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Clearly, the airlines need to implement a 'RORO' {Roll On, Roll Off} stacking and crating system for their passengers. Pack... errrrr.... Seat the passengers at the gate, flip up the aircraft's nose, and shove 'em in like a living PEZ dispenser.

That would be awesome.

 

[PowerEngineer]

I suggest that baggage check fees are a big contributor to this problem. Everyone trying to stuff their huge carry-on bags into the overheads before take-off and then struggling to yank them out again after landing! Loading and unloading would go much faster if airlines imposed fees for carry-on bags rather than checked bags.

 

[Scotteq]

I suggest that baggage check fees are a big contributor to this problem. Everyone trying to stuff their huge carry-on bags into the overheads before take-off and then struggling to yank them out again after landing! Loading and unloading would go much faster if airlines imposed fees for carry-on bags rather than checked bags.

When I used to travel a lot, I would UPS my luggage (on the company dime, OFC) rather than carry it...



....might even be cheaper than airline fees now!!

 

[lxskllr]

I suggest that baggage check fees are a big contributor to this problem. Everyone trying to stuff their huge carry-on bags into the overheads before take-off and then struggling to yank them out again after landing! Loading and unloading would go much faster if airlines imposed fees for carry-on bags rather than checked bags.

I think they should charge people by the kg. When you buy your ticket, you pay to ship x weight. If you're overweight by more than 10kg, you leave crap at the terminal before boarding. If you're underweight by greater than 10kg, you get a refund. You can't ask for a fairer deal. Fatties pay for the extra fuel they consume, and there's no extra fee for baggage.

 

[Svnla]

I travel a lot, especially oversea and there were a lot of clueless flyers.

Get your stuff ready, get to your seat, put your stuffs in place, sit down and buckle up, very simple, right? But of course, we always have morons that stand in the middle of the idle, not sure what to do, and held everyone back.

BTW, after you fly with companies such as Thai Air, All Nippon Airline, Japan Airline, Korea Airline, etc. with young cuties as flight attendants, you would not want to go back US airlines (I am looking at you AA, United, Delta) with old and ugly hogs pretend to work.

 

[jagec]

It's the people. People are slow, awful morons who take the better part of a lifetime to walk down the stupid jetway, find their seats, and stow their bags.

Airlines should have a program where people get tested to see how long it takes them to do this. Any able-bodied person who takes above a certain amount of time gets charged an extra $200 per flight for the sheer annoyance that they cause to everyone else.

Or maybe they could board them in order of speed, and leave behind the slowest 1% every time. If you want the entire airplane to wait for your lethargic ass every time you fly, you should just charter your own jet or start driving instead.

Say what you will about Southwest, but they have much friendlier stewardesses, actually give you the full can when you get a drink, have snacks, and encourage people to hurry the fuck up so they can get a good seat.

I suggest that baggage check fees are a big contributor to this problem. Everyone trying to stuff their huge carry-on bags into the overheads before take-off and then struggling to yank them out again after landing! Loading and unloading would go much faster if airlines imposed fees for carry-on bags rather than checked bags.

That has made it worse, but it was still bad before.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I suggest that baggage check fees are a big contributor to this problem. Everyone trying to stuff their huge carry-on bags into the overheads before take-off and then struggling to yank them out again after landing! Loading and unloading would go much faster if airlines imposed fees for carry-on bags rather than checked bags.

This is the reason I'm carrying on my bag. $25 to check a bag? Screw that. Otherwise I'd have checked to avoid carrying it through security and the airport.

 

[herm0016]

they should load in groups of about 20, not 50 people. last 20 rows, window seats, then next 20 window, then last 20 rows middle seat... etc...outside to inside, front to back.

 

[DCal430]

Most airlines give you a snack or have first class that receives an actual meal. United is a terrible airline so I wouldn't be surprised if they gave out nothing. They won't be around much longer. AA is full of problems as well. Jet blue and Virgin on the other hand are awesome. Leather seats, in flight entertainment in all seats.

I would only fly Jet Blue if I couldn't fly SW, they wouldn't allow me to change my flight date, basically told me I had to purchase a new ticket. Jet Blue doesn't allow refund on tickets while SW does allow refund to credit. In fact I think SW is the only major airline to allow full refund to credit, all other charge huge fees from $50 to full ticket price each way.

 

[DCal430]

they should load in groups of about 20, not 50 people. last 20 rows, window seats, then next 20 window, then last 20 rows middle seat... etc...outside to inside, front to back.

The issue I noticed too is it isn't loaded by where you sit, but how quickly you checked in. So people in the front and back are both loaded at the same time.

 

[DCal430]

This is the reason I'm carrying on my bag. $25 to check a bag? Screw that. Otherwise I'd have checked to avoid carrying it through security and the airport.

Funny thing is our flight there and back were full and they were asking people to please check in their carry on if possible, as they would wave the check in fee. We decided to check our carry on since the fee was waved. They were worried about not having enough space for all of the carry on items.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Funny thing is our flight there and back were full and they were asking people to please check in their carry on if possible, as they would wave the check in fee. We decided to check our carry on since the fee was waved. They were worried about not having enough space for all of the carry on items.

Exactly. Carry on and if there isn't enough room they wave the bag check fee. Still bag check fees are annoying to start with. If I was going on a longer trip and had a larger bag I'd still have to pay to check it.

Currently witnessing the painfully slow loading process for my flight. Someone is failing because their bag is too fat for the overhead bin.

 

[shortylickens]

MOST airlines are understaffed.
The average traveler is a spoiled moron.
The rest are ticked off at the TSA and cant control their anger.

 

[RockinZ28]

Yep people. Just retarded how long it takes people to match a number and a letter, then get their carry ons loaded/unloaded up in the bins, all while blocking everyone behind them. Repeat this 50 times and it takes forever to load or unload the plane.

I just sit there in the terminal until final boarding call. No reason to stand in line for 30 minutes to get to a reserved seat.