Interesting article on aircraft boarding procedures.

[urpius pilot]

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,706...tory_page_prev2

 

[JS]

(from page 2 of the article)

Van den Briel says that while Southwest's open seating might seem like an invitation for chaos, it actually illustrates a tendency among passengers to self-organize when left to their own devices. "Passengers who are free to sit anywhere usually do a good job staying out of each other's way," he explains. "Without having studied it in detail, I would imagine that an open boarding model is faster than assigned seating."

Imagine the riots that will ensue from FFOCUS if LCC tries open seating.....

Honestly, I have never understood why airlines bother with assigned seating on regional aircraft. It's even more silly on a B1900. When every seat is either a window or aisle seat (both in the case of the B1900, save one seat in the back), especially if some of the seats are unavailable anyway for W&B, what is the point of having assigned seats? You can be assigned a seat that has to be empty for W&B!

 

[Flying Titan]

I thought the seats on smaller aircraft were supposed to be assigned specifically with w&b in mind.

 

[john john]

I thought the seats on smaller aircraft were supposed to be assigned specifically with w&b in mind.

NOPE

 

[Art at ISP]

JS,

I actually agree with you on an aircraft like a Dash or 1900..but on a larger airplane there is tremendous value to preassigned seats, and it remains non negotiable, at least as far as I am concerned.

Wow--we actually agree on something......go figure

My best to you all....

 

[NCflyer]

Back in the 80's, if anyone can remember, Piedmont then Henson had open seating on the Dash. It wasn't until the Piedmont/USAir merger in 89 that Henson was required to start issuing seat assignments. Reportedly at that time the paxs were insisting on it.

 

[ISP]

Back in the 80's, if anyone can remember, Piedmont then Henson had open seating on the Dash. It wasn't until the Piedmont/USAir merger in 89 that Henson was required to start issuing seat assignments. Reportedly at that time the paxs were insisting on it.

JetBlue no longer boards by row - they announce a preboard, and then do a general board for all rows. This new initiative is called the "BlueTurn," and supposedly the people board faster.