Gate Lice

[Perknose]

Never mind our truly existential election or the ever present and bloody assault on Ukraine (new way to frame what Russia is doing: Ecological Warfare, the continuing destruction of her piece of Gaia), this thread is about American Airlines finally addressing passengers who skip ahead to board a plane before their allowed group.

To me, this is addressing a broader societal problem that can be summed up in the words of one asshole who got caught being an asshole in a different context, "These days, it's ok to be an asshole."

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Never mind our truly existential election or the ever present and bloody assault on Ukraine (new way to frame what Russia is doing: Ecological Warfare, the continuing destruction of her piece of Gaia), this thread is about American Airlines finally addressing passengers who skip ahead to board a plane before their allowed group.

To me, this is addressing a broader societal problem that can be summed up in the words of one asshole who got caught being an asshole in a different context, "These days, it's ok to be an asshole."

I'd also argue that the entire concept of gate priority should go away, with the exception of disabled persons. It's an arbitrary and localized display of elitism that serves no purpose. Just load the plane back to front like rational apes.

 

[IronWing]

The rush to find overhead bin space and use of gate checking bags was created by the airlines in attempt to avoid the airline having to pay to use the airport luggage handling system.

The boarding group system is not designed to “facilitate an orderly boarding process”; it is designed to extract maximum revenue. If the boarding groups were intended to speed boarding, they would be back to front, window to aisle.

In short, American can eat a bag of dicks.

 

[K1052]

It got way worse when baggage fees were introduced. Overhead bin space is so very competitive now. Some airports also have horrible baggage systems and I simply will not check to them because I don't want to spend half an hour (or more) waiting.

 

[Stokely]

Flying sucks, period. My main beef is with the TSA and their security theater.

The last two trips we checked in almost everything except for small bags we could put under our seats. I've also done the opposite--pack everything I'll need in a carryon (this would only work if you are staying somewhere with washer/dryer or it's a very short trip).

I take less trips than I used to. To be fair, driving sucks too for different reasons (far more dangerous, and obviously takes more time to go anywhere).

 

[MtnMan]

Never mind our truly existential election or the ever present and bloody assault on Ukraine (new way to frame what Russia is doing: Ecological Warfare, the continuing destruction of her piece of Gaia), this thread is about American Airlines finally addressing passengers who skip ahead to board a plane before their allowed group.

To me, this is addressing a broader societal problem that can be summed up in the words of one asshole who got caught being an asshole in a different context, "These days, it's ok to be an asshole."

Summation:

People are assholes!​

Political take:

Trump and MAGA have empowered them to believe that being an asshole is a constitutional right.​

 

[IronWing]

The rush to find overhead bin space and use of gate checking bags was created by the airlines in attempt to avoid the airline having to pay to use the airport luggage handling system.

The boarding group system is not designed to “facilitate an orderly boarding process”; it is designed to extract maximum revenue. If the boarding groups were intended to speed boarding, they would be back to front, window to aisle.

In short, American can eat a bag of dicks.

I should add that I'd rather be that last person who jumps through the door five seconds before the crew closes it. Sitting on a plane on the ground is not my idea of fun.

Also, if planes had the luggage holds and wings overhead, that would open the possibility of having a glass bottomed plane where everyone could look down. It would be awesome.

 

[Moonbeam]

Never mind our truly existential election or the ever present and bloody assault on Ukraine (new way to frame what Russia is doing: Ecological Warfare, the continuing destruction of her piece of Gaia), this thread is about American Airlines finally addressing passengers who skip ahead to board a plane before their allowed group.

To me, this is addressing a broader societal problem that can be summed up in the words of one asshole who got caught being an asshole in a different context, "These days, it's ok to be an asshole."

In an authoritarian state you will sit in your assigned seat when told to or be beaten. There are now so many assholes who abuse their freedoms that people long for someone like Trump. He has promised me my own plane.

 

[Moonbeam]

Summation:

People are assholes!​

Political take:

Trump and MAGA have empowered them to believe that being an asshole is a constitutional right.​

Wrong. I need to be a bigger asshole than you because you are a worthless shit gate louse and I’ll be fucked if I let you take my luggage space. I’m better than you anyway. I deserve to be first in the plane because of scum like you.

 

[Zorba]

I'd also argue that the entire concept of gate priority should go away, with the exception of disabled persons. It's an arbitrary and localized display of elitism that serves no purpose. Just load the plane back to front like rational apes.

That is still a priority system. Studies from years ago actually showed random boarding was the most efficient, of which Southwest's system most simulates, while zone boarding (aft to front) was much less efficient. The least efficient, IIRC, was boarding first class, then boarding aft to front.

After this study many airlines went to a check in time priority system to get a more random distribution. But then kept adding special zones so it's broken down now.

 

[nickqt]

Totally relevant CGP Grey video about plane boarding.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

That is still a priority system. Studies from years ago actually showed random boarding was the most efficient, of which Southwest's system most simulates, while zone boarding (aft to front) was much less efficient. The least efficient, IIRC, was boarding first class, then boarding aft to front.

After this study many airlines went to a check in time priority system to get a more random distribution. But then kept adding special zones so it's broken down now.

Fair enough, I didn't know random was more efficient. Then scrub the 'sapphire platinum plus membership' trash, and just do randomized phase 1-5.

 

[Zorba]

Fair enough, I didn't know random was more efficient. Then scrub the 'sapphire platinum plus membership' trash, and just do randomized phase 1-5.

Yeah, basically if you do aft to front, you have multiple people all trying to get into the same row at the same time, so you have a traffic jam. While with random people pull out of the aisle at different points so you don't have the backups all going to the same space.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Yeah, basically if you do aft to front, you have multiple people all trying to get into the same row at the same time, so you have a traffic jam. While with random people pull out of the aisle at different points so you don't have the backups all going to the same space.

Still doesn't make sense to me. Aft to front, outside to in.

If you do random, then people are randomly stopping to throw their stuff in the overhead, which can cause jams (granted in practice people do squeeze by)

That being said, hard to argue with actual studies that account for human behavior as well.

 

[HomerJS]

That is still a priority system. Studies from years ago actually showed random boarding was the most efficient, of which Southwest's system most simulates, while zone boarding (aft to front) was much less efficient. The least efficient, IIRC, was boarding first class, then boarding aft to front.

After this study many airlines went to a check in time priority system to get a more random distribution. But then kept adding special zones so it's broken down now.

How could random boarding be more efficient when you have people in the isle stowing luggage while a line forms of people trying to get past them

 

[Zorba]

How could random boarding be more efficient when you have people in the isle stowing luggage while a line forms of people trying to get past them

They can step aside and let people pass. While if you do it in order, the next person can't get out of the way until the first person is sitting and if someone is already sitting in the aisle or middle seat, they have to get up to let the next person in.

Here is a Mythbusters on it, they show the Southwest method is the fastest and aft to front the slowest.

 

[Indus]

I have not flown domestic for a long time.. I didn't know it was that bad.

Generally on international airlines I get 2 bags (50 lbs each) and 1 carry on 15 lbs allowance. It's usually more than enough for me.

I just wish they wouldn't do 3-4-3 on 777's though.. I much prefer the A380 3-4-3 or A350 3-3-3. Heck I'll even take the A330 2-4-2.

 

[cytg111]

Saw an awesome video the other day of someone who wouldnt take his feet down from the seat in front of him, constantly rocking the dude in front of him.. then he took out his phone turned on the camera and lifted it so he could see the idiot behind him, waited till his knee was in front of mouth and BAM... full force recliner bye bye teeth... Fuck around and shit.

 

[Indus]

Saw an awesome video the other day of someone who wouldnt take his feet down from the seat in front of him, constantly rocking the dude in front of him.. then he took out his phone turned on the camera and lifted it so he could see the idiot behind him, waited till his knee was in front of mouth and BAM... full force recliner bye bye teeth... Fuck around and shit.

link please!

That is legend material.. surprising it hasn't gone viral!

 

[yottabit]

It got way worse when baggage fees were introduced. Overhead bin space is so very competitive now. Some airports also have horrible baggage systems and I simply will not check to them because I don't want to spend half an hour (or more) waiting.

Has anyone had to pay if they didn’t have room in overhead tho? Everytime I’ve flown and it was full they checked my bag for free

 

[cytg111]

link please!

That is legend material.. surprising it hasn't gone viral!

I looked... it was a short on fb... will look again

 

[Exterous]

It got way worse when baggage fees were introduced. Overhead bin space is so very competitive now. Some airports also have horrible baggage systems and I simply will not check to them because I don't want to spend half an hour (or more) waiting.

HBO! We're traveling around the world next summer for a month and I'm pretty sure we can do it with just a carry on each + our personal item. TBH I'll now pay a little bit more in dollars or miles to upgrade my flight even for business trips because I want a guarantee of overhead bin space.

They can step aside and let people pass.

People don't get out of the way now. They'd rather stand in the aisle slowly removing their jacket and sweater before trying to figure out where to put their under seat item. Only after that will they struggle to raise their 45lbs bag that is obviously outside the carryon specifications up and shove it into the overhead bin. But length wise because its so large that it has to take room away from 1-2 other bags that could have fit in there. They'll sit down briefly to let one person pass and then remember they left something in their bag so they'll get back up and step into the aisle while they rummage around in their suitcase for another 4 minutes to find whatever it was they couldn't live without for 30min

Has anyone had to pay if they didn’t have room in overhead tho? Everytime I’ve flown and it was full they checked my bag for free

People used to just check bags for the convenience of not having to drag them through the airport with them. Or being able to pack more in general. Once airlines added fees a lot more people shifted to trying to jam all their stuff in the overheads

 

[Zorba]

People don't get out of the way now. They'd rather stand in the aisle slowly removing their jacket and sweater before trying to figure out where to put their under seat item. Only after that will they struggle to raise their 45lbs bag that is obviously outside the carryon specifications up and shove it into the overhead bin. But length wise because its so large that it has to take room away from 1-2 other bags that could have fit in there. They'll sit down briefly to let one person pass and then remember they left something in their bag so they'll get back up and step into the aisle while they rummage around in their suitcase for another 4 minutes to find whatever it was they couldn't live without for 30min

And when someone stops at Row 15 to get in, everyone that already passed them going to their seat is already pass, and everyone before them can still get to a seat. When you send everyone to the same spot, everyone is waiting until that one person gets out of the way.

I fly Southwest 90% of the time nowadays, and people generally get on and get their asses in seats, partly because their system is the best in practice (until they fuck it all up next year) and partly because it is a competition for seats. I fucking hate going through boarding on American, a truly awful experience.

 

[Exterous]

And when someone stops at Row 15 to get in, everyone that already passed them going to their seat is already pass, and everyone before them can still get to a seat. When you send everyone to the same spot, everyone is waiting until that one person gets out of the way.

I fly Southwest 90% of the time nowadays, and people generally get on and get their asses in seats, partly because their system is the best in practice (until they fuck it all up next year) and partly because it is a competition for seats. I fucking hate going through boarding on American, a truly awful experience.

I mean the later Delta zones are fairly random and its still a shit show. Which lines up with what researchers found when they've looked into it from time to time. Generally the window, middle, aisle boarding generally does the best outside a much more complicated "Steffen Method" or a "Slower first" method. For example: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1108.5211v1

We tolerated Southwest's open seating and miracle flights (I took a Vegas to Florida flight once and Jesus himself must have been on that flight judging by all the people who could suddenly walk off the plane on their own) but I did like their orderly "Everyone gets a boarding number". Until they monetized the shit out of it so you had to add Early Bird to everything at purchase time to get a decent position. YMMV of course but we did a lot of Southwest flying via Companion Passes and basically gave up flying them. If you don't care where you sit then they're probably still fine but I've developed strong opinions about my seat choice so I'll stick with airlines that let you choose them.

 

[IronWing]

We tolerated Southwest's open seating and miracle flights (I took a Vegas to Florida flight once and Jesus himself must have been on that flight judging by all the people who could suddenly walk off the plane on their own)

The only not-horrible thing about flying out of Phoenix was watching old people knock each other down trying to be first in line for "needing special assistance".