Saturday, October 15, 2016

The fact is that airlines have no incentive to end their cumbersome boarding processes

In response to an Economist piece on a how a faster way of boarding planes could save time and money, Hugh Rooney writes that
I think you missed the point in your article about efforts to find faster ways to board planes that could “save time and money” (“Please be seated”, September 3rd). The fact is that airlines prefer to keep their cumbersome boarding processes. That way some travellers will pay more to avoid the chaos by purchasing first class, or priority access, or some other premium-priced ticket. Airlines also reward frequent flyers by allowing them to board early. They have no incentive to end a practice that enhances their revenues.
Hugh Rooney
Glenview, Illinois
Related:
• Airplane Etiquette:
Undue Deference Is Not Applicable When Exiting an Aircraft

Do airline companies assume that
terrorists can only afford a seat in economy class?


• Do Airline Safety Rules Make Sense? Yes,
But Not in the Way You Were Taught to Think