A airline has begun to enforce a new method of boarding that they hope will shave time off how long it takes passengers to get on board. It involves holidaymakers with window seats boarding first if they’re sitting in economy class.
The move is designed to that planes spend less time waiting on the ground at the airport. In an internal memo, United Airlines stated that the plan would come into force on October 26 this year. It will be known as WILMA – meaning window, middle, aisle.
The method was apparently tested at several locations and found to slash two minute off boarding time as it gives passengers the ability to slot straight into their seats without having to move people first or climb over others. Various forms of WILMA have existed over the years as a method of boarding.
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It allows people to put their luggage away at the same time as passengers are spread out more evenly down the aisle. The new boarding procedure will not see customers in first and business class having to change how they board nor will priority passengers – such as those with disabilities, minors, military members or families with young children – have to change how they get on the plane.
Apparently, United Airlines has said that when multiple customers are on the same reservations – such as a family – they can still board together. The new policy will be used on a variety of domestic and international flights. Currently, most UK airlines board flights in groups – priority followed by numbered boarding groups. Often this means long lines at the boarding desk followed by a struggle to get your bags into a locker and climb over one another.
However, airlines have been implementing new systems over the years. All of it is an attempt to cut down on the time that it takes to get everyone on the plane so it can take off.
Southwest Airlines – another US carrier – doesn't even use seat numbers. Passengers board the plane and then sit wherever they choose like a bus which is also meant to keep boarding time short. However, it has also caused embarrassment and issues for some holidaymakers.
Sophie, from San Jose, in the United States, had attempted to keep the seat next to her on her Southwest Airlines journey empty. She showed how she avoided making eye contact with anyone who was still left to board while giving them the cold shoulder – perhaps to make herself seem unfriendly – she also had her bag on the empty chair. However, a flight attendant spotted her tactics and called her out over the loudspeaker, leaving Sophie embarrassed – but she saw the funny side and shared the cringey moment online.
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