NOT ON BOARD
Major airline to split friends and family up in new plane boarding rules
And how you can get through the airport much quicker
GETTING passengers on and off planes in an orderly fashion can be a nightmare for flight attendants.
With everyone pushing and shoving and trying to get their bags in the overhead lockers, it can turn what should be a smooth process into chaos.
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However, airlines are coming up with ways in which they can get people on and off their planes faster, with less fuss.
One method that is being used by United Airlines splits up friends and families for the boarding process, but has proven to be at least partially effective.
The system is being used for economy class passengers, where the highest number of people are squashed into a smaller space.
It involves bringing window-seat passengers on board first, followed by middle seat passengers and then those sitting in the aisle seats.
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The airline claims that this boarding technique can save up to two minutes per flight, which can add up over a day, particularly at busier airports.
Jason Steffen, an associate professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, claims that getting passengers to put their luggage away quicker is the key to increasing boarding speeds.
He told : “It spreads people out along the aisle of the airplane so that more people can put their luggage away at the same time.
"That's the main thing that speeds up the boarding process."
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Other airlines have trialled using both front doors to try and get people on quicker, including budget American airline Frontier.
This was able to shave as much as ten minutes off the flight turnaround time, according to the carrier's CEO Barry Biffle.
Whether or not the system will catch on and be used by other airlines remains to be seen.
However, it may prove unpopular, given it would briefly separate friends and family due to sit next to one another for the flight they're boarding.
Hand luggage rules for UK airlines
We've rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare.
Ryanair
One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
EasyJet
One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm
Jet2
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg
TUI
One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg
British Airways
One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg
Virgin Atlantic
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg
For now, United seems to be the only carrier implementing the method.
Elsewhere, other airlines have trialled methods to get people off planes quicker.
In 2022, India’s largest carrier IndiGo introduced a third door for passengers, meaning they could alight the plane from both the right and left at the front and the left at the back as well.
The airline claimed it can almost halve the time it takes to get passengers off the plane.
“The new three-point disembarkation process will be carried out from two forward and one rear exit ramp, making IndiGo the first airline to use this process,” a spokesperson told India’s after it was first introduced.
There are ways in which passengers can speed up their route through the airport on the way to their plane.
Flying at certain times
One of the best ways to avoid crowds at airports is to fly either first thing in the morning, or late at nights.
Fewer people travel at those inconvenient time slots, meaning your flight will likely be less full too.
Limit your luggage
By only flying with carry-on, you'll avoid having to check-in bags, which takes up time both before and after flights.
Taking just one small bag will also speed up time at airport security too.
Dress for speed
Wearing clothes that can easily be removed and put back on at airport security will make it much easier for passengers to be scanned.
Passengers are advised to not wear jewellery or shoes that are difficult to take off or put back on.
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Meanwhile this is the best bag to take when only flying with hand luggage.
And this traveller also revealed a hand luggage favourite for plane passengers.
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