Astrophysicist Figures Out Most Efficient Plane Boarding Techniques
- Posted on September 1, 2011 at 6:42am by
Liz Klimas
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You wouldn’t think it should be so difficult to efficiently board an airplane, but we all know how wrong this thought is in reality. It took a particle physicist from Fermilab to tell give us a more efficient boarding procedure — and to tell us that random boarding is better than what we do now.
The specific boarding method developed by Dr. Jason Steffen is so efficient, Consumerist (via Popular Science) reports, that it can cut boarding time in half. Although Steffen came up with this boarding technique of his own two years ago — (Why haven’t we seen changes yet?) but he recently tested three different methods of boarding to see what was most effective:
- Boarding the plane in blocks (think “Now calling all passengers in Zone 1 and 2”)
- Random boarding (similar to Southwest’s method)
- The Steffen Method
What Steffen found, aside from the fact that his method was best (naturally), is that random boarding still more efficient than boarding according to zones. Here’s how the Steffen Method Works, according to Popular Science:
First, passengers sitting in the window seats on one side of the plane all board at once, in alternating rows (row 1, 3, 5, etc.). Then the same is done on the other side of the plane. Then the middle seats, still in alternating rows, boards on the first side of the plane. That continues with the other side’s middle seats, then (first one and then the other) aisle seats. Then, do it all again for the even-numbered rows.
See the Steffen Method in action:
As Consumerist observes, the Steffen Method maximizes aisle space making it more natural and efficient for passengers to effectively stow luggage and find their seat. The Steffen Method, as the video states, doesn’t prevent hangups like boarding with children or passengers in the wrong seat. But, “it can at least speed it up.”
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Comments (73)
Flyingfish
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 9:00amBeing in the Air Force I prefer our method. They open a cargo door wide enough for 4 fat people to get on shoulder to shoulder with room to spare. That and you typically carry your own luggage onto the plane (no lost luggage). If you want to know what is going on, you can walk up to the front and ask. If it is your job you may have some work to do before you take off, (cargo, last minute repairs, refuel, etc) If you are bored you can pitch in and help.
Of course the hurry up and wait that is endemic to the military still applies. Far better than sitting in the cattle chutes forever waiting to be felt up by some sweaty TSA guy. No one ever gets too excited over knives, guns, or hand soap. Well the hand soap they do. There is typically none left in the toilet.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:40amUntil they get rid of the TSA patdowns thugs, I’m not flying anyway. So I do not care about this.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:07pmThe only way I will fly now is if I am the pilot, or dead.
Report Post »Cameron
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:10pmAs a C-130 Loadmaster I love you type of passengers!
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:28pmAnother thing they could learn from our military flights that would help loading is to load the people who have to walk to the back of the plane first! Every flight (commercial) that I’ve been on (including to Iraq) they insist on loading first class first. This means that every other passenger has to wait for their snooty arses (or the officers) to situate all their stuff and clear the aisles before loading the rest of the plane. If you want to be the first off you should be the last on.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:30pmThe headline should have read “Astrophysicist/douchebag has finally realized that the way the airline loads passengers is inefficient, something us normal folk have been well aware of for some time now.”
Report Post »Samantha3
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:58amIf you really want to speed up boarding simply use BOTH the front and mid-section doors by extending the jetway. We used to use both doors so that you weren’t funneling the entire plane up the aisle to one exit. They use them in other countries and it works quite well!
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:56am… those astrophysicist’! They get a lunchroom brainstorm then have a press conference!
Report Post »They are such wild and crazy guys! Can you still move the rover over to where our astronauts landed?
Flyingfish
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:58amBeing in the Air Force I prefer our method. They open a cargo door wide enough for 4 fat people to get on shoulder to shoulder with room to spare. That and you typically carry your own luggage onto the plane (no lost luggage). If you want to know what is going on, you can walk up to the front and ask. If it is your job you may have some work to do before you take off, (cargo, last minute repairs, refuel, etc) If you are bored you can pitch in and help.
Of course the hurry up and wait that is endemic to the military still applies. Far better than sitting in the cattle chutes forever waiting to be felt up by some sweaty TSA guy. No one ever gets too excited over knives, guns, or hand soap. Well the hand soap they do. There is never enough stocked in the toilet.
Report Post »LinkedIn G
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:54amSo I still want the window seat ? Thanks … I had no idea ;)
Report Post »Katydidnt
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:47amHe is not taking into account the time that the flight attendent has to take to read off all of the individual seat numbers. And people saying, “What did they say?“ ”I can‘t hear because that lady won’t stop talking” People holding up the line arguing, that they need to get on board with the other members of their party? How about, “Seat D is a window seat or a center seat?” People would have to know the configuration of each plane they are riding! He may know astrophysics, but he doesn’t know people.
Report Post »wtd
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 9:13amAlso not taken into consideration is families who prefer to sit together. Permitting only the passengers in either window/center/aisle seats to board at each call, prevents families from boarding together. As a frequent traveler, I see another problem. As a family we have limited ourselves to carry-on luggage only. I’m not comfortable sending my child ahead of me with his/her bag, nor am I comfortable leaving my child(ren) behind while I board.
Report Post »There are innumerable obstacles which Dr. Jason Steffen’s boarding system will encounter in the real world. Dr. Jason Steffen’s idea is as useful as textbook parenting. His ideas sound good ON PAPER.
MidwestMomof3
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:21amWTD…the video says that “families” or people flying with small children would board first just like it’s done now…
Report Post »robbmeistr
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:23amHaving lived in Batavia, IL, home to Fermilab, I lived next door to two “scientists” that worked at Fermi. While very “book smart”, both having double doctorates in physics, neither one had a shred of common sense.
Report Post »HisNameWasRobertPaulson
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:42am@ WTD, although it was already stated that you didn’t actually pay attention during the video before you sounded off on the idea, I thought it should be stated even more clearly.
You should watch the video again, then retract your overall statement. It wasn’t founded in thought, but rather, it was founded in reaction.
Study first, speak second.
Report Post »UNHCoffee
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:17pm…they wouldn’t read the seat numbers. You can group the seating numbers as seating areas (like United does now). When they call your seating area (1, 2, 3, etc.), the proper passengers, a computer already grouped the seat numbers, board the plane.
Report Post »SICKOFPCNESS
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:37amWe are paying NASA scientists to study the environmental space alien police…..are we now paying for this study as well? really?
Report Post »CHICAGOTHUGBUCKET
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:20amNo TSA and board as you arrive at the gate this is “Freedom” at work and demonstrating that a regimented boarding or governmental organizational method does not work in the former U.S.S.R.
Report Post »or here. When we are standing in line for toilet paper and never see a governmental worker in the
line maybe the Democrats will catch on. Being quiet and letting these rejects posing as authorities grope you your kids and teach them about sex to boot is treason. Get angry and organized before we are loaded into boxcars for liberal reeducation.
loveoursoldiers
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:37amExcellent points esp. ‘standing in line for toilet paper’ . If Obama gets in again add Demoncrats to those you won’t see in the line since they are all taken care of by YKW. That will lead many to cave in to him and thus a dictatorship will be born.’.. we are nor far from that.
Report Post »Then.. I assume.. his opponents ( enemies according to him) will be sent to Gitmo or worse.. never to be seen again.
It’s over/ballgame if he gets back in.
FoeHammer865
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:23am“Liberal Reeducation” would be a good thing compared to what will actually happen. They weren’t “reeducating” in NAZI Germany….
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:13amThis doe NOT, in fact, require a rocket scientist.
The airlines are not idiots.
They spend LOTS of money on efficiency studies.
They know that loading outside seats first, and the rear of the plane (or furthest from entry point) is the most effiicient.
However, they are also aware that people MUST board with other people, children, companions, aides, etc. So, they simplified it to the “zones” that we already know about. It is hard enough to load in 4 zones, let alone 8 or 10 or 12 zones, or however many each aircraft would require to separate passengers that precisely.
One of my degrees is specifically in Aviation Business Administration, so I know about these things. This topic is already taught in the college courses I (and others) took.
Not to take anything away from this guy. I hope he enjoyed doing it, but, its kind of like inventing a 70mpg engine that costs $200K. Sure, it is better, but, it is impractical. Others have done it also, and we choose to stay with what is feasible.
Report Post ».
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Brooke Lorren
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:47amIf they’re so smart, then why do they board the front of the plane first? I’m not talking about first class, obviously they pay more so they go first. The last several times that I’ve flown, they have always boarded the front of the plane first, so when I am in the back, I have to stumble past 20 rows of people in front of me blocking the aisles because the airline told them to go in first. Makes no sense.
Report Post »southerngal
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 5:11pmWhat like first class is going to leave the ground before I do?
Report Post »fly892
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:10amThrow the door open, let us board the damn plane…
I am so tired of complicated rules……..
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:01amWhat they said…
Report Post »V
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djm0457
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:50amHey, Maybe this guy can help President Clueless on the economy!!!! LOL
Report Post »Eyeball
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:49amSo if you are traveling with 2 chiildren, you and your children will board at different time? People wont go for being separated from their children for any amount of time.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:03amEXCELLENT POINT!
And a good eye for seeing beyond the simple “answer” given to you.
It takes insight to be able to that – and good ol’ common sense – something our leaders clearly lack – and a whole lot of voters – either that, or they are willing to suspend common sense for personal motives and political gain.
Good job, though!
Report Post »MidwestMomof3
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:22amThe video says that “families” and people flying with small children would board first just like it’s done currently
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:46amHEY, ap…… the most efficient plane boarding technique is to do away with TSA!
Report Post »MainThingIsDontGetExcited
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:40amSo people who plan to sit together cannot board together? I can’t see this working.
Report Post »jackbauer
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:39amThis system would be good if passengers cooperated and did what they were suppose to do. This method would be a nightmare for the attendant scanning boarding passes to keep up with who’s turn it is. This would lead to many trying to board out of turn throwing the system off. If they could set up the BP scanner to alarm when the wrong row & seat number was scanned then it might work. I have a feeling this is why they have the zone system now with it printed in large letters on the boarding pass.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:37amDon’t get on the plane if there is someone in it in a prone position banging his head on the floor. Don’t get on the plane if you feel a force pulling you back before you get on it. Don’t get on the plane if the plane is old, the pilot is young, and the stewardess is ugly. Don’t get on the plane if you hear a voice saying, ” Don’t get on the plane.” Don’t get on a plane if your life depended on it. And, finally, don’t get on the plane if you see a passenger carry a towel on the plane with it wrapped around his head!
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:21pmThanks for the valuable words of wisdom. :) I like your ideas most of all.
Report Post »itsmyfirstday
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:30amJust one modification needed…USE YOUR OWN OVERHEAD BIN!!
Report Post »PunditPawn
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:29amTry explaining this to people who can’t read or write, or vote for a President who has some minority unemployment rates over 40%, yet they still vote for him.
Report Post »liberalsarealiens
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:28amIt’s all been tried before! As a retired Airline captain I have seen it all tried but it all boils down to the “dumbass” factor. You can only be as fast as the dumbest person on board! LMAO
Report Post »travlman77
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:33amI agree, but the real problem is the number of dumb people!
Report Post »Maybe they should board people by IQ
Czar Casm
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:20amGetting off the damn thing is the trouble.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:44pmYou are so right on. It’s aggrovating when the asses know that there are people that are waiting to get out of this cramped environment and they are once again screwing around with their belongings and not walking to the fron of the plane. Be prepareded like the rest of us!!
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 6:31pmJust reduce the size of the bags they can carry on. I see people jam the overhead with huge bags and then, they can’t get them out.
Report Post »GERATMO
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:07amThis is common sense, this guy should run for POTUS.
Report Post »DeltaHawk
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:00amThis idiot has too much time on his hands DO something!
jaxy
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:33amHe’s a renown physicist, he does DO SOMETHING. He was using theories developed for the population of quantum states and relating that to human interactions such as boarding a plane. He did it as sort of a hobby. Not like the guy is deadbeat basket weaving teacher funded by the government to research useless crap.
Report Post »OB-1
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 6:58amWouldn’t matter, too many inconsiderate people in the world, and too many laws against slapping the crap out of those inconsiderate people when they so desperately deserve it.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 6:58amThat’s great! Do you think this guy can figure out something so the TSA doesn’t have to grope passengers?
Report Post »AtTheReady
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 6:52amApparently, getting on a plane IS rocket science…
Report Post »