Tests show fastest way to board passenger planes

[CitizenCain]

Cashiers here are extremely chatty. It drives me bonkers.

Unless they're young and cute, then you've got a hottie working for low enough pay that she's probably desperate for a nice meal out somewhere. Easy prey... is there anything sweeter?

[Hazir]

What I wonder about is if those boarding methods take int account that for alternate row boarding IN the plane to work you need a lot more organisation pre-boarding.

I think that a lot more time can be won by coaching passengers while they are settling in. Tell them to get out of the aisle so that other people can pass. There is no need for the average person to actually stand there while puttin his carry on in the overhead bin. All it takes is politely tell them to get out of the bloody way over and over again. Also not letting people carry on stuff that very obviously won t fit should do a lot of good.

For me the boarding part is not the worst though. That would be the security circus/braindead traveller combo. The people who stand in front of a screen showing them what will be expected of them, then move up like the whole drill is a complete surprise to them.

By the way, i hear they are very unhappy with the full body scanners at Schiphol. Too many false positives and security checks that take much longer than foreseen.

Thank god for Privium, the queue-less airport that created for me is worth every cent I pay for it.

[Dreadnaught]

Yeah, but does anyone actually listen to those instructions to get out of the way?

I do agree that organizing before boarding is important.

[Hazir]

Yeah, but does anyone actually listen to those instructions to get out of the way?

I do agree that organizing before boarding is important.

if you keep repeating them enough people will. And I do it anyway.

[GGT]

Seriously, no carry-ons to be stuffed in overhead bins. Instead of airlines charging for "overweight" checked baggage, they should be charging for carry-ons people expect to stuff and cram into overhead bins, slowing the whole boarding process.

If it can't fit under the seat in front of you, it should be a checked item. Period. Sorry if it's a handmade straw sombrero hat you don't want crushed, or glass-framed holiday gifts that might be broken in transit, and you think they are special items. If they're that special to you, then pay to have private delivery and buy some insurance, from UPS or Fed Express. But don't drag it on the plane and try to cram it in the overhead bin. Thank you for your cooperation and have a nice flight.

[Dreadnaught]

if you keep repeating them enough people will. And I do it anyway.

Every flight I board has the flight attendants repeatedly asking people to quickly step out of the aisle. Doesn't stop people from being slow.

Today for work I booked a flight on a budget carrier, Spirit Airlines. For all the random fees (EG bags in overhead bins cost $20-30), I admire that they make an effort to consistently charge for almost everything and make the costs very transparent. EG they add a "fuel cost" to flights via breaking-out out what their average per-passenger fuel costs are for that flight.

We'll see how the flight goes. Fortunately it's a one-night trip so I'm just bringing a briefcase.

[Flixy]

Seriously, no carry-ons to be stuffed in overhead bins. Instead of airlines charging for "overweight" checked baggage, they should be charging for carry-ons people expect to stuff and cram into overhead bins, slowing the whole boarding process.

If it can't fit under the seat in front of you, it should be a checked item. Period. Sorry if it's a handmade straw sombrero hat you don't want crushed, or glass-framed holiday gifts that might be broken in transit, and you think they are special items. If they're that special to you, then pay to have private delivery and buy some insurance, from UPS or Fed Express. But don't drag it on the plane and try to cram it in the overhead bin. Thank you for your cooperation and have a nice flight.

Here I was thinking that carry on was actually supposed to be stored overhead, and not under your seat... That's what the size limits are made for anyway.

[Loki]

Every flight I board has the flight attendants repeatedly asking people to quickly step out of the aisle. Doesn't stop people from being slow.

Today for work I booked a flight on a budget carrier, Spirit Airlines. For all the random fees (EG bags in overhead bins cost $20-30), I admire that they make an effort to consistently charge for almost everything and make the costs very transparent. EG they add a "fuel cost" to flights via breaking-out out what their average per-passenger fuel costs are for that flight.

We'll see how the flight goes. Fortunately it's a one-night trip so I'm just bringing a briefcase.

You're sure they're cheap? I just compared their prices to those of AA on an identical flight from Chicago to New York. AA was $30 cheaper.

[Dreadnaught]

I have to get to one of the organized labor capitals of the Midwest for 3-4 hours next week. Delta and American were charging $1000 for direct flights. Spirit was charging $200 (and that's before I "upgraded" my seats for $50).

[GGT]

Here I was thinking that carry on was actually supposed to be stored overhead, and not under your seat... That's what the size limits are made for anyway.

Then I pity you (in advance) if you're ever on a flight with American tourists, who seem to think they can bring all sorts of things on board as "carry ons", taking up boarding time to jam and shove their crap in overhead bins and under their seats.

I was on a flight from Florida once, where a guy insisted he could fit his special fish in the overhead bin. It was a carefully preserved shark of some sort, not too huge but still kinda big, and everyone knew it wouldn't fit under his seat or in the overhead bin. Made us wonder how the hell he got it past the gate in the first place.....

[Loki]

I have to get to one of the organized labor capitals of the Midwest for 3-4 hours next week. Delta and American were charging $1000 for direct flights. Spirit was charging $200 (and that's before I "upgraded" my seats for $50).

Ah, AA isn't very nice if you try booking on short notice.

[Nessus]

Unless they're young and cute, then you've got a hottie working for low enough pay that she's probably desperate for a nice meal out somewhere. Easy prey... is there anything sweeter?

How do you go over this proposition in a small talk window? I realize Gordon Gekko is a moral paragon on par with Jesus Christ in modern America, but do you actually say "I will buy you a steak if you fuck me" while flashing some Benjamins? I guess this is just the free market making even courtship more efficient.

[CitizenCain]

Well, generally you go over the "come meet me for food and drinks" part during the small talk window... and the "come fuck me" part over food and drinks. And they tend not to order the steak, for some reason.

[Khendraja'aro]

For me the boarding part is not the worst though. That would be the security circus/braindead traveller combo. The people who stand in front of a screen showing them what will be expected of them, then move up like the whole drill is a complete surprise to them.

[Nessus]

Well, generally you go over the "come meet me for food and drinks" part during the small talk window... and the "come fuck me" part over food and drinks. And they tend not to order the steak, for some reason.

You know, while it's mostly my culture, I feel I'm kind of missing out in not being able to even imagine inviting the register chick out for food/drinks.

[CitizenCain]

You know, while it's mostly my culture, I feel I'm kind of missing out in not being able to even imagine inviting the register chick out for food/drinks.

Not really. Feel like you're missing out if you want to, but I don't see that there's much to miss out on. Frankly, I wish there was more equality in the whole who asks whom out arena, and it didn't have to be me (as the guy) making the first move practically every time.

Why, how does one find dates and/or mates in your culture, if not by asking potential prospects out to date and hopefully/potentially mate you?

[Nessus]

The interaction at a cash register is at such a minimum that it would be rather out of place to try anything more complicated than hello what a nice day goodbye (even that's long-winded).

[RandBlade]

It depends how much you're buying and how slow the cashier is.

[Ominous Gamer]

Our interactions aren't exactly gas and goes. Our last time through WalMart we found out that the cashier has her own children, they hate going food shopping, and always nag for toys. The cashier found out that we spent $135 on food, when we originally meant to only get baloney cause thats what Scarlett has been asking for all day, and thats why Scarlett took it out of the bag once the cashier rang it up.

[Nessus]

It depends how much you're buying and how slow the cashier is.

How much is a single male buying? Though you can shop expensive if that'll increase the chances of her noticing you can afford a jaunt in her knickers, I guess.

[CitizenCain]

How much is a single male buying? Though you can shop expensive if that'll increase the chances of her noticing you can afford a jaunt in her knickers, I guess.

Depends on the single male. I fucking hate shopping, so I try to buy all the crap I need for as long as I can get away with. A month's worth of perishables, a few months worth of non-perishable food, all the clothes I think I'll need for the year, etc. Takes a while to ring up months worth of stuff, and the person doing the ringing invariably tries to fill the silence with inane banter.

[Nessus]

Well yes but that fits into your persona as the recluse gun-nut libertarian

[GGT]

Why, how does one find dates and/or mates in your culture, if not by asking potential prospects out to date and hopefully/potentially mate you?

It depends how much you're buying and how slow the cashier is.

Though you can shop expensive if that'll increase the chances of her noticing you can afford a jaunt in her knickers, I guess.

[Lebanese Dragon]

It depends how much you're buying and how slow the cashier is.

Talk to the while they're shopping, plenty of time then.

[Hazir]

My conversations with cashiers never go further than, 'hello', 'no, thanks' (after being asked if I want the sales slip). Sometimes when I am extremely chatty I exchange meaningful looks with them if yet another stupid tourist delays the entire process by trying to pay with a credit card (no, you can't pay groceries with your credit card in Holland).

[Aimless]

Er, stupid Holland...

[Dreadnaught]

no, you can't pay groceries with your credit card in Holland

I assume just the tourist's credit card, and not all credit cards.

[Flixy]

Any credit card. Everybody uses debit cards, not credit. Restaurants and shops usually do accept them.

[Hazir]

I assume just the tourist's credit card, and not all credit cards.

Any credit cards, most supermarkets in my area have big signs at the entrance that they won't accept payment with credit cards. But of course reading a big sign is too much to ask. As for shops/restaurants accepting them, you shouldn't be too surprised if they still refuse to accept cards for small amounts.

[CitizenCain]

Weird... at least from a North American standpoint. Why are things that way in your charming little lowlands?