Optimal boarding method for airline passengers [PDF]
“Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo optimization algorithm and a computer simulation, I find the passenger ordering which minimizes the time required to board the passengers onto an airplane. The model that I employ assumes that the time that a passenger requires to load his or her luggage is the dominant contribution to the time needed to completely fill the aircraft. The optimal boarding strategy may reduce the time required to board and airplane by over a factor of four and possibly more depending upon the dimensions of the aircraft. I explore some features of the optimal boarding method and discuss practical modifications to the optimal. Finally, I mention some of the benefits that could come from implementing and improved passenger boarding scheme.”
Long story short, he presents the following in descending order of boarding optimization 1. Lining up every passenger in order for boarding 2. Board windows, then middle, then aisle 3. Staggered blocks with spaces like 3 rows with a space of 4 rows and another 3 rows
The general finding is that luggage loading is the biggest hurdle to optimal boarding. The ideal solution allows multiple people to load their luggage at the same time to remove bottlenecks. In computer terms, this is parallel processing.
