[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

This might not be popular, but IMHO, the problem with boarding (and eventual deplaning) is not assigned seats vs. group free for all boarding, it's the ever increasing competition for overhead carry-on bin space. Back in the sixties and early seventies, there were no overhead bins---all luggage had to be checked. A full plane could board in 5 minutes. Now, we have people tripping over one another, cheating on wheelchairs, and trying to sneak more than one carry-on aboard.

If it were up to me, I'd rip out all the overhead bins and go back to the way it was in years gone by.

Look at it this way---people think they save time by skipping the baggage claim area, but it may be an illusion. I find the wait to claim a bag at the carousel is usually 10-15 minutes. But the time to board is 25 min and to deplane about 20 min. Is anyone saving time as opposed to a 5 min board and deplane????

I should add that the biggest waste of time that has sprung up in the last few years is off-site car rental locations----wait for a shuttle, wait at the counter, wait to get a car---then rinse and repeat for returning it.

I agree. But I think one reason for the overhead bins is to reduce the cost to the airlines to handle luggage.