The fastest boarding I experienced was years ago somewhere in Asia (Singapore, maybe), where three lines boarded through three doors: Two on the terminal side, and one on the far side.
I was in the far-side group, and we had to hike up a lot of stairs and then through a jetway, presumably over the aircraft (hard to know with no windows), and then down a bunch of stairs and then enter the aircraft, where we could see people boarding from the other side.
Very fast, except for the long hike. But this was before people put everything and the kitchen sink into over-sized carry-ons, so it wasn't arduous.
> put everything and the kitchen sink into over-sized carry-ons
Which they only do because free checked is going away. You get what you optimize for, after all.
IMO people pack way too much shit traveling anyway, but I'm sure here most are familiar with the onebag concept. I've no way to convince someone other than actually going on a trip with them and happily walking next to them while they drag their wheeled luggage around.
I tend to be of the opinion that roll-aboard "carry" ons are a big part of the problem with overhead space. Yes, some people can't really carry loads. But most would be better off with soft-side travel backpacks and other soft carry-ons that tend to be more space efficient and flexible. (Especially given that there's less need for luggage that can keep suits wrinkle free than in times past.)
> Which they only do because free checked is going away.
I pack everything in one piece of carry-on luggage, and I'd do that even if checked luggage were free (which it often is).
It means I don't have to take extra time or wait in a line to check a bag at the source airport, I don't have to take time at baggage claim at the destination airport (just walk straight from the gate to ground transportation), and I don't have any risk of losing my luggage (or having it badly repacked after a search, or having something go missing).
Yup, I haven't checked a bag in a decade and have been consistently baffled by my friends that do; this decade was roughly my 20s, so it excludes a lot of the good reasons for checked bags like physical limitations or young children). Who wants to deal with checkin lines upon boarding (and get to the airport that much earlier), then get off of an international flight and wait an arbitrarily long time for your bags, with an unreasonably high chance of them having been lost?
One reason, from my 20's, since you declared that parameter: The sort of clothing one wears to a cultural event doesn't fit in a carry-on. There's no way I was going to show up for an opera in Vienna or a symphony in Prague in jeans and a drip-dry t-shirt.
This isn't true at all, in my experience. I've been on multi-leg trips that included weddings and formal events as well as beach time, which meant packing formal shoes and clothing (in a couple cases a full suit) along with enough t-shirts to deal with the humidity of a beach, shorts, flip-flops, trunks, etc. My 40L backpack has so far been accepted as carry-on in 15+ different countries, and I carry a small tote bag[1] for overflow/on-the-plane items (usually laptop+book, but occasionally shoes). Hell, right know I'm visiting some (lovably) stodgy family in the old country, which means I have to pack formal clothing for the inevitable trips to the country club and various events... And I spent a few days on the beach in Thailand right before this. I was able to do all of this while carrying half a dozen gifts that took up probably 30% of my bag.
Your comment just reinforces my bafflement and my impression that people subject themselves to checked baggage because they've simply never bothered to look into the alternative. I'm sure there are many people for whom checking a bag works out fine, but the bafflement comes from the many people (including some I know personally) who hate the hassle but haven't gotten around to trying carry-on-only travel.
[1] It's the New Yorker tote bag, in case anyone is familiar with the dimensions
However, it's also a massive pain in the arse having to fiddle around with removing various electronics and liquids while going through the security gate.
I've actually started to opt for checking my bag whenever possible, even when I could get away with taking it into the cabin, and taking the minimum possible through security to avoid the too-frequent holdups. My experience is that this has added a maximum of about 10 minutes to my trip, waiting for luggage to be unloaded.
While I don't think it should be a thing (nobody should have to deal with such hassles), Global Entry / TSA-Pre removes most issues at the security checkpoint.
At many airports, checking a bag can add 20-30 minutes of waiting in line at the departure airport, leaving aside baggage claim time.
> Which they only do because free checked is going away.
They also do it to avoid the scenario where your bag simply ends up on the wrong plane. It's unlikely these days because of technology, but it's hard to shake the worry once this has happened to you three or four times.
Even on Southwest, which gives you two free checked bags, I see a lot of other passengers flying with small carry-on suitcases. I suppose they're worried about speed or loss/damage of their luggage, but I don't really know.
Fear of damage is fair. I'm flying United to San Diego for a little Motorcycle vacation and they will either let me check a bag or not at all - I can't buy a carry-on slot. Essentially I can bring only a carry on. I sure as shit am not checking my Motorcycle helmet, they'll destroy it. So I'm going to try traveling with nothing but my helmet, Kindle, toothbrush, and medicine :) it'll be an adventure, but fuck United.
Reminds me of loading onto a Ryanair flight in Edinburgh; the labyrinth walk to the door that put you onto the tarmac a short walk from the stairs. Loaded back to front, and since there are no assigned seats on Ryanair it's just like getting on the (air)bus.
Not only there are assigned seats on Ryanair (since years at least), but you have to pay to select one and they purposely place groups/families separately to make them choose to pay extra.
Whenever I've flown Ryanair, the seats were assigned and printed on the boarding pass (but you had to pay if you wanted to chose your seat). When was this time that they weren't?
I was in the far-side group, and we had to hike up a lot of stairs and then through a jetway, presumably over the aircraft (hard to know with no windows), and then down a bunch of stairs and then enter the aircraft, where we could see people boarding from the other side.
Very fast, except for the long hike. But this was before people put everything and the kitchen sink into over-sized carry-ons, so it wasn't arduous.