Sunday October 31, 2004

How to make planes leave on time...

While sitting in Barcelona airport after our short holiday in Barcelona I heard a familar line over the PA: " Would MR XYZ please go to gate 123 where he is holding up the flight ABC to destination DEF".

On my boarding pass it says be at the gate thirty minutes before departure. I am thinking the airlines should really get serious about this thirty minute rule. I know if the 'lost' passenger has checked in baggage it has to be removed otherwise that can causes problems. Also people DO get lost in airports but that can be fixed too.

Here is my plan:

Anyone who has not got to the gate thirty minutes before departure is taken off the flight. No announcements beforehand and no appeal. The airlines will know who has not got to the gate as your boarding card is checked in there.

The baggage is put into metal boxes that are loaded into the plane. ( on big planes ). If you keep track of what baggage goes into what box and where that box is loaded into the plane, removing baggage should be easy to do. This should take place at the thirty minute deadline.

If you get lost in an airport you should make your way to special bright red phones which are installed at regular spacing in the terminal buildings. Make the call and the operator will know where you are and assist you in getting to the terminal. This recovery phone system might be open to abuse so this needs to be checked.

This all sounds radical but like banning smoking in public places most people would agree this is the way to go.