Delta changing the way you board — and some customers hate it (DAL)

pulse

February 5, 2018 10:26 PM

Delta's new boarding system was designed to reduce stress, but it's had the opposite effect for some.

In March,
The system was designed to make the boarding process more efficient, but it's been making some passengers more stressed out.
When Delta puts too many people in one boarding group, it makes other passengers worried that the plane will run out of space for carry-on items before they board, and increases the odds that passengers will become hostile.

In March, Delta Air Lines began testing a new boarding system at select airports where passengers line up behind pillars that indicate their boarding group.

Delta designed the system to reduce congestion near the gate and make the boarding process faster, but it may be causing more headaches than intended, as Delta passengers have expressed their frustration with the new system on Twitter.

The system can make passengers anxious

The problems come from the anxiety some travelers feel when they see other passengers lining up to board before they do. When an airline places too many passengers in one of the first boarding groups, the problem becomes worse. Passengers may be happier to see a high boarding group when they buy their ticket, but that excitement fades when they see how many other passengers received the same designation.