United Airlines Set to Revamp Passenger Boarding
United Airlines is making changes to its passenger boarding. It will soon take into account the seat preferences of economy passengers. An internal memo from United Airlines, reported by The New York Times, outlines these upcoming changes.
According to the memo, passengers will board based on their seat location. This is opposed to the traditional section-based boarding. The new approach is referred to as “WILMA,” an acronym for “window-middle-aisle.” In other words, passengers with window seats will board first. They will be followed by those with middle seats and passengers on the aisle boarding last.
Streamlining passenger boarding.
WILMA is designed to reduce the need for passengers who are already seated to stand up and allow others to pass. This will streamline the boarding process and expedite passenger seating. United Airlines claims that WILMA has saved approximately two minutes during boarding based on their tests.
Pre-boarding for passengers with disabilities, young children, and military personnel will continue as usual. First-class passengers will follow, with the new system only affecting those in economy class.
The new system only affects those in the economy class.
After pre-boarding and premium class boarding, passengers with window seats, exit row seats, and standby seats will board, followed by those with middle seats, and then passengers with aisle seats. This approach could potentially result in middle and aisle seat passengers having to gate-check their bags if overhead bin space is limited, providing an advantage to those with window seats.
Economy passengers with restricted carry-on allowances and passengers without an assigned boarding group number on their boarding passes will board last. The method was tested at four domestic locations and a major hub, according to the Associated Press.
WILMA is not new
This is not the first time United Airlines has experimented with the WILMA boarding process, as they had previously used it before switching to the traditional front-to-back boarding method in 2017, similar to many other domestic airlines, as reported by Conde Nast Traveler.
United Airlines plans to introduce WILMA on domestic and select international flights starting on October 26, according to the Associated Press.
8 Seemingly Unreal Places to Add to Your Travel Bucket List
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
This Arizona canyon was naturally carved by rainwater streams within the sandstone. The Navajo Nation gave it the name ‘The place where water runs through rocks.’ Visit Arizona explains that the Upper Antelope Canyon tour is more frequented due to increased sunlight and towering walls reaching 120 feet. Alternatively, the Lower Antelope Canyon tour is equally remarkable, providing visitors with an immersive encounter among the swirling sandstone walls.
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Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Among the world’s largest springs, the Grand Prismatic measures an expansive 370 feet in diameter, exceeding the size of a football field. Its vibrant appearance stems from bands of orange, yellow, and green that encircle the deep blue waters. These diverse colors originate from different strains of thermophile bacteria, thriving in the progressively cooler waters around the spring, as explained by Yellowstone National Park. For a bird’s-eye-like view of the Grand Prismatic, they suggest visitors follow the half-mile Fairy Falls trail to a lookout.
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The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
Located in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert, the Door to Hell is a large fiery crater. It emerged when a natural gas field accidentally caught fire in 1971 and has been burning continuously since then, according to National Geographic. A well-visited tourist spot, the Door to Hell permits visitors to hike down into the crater for a close view of the flames and an opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of the site. The Door to Hell, also referred to as the Darvaza Gas Crater, is located in a rural part of the country.
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Diamond Beach, Iceland
Found along Iceland’s South Coast, the Diamond Beach is a volcanic black sand shoreline adjacent to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Ice blocks from the glacier lagoon wash ashore after breaking into smaller pieces at sea, as mentioned in the Diamond Beach Travel Guide. The beach is also a natural habitat for seals.
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Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska
According to the Tongass National Forest, the Mendenhall Glacier is among the numerous expansive glaciers originating from the Juneau Icefield, an area spanning 1500 square miles of rock, snow, and ice. The glacier gradually advances under the influence of gravity, descending down the slope. Over time, it carves the bedrock and erodes during its 13-mile path until it reaches Mendenhall Lake.
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Thor’s Well, Oregon
Located on the Oregon coast near Cape Perpetua, there’s a large sinkhole that appears to swallow seawater continuously, resembling a bottomless pit. According to Yachats Oregon, it’s often called the “drainpipe of the Pacific.” They explain that the well is actually a hole in the rock that gives the impression of draining ocean water. Some researchers believe this well might have started as a sea cave shaped by waves. Over time, its roof likely collapsed, creating openings at the top and bottom, which spray ocean water.
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Crooked Forest, Poland
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Found close to the town of Gryfino in West Pomerania, Poland, the Crooked Forest consists of 400 peculiarly contorted pine trees. As revealed by Discovery, these pine trees were planted approximately in 1930, back when the area was part of the German province of Pomerania. Starting from the ground, the pine trees exhibit a distinctive feature: they grow with a sharp 90-degree bend towards the north, before gracefully straightening up towards the sky.
Pink Beach, Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia
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The beach is named for its pink sand, which comes from tiny organisms in the coral reefs nearby. Visitors can swim, snorkel, and see marine life like sea turtles and manta rays in the clear water. The beach also has great views of hills and turquoise waters.
