After anxiously checking the airport screens for hours, you finally see the magic word: boarding. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be stepping on a plane anytime soon. Confusing calls for ...

Airplane boarding isn’t efficient. Airlines prefer it that way. Airlines know group boarding isn’t the fastest way to load a plane — but the system helps them sell priority boarding and other paid ...

Etiquette goes beyond table manners and thank-you notes. It also extends to travel, particularly when it comes to boarding a commercial flight. As any frequent flier will tell you, there are a variety ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Airlines know group boarding isn’t the fastest way to load a plane — but the system helps them sell priority boarding and other ...

Airlines prioritize profit over efficiency by using group boarding, which allows them to sell priority access. Southwest Airlines' recent shift to assigned seating highlights a trend of homogenization ...

Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page. Saving time or making a few extra ...