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cover of episode Science of Success: A Better Way to Board a Plane

Science of Success: A Better Way to Board a Plane

2024/8/23
logo of podcast WSJ’s The Future of Everything

WSJ’s The Future of Everything
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
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Ben Cohen
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John Milton
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Ben Cohen: 我认为没有人喜欢登机这个过程,它既耗时又令人沮丧。我今天要讨论的是一位科学家关于最有效登机方式的结论,以及大多数航空公司如何追求完美却从未真正实现。 十五年前,天体物理学家Jason Steffen研发了一种他认为最佳的登机策略,并在学术期刊上发表了他的研究成果。他的研究结果表明,传统的登机方式效率低下,而他的方法可以显著缩短登机时间,提高效率。 然而,他的方法在实际应用中却面临诸多挑战,例如,它没有考虑到人为因素,例如家庭出行,团队出行,优先登机等因素。此外,要执行他的方法,乘客需要按照精确的登机顺序排队,这在实际操作中很难实现。 尽管如此,他的研究成果仍然为航空公司提供了宝贵的参考,一些航空公司已经开始尝试借鉴他的方法来改进登机流程,例如美联航的“威尔默斯”登机方法,虽然它并非完全采用Steffen的方法,但它借鉴了部分原理,并取得了一定的成效。 Jason Steffen: (此处应补充Jason Steffen的观点,由于原文中缺乏他的直接引述,无法完整呈现他的观点。) John Milton: 先从前排登机,如果前六名乘客都坐在最后一排,那么这六个人都会走向最后一排,并且只有一位乘客能够一次登机。这会导致通道拥堵。 Steffen的方法通过让乘客交替登机,可以实现行李同时存放,将串行过程(一次一个)变成了并行过程(同时多个)。他的方法避免了乘客需要为了让其他人过去而起身的情况。 要执行Steffen的方法,乘客需要在登机前按照精确的登机顺序排队,这需要乘客有秩序且耐心。西南航空公司多年来一直采用开放式座位,但现在也放弃了这种做法,这证明了Steffen方法在实际应用中的难度。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The episode starts by highlighting the universally disliked experience of airplane boarding, emphasizing the significant wait times involved. It then introduces the concept of finding a more efficient boarding process.
  • Airplane boarding is universally disliked due to long wait times.
  • A scientist is exploring a more efficient boarding strategy.

Shownotes Transcript

It seems like every airline has a different way of boarding a plane. But which way works best? Astrophysicist Jason Steffen has spent his career trying to crack the deepest mysteries of the universe, and 15 years ago he discovered and published what he says is the optimal boarding strategy. So why aren’t all commercial airlines using it? On the Science of Success,) WSJ’s Ben Cohen looks at what goes into planning the most efficient boarding process and what airlines are doing to help customers have a smooth entry to their flights. 

What do you think about the show? Let us know on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify), or email us: [email protected]) 

Sign up for the WSJ's free The Future of Everything newsletter).

Further reading:

The Astrophysicist Who Has a Better Way to Board Airplanes) 

Southwest Airlines Is Ditching Open Seating on Flights) 

Southwest Fans Wonder if the Airline Has Changed Forever) 

It Can’t Be This Hard to Board a Plane) 

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