Discussion on:

The fastest way to board an airplane [video]

Does anyone know why airplanes aren't boarded through both the forward and rear cabin doors at the same time? Is there an FAA regulation about this? This would save a lot of time for both boarding and disembarking. Of course, airports would need to install double enclosed gangways, a cost issue. I have been on flights in which both cabin doors were used in stairway boardings off the outdoor tramac, and boarding goes very quickly.

If you want to run a mobile corridor to both the front and back cabin doors, if have to get past the wings in the middle.

Back in the days when people used to walk out to their planes and climb stairs, I think they did board using multiple doors. The old Boeing 727 actually had a staircase that lowered from the back of the fuselage under the tail, and I remember people used to enter and exit via that as well as the front.

The question then becomes: would it be worthwhile for airlines and airports to invest in ways (such as elongated corridors that go around the wings, or parking the plane parallel with the waiting area) to move people in and out of the rear cabin door? Could the savings from faster boardings cover such changes in airport infrastructure?

Details provided were schetchy but basically they banged up the plane with the second walk way.
Haven't heard anything further

While all this probably makes theoretic sense, I think in practice you could never get everybody lined up by rows, or if you did you would have to spend more time in the terminal getting everybody lined up in order than it takes to board the plane.

When they did the tests with people, they were working with volunteers with whom they probably did a detailed explanation first. These people weren't bored or not paying attention. They weren't giving in to the all too human urge to jump to the front of the line so they could get their carryon baggage stored. They probably didn't do any tests with young kids.

Aside from the logistical nightmare of lining people up prior to boarding, do they really think that they'll be able to split families and friends up with Dad boarding number 5, Suzie number 35 and Mom number 55. Never happen.

you do bring up interesting point about families and children.

surely, a software tweak could be made, in which everyone within the same reservation number would be kept together in the same boarding number.

in fact, the software could even prioritise family boarding by making them first before others get to board.

that is the way most airlines and amtrak do it at large terminals - passengers with small children or with disabilities get to board first, since they need a head start to get going down the boarding area, and then others follow afterwards in the boarding queue.