I find the logic of this article somewhat superficial in that the underlying theme is "because the airlines can".
This seems to paint a picture of apathy where as I see it as a sly grab for more revenue. Since you no longer get free bag checking, on most airlines, it makes sense to try and drive more people to checking in bags. Easiest way to do that is increase the chance there is no overhead space available when they do board or make it so annoying to carry on that they relent to check their bags.
As a frequent flyer I don't really have an issue with families boarding early. They allude to it in the article that if they allowed it too many people could board. Yet being a frequent flier for years I have rarely seen more then 1 or 2 families with very small children per flight. So it seems like a very hollow argument to make.
What there are too many of is frequent fliers. It now seems as if half the plane is boarded by one level of frequent flier or another.
This seems to paint a picture of apathy where as I see it as a sly grab for more revenue. Since you no longer get free bag checking, on most airlines, it makes sense to try and drive more people to checking in bags. Easiest way to do that is increase the chance there is no overhead space available when they do board or make it so annoying to carry on that they relent to check their bags.
As a frequent flyer I don't really have an issue with families boarding early. They allude to it in the article that if they allowed it too many people could board. Yet being a frequent flier for years I have rarely seen more then 1 or 2 families with very small children per flight. So it seems like a very hollow argument to make.
What there are too many of is frequent fliers. It now seems as if half the plane is boarded by one level of frequent flier or another.