Southwest is testing front and rear boarding/de-boarding at select airports

For those that think this does not happen all over ther world - might want to check the facts. It DOES in fact happen in quite a few countries. I've boarded planes on rear airstairs at FRA and CDG. Granted, those were big widebody jets (LH and AF respectively) but it does happen, not just at those airports but at many other major European airports.

And not just in Europe, but other countries around the world have airports where dual front and rear boarding is carried out on a regular basis. The U.S. is blessed to have airports with a jetway for each aircraft. Not so in other countries, especially at major hubs like FRA and CDG where jetways are at a premium. Even at LHR, some flights are boarded/disembarked via airstairs.

Being an aviation enthusiast myself, I would gladly take the offer to board via the stairs at the rear door if available and the weather was fine. No better way to experience ground ops and get a view of other planes (even for just a few seconds as it may be!).

"De-boarding" shouldn't happen anywhere. I prefer to exit a plane, Sometimes I leave the plane. When I want to use two words I get off the plane.

i was at SMF 2 days ago and thought it was a little strange when offered to board the rear door. looked, no one took them up on the offer. neither did I

My sister always sits in the last seat as she hates people behind her. She never checks luggage, even with the Southwest free luggage policy. This will be great for her.

this is a rather strange way of "speeding up the boarding process..i remember many years back when some airports did not have jetbridges,and everybody had to walk up the portable flight stairs..i also remember once at dfw delta had a "dual jetbridge" system where they used 2 doors of the 747 for boarding,one for first class, and one for coach..jetbridges were supposed to eliminate using the portable stairs,and even the airports that used to have the commuter planes board on the ramp,have gone to jetbridges..go figure!!

took several domestic flights in Australia a month ago, and I thought the system worked great. Granted the stairs can be a deterrent for some.

For a 737 I just don’t see the justification in security and safety of people all over the ramp/apron to load a few in the rear. If gate space was limited and there wasn’t enough jetbridges then sure it works ... did this in Kenya and it was great.

Works well at BUR, of course everything is a ground level in that little bitty airport.

I'm surprised they (correctly) used "apron" instead of "tarmac"!! Kudos to them!

LGB and BUR, I can understand, because the terminal is basically at ground level. SMF and SJC doesn't make sense, as they'd have to basically travel down the stairs to get onto the ramp to get to the stars to board in the rear.

Especially at SMF; since they rebuilt Terminal B, there are more than enough gates to not have to board in the aft to increase turnaround times..

Gee whiz - this is news???????

This happens all over the world