Delta Hopes To Streamline Boarding Process By Preloading Carry-Ons
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – Delta Air Lines is rolling out a new program which aims to streamline the boarding process.
The program, Early Valet, has airline employees pre-load carry-on bags, putting them in the overhead bins above passengers' assigned seats.
The airline wants to see if its own workers can load the bins faster than passengers.
Delta Airlines Says it Has a Plan to Streamline the Boarding Process
The service began Monday on about two dozen flights, and that number is expected to rise steadily during June, Delta spokeswoman Morgan Durrant said.
Early Valet will be offered through August on some departures from Delta's busiest airports — Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle.
It will be available only on flights that typically have a high number of vacationers. Presumably, business travelers know how to board a plane efficiently. Specially tagged bags will be stowed on the plane before boarding begins, Durrant said.
Delta tested the process last summer in Atlanta and Los Angeles and saw some reduction in boarding time, Durrant said.
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