There’s a way around those crowds in Malta

In regard to “Mingle With Millenniums,” by Alice Short, April 8: I was in Malta in October, and there are a couple of things that should have been mentioned.

The streets are very narrow and the roads are very congested, but there’s a great bus system with a 21 euro (about $26) ticket that lets you ride as many times as you want for one week.

Oh, yes, it was warm enough to swim in October.

Salvinu C. Vella

Ledyard, Conn.

The boarding process

In regard to “On That Mad Rush to Board,” On the Spot by Catharine Hamm, April 8: Airlines should have strong, specialist boarding assistants to load the overhead bins and speed up the process.

Michael MacDermott

San Marino

::

I’ve never understood the attraction of being a first-class traveler, seated in a fancy seat, and then having the “privilege” of watching the rest of the passengers shuffle by for many minutes. It could appeal only to someone who wants to be seen enjoying a privilege by those who do not have that privilege. I would find it much more luxurious and privileged to stay in the VIP lounge until the chaos of the economy section is settled.

In the economy cabin, having the people sitting in the back of the plane board first is logical. The issue of bins being full and a passenger swimming upstream to stuff a bag in a bin could be resolved in many ways: 1. Charge for all items carried on the plane. Cabin real estate is valuable. The charge for checked baggage has created an incentive to carry on as much as one can get away with.

2. Have assigned bin space. If your carry-ons don’t fit, the crew will whisk them away to be checked below. This will eliminate the “salmon” swimming upstream.

3. Passengers must demonstrate that their carry-on items fit in the sizing box/cage at every gate.

4. Have modular bins at the gate. If you want to carry on an item, you must rent one (or more) of the bins. The bins fit into overhead slots on the plane. Everything gets pre-screened/pre-fitted before getting on the plane.

5. Charge for carry-ons, but not for checked items, so that passengers have the incentive to carry on only what they absolutely must have. This is opposite of the current system in which you carry on everything you can possibly get away with, including emotional support animals.

Ian McIlvaine

Venice

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel