Finding a plane solution

The “On the Spot” column (“Herd Mentality,” Nov. 2) asked why airlines don’t use more than one door to board passengers. Good question.

But what has always perplexed me is why almost all the airlines board planes from front to back rows. This virtually guarantees it’s going to take longer to load a plane as people in rows up front who are trying to find seats, stow bags, etc., are bumped and crawled over by passengers trying to get to seats in back rows. It’s all so unnecessary.

Why don’t they board from back to front and avoid all the hassle?

Marie Gilliam Costa Mesa

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Earlier this week I returned to Los Angeles on a flight from Newark, N.J. The flight was scheduled to depart at 1:10 p.m. We started boarding at 12:35 p.m. I was in first class.

As the main cabin passengers filed past I could not believe the overstuffed wheelies. I wondered how they would fit in the overhead bins.

They didn’t. Some bags were put in first-class bins, but ultimately, about 20 or more bags had to be checked. Departure was 30 minutes late.

Airlines should charge $5 (or nothing) for checked luggage and $50 for any carry-on that’s larger than, let’s say, a grocery bag.

Passengers are being selfish in bringing onboard over-stuffed items to avoid checking them, and airlines have not helped by adding the checked baggage surcharge.

George Davis-Benton

Los Angeles