The problem is that when they don’t exhaust the queue, there are people there 2+ zones lower than the latest called out one.

So your best strategy when you realize this is happening is to get in line to try to time getting to the front roughly when your zone will be called.

Delta gate agents very frequently do this and it’s super annoying because it defeats the point of their bajillion zones.

The best strategy is to go to the bathroom when they call boarding and mosey on over whenever you like. Its easier to board as one of the last few vs the first. No one in the aisle and you can identify your potential seat from across the plane.

I would much rather be situated in my window seat early. I don’t have to worry about people mistakenly or purposefully taking my seat and waiting for them to move or wait for people to stand up for me to get my seat.

If I get a free upgrade to first class, I can already be sipping on my free prs board alcoholic beverage.

Board first, board last, all good choices for people. However, a mass of people chaotically at a boarding gate is so shameful -- Computer Science has solved these problems already with priority queues, and the airline industry should catch up. Perhaps airlines should just mandate leetcode.

I do remember being on business in East Asia and how orderly these things operated.

There are priority queues at least with Delta to a point.

- people needing extra time

- military

And then they are call by Zones

- 1st class boards first sho are at the front of the plane (Zone 1)

I think zone 2 is Diamond medallion. More than likely unless they bought a last minute ticket on a full plane, they would at least be C+

- Comfort+ boards next who are behind first class (Zone 3)

- Gold Medallion boards next and they are in the main cabin (Zone 4)

Those four zones above have a dedicated lane and should have plenty of overhead space close to their seat.

Below those four is where the upheaval starts especially if you fly out of Orlando like I do now with a lot of infrequent fliers. At that point, everyone is Main cabin jockeying for position and overhead space.

Even then Zone 5 isn’t bad. You get that by either having a cobranded credit card or being the lowest medallion level - Silver

Optimal boarding speed-wise does not align with the limited overhead bag space. So you get the priority system we have today.

Premium fliers would never go for the trade of “you get to pick between having a guaranteed overhead bin slot and sitting at the back of the plane”.

This only works if you check your bags. And checking bags is for casual travelers that don’t care about their time when they get to their destination