Planes with more first-class passengers may get to land first

[Larry1]

People in the FSUW search fly a lot. This is a proposal in the UK.

Airliners with more first-class passengers to land first under controversial plans to end 'first come, first served' rules at airports

More advanced technology will give air traffic controllers more flight data

Airlines will be able to designate which of their airborne jets can land first

The changes will end the traditional landing rule of 'first come, first served'

Planes carrying more first class passengers may soon be given landing priority over other flights in a move that would radically overhaul the current 'first come, first served' rule, it has been claimed.

As more advanced technology becomes available to air traffic controllers, airlines will be able to designate specific flights within their own fleets to jump the queues.

This would be beneficial for flights carrying large numbers of business or first class passengers, or planes with customers connecting to other flights.

Richard Deakin, the chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), said the introduction of remote technology, sensors and infrared cameras would increase the amount of data air controllers received from flights, The Sunday Times reported.

Controversially, this would in turn allow controllers to prioritise flights at the request of the airlines.

He said: 'It might tell the controller how many passengers need to make a connecting flight. The controller can then make more informed decisions, perhaps giving it extra priority to make sure the passengers definitely make their connection.'

'And the commercial applications become obvious - tiered or premium services, giving priority to frequent flyers, loyal customers and high-value customers.'

Experts have suggested such changes would destroy what has been a basic premise of air traffic management since its inception - that of the first come, first served approach to landing at busy airports.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2915093/Airliners-class-passengers-land-controversial-plans-end-come-served-rules-airports.html

What do you think about this?  Would you favor having planes with more first-class passengers getting to the head of the line? Would you favor planes with more people with tight connecting flights getting to the head of the line? Or do you prefer the existing first-come, first-served rule?

[jone]

They have any special consideration for the guys that are in steerage and they throw out of the plane with a cheap parachute, like me?

[Larry1]

What do you think about this?  Would you favor having planes with more first-class passengers getting to the head of the line? Would you favor planes with more people with tight connecting flights getting to the head of the line? Or do you prefer the existing first-come, first-served rule?

Since I posed this question it seems that I should say which option I voted for and explain why.  I was initially inclined to vote for the option to give planes with more passengers with tight connections priority in landing. This option has been popular with people voting in the poll. That makes sense because it seems to create less trouble for passengers. We wouldn't want to inconvenience a lot of passengers by making them miss their connecting flights if there were a way to avoid doing so.

But I voted for the option to not change the existing first come, first serve system. I wondered whether giving priority to planes carrying more passengers with tight connections might provide an incentive for passengers to create a schedule with tight connections, with the idea that they would likely be allowed first priority in landing (because they don't like the idea of waiting for a couple of hours in the airport).

But perhaps my vote is just an example of status quo bias.