Delta Airlines has announced a return to numbered zones for boarding, a system it had previously abandoned in 2019 in favor of calling passengers by category names. While the categories themselves will remain unchanged, they will now be assigned to specific zones, with passengers falling into zones one through eight, as indicated on their boarding passes.

The decision comes as no surprise, given the widespread chaos and criticism surrounding the boarding process for flights in the United States. In an attempt to streamline the process, United Airlines has claimed to save two minutes by implementing a boarding sequence that prioritizes window seat passengers, followed by middle seats, and finally, aisle seats. However, this approach still falls short of the efficiency demonstrated by computer modeling, which suggests that the most effective method is to board passengers in every other row based on their seat position. Despite its potential benefits, this approach is deemed too intricate to be implemented in real-world scenarios.

Delta’s reversion to numbered zones for boarding is expected to bring a sense of structure and organization to the often chaotic pre-flight experience for passengers. With the new system set to be implemented next month, it remains to be seen whether this change will indeed lead to a more efficient and seamless boarding process for Delta’s customers.