@@MervynPartin Kona Airport has no jet bridges and most of the terminal building has NO WINDOWS. You can imagine how loud it was when our 757 to SFO taxied in.
Folks who need to use canes, walkers, or wheelchairs may not be as enthusiastic about boarding via stairs as you are. Do low cost carriers have no accessibility requirements?
True. Kinda nice to see and feel the aircraft you are flying. Especially on a day when it is good weather. However when it is snow, ice and rain I miss her bridges. My closest jet aircraft airport doesn’t have it. It can be both a good and a bad thing :)
I love the “air stairs”. Here in the US, most airports utilize a jetbridge so stairs are a novelty. But stairs give me views of the aircraft I’d never get while boarding. I recently took as long as they would let me to board a LUV flight out of Long Beach. Got some great photos.
@@martyneardfw I watched a Company Man mini-documentary on Southwest Airlines. It is a very good corporation, from what I have heard, just like Jet Blue. :)
Kona, Hawaii still uses stairs for all flights, and they get some pretty big aircraft there. I boarded a United 767 about ten years ago on stairs there.
I've been on a number of flights to the airports in Western Alaska that are big enough to have commercial flights - 737s, Dash 8's, etc. Most of those airports did not have a jet bridge, so all boarding was via stairs. One of the terminals in Anchorage (maybe still to this day?) didn't have jet bridges. I think a lot of the flights using that terminal were on Dash 7s or other relatively small airplanes that aren't meant to be used with jet bridges at all.
Boarding and exiting the 727 via the rear ladder in the tail was fun ...and fast/efficient. Still very common during the 1990s on Iberia flights within Spain.
@@lcarliner Nope. They installed a flap that prevented opening of the rear stair during flight. They were discontinued due to the shift of CoG. When two dozen rugby players entered the plane, it would tip over.
Jet bridges are far more common in the USA, mostly due to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Washington DC's IAD airport use of mobile lounges is kind of unique.
I remember deplaning in Rome from a TWA 747 in the 1980s on stairs. i also did it in Hawaii on United and in the early 90s at Heathrow on a United dc-10. You didn't have to walk through Heathrow. The bus just dropped you off right at the immigration hall.
My last trip to Heathrow in July of 2019 was just that. But it was great to see the 747 we just flew on as we walked down the stairs and seeing it on the ground.
Of course, not using jet bridges when available isn't limited to low-cost carriers. I've once had the pleasure of going through a 10 minute bus transfer to the terminal after getting off a full Emirates A380 at Dubai. Not fun.
@@Gnefitisis The outside temperature in Dubai is very uncomfortable for many. However I guess most airlines use AC bus. Not sure if it is for economy passengers as well.
I actually prefer to pay more just to avoid using stairs. The aero-bridge is super comfortable! But, the best "stairs" I've ever seen are by India's airline Indigo, which actually uses an inclined ramp, so you don't actually walk up steps carrying your luggage, you can drag the trolley bag behind you on its wheels. It's also easier on the knees. Plus, their ramps are covered providing some protection from direct sunlight and rain.
As a person with a handicap I cannot go up or down many stairs. If I go down the rickety stairs they use on an RJ, I am guaranteed to fall. This has happened to me flying from Pittsburgh to Toronto. Jetway in Pittsburgh. Stairs in Toronto. To avoid fouling things up in Toronto I have advised the gate agent in Pittsburgh before boarding they will need to bring the ramp to the plane for me. Then I get off last to avoid inconveniencing the other pax. I also mention this to a flight attendant before landing. My ticket specifies I need a wheelchair for my transfer and there is an attendant with a wheelchair waiting for me at the plane. Then I get to the door and everyone is surprised someone needs the ramp. I then have to wait there for 10 minutes for someone to find the ramp and bring it over. Standing is painful for me but so is getting up out of a seat. So I have to accept the mild pain from standing and no pain for 9 minutes and a minute of sharp pain getting up again. My point, it would be nice if the someone requests a wheelchair that they are informed whether there will be stairs at either end of the flight and that the ground crews are given the information about the ramp because it seems obvious to me that the ground people are not getting the message.
In Australia at main airports, they use a jetbridge to board at the front and use stairs to board at the rear at the same time. Passengers will be told at the jetbridge whether their seats are to be boarded from the front or walk down the stair to the rear of the aircraft.
Stairs are generally a European phenomenon. In the US it’s rare to not use an airbridge. Furthermore the American Disabilities Act requires equal access for all passengers.
Equal access to all passengers in a disability act is not unique to the US. I have seen disabled people using remote stands and they have the means eg a lift, that allows wheel chair or mobility impaired access. So your trying to make the USA seem more advanced and fair has just failed miserably.
@@tkralva.6668 In a more than a decade of US domestic flights, I have never used an airstair, and have only used an open jetbridge twice. It's not an "attempt" it's a factual difference. Ask actual aviation experts about this, and they'll tell you the same thing: It's extremely rare to encounter an airstair in the US.
@@TheBleggh but doesn't make the US unique in having a disability equality act. Those laws are in many other countries, and in some countries better than the US.
@@tkralva.6668 I'm not going to claim it's true across the board, but some of the US ADA requirements are construed more strictly than their European counterparts (that I've seen). An example that comes to mind is that the US has pretty strict platform height requirements for new train stations (like an inch or so tolerance), whereas a standard like that would be unworkable on the multinational European rail network. To be fair, those requirements are fairly new (10 years or so) and only apply to new construction, so overall I'd say US train platforms are less accessible than European ones. It's nuanced.
The Dreamliner at LAX is too large to bring to the terminal. You gather in a lower floor gate, actually several, and are bussed out to a concrete structure where the plane is parked. It has a sloped, switchback ramp and a small elevator. It works!
I've boarded a B747-400 twice with Stairs. Thai Airways from Bangkok to Mumbai. Whilst I support stairs for low cost carriers, I wouldn't support national flag carriers like Thai to board B747s with stairs who aren't low cost carriers. It makes boarding slow and eventually a delayed departure. If some benefit is passed down to the passengers, I support stairs, but don't keep the ticket cost same while saving money and causing inconvenience to passengers.
Whoah, at 0:53 you can see the aircraft lower as it's loaded (just like a car would), and the jet bridge is adjusted lower multiple times to stay in alignment. Something I never even thought of
I've been standing on jet bridges as they've adjusted themselves. It's rather disconcerting the first time it lowers itself, especially if you're just outside the plane when it happens. It's completely normal though.
When I used to travel by plane, twice the stairs were used. I loved it because finally I got to fulfill my goal to do the Nixon good bye after being impeached. The two times when boarding and at deplaning I stopped at the top of the steps and facing the airport, raised my arms making the peace sign and yelling "I'm not a crook". Loved it. Too bad today flying is not desirable for me.
walking out of the building and up the stairs to the aircraft is fine. The worst part is busses because they delay boarding or de-boarding and for that time you're stuck in a bus.
of course, non-jetbridge boarding always annoys me but as their fares are lower it's quite understandable for me as an avgeek to board them on stairs. But the advantage is we can get a closer view of aircrafts parked in the apron.
That's more a European thing. It's very rare in the US you don't have a jet bridge unless you're at a really tiny airport. I find that annoying in Europe. You pay $5000+ for a business class ticket then you get to LHR/FRA and then have to deal with remote boarding/deplaning at remote stands.
The contrast between compact old airports like Geneva and Zurich can be striking, Zurich is simply fantastic. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is brand new, however I did a lot of walking there in spite of the jetbridge.
I am in a wheelchair, so using the stairs is out. So, how do they get me on the plane? Well, they move the stairs away from the door Then they bring out a truck with a bucket on it, called a "cherry picker." (Phone and power companies use these) They get me in the bucket, and lift it up to the door. Then they roll me on board, where two flight attendants are waiting. My chair is stowed and they carry me to my seat. If the plane parks at a remote stand at my destination, they reverse the process. This was mainly done for me when we still had propjets. Now that we've gone all jet, my minder can roll me directly down the jetbridge, and the F/As will carry me to my seat. I usually get a free upgrade to Economy Plus, and sometimes first, in order to accommodate me and my equipment. It's not a bad way to travel, and as I make sure I'm super polite to the F/As, they take super good care of me, and frequently sneak me extra snacks and what have you, and one F/A will usually hang out and visit with me. It makes the trip much more enjoyable. I also try my best to remember the F/As names, and address them by them. They appreciate it a lot more than, hey you! I'm also not banging on the call button every few seconds, so they come and visit with me freely. A little kindness goes a long way.
At YUL airport, I once had a jet-bridge-bus. The bus can get up and pick you directly from aircraft door, before driving to the airport. That was only once but cool.
This is awesome. I’ve always thought this was the reason why low cost airlines never docked at a jet bridge and used stairs. Thank you for answering a question I’ve had for years!
I live in Canada. When the temperature is -30c The wind that started in the north pole is hitting you in the face , that 50 meters to the terminal might as well be a kilometer... YES I like jet bridges.
The 737 predates widely deployed jetbridges so the option to have stairs was always available. In Canada, the 737s used for Arctic services (usually 737-200 combis with gravel kits) have stairs in the back because not all remote airports have stairs (they also have charters to remote mines etc). Bigger question : why are we still calling them jetways when they are all clearly labeled as HSBCs ? :-)
I have seen the HSBC logo before on the jet bridge. On an unrelated note, apparently there are now autonomous jet bridges that don't require an operator to dock with the airplane door. New Zealand uses the Intellidock system. :) A young technology/engineering/science enthusiast here. Lol...
There are no jet bridges at Mesa-Gateway, so whenever I fly out of there I feel like I've time traveled back to the golden age of air travel in the 50's. I enjoy it.
Back in the day when Tokyo Narita Airport lacked sufficient capacity for all aircraft, the airport routinely bussed 300+ passengers and made them walk up stairs to board 747s parked away from the terminal.
@@garciaoneris Oh yes, I think 1/3 the time upon arriving/departing Narita for the US I've gotten the bus and practically always get the bus gates when flying domestic down to Okinawa or over to Kyushu. I laughed the first time I transferred domestic because I thought, after waiting at my "gate" inside the terminal, I was about to board the plane until I scanned my ticket and made it outside the building to the waiting bus lol.
@@kdupuis77 but that's about the best airport to do a bus ride... All over ground so we get to geek out operations... They even have fumes extractors so the terminal doesn't smell like bus exhaust
in the early days of 747s, they used TWO jet bridges to load and unload more quickly- I wish airlines would return to this pattern; I have on occasion waited ½ hour to exit a plane!
Flying Cork to Amsterdam many years ago with Aer Lingus, the plane was boarded through stairs. Aer Arann and Aer Lingus regional turbo prop planes were always boarded by stairs and you had to get a bus from the terminal at Dublin Airport. I don't mind boarding through stairs if the weather is OK. Like another comment said, a free apron tour and close up view of the aircraft.
There's no faster way for a disabled flyer to want to switch airlines then to see them not using existing bridges. Surprised this video did not mention the disadvantages.
I guess airlines like Ryanair in particular don't even want elderly, impaired or passengers with small children. For Ryanair, it's all about efficiency. So scaring away passengers with special needs might actually be an advantage in their mind. Off course, they wouldn't admit such publically.
You forgot the most important part - boarding by airbridge takes twice as long as boarding through stairs, mainly because one door is used instead of two. As crew, we are definitely not excited to see we are having an airbridge, as we may have a delay. Secondly, since one door is used, we must deploy anti-tipping procedures when disembarking and adjusted airbridge bording procedures while boarding, as the centre of gravity of the aircraft shifts back massively. At the end of the day, airbridges are *more expensive, less efficient and more complex in operation* than airstairs (for time and cost efficient narrow-body operations), which are almost always available on stand (delays due to missing airstairs are definitely not common - had it once in 2 years).
Nearby at my local 'Ryanairport' Eindhoven there are no jet bridges of course. But they do have a very elaborate fence system outside to allow passengers for multiple flights to wait out in the rain behand a closed gate until the plane is actually ready to board. So you get checked in even before the plane has landed, you go outside where there are multiple walkways between high fences with a system of gates, and there you wait for up to 30 min in the cold and rain, because having everyone checked in and ready behind a gate on the tarmac speeds up boarding even more.
It was 1988 when I deboarded a 747 in Athens in the now defunct Ellenikon Airport when back then they had 'trailer busses', then the standard apron busses before Ellenikon shut down.
When they rebuilt T4 at Melbourne (MEL) airport they didn't build any areo bridges. Gold Coast (OOL) is another Australian airport that doesn't have them however the terminal is getting rebuilt. So they'll be getting areo bridges.
As someone whose depth perception isn’t good, I can’t stand stairs whose railings are at waist level, such as those on planes. Especially those that are built into the doors of turbo props or some commuter jets. I’ve never used the stairs that roll up to the plane though. Maybe those are different?
Having grown up in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 in the 80s & 90s, stairs were the norm before the current terminal was built at Harare Intl Airport. You used to walk a good 300-400m first if you were boarding a 747 furthest away from the terminal in those days as they were no ground buses. Jet Bridges used to fascinate me as a kid when I saw them in Europe at the destinations Air Zimbabwe used fly to.
The one place that jet bridges (or aero bridges as we call them here) excel is in their ability to handle wheelchair-borne passengers. That’s why my airline - a visual that you showed - has air ramps instead of air stairs. We also use roofing and clear plastic flaps to reduce the impact of rain but there’s no escaping the final five meters between the ‘stairs’ and the bus!
Thats an interesting question, In Seychelles we do not have Jet bridge at the time of writing this comment, we deplane via stairs all the time, sun or rain . I do not mind taking a bus to my plane when travelling, though it is nice to walk straight off to the terminal.
A major problem with stairs is that one severely disabled passenger with substantially limited mobility and not being adequately assisted can cause substantial boarding delays and frustration with other passengers!
I think IndiGo, a LCC from India has a solution. They have provided wheelchair ramps in the parking ramps to help disabled people to board the aircraft.
I don’t get mad at the passenger, I get mad at the airline! If they can bring a lift truck to put food on they can lift a mobility impaired passenger. It’s not rocket science!
@@Reed-2big where I live it goes like this: the disabled passenger tells the airline they need to be assisted when buying the ticket. The airline relays the info to PRM staff which works for the airport itself, that knows in advance how many passengers they need to help in each flight. Then PRM staff provides the service. It's free for the passenger and the airline, the airport which is owned by a public company provides it.
It is also just faster, even if a bridge is available. While inbound passengers disembark, a few of the cabin crew (who also do the pre-flight document check) can begin working through the outbound passengers, and make them queue in the jet bridge. This wouldn't be possible if there were inbound passengers needing to use said bdridge. But because the bridges cannot be moved with dozens of people inside, passengers have to take the stairs down to the apron, and walk to the stairs by the aircraft. Essentially it can be used as a secure waiting area, where you know only passengers with a ticket to the flight can get in, while the inbound passengers are leaving the plane. Saves about 20-30 minutes at each turnaround, in addition to being cheaper.
LCC also rarely open tail door, because during disembark, all flight attendants (except 1 or 2 for saying "Thank You" in front of the plane) are stationed in the back section of the plane, while the last passenger get off the plane, those flight attendant start cleaning the plane immediately.
I love being able to approach and depart aircraft out in the open, smell the JetA, see the fluid stains, smell the fuel, take photos, and just get closer to these magnificent flying metal beasts.
@@exoressdelivers70 An airliner isn't a car. It is *entirely normal* and by design for lubricating oils, grease etc to stain various surfaces during thermal expansion and contraction as the aircraft operates at the extreme temperature variances of normal operation. Did you know the SR71 blackbird leaked FUEL while cold on the ground? By the time it was at high altitude/mach/temperature, the tanks expanded shut.
I just remember looking at the poor Norwegian air passengers stoping across ice and snow go get to their plane while us with lunfthansa using a jet bridge. In that kind of weather , avoiding possible broken bones and skidding on ice definitely worth it for me
The other big reason budget airlines love remote gates is they can position their birds right at the runway. Meaning once everyone is boarded they can fire up the engines and go! No need for taxiing! 😂
I have flown HK Express before. They often use jetbridges in HK, and most budget carriers do so. They often use gates 201-230, far from the main terminal building. The gates which have no jetbridges are 511-513 and 521-524, and they are mostly taken up by low cost carriers as well but not used as often as 201-230. I have only not boarded through a jetbridge twice. One is at Taipei, as the gate number has an R suffix (C5R) which means that it is a bus gate. The other at Queenstown, the airport has none of them and I just walked to the plane. But when I get off flights at HK, my plane was parked at a remote stand 3 times. The first time was after returning from Seoul via Cathay Pacific, the second also on the same airline but returning from Sapporo, and the third time on Cathay Dragon (defunct) from Kaohsiung. The second was a big shock to me as it was a 777-300ER, why did they need to park such a big aircraft at the remote stand?
Have flown American Eagle a few times, and have had to walk on the tarmac and use stairs when connecting through Charlotte. Deeply annoying in bad weather.
I used to fly Manchester to Heathrow a lot and quite often at Heathrow we'd park at an international stand, use stairs, and a bus to a domestic gate. Whether this was because inbound delays (quite common) meant we'd mised our domestic stand slot or whether it was because the aircraft's next leg was an international one and they didn't want to move it between legs I don't know. The last time I used a ventral airstair was at Ankara on an internal 727 flight to Istanbul but it used to be quite common on BA 1-11s at Manchester. Built-in airstairs do aid flexibility in aircraft turn-around but they take up space and add weight which slightly reduces the aircraft's payload.
And use of Jet Bridges can be problematic during winter when snow and ice clearing equipment may be limited such as at Atlanta some years ago when they were not clearing around oiers and jet bridges. As a result the tug couldn't push back our 757 and a second tug had to be called. And deicing facilities were limited leading to cancellations of flights using full sized equipment in favor of smaller regional jets in some cases. Hartsfield was not a "world class facility" and still may not be for winter snow operations.
Funny how inbuilt stairs come back as low cost carriers a voice jet bridges, one of the reasons for removing them was the reduction in fuel cost in not having to carry the inbuilt stairs.
I love the jet bridges as they protect from rain or snow but even the stairs are nice we get to see the whole aircraft up close. The ride from the gate to the apron is kinda nice 🌟
It depends for remote stand it is probably expensive, for 3< minutes ride might might be effective. They use one bus mostly (Wizz Air might use 2 for their A321neo). When bus comes back in 4 minutes, there are still people on the stairs.
As an AV geek I've always loved using stairs and walking up close to the plane. I remember even using the built in rear stairs on the 727. That was the best!
Well, it hardly matters to to me, Inelong to an airline lounge club, this not only makes hang around airports more relaxin, but means I only use this airline and subsidiary lines. Club class/business class tickets aren’t available on low cost airlines - as far as I am aware, anyway. First Class is considerably more - but I think you gain access to a lounge where you buy the tickets. You can sometimes be given a First Class seat, but only on the actual aeroplane. As for luggage, I only use a size conforming with carry on luggage. It confounds me that most people have an inordinate amount of luggage, Only take what you need and you don’t have to wait at the baggage thingy - simply find the chap holding your name up, you’ll be in your hotel before others have even picked up their luggage- let alone found something to push it in.
i think for low cost operators the savings make sense. At FRA where mainline long haul are also often on the apron spots its not pleasant. Loading a bus by zone to then wait and participate in the heard charging for the stairs, there is no cost savings passed on for that. Why FRAport thinks this adds to the flying experience is beyond me
I'd never really thought about it before, I think I've used a jet bridge once when flying with ba. Every other flight I've been on has been easy jet or Ryan air, so busess or walking
Some airports simply don't have jetbridges. I've flown to Thessaloniki, Greece on Aeroflot (a more "premium" carrier) and we had to board the A321 via airstairs.
Going backwards avoiding using air bridges. Fine on a hot sunny day, or the terminal is convienently close to the aircraft, but old a windy cold day or intense rain or snow, a bitter experience.
Waiting for a bus to be taken to the aircraft is not what enthuses me. Stairs are fine in good weather. Not so in inclement weather. Also, for people with disabilities, aerobridges are the best.
2:18 I support mobile ramps like the ones used by Indigo over stairs cause they're much more convenient for wheelchair users and honestly easier to climb with a heavy bag
If doesn't affect safety, I have nothing to complain. Cheaper flights makes traveling more affordable and accessible for more people. In the end of the day will br your choice on how you wanna flight.
I love using airstairs. You get to really take a look at your plane. It's so cool in cooler weather to shuffle across the breezy apron and climb in. It's the best.
Paine Field in Everett (PAE) is a very small terminal with only two gates, plus one "virtual" gate that doesn't use a jet bridge. All of the planes that use PAE are E175s though, so the number of passengers is fairly low.
I remember one airport I flew into a few years back (i.e. back before the COVID nonsense pretty much shut down travel) where the bus that they drove to the plane was probably twice as wide as a normal bus. It was pretty low to the ground and just a single step up from the ground, so even if you have a have a problem with stairs due to limited mobility, it wasn't that bad...
That is mainly different in the Philippine low-cost airline industry. The country's largest, most popular low-cost airline, Cebu Pacific, uses jet bridges, except for turboprop services. Same for it's smaller low-cost competitor, Philippines AirAsia, except the only jet bridges they use in NAIA (Manila's Airport) are in terminal 3, used for the airline's international services but on the other hand, they use Terminal 4, the domestic terminal, for domestic services, and that terminal does not have jet bridges.
The last flight I took was from and to an airport that, while it could supposedly support 737s, did not have any jet bridges. Instead we boarded and disembarked using a ramp.
If using stairs means we can board/deboard with both the front and rear exit, I'm all for them. SWA does this at BUR and it's the best thing ever...literally cuts wait times in half.
In Australia at main airports, they use a jetbridge to board at the front and use stairs to board at the rear at the same time. Passengers will be told at the jetbridge whether their seats are to be boarded from the front or walk down the stair to the rear of the aircraft.
Stairs are fine for the able-bodied until the weather makes it miserable. For us who are physically challenged, it's different story, which is why most of us avoid the threat of stairs by avoiding LCC's. Sometimes though, we are thrown a curveball when a plane destined for the jet bridge must embark &/or disembark via stairs. Overall, as long as an airline does its best to accommodate customers in less than ideal weather conditions, most people will tolerate stairs in exchange for $$$ savings
At the airport that I work at we have a passenger lift that we connect on to the side of the stars for passengers that can't make it up or down the stairs
I have used both. Although I can see some disadvantage for elderly people or those with a disability, in emergency situations, no such compensatory method for evacuation exists. In Japan some portable stairways have awnings to shield you from rain. With smaller aircraft the jet bridges cannot go low enough anyway.
But sometimes parking in remote area, and boarding using busses takes more time if there are many traffic, and increase turnaround time. And makes some delay on this flight and next flights too.
Being a student that studies far from home, I usually fly to back to my city in the center of Italy. While train costs around 70€, the airplane costs around 5/10€ (luggage excluded). So yes, I support them saving money, since they are cutting costs on me too.
Though taking the stairs is sometimes fun, in most cases using a jet bridge is just way more comfortable. No need to haul up your hand carry luggage, you avoid bad weather, and you don't need to be squeezed into a packed bus which takes forever to drive to the terminal while trying hold your bag and also maintain stability
There is a safety factor when using a jetbridge for the passenger as well. There is a lot of dangerous equipment around aircraft. Bridges lessen the insurance risk of passenger injury. There is a lot of noise that a bridge can lower. There are many types of liquids that can cause slips or falls. Passengers can track into the aircraft all sorts of things such as ice, snow, rain water, oil fuel and other liquids. Passengers also risk the weather too. Using a jetbridge, can keep the passengers more comfortable and out of the elements. Most airports in the US promote the use of jetbridges for these reasons and more. Other airports throughout the world should eliminate the fees levied on the airlines for jetbridge use or get rid of jetbridges.
I was waiting to board a plane that was delayed by 5 hours because the jet bridge failed and stopped 2 feet from the doors of the plane. Regulations did not allow the crew to place boards across the gap, so the people sat on the plane for 5 hours while others sat in the airport for 5 hours waiting to get on. Finally a mechanic was found and fixed a blown fuse on the jet bridge.
In India I flew on an airline that loaded from both the front and back of the plane. Problem was they didn't separate the passengers. Some people in front loaded from the back and some in the back loaded from the front. Took forever to load the plane, there was no way for them to pasd each other.😣
I thought jet bridges are air bridges. There are also disabled passengers who need wheelchair service. Some budget airlines charged extra for the wheelchair service which is discrimination!
Stairs can be a problem for me as I have mobility problems. I can walk up them but very slowly. But at least I can use stairs-escalators (couldn't have in this setting) are impossible.
Stairs have an important advantage over a jet bridge - you're driven to the plane instead of walking to it. With stairs gates are closer to each other and you only have a short walk to them. From there the bus takes you to the plane (or, in small airports, the plane is parked next to the gate and you walk to it on foot). With jet bridges in most cases you'll have a very long walk to get to the gate so you're basically walking the distance that the bus does for you with stairs. As for the use of stairs near a jet bridge, At least in some of the cases I've encountered (in Europe) it's because the flight is arriving from a location that does not require passport control but the plane's next destination is an international one that requires passport control (or vice versa). On those cases the passengers disembark by stairs, than the plane connects to the jet bridge for embarking (or vice versa).
I have often had to walk on the tarmac for regional carriers, so this is not a surprise to me. Flights for United, Iberia, and Portugalia stand out as airlines in my life.
For summertime, using the stairs and getting outside is better than a non air conditioned bridge. It all depends on the carrier and whether or not they want to use the stairs or the jet bridge.
Unless one is handicapped or has a mobility issue, I don't see the inconvenience of using a bus & stairs vs a jet bridge, ESP if it saves me a few $$ w/all the fees airlines are now charging. However if I have a biz/1st class seat, I should be carried to my seat & a dozen doves released once there. 😂
Use of two stairs is very common among all airlines where I live (Australia) Even if there's a jetbridge you won't always get to use it if you are at the back- big airports like Melbourne Tullamarine use the stairs at the back and jetbridge to the front. The front stair has a place where a lift can connect for disabled passengers. I think the rear stair is identical. I don't fly often, so I don't know.
Burbank Airport still uses stairs, front and rear. I kind of like it, nice tour of the plane from the outside and you get to your seat (or terminal) much faster. The front one is a ramp, the rear is just regular stairs. I guess they use a ramp with switchbacks so that people in wheelchairs can easily board. Again, as people have pointed out, American With Disabilities Act changed a lot of that state side. So it's far more rare to board via stairs, plus stair boarding works much better in a place that doesn't have to deal with snow and ice, winter conditions, rain, lightening etc. So in a place like Burbank, CA, it's pretty manageable. It will be sad when this unique feature of Burbank Airport goes away when they build a new terminal.
Jet bridges are more comfortable of course but as an avgeek I see nothing wrong about getting a free apron tour and close up views of the aircraft ;)
That's one view, but at my last arrival at Schipol, the bus from the aircraft to the terminal seemed to take as long as the flight itself 😀
@@MervynPartin Kona Airport has no jet bridges and most of the terminal building has NO WINDOWS. You can imagine how loud it was when our 757 to SFO taxied in.
Folks who need to use canes, walkers, or wheelchairs may not be as enthusiastic about boarding via stairs as you are. Do low cost carriers have no accessibility requirements?
True. Kinda nice to see and feel the aircraft you are flying. Especially on a day when it is good weather. However when it is snow, ice and rain I miss her bridges. My closest jet aircraft airport doesn’t have it. It can be both a good and a bad thing :)
@@aerocoaster3252 I expect they are boarded first using a cargo or trolley lift.
I love the “air stairs”. Here in the US, most airports utilize a jetbridge so stairs are a novelty. But stairs give me views of the aircraft I’d never get while boarding. I recently took as long as they would let me to board a LUV flight out of Long Beach. Got some great photos.
is LUV Southwest?
@@zedriclouis87 Yes.
@@martyneardfw I watched a Company Man mini-documentary on Southwest Airlines. It is a very good corporation, from what I have heard, just like Jet Blue. :)
Kona, Hawaii still uses stairs for all flights, and they get some pretty big aircraft there. I boarded a United 767 about ten years ago on stairs there.
I've been on a number of flights to the airports in Western Alaska that are big enough to have commercial flights - 737s, Dash 8's, etc. Most of those airports did not have a jet bridge, so all boarding was via stairs. One of the terminals in Anchorage (maybe still to this day?) didn't have jet bridges. I think a lot of the flights using that terminal were on Dash 7s or other relatively small airplanes that aren't meant to be used with jet bridges at all.
Boarding and exiting the 727 via the rear ladder in the tail was fun
...and fast/efficient.
Still very common during the 1990s on Iberia flights within Spain.
And how DB Cooper jumped out of a plane interesting story
And, as a result, the rear exit drop down stair function were disabled.
@@lcarliner Nope. They installed a flap that prevented opening of the rear stair during flight. They were discontinued due to the shift of CoG. When two dozen rugby players entered the plane, it would tip over.
Jet bridges are far more common in the USA, mostly due to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Washington DC's IAD airport use of mobile lounges is kind of unique.
That was definitely a strange experience when I flew out of Dulles a few times decades ago. Strange but genius at the same time.
How do they board handicapped or elderly customers? Do they carry them up the stairs?
@@champaignken in the cargo hold.
@@champaignken using a contraption called an amubulift
@@oooobamasan that's a privilege, not a 'right'. They didn't "protecting citizens rights", they are giving privileges to a certain group of citizens.
I remember deplaning in Rome from a TWA 747 in the 1980s on stairs. i also did it in Hawaii on United and in the early 90s at Heathrow on a United dc-10. You didn't have to walk through Heathrow. The bus just dropped you off right at the immigration hall.
My last trip to Heathrow in July of 2019 was just that. But it was great to see the 747 we just flew on as we walked down the stairs and seeing it on the ground.
Immigration hall?
You mean customs?
@@protector22222 yes, whatever it is called. Where they check your passport.
Those were the days
@@harryjohn7671 thanks all in the family
Of course, not using jet bridges when available isn't limited to low-cost carriers. I've once had the pleasure of going through a 10 minute bus transfer to the terminal after getting off a full Emirates A380 at Dubai. Not fun.
I had to that for Etihad 787 in Hyderabad.
I usualy try to avoid the low-cost carriers if possible
Why not fun?
@@Gnefitisis Haha, the temperatures in Dubai are hardfor people from cold countries
@@Gnefitisis The outside temperature in Dubai is very uncomfortable for many. However I guess most airlines use AC bus. Not sure if it is for economy passengers as well.
I actually prefer to pay more just to avoid using stairs. The aero-bridge is super comfortable! But, the best "stairs" I've ever seen are by India's airline Indigo, which actually uses an inclined ramp, so you don't actually walk up steps carrying your luggage, you can drag the trolley bag behind you on its wheels. It's also easier on the knees. Plus, their ramps are covered providing some protection from direct sunlight and rain.
As a person with a handicap I cannot go up or down many stairs. If I go down the rickety stairs they use on an RJ, I am guaranteed to fall. This has happened to me flying from Pittsburgh to Toronto. Jetway in Pittsburgh. Stairs in Toronto. To avoid fouling things up in Toronto I have advised the gate agent in Pittsburgh before boarding they will need to bring the ramp to the plane for me. Then I get off last to avoid inconveniencing the other pax. I also mention this to a flight attendant before landing.
My ticket specifies I need a wheelchair for my transfer and there is an attendant with a wheelchair waiting for me at the plane.
Then I get to the door and everyone is surprised someone needs the ramp. I then have to wait there for 10 minutes for someone to find the ramp and bring it over. Standing is painful for me but so is getting up out of a seat. So I have to accept the mild pain from standing and no pain for 9 minutes and a minute of sharp pain getting up again.
My point, it would be nice if the someone requests a wheelchair that they are informed whether there will be stairs at either end of the flight and that the ground crews are given the information about the ramp because it seems obvious to me that the ground people are not getting the message.
In Australia at main airports, they use a jetbridge to board at the front and use stairs to board at the rear at the same time. Passengers will be told at the jetbridge whether their seats are to be boarded from the front or walk down the stair to the rear of the aircraft.
Stairs are generally a European phenomenon. In the US it’s rare to not use an airbridge. Furthermore the American Disabilities Act requires equal access for all passengers.
Equal access to all passengers in a disability act is not unique to the US.
I have seen disabled people using remote stands and they have the means eg a lift, that allows wheel chair or mobility impaired access.
So your trying to make the USA seem more advanced and fair has just failed miserably.
@@tkralva.6668 In a more than a decade of US domestic flights, I have never used an airstair, and have only used an open jetbridge twice. It's not an "attempt" it's a factual difference. Ask actual aviation experts about this, and they'll tell you the same thing: It's extremely rare to encounter an airstair in the US.
@@TheBleggh but doesn't make the US unique in having a disability equality act.
Those laws are in many other countries, and in some countries better than the US.
@@tkralva.6668 I'm not going to claim it's true across the board, but some of the US ADA requirements are construed more strictly than their European counterparts (that I've seen). An example that comes to mind is that the US has pretty strict platform height requirements for new train stations (like an inch or so tolerance), whereas a standard like that would be unworkable on the multinational European rail network.
To be fair, those requirements are fairly new (10 years or so) and only apply to new construction, so overall I'd say US train platforms are less accessible than European ones. It's nuanced.
The Dreamliner at LAX is too large to bring to the terminal. You gather in a lower floor gate, actually several, and are bussed out to a concrete structure where the plane is parked. It has a sloped, switchback ramp and a small elevator. It works!
I've boarded a B747-400 twice with Stairs. Thai Airways from Bangkok to Mumbai. Whilst I support stairs for low cost carriers, I wouldn't support national flag carriers like Thai to board B747s with stairs who aren't low cost carriers. It makes boarding slow and eventually a delayed departure.
If some benefit is passed down to the passengers, I support stairs, but don't keep the ticket cost same while saving money and causing inconvenience to passengers.
I never even knew this was a thing. Every time I’ve flown on a plane, I’ve boarded through a jet bridge.
Whoah, at 0:53 you can see the aircraft lower as it's loaded (just like a car would), and the jet bridge is adjusted lower multiple times to stay in alignment. Something I never even thought of
I've been standing on jet bridges as they've adjusted themselves. It's rather disconcerting the first time it lowers itself, especially if you're just outside the plane when it happens. It's completely normal though.
When I used to travel by plane, twice the stairs were used. I loved it because finally I got to fulfill my goal to do the Nixon good bye after being impeached. The two times when boarding and at deplaning I stopped at the top of the steps and facing the airport, raised my arms making the peace sign and yelling "I'm not a crook". Loved it. Too bad today flying is not desirable for me.
walking out of the building and up the stairs to the aircraft is fine. The worst part is busses because they delay boarding or de-boarding and for that time you're stuck in a bus.
of course, non-jetbridge boarding always annoys me but as their fares are lower it's quite understandable for me as an avgeek to board them on stairs. But the advantage is we can get a closer view of aircrafts parked in the apron.
That's more a European thing. It's very rare in the US you don't have a jet bridge unless you're at a really tiny airport. I find that annoying in Europe. You pay $5000+ for a business class ticket then you get to LHR/FRA and then have to deal with remote boarding/deplaning at remote stands.
The contrast between compact old airports like Geneva and Zurich can be striking, Zurich is simply fantastic. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is brand new, however I did a lot of walking there in spite of the jetbridge.
Then buy an economy ticket and save yourself 4000-4300 dollars which you can then spend on hookers and cocaine.
Win-win!
@@terrenceklaverweide6356 LOL yeah no
Another informative explanation from Simple Flying. Thank you. 👍
I am in a wheelchair, so using the stairs is out. So, how do they get me on the plane? Well, they move the stairs away from the door Then they bring out a truck with a bucket on it, called a "cherry picker." (Phone and power companies use these) They get me in the bucket, and lift it up to the door. Then they roll me on board, where two flight attendants are waiting. My chair is stowed and they carry me to my seat. If the plane parks at a remote stand at my destination, they reverse the process.
This was mainly done for me when we still had propjets. Now that we've gone all jet, my minder can roll me directly down the jetbridge, and the F/As will carry me to my seat. I usually get a free upgrade to Economy Plus, and sometimes first, in order to accommodate me and my equipment. It's not a bad way to travel, and as I make sure I'm super polite to the F/As, they take super good care of me, and frequently sneak me extra snacks and what have you, and one F/A will usually hang out and visit with me. It makes the trip much more enjoyable. I also try my best to remember the F/As names, and address them by them. They appreciate it a lot more than, hey you! I'm also not banging on the call button every few seconds, so they come and visit with me freely. A little kindness goes a long way.
At YUL airport, I once had a jet-bridge-bus. The bus can get up and pick you directly from aircraft door, before driving to the airport. That was only once but cool.
This is awesome. I’ve always thought this was the reason why low cost airlines never docked at a jet bridge and used stairs. Thank you for answering a question I’ve had for years!
I live in Canada. When the temperature is -30c The wind that started in the north pole is hitting you in the face , that 50 meters to the terminal might as well be a kilometer... YES I like jet bridges.
The 737 predates widely deployed jetbridges so the option to have stairs was always available. In Canada, the 737s used for Arctic services (usually 737-200 combis with gravel kits) have stairs in the back because not all remote airports have stairs (they also have charters to remote mines etc).
Bigger question : why are we still calling them jetways when they are all clearly labeled as HSBCs ? :-)
I have seen the HSBC logo before on the jet bridge. On an unrelated note, apparently there are now autonomous jet bridges that don't require an operator to dock with the airplane door. New Zealand uses the Intellidock system. :)
A young technology/engineering/science enthusiast here. Lol...
HSBC is a bank, not a manufacturer. They advertise on the vast majority of jetways in the US.
@@ecclestonsangel you missed the joke, congratulations
@@Boeing-ER-jy9vq well, since I tend to be pretty literal, and also tend to take people at their word, it's bound to happen.
@@ecclestonsangel ok?
One thing is to board via stairs in a nice sunny day in Spain, not quite comparable to boarding via stairs in a rainy day in Heathrow at 1ºC 😅
There are no jet bridges at Mesa-Gateway, so whenever I fly out of there I feel like I've time traveled back to the golden age of air travel in the 50's. I enjoy it.
Back in the day when Tokyo Narita Airport lacked sufficient capacity for all aircraft, the airport routinely bussed 300+ passengers and made them walk up stairs to board 747s parked away from the terminal.
back in the day means 2019, lol
@@garciaoneris Oh yes, I think 1/3 the time upon arriving/departing Narita for the US I've gotten the bus and practically always get the bus gates when flying domestic down to Okinawa or over to Kyushu. I laughed the first time I transferred domestic because I thought, after waiting at my "gate" inside the terminal, I was about to board the plane until I scanned my ticket and made it outside the building to the waiting bus lol.
@@kdupuis77 but that's about the best airport to do a bus ride... All over ground so we get to geek out operations... They even have fumes extractors so the terminal doesn't smell like bus exhaust
in the early days of 747s, they used TWO jet bridges to load and unload more quickly- I wish airlines would return to this pattern; I have on occasion waited ½ hour to exit a plane!
Flying Cork to Amsterdam many years ago with Aer Lingus, the plane was boarded through stairs. Aer Arann and Aer Lingus regional turbo prop planes were always boarded by stairs and you had to get a bus from the terminal at Dublin Airport. I don't mind boarding through stairs if the weather is OK. Like another comment said, a free apron tour and close up view of the aircraft.
Jet bridges are really nice to have in chilly/windy airports.
For the elderly, impaired, families with small children, it is very impractical to go down stairs and unto a bus where it's mostly standing room.
There's no faster way for a disabled flyer to want to switch airlines then to see them not using existing bridges. Surprised this video did not mention the disadvantages.
Yeah, as someone who is partially-sighted I find the stairs/bussing option very stressful. The bridges are far easier for me to deal with.
@@haweater1555 - Change airlines, you say ? If that also applied to parents with kids, I’d always take airlines that always use stairs ...
I guess airlines like Ryanair in particular don't even want elderly, impaired or passengers with small children. For Ryanair, it's all about efficiency. So scaring away passengers with special needs might actually be an advantage in their mind. Off course, they wouldn't admit such publically.
@@pocketdynamo5787 Came in to say this: a plane full of mobile adults will board faster, which is what they care about.
You forgot the most important part - boarding by airbridge takes twice as long as boarding through stairs, mainly because one door is used instead of two. As crew, we are definitely not excited to see we are having an airbridge, as we may have a delay. Secondly, since one door is used, we must deploy anti-tipping procedures when disembarking and adjusted airbridge bording procedures while boarding, as the centre of gravity of the aircraft shifts back massively. At the end of the day, airbridges are *more expensive, less efficient and more complex in operation* than airstairs (for time and cost efficient narrow-body operations), which are almost always available on stand (delays due to missing airstairs are definitely not common - had it once in 2 years).
I’ve never seen airlines using 2 stairs. Some airports supports connecting 2 bridges to a single aircraft.
I was rather surprised the first time I heard cabin crew tell us to move forward, as the aircraft might tip backwards otherwise.
I have been on a few flights where there was a set of stairs for the back exit and an airbridge for the front exit.
@@cheesebusiness All flights I’ve been on where stairs were used always had two sets of stairs. Just like in the video (UK, Europe etc. at least)
he mentioned it’s quicker with two stairs
Nearby at my local 'Ryanairport' Eindhoven there are no jet bridges of course. But they do have a very elaborate fence system outside to allow passengers for multiple flights to wait out in the rain behand a closed gate until the plane is actually ready to board. So you get checked in even before the plane has landed, you go outside where there are multiple walkways between high fences with a system of gates, and there you wait for up to 30 min in the cold and rain, because having everyone checked in and ready behind a gate on the tarmac speeds up boarding even more.
Thanks for such awesome content on a consistent basis. Much appreciated.
It was 1988 when I deboarded a 747 in Athens in the now defunct Ellenikon Airport when back then they had 'trailer busses', then the standard apron busses before Ellenikon shut down.
When they rebuilt T4 at Melbourne (MEL) airport they didn't build any areo bridges. Gold Coast (OOL) is another Australian airport that doesn't have them however the terminal is getting rebuilt. So they'll be getting areo bridges.
As someone whose depth perception isn’t good, I can’t stand stairs whose railings are at waist level, such as those on planes. Especially those that are built into the doors of turbo props or some commuter jets. I’ve never used the stairs that roll up to the plane though. Maybe those are different?
Having grown up in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 in the 80s & 90s, stairs were the norm before the current terminal was built at Harare Intl Airport. You used to walk a good 300-400m first if you were boarding a 747 furthest away from the terminal in those days as they were no ground buses. Jet Bridges used to fascinate me as a kid when I saw them in Europe at the destinations Air Zimbabwe used fly to.
The one place that jet bridges (or aero bridges as we call them here) excel is in their ability to handle wheelchair-borne passengers. That’s why my airline - a visual that you showed - has air ramps instead of air stairs.
We also use roofing and clear plastic flaps to reduce the impact of rain but there’s no escaping the final five meters between the ‘stairs’ and the bus!
Thats an interesting question, In Seychelles we do not have Jet bridge at the time of writing this comment, we deplane via stairs all the time, sun or rain . I do not mind taking a bus to my plane when travelling, though it is nice to walk straight off to the terminal.
A major problem with stairs is that one severely disabled passenger with substantially limited mobility and not being adequately assisted can cause substantial boarding delays and frustration with other passengers!
I think IndiGo, a LCC from India has a solution. They have provided wheelchair ramps in the parking ramps to help disabled people to board the aircraft.
I don’t get mad at the passenger, I get mad at the airline! If they can bring a lift truck to put food on they can lift a mobility impaired passenger. It’s not rocket science!
@@Reed-2big airports provide PRM ambulift in most places, airlines have nothing to do with it.
@@dyr_glpsn4209 As I understood it, they schedule them, or request their services.
@@Reed-2big where I live it goes like this: the disabled passenger tells the airline they need to be assisted when buying the ticket. The airline relays the info to PRM staff which works for the airport itself, that knows in advance how many passengers they need to help in each flight. Then PRM staff provides the service. It's free for the passenger and the airline, the airport which is owned by a public company provides it.
It is also just faster, even if a bridge is available.
While inbound passengers disembark, a few of the cabin crew (who also do the pre-flight document check) can begin working through the outbound passengers, and make them queue in the jet bridge. This wouldn't be possible if there were inbound passengers needing to use said bdridge.
But because the bridges cannot be moved with dozens of people inside, passengers have to take the stairs down to the apron, and walk to the stairs by the aircraft.
Essentially it can be used as a secure waiting area, where you know only passengers with a ticket to the flight can get in, while the inbound passengers are leaving the plane.
Saves about 20-30 minutes at each turnaround, in addition to being cheaper.
LCC also rarely open tail door, because during disembark, all flight attendants (except 1 or 2 for saying "Thank You" in front of the plane) are stationed in the back section of the plane, while the last passenger get off the plane, those flight attendant start cleaning the plane immediately.
I love being able to approach and depart aircraft out in the open, smell the JetA, see the fluid stains, smell the fuel, take photos, and just get closer to these magnificent flying metal beasts.
Smelling the fumes and general air pollution is not high on most peoples agenda....
@@AnotherPointOfView944 Hence the reason I spoke for myself. Avgeeks get it
Fluid stains mean fluid is leaking from somewhere on the aircraft. Instead of loving that it would seem to leave one with some concerns.
@@exoressdelivers70 An airliner isn't a car. It is *entirely normal* and by design for lubricating oils, grease etc to stain various surfaces during thermal expansion and contraction as the aircraft operates at the extreme temperature variances of normal operation.
Did you know the SR71 blackbird leaked FUEL while cold on the ground? By the time it was at high altitude/mach/temperature, the tanks expanded shut.
@@damonreynolds6775 The SR-71 on display at Duxford is STILL leaking fluids to this day. They have towels on some spots on the ground to collect it.
I just remember looking at the poor Norwegian air passengers stoping across ice and snow go get to their plane while us with lunfthansa using a jet bridge. In that kind of weather , avoiding possible broken bones and skidding on ice definitely worth it for me
No Jet bridge on good weather days : NO PROBLEM ✅
No Jet bridge on Raining , Snowing and freezing cold days : PROBLEM ❌
The other big reason budget airlines love remote gates is they can position their birds right at the runway. Meaning once everyone is boarded they can fire up the engines and go! No need for taxiing! 😂
I have flown HK Express before. They often use jetbridges in HK, and most budget carriers do so. They often use gates 201-230, far from the main terminal building. The gates which have no jetbridges are 511-513 and 521-524, and they are mostly taken up by low cost carriers as well but not used as often as 201-230.
I have only not boarded through a jetbridge twice. One is at Taipei, as the gate number has an R suffix (C5R) which means that it is a bus gate. The other at Queenstown, the airport has none of them and I just walked to the plane.
But when I get off flights at HK, my plane was parked at a remote stand 3 times. The first time was after returning from Seoul via Cathay Pacific, the second also on the same airline but returning from Sapporo, and the third time on Cathay Dragon (defunct) from Kaohsiung. The second was a big shock to me as it was a 777-300ER, why did they need to park such a big aircraft at the remote stand?
Missed a title called "Why do low-cost airlines avoid jet bridges at all costs"
Have flown American Eagle a few times, and have had to walk on the tarmac and use stairs when connecting through Charlotte. Deeply annoying in bad weather.
I used to fly Manchester to Heathrow a lot and quite often at Heathrow we'd park at an international stand, use stairs, and a bus to a domestic gate. Whether this was because inbound delays (quite common) meant we'd mised our domestic stand slot or whether it was because the aircraft's next leg was an international one and they didn't want to move it between legs I don't know. The last time I used a ventral airstair was at Ankara on an internal 727 flight to Istanbul but it used to be quite common on BA 1-11s at Manchester. Built-in airstairs do aid flexibility in aircraft turn-around but they take up space and add weight which slightly reduces the aircraft's payload.
I enjoy going outside to board. Another solution are the mobile lounges at Dulles. It combines stairs with a bus to take you back to the terminal.
And use of Jet Bridges can be problematic during winter when snow and ice clearing equipment may be limited such as at Atlanta some years ago when they were not clearing around oiers and jet bridges. As a result the tug couldn't push back our 757 and a second tug had to be called.
And deicing facilities were limited leading to cancellations of flights using full sized equipment in favor of smaller regional jets in some cases.
Hartsfield was not a "world class facility" and still may not be for winter snow operations.
Funny how inbuilt stairs come back as low cost carriers a voice jet bridges, one of the reasons for removing them was the reduction in fuel cost in not having to carry the inbuilt stairs.
I did use a jetbridge on a flight from Munich with easyjet.. I was so surprised as it has never happened before or since!
I love the jet bridges as they protect from rain or snow but even the stairs are nice we get to see the whole aircraft up close. The ride from the gate to the apron is kinda nice 🌟
2 or 3 shuttle buses with drivers must also cost a lot of money.
But you can use the same drivers and buses on 4-5 flights an hour, gates are usually serving only 1 flight per hour and cost more to build.
It depends for remote stand it is probably expensive, for 3< minutes ride might might be effective. They use one bus mostly (Wizz Air might use 2 for their A321neo). When bus comes back in 4 minutes, there are still people on the stairs.
I am so glad you put a big circle and an ARROW pointing to the stair case in the thumbnail. There's no way I would have noticed it otherwise.
As an AV geek I've always loved using stairs and walking up close to the plane. I remember even using the built in rear stairs on the 727. That was the best!
Well, it hardly matters to to me, Inelong to an airline lounge club, this not only makes hang around airports more relaxin, but means I only use this airline and subsidiary lines. Club class/business class tickets aren’t available on low cost airlines - as far as I am aware, anyway. First Class is considerably more - but I think you gain access to a lounge where you buy the tickets. You can sometimes be given a First Class seat, but only on the actual aeroplane. As for luggage, I only use a size conforming with carry on luggage. It confounds me that most people have an inordinate amount of luggage, Only take what you need and you don’t have to wait at the baggage thingy - simply find the chap holding your name up, you’ll be in your hotel before others have even picked up their luggage- let alone found something to push it in.
The passengers that check the most luggage are women ...
I don’t think this applies in the US, can’t remember ever using stairs for any of the low cost carriers.
i think for low cost operators the savings make sense. At FRA where mainline long haul are also often on the apron spots its not pleasant. Loading a bus by zone to then wait and participate in the heard charging for the stairs, there is no cost savings passed on for that. Why FRAport thinks this adds to the flying experience is beyond me
I'd never really thought about it before, I think I've used a jet bridge once when flying with ba. Every other flight I've been on has been easy jet or Ryan air, so busess or walking
Some airports simply don't have jetbridges. I've flown to Thessaloniki, Greece on Aeroflot (a more "premium" carrier) and we had to board the A321 via airstairs.
What about people with handicap passengers? Do employees wreck their backs carrying up and down?
Airlines hire employees to do just that. They do a pretty good job of it ...
Going backwards avoiding using air bridges. Fine on a hot sunny day, or the terminal is convienently close to the aircraft, but old a windy cold day or intense rain or snow, a bitter experience.
Waiting for a bus to be taken to the aircraft is not what enthuses me. Stairs are fine in good weather. Not so in inclement weather. Also, for people with disabilities, aerobridges are the best.
Low cost IndiGo airlines in India almost ALWAYS use a jet bridge. This allows me to take close up photos of the me and the metal bird
2:18 I support mobile ramps like the ones used by Indigo over stairs cause they're much more convenient for wheelchair users and honestly easier to climb with a heavy bag
Flying stairs around the world is a truely avoidable thing in favor of climate change.. what a waste of fuel
If doesn't affect safety, I have nothing to complain. Cheaper flights makes traveling more affordable and accessible for more people.
In the end of the day will br your choice on how you wanna flight.
I love using airstairs. You get to really take a look at your plane. It's so cool in cooler weather to shuffle across the breezy apron and climb in. It's the best.
Paine Field in Everett (PAE) is a very small terminal with only two gates, plus one "virtual" gate that doesn't use a jet bridge. All of the planes that use PAE are E175s though, so the number of passengers is fairly low.
Where I fly from, there is often a jet bridge and a set of stairs to board from the back. Boarding from both ends is a great time-saver.
I remember one airport I flew into a few years back (i.e. back before the COVID nonsense pretty much shut down travel) where the bus that they drove to the plane was probably twice as wide as a normal bus. It was pretty low to the ground and just a single step up from the ground, so even if you have a have a problem with stairs due to limited mobility, it wasn't that bad...
That is mainly different in the Philippine low-cost airline industry. The country's largest, most popular low-cost airline, Cebu Pacific, uses jet bridges, except for turboprop services. Same for it's smaller low-cost competitor, Philippines AirAsia, except the only jet bridges they use in NAIA (Manila's Airport) are in terminal 3, used for the airline's international services but on the other hand, they use Terminal 4, the domestic terminal, for domestic services, and that terminal does not have jet bridges.
Can you do a video on why every jet bridge seems to be sponsored by HSBC.
That's one of the reasons why I avoid low-cost carriers.
How do they assist someone like myself who would be relying on a power wheelchair?
The last flight I took was from and to an airport that, while it could supposedly support 737s, did not have any jet bridges. Instead we boarded and disembarked using a ramp.
If using stairs means we can board/deboard with both the front and rear exit, I'm all for them. SWA does this at BUR and it's the best thing ever...literally cuts wait times in half.
In Australia at main airports, they use a jetbridge to board at the front and use stairs to board at the rear at the same time. Passengers will be told at the jetbridge whether their seats are to be boarded from the front or walk down the stair to the rear of the aircraft.
Stairs are fine for the able-bodied until the weather makes it miserable. For us who are physically challenged, it's different story, which is why most of us avoid the threat of stairs by avoiding LCC's. Sometimes though, we are thrown a curveball when a plane destined for the jet bridge must embark &/or disembark via stairs. Overall, as long as an airline does its best to accommodate customers in less than ideal weather conditions, most people will tolerate stairs in exchange for $$$ savings
At the airport that I work at we have a passenger lift that we connect on to the side of the stars for passengers that can't make it up or down the stairs
I have used both. Although I can see some disadvantage for elderly people or those with a disability, in emergency situations, no such compensatory method for evacuation exists. In Japan some portable stairways have awnings to shield you from rain. With smaller aircraft the jet bridges cannot go low enough anyway.
But sometimes parking in remote area, and boarding using busses takes more time if there are many traffic, and increase turnaround time. And makes some delay on this flight and next flights too.
Being a student that studies far from home, I usually fly to back to my city in the center of Italy. While train costs around 70€, the airplane costs around 5/10€ (luggage excluded). So yes, I support them saving money, since they are cutting costs on me too.
Though taking the stairs is sometimes fun, in most cases using a jet bridge is just way more comfortable. No need to haul up your hand carry luggage, you avoid bad weather, and you don't need to be squeezed into a packed bus which takes forever to drive to the terminal while trying hold your bag and also maintain stability
There is a safety factor when using a jetbridge for the passenger as well. There is a lot of dangerous equipment around aircraft. Bridges lessen the insurance risk of passenger injury. There is a lot of noise that a bridge can lower. There are many types of liquids that can cause slips or falls. Passengers can track into the aircraft all sorts of things such as ice, snow, rain water, oil fuel and other liquids. Passengers also risk the weather too. Using a jetbridge, can keep the passengers more comfortable and out of the elements. Most airports in the US promote the use of jetbridges for these reasons and more. Other airports throughout the world should eliminate the fees levied on the airlines for jetbridge use or get rid of jetbridges.
I was waiting to board a plane that was delayed by 5 hours because the jet bridge failed and stopped 2 feet from the doors of the plane. Regulations did not allow the crew to place boards across the gap, so the people sat on the plane for 5 hours while others sat in the airport for 5 hours waiting to get on. Finally a mechanic was found and fixed a blown fuse on the jet bridge.
The Fokker F 130 NG will teleport it's own Jet Bridge for free at the airport.
In India I flew on an airline that loaded from both the front and back of the plane. Problem was they didn't separate the passengers. Some people in front loaded from the back and some in the back loaded from the front. Took forever to load the plane, there was no way for them to pasd each other.😣
That sounds like typical Indian "efficiency"... :(
I thought jet bridges are air bridges.
There are also disabled passengers who need wheelchair service. Some budget airlines charged extra for the wheelchair service which is discrimination!
Stairs can be a problem for me as I have mobility problems. I can walk up them but very slowly. But at least I can use stairs-escalators (couldn't have in this setting) are impossible.
Stairs have an important advantage over a jet bridge - you're driven to the plane instead of walking to it. With stairs gates are closer to each other and you only have a short walk to them. From there the bus takes you to the plane (or, in small airports, the plane is parked next to the gate and you walk to it on foot). With jet bridges in most cases you'll have a very long walk to get to the gate so you're basically walking the distance that the bus does for you with stairs.
As for the use of stairs near a jet bridge,
At least in some of the cases I've encountered (in Europe) it's because the flight is arriving from a location that does not require passport control but the plane's next destination is an international one that requires passport control (or vice versa). On those cases the passengers disembark by stairs, than the plane connects to the jet bridge for embarking (or vice versa).
I would have preferred a jet bridge in Istanbul as it was raining quite hard and I was flying business class.
What happens to people in wheelchairs when a plane doesn't use the jet bridge?
They get transported by trucks that have a body that lifts up to match the doors on the RH side in a similar way that the catering trucks do.
@@trafficsnitch3505 I was hoping they would deploy the inflatable slide
@@blue387 🤣🤣
I have often had to walk on the tarmac for regional carriers, so this is not a surprise to me. Flights for United, Iberia, and Portugalia stand out as airlines in my life.
For summertime, using the stairs and getting outside is better than a non air conditioned bridge. It all depends on the carrier and whether or not they want to use the stairs or the jet bridge.
What happens if you are a wheel chair user, surely a fireman does throw you over his shoulder?
Unless one is handicapped or has a mobility issue, I don't see the inconvenience of using a bus & stairs vs a jet bridge, ESP if it saves me a few $$ w/all the fees airlines are now charging. However if I have a biz/1st class seat, I should be carried to my seat & a dozen doves released once there. 😂
Use of two stairs is very common among all airlines where I live (Australia)
Even if there's a jetbridge you won't always get to use it if you are at the back- big airports like Melbourne Tullamarine use the stairs at the back and jetbridge to the front.
The front stair has a place where a lift can connect for disabled passengers. I think the rear stair is identical. I don't fly often, so I don't know.
Burbank Airport still uses stairs, front and rear. I kind of like it, nice tour of the plane from the outside and you get to your seat (or terminal) much faster. The front one is a ramp, the rear is just regular stairs. I guess they use a ramp with switchbacks so that people in wheelchairs can easily board. Again, as people have pointed out, American With Disabilities Act changed a lot of that state side. So it's far more rare to board via stairs, plus stair boarding works much better in a place that doesn't have to deal with snow and ice, winter conditions, rain, lightening etc. So in a place like Burbank, CA, it's pretty manageable. It will be sad when this unique feature of Burbank Airport goes away when they build a new terminal.
I enjoy going out to the tarmac and getting to see and hear the plane up close when boarding with stairs