Currently standing in terminal and the question arises, wouldn’t it make sense to load the back first? It seems inefficient to me waiting for everyone in the rows ahead to get seated when we could do it the other way around. I’m sure there’s a reason, but am genuinely curious. Thoughts?
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There have been studies on more efficient ways to board a plane, as others have mentioned and linked in this thread.
In broad, general strokes, boarding back to front, window to aisle, is the most efficient method, but it shortcuts the highest paying customers who sit in front, who want that preferential treatment.
One issue not being discussed here, is that _**planes aren’t engineered for back to front loading**_.
If you look at most common passenger planes, the rear 40% of the plane’s fuselage, has absolutely no support beneath it. The wheels generally end just behind the mid-body wings.
If you were to load 40% of the plane, luggage and passengers in the rear of the plane first, it would tip the plane backwards on its tail, raising the nose and cockpit straight into the air, much like what happened [in Lewiston 2 years ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JTDSS8unwQM) and [JetBlue in October of last year](https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2023/10/23/jetblue-airbus-a321-tipped-backwards-onto-its-tail-while-parked-at-the-gate-at-new-york-jfk-on-sunday-night/).
Without some counterbalance, or locking the front landing gear to the runway as the plane loads to full, there’s a very real weight distribution problem to deal with.
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