The airlines have been trying out new boarding schemes for years with mixed results. It may be worse these days as passengers are trying to avoid baggage fees thus bringing more carry on luggage on board.
Mathematicians from Curtin University and Beihang University suggest a different way for aircraft boarding. Instead of the typical family, eldery and then zones, they suggest rating each passenger with their optimal speed, luggage attributions and using electronic equipment to check tickets when boarding. Basically, old, handicapped, families or generally slow people will be ranked last. People with big bags or lots of bags will also be ranked lower. It's an interesting idea but as this commenter points out:
If the goal is to improve an aircraft's ability to leave on time then statistics will show that efficiency of boarding is an insignificant factor. Flight deck paperwork, errant passengers, runway congestion, baggage loading and mechanical failure would all be ahead as reasons for delays. There are many parallel processes that need to be completed before take-off. My experience has been that boarding efficiency is mostly irrelevant, and is a solved problem.
Not much incentive for airlines to pursue these new techniques but certainly would make passengers happy unless you are marked as slow.
Science Network WA
Research paper - Site is down ATM
Shh, don't let Michael O'Leary find out. He'll charge a premium to be classified fast. :)