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United Airlines Set to Revamp Passenger Boarding

United Airlines is making changes to its passenger boarding. It will soon take into account the seat preferences of economy passengers. An internal memo from United Airlines, reported by The…

Young middle eastern businessman showing boarding pass on mobile phone to air hostess., passenger boarding concept.
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United Airlines is making changes to its passenger boarding. It will soon take into account the seat preferences of economy passengers. An internal memo from United Airlines, reported by The New York Times, outlines these upcoming changes.

According to the memo, passengers will board based on their seat location. This is opposed to the traditional section-based boarding. The new approach is referred to as "WILMA," an acronym for "window-middle-aisle." In other words, passengers with window seats will board first. They will be followed by those with middle seats and passengers on the aisle boarding last.

Streamlining passenger boarding.

WILMA is designed to reduce the need for passengers who are already seated to stand up and allow others to pass. This will streamline the boarding process and expedite passenger seating. United Airlines claims that WILMA has saved approximately two minutes during boarding based on their tests.

Pre-boarding for passengers with disabilities, young children, and military personnel will continue as usual. First-class passengers will follow, with the new system only affecting those in economy class.

The new system only affects those in the economy class.

After pre-boarding and premium class boarding, passengers with window seats, exit row seats, and standby seats will board, followed by those with middle seats, and then passengers with aisle seats. This approach could potentially result in middle and aisle seat passengers having to gate-check their bags if overhead bin space is limited, providing an advantage to those with window seats.

Economy passengers with restricted carry-on allowances and passengers without an assigned boarding group number on their boarding passes will board last. The method was tested at four domestic locations and a major hub, according to the Associated Press.

WILMA is not new

This is not the first time United Airlines has experimented with the WILMA boarding process, as they had previously used it before switching to the traditional front-to-back boarding method in 2017, similar to many other domestic airlines, as reported by Conde Nast Traveler.

United Airlines plans to introduce WILMA on domestic and select international flights starting on October 26, according to the Associated Press.

8 Seemingly Unreal Places to Add to Your Travel Bucket List

There are incredible destinations that deserve a spot on your travel bucket list. The world is full of incredible places that can fill our lives with wonder and excitement. These places might seem like they're from a dream, but they are real and waiting for us to explore. Let's take a journey into the joy of travel and discover some amazing destinations that you should add to your travel bucket list.

Picture a place where rocks and caves create a scene that looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale. This is Cappadocia, Turkey. Its unique rock formations and ancient cave houses are a true marvel of nature. Travel a bit further, and you'll arrive at Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives. When night falls, the ocean lights up with tiny, glowing plankton. This magical phenomenon turns the shoreline into something out of this world.

But the wonders don't stop there. In Bolivia, the Salar de Uyuni, a vast salt flat, transforms into a giant mirror when it rains. This surreal sight makes us question what's real and what's not, proving that nature loves to play tricks on us in the most delightful ways. In Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway will make you feel like you've stepped onto another planet. Its neat arrangement of rock columns looks like the work of a skilled artist.

The world is a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be enjoyed, offering us a chance to witness the surreal and the enchanting firsthand. As travelers, we're curious about the world's unique treasures. Many places deserve special attention on your travel bucket list, whether you're after a serene beach experience, an off-the-grid retreat, or an exploration of a new city abroad.

Take a look at these eight seemingly unreal places to add to your travel bucket list.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

This Arizona canyon was naturally carved by rainwater streams within the sandstone. The Navajo Nation gave it the name 'The place where water runs through rocks.' Visit Arizona explains that the Upper Antelope Canyon tour is more frequented due to increased sunlight and towering walls reaching 120 feet. Alternatively, the Lower Antelope Canyon tour is equally remarkable, providing visitors with an immersive encounter among the swirling sandstone walls.

Glowing walls of the Antelope Slot Canyon, Page, Arizona

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Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Among the world's largest springs, the Grand Prismatic measures an expansive 370 feet in diameter, exceeding the size of a football field. Its vibrant appearance stems from bands of orange, yellow, and green that encircle the deep blue waters. These diverse colors originate from different strains of thermophile bacteria, thriving in the progressively cooler waters around the spring, as explained by Yellowstone National Park. For a bird's-eye-like view of the Grand Prismatic, they suggest visitors follow the half-mile Fairy Falls trail to a lookout.

Amazing colors. Grand Prismatic Spring. Yellowstone

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The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan

Located in Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert, the Door to Hell is a large fiery crater. It emerged when a natural gas field accidentally caught fire in 1971 and has been burning continuously since then, according to National Geographic. A well-visited tourist spot, the Door to Hell permits visitors to hike down into the crater for a close view of the flames and an opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of the site. The Door to Hell, also referred to as the Darvaza Gas Crater, is located in a rural part of the country.

Darvaza Gas Crater, The Gate of Hell, or Door to Hell. In the middle of the Karakum Desert, Central Turkmenistan, Central Asia. Sits above the largest natural gas reserve in the world. The crater was created by the collapse of drilling equipment onto an underground cave, and the gas was set on fire in 1971. It's still burning. It is now the prime tourist destination in Turkmenistan.

EdoTealdi/ Getty Images

Diamond Beach, Iceland

Found along Iceland's South Coast, the Diamond Beach is a volcanic black sand shoreline adjacent to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Ice blocks from the glacier lagoon wash ashore after breaking into smaller pieces at sea, as mentioned in the Diamond Beach Travel Guide. The beach is also a natural habitat for seals.

Diamond Beach in Iceland with blue icebergs melting on the black sand and ice glistening with sunrise sun light, tourist looking at beautiful arctic nature scenery, Icelandic South coast, Jokulsarlon

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Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska

According to the Tongass National Forest, the Mendenhall Glacier is among the numerous expansive glaciers originating from the Juneau Icefield, an area spanning 1500 square miles of rock, snow, and ice. The glacier gradually advances under the influence of gravity, descending down the slope. Over time, it carves the bedrock and erodes during its 13-mile path until it reaches Mendenhall Lake.

A stream flows into the ice cave below the glacier, Alaska.

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Thor’s Well, Oregon

Located on the Oregon coast near Cape Perpetua, there's a large sinkhole that appears to swallow seawater continuously, resembling a bottomless pit. According to Yachats Oregon, it's often called the "drainpipe of the Pacific." They explain that the well is actually a hole in the rock that gives the impression of draining ocean water. Some researchers believe this well might have started as a sea cave shaped by waves. Over time, its roof likely collapsed, creating openings at the top and bottom, which spray ocean water.

Thors Well

Morgan Somers/ Getty Images

Crooked Forest, Poland

Mysterious forest with curved pines near Gryfino in Poland

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Found close to the town of Gryfino in West Pomerania, Poland, the Crooked Forest consists of 400 peculiarly contorted pine trees. As revealed by Discovery, these pine trees were planted approximately in 1930, back when the area was part of the German province of Pomerania. Starting from the ground, the pine trees exhibit a distinctive feature: they grow with a sharp 90-degree bend towards the north, before gracefully straightening up towards the sky.

Pink Beach, Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Closeup of the beautiful pink sand and turquoise ocean on Pink Beach in the Komodo National Park in Flores, Indonesia

Jordan Comley/ Getty Images

The beach is named for its pink sand, which comes from tiny organisms in the coral reefs nearby. Visitors can swim, snorkel, and see marine life like sea turtles and manta rays in the clear water. The beach also has great views of hills and turquoise waters.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.