In Fresno, three airlines utilize the back-to-front boarding process: Alaskan Airlines, Horizon Air and American Airlines. This system includes boarding the plane from the rear to the front in continuous increments of five rows (zones) at a time.
After the first- and business-class passengers (zone 1) board, general boarding begins with the first group of five rows (zone 2) and continues until the seating is completed.
Fresno International Airport includes one airline that uses the random boarding process: USAirways. This system begins with the first- and business-class passengers (zone 1) and continues with all remaining seats classified as zone 2. The boarding process is generally organized into a few rows at a time beginning from the rear of the aircraft.
One airline utilizes the block boarding system: Delta Airlines. This process begins with the first- and business-class passengers (zone 1) followed by zones in up to eight-row increments. The overall design begins at the rear of the aircraft with the first group of window seats (zone 2) followed by middle then aisle seats (zone 3). The middle and aisle seats are generally classified as one zone.
United Airlines is the only airline that utilizes the outside-in boarding process. The system begins with the zone 1 passengers (first- and business-class) followed by entire aircraft-length rows that begin with the window seats (zone 2), then middle seats (zone 3) and aisle seats (zone 4).
Allegiant Air is the only airline that uses the open seating process. It consists of pre-boarding by passengers with pre-purchased seat assignments (for an additional fee) followed by open seating in the remaining seats. The pre-purchased seats can be reserved both online and at the airport during check-in.
