United Airlines is rolling out a plan to speed up flight boarding times. Window seats first

United Airlines has announced a new strategy to expedite the boarding process for its flights. Starting next week, passengers with window seats in economy class will be the first to board. This initiative, known as WILMA (an acronym for window, middle, and aisle), has been tested at four domestic locations and one hub. According to United, the new boarding process can save up to two minutes. The change will initially apply to passengers in Group 4. Those with window seats will board first, followed by passengers with middle seats, and finally those with aisle seats. United has clarified that groups on the same economy reservation, such as families, will be allowed to board together. The WILMA plan will be implemented on domestic flights and some international flights. However, passengers in first class and business class will not see any changes in their boarding process. Similarly, the pre-boarding group, which includes travellers with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, active-duty military, and families travelling with children aged 2 years or younger, will not be affected by this change. On Tuesday, United reported earnings of US$1. 14 billion for the third quarter, a period typically heavy with vacation travel. However, the airline anticipates weaker profits for the rest of the year due to rising jet fuel prices and the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv during the Israel-Hamas conflict. United's fourth-quarter adjusted profit is projected to be between US$1. 50 and US$1. 80 per share, falling short of Wall Street's expectations of US$2. 09 per share. The company's shares fell more than 7% in Wednesday morning trading.