Airlines are not optimizing their boarding process.

Before you can finally relax while being taken to your destination, you must pack, get to the airport, go through security, find your gate, and board the aircraft.

Air travel's most challenging aspect, boarding, frustrates many passengers, according to Leslie Josephs, CNBC's airline reporter.

In the 1970s, Southwest Airlines' average turn time was 10 minutes, but today it takes 45 to 55 minutes.

Southwest's director of innovation, Chris Parks, stated that we had smaller aircraft with only 122 seats on the original 737-200s. However, Southwest has grown and gained popularity.

According to government data, flight delays cost airlines and passengers about $33 billion annually. However, experts argue that airlines prioritize monetizing the boarding process rather than speeding it up.

Josephs stated that since major airlines generate billions of dollars through their loyalty programs, it is crucial to keep them attractive to customers.

According to Kerry Philipovitch, former senior vice president of customer service at American Airlines, the various boarding groups seen today have come about due to people placing a high importance on their boarding priority. As a result, airlines are leveraging this to generate additional revenue and recognize their most valued customers.

"Maybe, does that slow down the process?" Kerry added.

Southwest has been working on new ideas to reduce its turnaround times since the end of 2022, with the aim of cutting off two minutes.

With over 800 aircraft, the extra minutes we have at our scale add up quickly, said Parks. The more we can get our aircraft turned on time and on the ground, the more reliably we can fly for our customers and the more times we can fly our aircraft in a day to keep costs low.

Southwest's study is being examined by CNBC in Atlanta.

Watch the video above to learn more.