Just how many ways are there to board an aircraft? At last count, a bazillion. 

Virgin America is thinking outside the box and quietly testing a new boarding order on some flights out of San Francisco. Basically, passengers without luggage are allowed to board first. Personal items like laptops and purses don't count, so traveling light really could pay off for both the passenger and the airline.

The Smarter Traveler reported that Virgin America spokeswoman Abby Lunardini said, "[We want to] see if it: 1) helps speed up the boarding process and 2) makes the process more smooth and seamless for guests." It's in the testing phase, so we'll keep you posted on whether the practice is adopted systemwide or by other carriers.