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> Not letting them board first (although personally I've always wondered why this is desirable) As someone who customarily boards early (due to fare class or a

> Not letting them board first (although personally I've always wondered why this is desirable) As someone who customarily boards early (due to fare class or airline status), I can tell you one solid reason, overhead bin space. If flight attendants would ensure folks put their bags on their row and the gate attendants ensured bags weren’t too large, this would be less an issue, but I routinely see folks fairly early in the boarding process putting their bags in rows in front of theirs, even though their row’s bin is empty or at least not full. The worst example of this was my flight a few weeks ago. I was the first to board that flight, followed by another customer in first class and her family. The woman proceeded to put all her kid’s and husband’s luggage in the first class overhead despite her being the only one in that cabin (her seat was via an upgrade, not that it matters). The rest of the passengers in first class (besides me, thankfully) had to put their luggage in the first rows of economy due to her actions which had a ripple effect down the plane. Probably extended boarding and deboarding time by at least five minutes, all because of what I’d call selfish behavior.

billatq 7y ago
Pretty much this. When I’m flying business I actually would rather board at the end, but I also don’t want to check my bag because it’s a hassle to retrieve and the contents are thrown several meters. If I could guarantee there was space in the overhead for my bag or if it was loaded for me, I’d board last.
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  Business class overhead space is often reserved for business class, even on domestic flights. That space doesn't usually fill up completely, so you have a lot more leeway in boarding.
  - jsjohnst 7y ago
    > That space doesn't usually fill up completely, so you have a lot more leeway in boarding. Maybe the airlines I fly are just the worst examples, but I frequently fly business/first both domestic and international and the overheads are always full, usually due in part to passengers not in that cabin.
    - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
      What airlines do you fly? Delta is pretty aggressive about keeping economy baggage out of business even on domestics. I can’t imagine anyone even trying on an international. More to the point, I rarely have overhead problems on international flights (actually, I don’t think it has ever been a problem). Only domestic legs are problematic, mainly smaller 737s and 320s.
      - jsjohnst 7y ago
        United predominantly.
sdoering 7y ago
I strongly despise people like that. If you add up lost time for all other passengers and compare that to won time for her and her family (less time waiting at the baggage claim) this ends up massively weighted against her behavior. non the less her behavior is actually rational and optimal from a standpoint of game theory. At least under current conditions (bag size not checked and enforced up front). This is in my books a classic example of 'tragedy of the commons'. As long as egoistic behavior is the optimal strategy we will not see a significant change in behavior. It can only be changed by changing the surrounding rules and conditions.
- senordevnyc 7y ago
  So you strongly despise someone for being a rational actor within a broken system?
  - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
    My guess is that his dislike stems from the fact that this lady only made things better for herself and her family, and not GP, or anyone else on the flight. If everyone can't do it (bringing more luggage than will fit above you) then doing that seem like you're doing it because you're better than everyone else, which is offensive to most people for good reason. If her whole family had flown first class, that'd be a different story. (They'd probably still be annoyed at the family for basically cancelling out some of the perks of paying extra for flights, though.)
  - MauranKilom 7y ago
    Society doesn't operate only on rationality... https://xkcd.com/1499/ https://xkcd.com/1499/

billatq 7y ago

Pretty much this. When I’m flying business I actually would rather board at the end, but I also don’t want to check my bag because it’s a hassle to retrieve and the contents are thrown several meters. If I could guarantee there was space in the overhead for my bag or if it was loaded for me, I’d board last.

seanmcdirmid 7y ago
Business class overhead space is often reserved for business class, even on domestic flights. That space doesn't usually fill up completely, so you have a lot more leeway in boarding.
- jsjohnst 7y ago
  > That space doesn't usually fill up completely, so you have a lot more leeway in boarding. Maybe the airlines I fly are just the worst examples, but I frequently fly business/first both domestic and international and the overheads are always full, usually due in part to passengers not in that cabin.
  - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
    What airlines do you fly? Delta is pretty aggressive about keeping economy baggage out of business even on domestics. I can’t imagine anyone even trying on an international. More to the point, I rarely have overhead problems on international flights (actually, I don’t think it has ever been a problem). Only domestic legs are problematic, mainly smaller 737s and 320s.
    - jsjohnst 7y ago
      United predominantly.

sdoering 7y ago

I strongly despise people like that. If you add up lost time for all other passengers and compare that to won time for her and her family (less time waiting at the baggage claim) this ends up massively weighted against her behavior. non the less her behavior is actually rational and optimal from a standpoint of game theory. At least under current conditions (bag size not checked and enforced up front). This is in my books a classic example of 'tragedy of the commons'. As long as egoistic behavior is the optimal strategy we will not see a significant change in behavior. It can only be changed by changing the surrounding rules and conditions.

senordevnyc 7y ago
So you strongly despise someone for being a rational actor within a broken system?
- HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
  My guess is that his dislike stems from the fact that this lady only made things better for herself and her family, and not GP, or anyone else on the flight. If everyone can't do it (bringing more luggage than will fit above you) then doing that seem like you're doing it because you're better than everyone else, which is offensive to most people for good reason. If her whole family had flown first class, that'd be a different story. (They'd probably still be annoyed at the family for basically cancelling out some of the perks of paying extra for flights, though.)
- MauranKilom 7y ago
  Society doesn't operate only on rationality... https://xkcd.com/1499/ https://xkcd.com/1499/