5 ms·

Taking a guess that it's a sales tactic. Everyone has to walk past first class, where they're already being served food and beverages in their luxury sized seat

Taking a guess that it's a sales tactic. Everyone has to walk past first class, where they're already being served food and beverages in their luxury sized seats. Then past business class. Then to your peasant seat.

Simulacra 3y ago
That's interesting because studies have shown that passengers that have to walk to first class are primed for air rage, and resentment. https://www.economist.com/gulliver/2016/05/11/resentment-of-first-class-passengers-can-be-a-cause-of-air-rage https://www.economist.com/gulliver/2016/05/11/resentment-of-... I remember boarding a Virgin flight in Australia in 2019 and they boarded from both ends of the plane. I thought that was the most efficient way.
ghaff 3y ago
More to the point, the people paying more (or with status) want to get settled in first, get their carry-ons stowed while there's plenty of room, and not be standing around any longer than they have to. It's not just business vs. economy. On a lot of carriers, some economy gets boarded earlier, may have more leg room, and won't have trouble getting overhead bin space. (And they can deboard faster--and probably don't have checked luggage so they can get out of the airport faster.)
- bryananderson 3y ago
  I think this is right (people clearly desire early boarding), but I don’t personally understand it. Being crammed in an airplane isn’t the best—why do people want to do it for extra time (and while sitting on the ground, without the beautiful views from above)? Boarding last when you’re in the back is no fun because you’re squeezing past everyone who’s trying to get their carry-on situated, but boarding last in the front seems like a luxury. Overhead bin space does make sense for why people in economy want to board first. But first/business class typically have their own bins, so why do they want to board first?
  - upon_drumhead 3y ago
    I’m a big dude and need the larger seat to fly. I pay for first class and if I’m late to board, I usually don’t have a spot for my bag in the bin above my seat. People in coach put their stuff up front so they can book it off the plane faster and I end up having my bag gate checked. It’s really annoying to pay that much and still not have a spot for my bag.
    - teeray 3y ago
      This is a complete mystery to me. If you pay for first class, you should be guaranteed overhead bin space. If there’s no room, someone’s economy bag should get bumped into the cargo hold.
    - chrismcb 3y ago
      One never seen first class not have room in the bins. If this is the case, get the flight attendants involved. First class bins are supposed to be for first class only. And yes I've seen flight attendants remove bags
  - ghaff 3y ago
    In the case of business/first, you get settled in and they give you a drink if you want one. And in a comfortable chair rather than in a long line in the jetway. You may hang out in the airline lounge though until the last minute and just take your seat. (Depending upon how close the lounge is to the gate which can be a bit of a hike on international flights.) [ADDED: As sibling noted though, overhead space isn't even really guaranteed in business though the attendants will try to squeeze it in somewhere.] There's a whole other class of passengers with status in various forms of economy that, as you say, don't have dedicated overhead so if they wait too long, they can run out too as people start filling in the front storage on their way to further back in the plane.
- croutonwagon 3y ago
  I have noticed a lot of folks will toss their overhead well forward of their seat. So by the time you get to the back there’s plenty of overhead but the folks in the front have to walk back AND wait for the entire plane to deboard to get their stuff. It makes more sense when thinking of the deboarding logistics to go front to back to ensure those sitting in the front will have overhead space at their seat as intended. Basically people ruined it.
- teeray 3y ago
  Why isn’t overhead bin space a paid product instead of checked luggage? It feels like the incentives are inverted. If you want the luxury of taking your bag from above your head and rolling out to the curb, that should cost more than having to wait at the baggage claim.
  - chrismcb 3y ago
    Because checked luggage requires baggage handlers.

Simulacra 3y ago

That's interesting because studies have shown that passengers that have to walk to first class are primed for air rage, and resentment. https://www.economist.com/gulliver/2016/05/11/resentment-of-first-class-passengers-can-be-a-cause-of-air-rage https://www.economist.com/gulliver/2016/05/11/resentment-of-... I remember boarding a Virgin flight in Australia in 2019 and they boarded from both ends of the plane. I thought that was the most efficient way.

ghaff 3y ago

More to the point, the people paying more (or with status) want to get settled in first, get their carry-ons stowed while there's plenty of room, and not be standing around any longer than they have to. It's not just business vs. economy. On a lot of carriers, some economy gets boarded earlier, may have more leg room, and won't have trouble getting overhead bin space. (And they can deboard faster--and probably don't have checked luggage so they can get out of the airport faster.)

bryananderson 3y ago
I think this is right (people clearly desire early boarding), but I don’t personally understand it. Being crammed in an airplane isn’t the best—why do people want to do it for extra time (and while sitting on the ground, without the beautiful views from above)? Boarding last when you’re in the back is no fun because you’re squeezing past everyone who’s trying to get their carry-on situated, but boarding last in the front seems like a luxury. Overhead bin space does make sense for why people in economy want to board first. But first/business class typically have their own bins, so why do they want to board first?
- upon_drumhead 3y ago
  I’m a big dude and need the larger seat to fly. I pay for first class and if I’m late to board, I usually don’t have a spot for my bag in the bin above my seat. People in coach put their stuff up front so they can book it off the plane faster and I end up having my bag gate checked. It’s really annoying to pay that much and still not have a spot for my bag.
  - teeray 3y ago
    This is a complete mystery to me. If you pay for first class, you should be guaranteed overhead bin space. If there’s no room, someone’s economy bag should get bumped into the cargo hold.
  - chrismcb 3y ago
    One never seen first class not have room in the bins. If this is the case, get the flight attendants involved. First class bins are supposed to be for first class only. And yes I've seen flight attendants remove bags
- ghaff 3y ago
  In the case of business/first, you get settled in and they give you a drink if you want one. And in a comfortable chair rather than in a long line in the jetway. You may hang out in the airline lounge though until the last minute and just take your seat. (Depending upon how close the lounge is to the gate which can be a bit of a hike on international flights.) [ADDED: As sibling noted though, overhead space isn't even really guaranteed in business though the attendants will try to squeeze it in somewhere.] There's a whole other class of passengers with status in various forms of economy that, as you say, don't have dedicated overhead so if they wait too long, they can run out too as people start filling in the front storage on their way to further back in the plane.
croutonwagon 3y ago
I have noticed a lot of folks will toss their overhead well forward of their seat. So by the time you get to the back there’s plenty of overhead but the folks in the front have to walk back AND wait for the entire plane to deboard to get their stuff. It makes more sense when thinking of the deboarding logistics to go front to back to ensure those sitting in the front will have overhead space at their seat as intended. Basically people ruined it.
teeray 3y ago
Why isn’t overhead bin space a paid product instead of checked luggage? It feels like the incentives are inverted. If you want the luxury of taking your bag from above your head and rolling out to the curb, that should cost more than having to wait at the baggage claim.
- chrismcb 3y ago
  Because checked luggage requires baggage handlers.