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You can't control how the airline orchestrates boarding, but you can control how you board. It's much less stressful to stay seated in the lounge while everyone
by scott_s 13y ago
You can't control how the airline orchestrates boarding, but you can control how you board. It's much less stressful to stay seated in the lounge while everyone waits in line, then jump up at the end.
I understand the impulse to get on the plane, but it's irrational if you aren't using the overhead bins. (As a rule, I do not. I always check my bag plane-side.) Getting on the plane earlier won't get you to your destination faster. So, don't stress about it, sit down and relax.
Although, my attitude could end up screwing up these optimized methods. But I don't think it hurts in the back-of-the-plane-first method.
- egonschiele 13y agoI do the same thing, and it is much less stressful. It doesn't make the process any faster though.
- blhack 13y agoI usually do this, but a couple of times I have been told that I have to gate check my carryon because of it. Still worth it to wait in the lounge and use the wifi instead of cramming into a tiny seat early.
- udfalkso 13y agoSame here. Def. the way to go. It's hard to wait long enough though. They start with "final, final, final boarding calls" prematurely and you still end up waiting in line for 5-10 minutes in the gateway even if you're the very last person to check in. I'd still prefer to stand for a few minutes than spend extra time crammed into that awful seat.
- abruzzi 13y agoOn the flip side, since I always travel pretty light, I never check baggage (and I still have the smallest carry-ons...) and a little more stress at the beginning of the flight to ensure I get overhead bin space, means that at the end of the flight I can leave the plane and walk out the front door, rather than waiting 10-20 for the baggage to show up. If I need to bring enough stuff to require check baggage however, I am always the last to board the plane.
- scott_s 13y agoI'm talking about checking my bags plane-side, where you hand it to them when you walk on the plane, and you wait about 5 minutes in the walkway to get your bag. This is different than having to go to the baggage carrousel.
- abruzzi 13y agoahh, that I've never tried.
- caw 13y agoDo they do that on larger jets? I thought valet check was only for smaller regional planes (2-2 and 1-2 configurations) where overhead bins don't even fit rollaboards.
- brewdad 13y agoThis works for smaller jets. Every larger plane I've flown, bags left gate-side due to full overhead space get checked into the baggage hold and are picked up at baggage claim at your final destination.
- cortesoft 13y agoThis is how I do it for assigned seats when I have no overhead bag, but it sucks for Southwest - You will get stuck in the middle of the worst two people to sit next to. You also can't sit with other people. Also, many people don't want to check their bags because most airlines now charge $15-25 to do so. Also, when I don't check bags, I don't have to wait in line for the baggage check at my departure, and I don't have to wait at the baggage claim when I arrive. For the short flights I take most often, this extra time can be almost as long as the flight itself.
- robotresearcher 13y agoIf you are forced to check your bag on the skybridge, you won't be charged for it.
- omegant 13y agoYou will if it's bigger than the alliwed hand baggage size. It'll depend on the boarding team and how strict they are though. If it fits the box at the boarding gate and there is not enough place fir bags at the racks, if you are boarding last it's probable that they ask you to check it, in this situation they won't charge you. Companies have different policies about baggage, and even inthe same trip you may have problems if a leg is operated by a low cost. Even if the ticket was bought through the main carrier. I take planes more than 15 days a month and I've seen all this happen.
- robotresearcher 13y ago| You will if it's bigger than the alliwed hand baggage size. Sure, but that's your own fault and nothing to complain about.
- MichaelGG 13y agoI like to get on early if I'm not already super comfortable. A: Get comfy, get drinks, and get to sleep or into a book. B: Turn off all the TVs in vision since half the people don't actually watch and won't figure out how to turn them on. Also I've found that a lot of people have an affinity for taking the better seats (last row of front cabin on a lot of United's fleet has space under the seat in addition to in front). While you can let them know and ask them to move, it makes you feel a bit like a jerk, especially if they switched seats to sit next to a companion. Or if they got "confused" and took the other side to avoid the sun and then say "oh I'm sorry, do you mind taking mine or shall I move my stuff over to the other side of the cabin"? This doesn't seem to happen in proper First cabins.
- judk 13y agoWhenever I fly, the TVs auto on to show ads, sadetyt video, and more ads. The only solution I found is to physically destroy the offending devices.
- eckzow 13y agoOr press "brightness -" until they turn off...
- bhaile 13y agoI tried. They disable the control functionality for the first set of ads. I press brightness until screen is off as soon as I sit down. Screen comes on for the ads and the safety video. Screen goes back to off for the rest of the flight. Happened this week on a United on a 737.
- wyager 13y ago>physically destroy the offending devices. That would probably not go over super well with the various airport police organizations.
- mattm 13y agoI also do this. I'm going to be sitting on the plane for the next several hours, why would I want to get on first?
- leemcalilly 13y agoIt's funny that these models all assume you have to seat first class first. Even if I'm flying first class, I still prefer to get on the plane last. The way people board airplanes seems to be the most irrational of all consumer behavior.
- dllthomas 13y ago"I understand the impulse to get on the plane, but it's irrational if you aren't using the overhead bins." I disagree. Continually paying attention for an important prompt is stressful and distracting. I'd much rather be waiting on stuff I can't miss.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- watwut 13y agoThe same with going out of the plane. There is no reason to join the crowd in the middle, especially if you checked your bags. The sooner you leave the plane, the longer you will wait on airport for bags.
- mafribe 13y agoThere's a really good reason to get up from one's seat as soon as possible, even when that means waiting longer for bags, or just standing in the aisle. The reason is that sitting in a confined space for a long time with little movement is rather uncomfortable for many passengers, especially those with back problems. Standing up alleviates these symptoms and is a worthwhile tradeoff.
- lifeformed 13y agoI always get a window seat, then board asap, put in my headphones, and go to sleep.