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Why stand in line to board an airplane?

The seats are assigned. People have been standing in line for 15 minutes now. Why on earth would anyone want to stand there, when they could just sit and wait until the line clears?

I understand wanting to get off a plane ASAP, but boarding? You just end up sitting on the plane, waiting for everyone else to get on.

esc27 ,

Anxiety (especially now that planes are oversold and standby passengers are nearby waiting to grab empty seats…), the need for overhead bin space, not wanting to have to climb over people, illogical impatience, etc.

tsonfeir ,
@tsonfeir@lemm.ee avatar

The door is probably going to rip off mid flight anyway. At least, if it’s a Boeing

taladar ,

I don’t have your trust in Boeing planes failing that predictably.

tsonfeir ,
@tsonfeir@lemm.ee avatar

Don’t get all serious.

Dempf ,

Yes, in the US, 14 CFR part 250.7 means that they can’t throw you off after you’re checked in and your ticket has been scanned at the gate during the boarding process. It was changed by Congress after that doctor got thrown off a United flight in 2017. The airline can still throw you off if you’re disruptive, and my understanding is that a pilot in command can order you off for pretty much any reason, as they have full command of the aircraft, so if you’re ever in that situation then you better follow the pilot’s instructions. But if the pilot does throw you off due to a bumping situation then the airline is breaking the law.

Airlines can also make their own policies on which passengers have the highest priority to get bumped, which can involve check-in time, and I imagine can involve basically who is at the gate, ready to go. So there are some advantages to being there and queuing early.

Nemo ,

The seats are assigned, the baggage compartments are self-serve.

DigitalNirvana ,

And methods have been worked out to load passengers smoothly and efficiently. Alternate sides, every other row, if I recall correctly, leaves plenty of space and time. But nobody uses this.

667 ,
@667@lemmy.radio avatar

It’s a practical, demonstrative example of scarcity. It causes people to act internally rational, even though there are far more efficient methods.

ramirezmike ,

these methods don’t account for all the variables that reality has. People across all boarding groups will be late, there will be people that need assistance from flight attendants, there will be people who want to switch seats to be near their family, there will be people who can’t sit in the exit row, there will be people who need to use the rest room, there will be people who’ve never been on a plane before.

There is no great, full proof way to handle it because people are unpredictable

explore_broaden ,

“The plane is here, everyone get on” (random order) is actually faster than the method they use now, so it wouldn’t take some complex system to increase speeds.

BakerBagel ,

That’s essentially what Southwest Airlines does. No assigned seats, just a boarding group and number for “controlled” self-service boarding.

nilloc ,

Too bad you end up in a Southwest plane after all that. I flew them once, in the extra room seat (I’m a tall bastard) and there has apparently been 600 lb life people using the seat before, it was like sitting on an old wicker chair that had blown out.

One of the worst flights I’ve had.

BakerBagel ,

Idk, i like Southwest. It’s cheap and you get two free checked bags without having to sacrifice your human dignity flying Spirit. Grantdd i never have to fky for work, only ever for personal trips

GBU_28 ,

No the most recent conclusion is random works best if the participants are “normal”. Any strategy about this seat or that row first requires trained participants to maximize that effort.

rescue_toaster ,

A long time ago most airlines checked at least one bag free. I used to always do this and as op suggests, not stand in line. It was great not having to take a bag through security and haul it around through airports and connecting flights, and avoid the stress of if the overhead space would run out.

But airlines have done everything in their power to make boarding and the whole flying process miserable in attempt to suck every dollar they can from you for their upgrades and priority boarding.

I do often take advantage of the airlines offer to “we expect a very full flight, overhead space is limited, and will check your bag for free to your final destination”

scrubbles ,
@scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech avatar

Yup at this point I call that a free checked bag. Oh no… Out of space? Guess I’ll just have to be the hero and ditch my bag…

Sidenote people who do things like throw their coats up there when they’ve announced there is limited space are dicks.

Ziggurat ,

Yup at this point I call that a free checked bag.

Free ? With the new Ryan air policy, it’s not free anymore

corsicanguppy ,

That’s how they run out of volunteers and need to pick tribute like Hunger Games.

JoYo ,
@JoYo@lemmy.ml avatar

im 6+ feet tall, where is the coat going if not the overhead? what’s in your bag, a coat?

scrubbles ,
@scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech avatar

Yes. The overhead is for the carry-on bags. If there is space after everyone has gotten on the plane, then go for it, throw the coat up there. But if you use overhead space for a coat when they announce that space is limited and you see them forcing people to check bags, then that’s a jerk move for sure.

I pack my coat in my bag. If it doesn’t fit, I wear it on the plane. If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to start thinking about checking a bag from the start.

JoYo ,
@JoYo@lemmy.ml avatar

oh, they’ll check my coat now? every time i ask they say it’s for bags.

wearing the coat for an 8 hour flight works if you’re staying in the same climate but I travel longitudily a lot.

i like how you skirted around your own bullshit rule by putting your coat in a bag.

scrubbles ,
@scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech avatar

I… put my coat inside my bag. Whether a carry-on or checked. Even if I go to a cold climate I will have my bags before I walk outside the terminal. I can stop, open my bag, and grab my coat. I don’t know how that’s skirting around it.

If you don’t want to wear it, cool - then put it in your carry-on or hold it for the flight. At the very least wait until everyone has boarded and there is room. Taking up space in the overhead while people are still boarding is selfish, it’s saying “My bag and my coat deserve more space than the next person’s single bag”.

JoYo ,
@JoYo@lemmy.ml avatar

Coats take space in the overhead whether they’re in a bag or not.

If you don’t need your coat to board the plane then you’re lucky.

None of the airlines have a rule about coats in the overhead so you’re fighting on a hill that doesn’t even exist.

scrubbles ,
@scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech avatar

I never said anyone had a rule about it. I said if you have 2 things, a bag and a coat, and you take up two spots when other people don’t get 1, then it’s a jerk move.

evasive_chimpanzee ,

We’ve largely done this to ourselves. The cheapest price is king in air travel. Unless you’re traveling for work, everyone goes for the cheapest option, so airlines are incentivized to get the base price as low as possible. Like if the option was to pay $100 more and get 2 checked bags, a meal, and more legroom, I’m still not going to do it.

The price of air travel has come down astronomically over the past few decades.

Alexc ,

And massively increased again in the last five years…

HobbitFoot ,

Mainly due to the pilot shortage and collapse of the business market. If you want to start adding back items that were debundled from tickets, overall ticket prices are just going to increase.

Ziggurat ,

ike if the option was to pay $100 more and get 2 checked bags, a meal, and more legroom, I’m still not going to do it.

It’s depending whether you need check bags. As soon as you need check bags, suddently, main airlines becomes competitive with cheap ones like Ryanair, especially considering the airport they desserve which tend to be better located (The difference between a Metro ticket for the main one, and a 20 € Shuttle bus to a remote one also impacts the total price

geophysicist ,

and then wait for the baggage at the other end? no thanks! carry on luggage I get to walk straight out no waiting

jo3shmoo ,

Now they’ve even started offering this at the check-in counter! Critically it’s after the “pay us $35 to check your bag” screen. It says it’s a one time special offer but I’ve done it a half dozen times now on American and twice on United. Bag just is supposed to be carry on sized. I don’t even have to take it through security when this option is available.

Raiderkev ,

I just flew with 2 kids and 4 carry ons. We had to go to the service desk to check 2 car seats anyway, so I asked the lady if we could gate check our carry ons while we were there. They did it free of charge. I don’t know if all airlines/ airports will do it, but Delta did. It was super convenient to not have to lug around 4 bags through security and around the airport/ layover airport while chasing 2 kids. Unfortunately, I’m flying United back who only allows a “personal item” so I’m assuming that’s not going to be an option on my return flight.

tatterdemalion ,
@tatterdemalion@programming.dev avatar

Delta AMEX offers a “free” checked bag on domestic flights.

agamemnonymous ,
@agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works avatar

I didn’t realize this factor until I started traveling with my wife, who packs much more than me. I’ve always fit everything into a single personal item that goes under the seat, which has always meant casually reading a book until my zone is nearly finished boarding

JackFrostNCola ,

Also now i go from a medium checked bag with plenty of space to a large bag half full of her stuff and weighing it at home to make sure its under 30kg or whatever the limit is.

PatMustard ,

But you can fit your hand-luggage under the seat in front

maniacal_gaff ,

I will always do everything in my power to NOT check a bag and have them lose it. So I bring a roller bag and a backpack.

scott ,
@scott@lem.free.as avatar

I always check my bag and haven’t had any go missing in nearly 15 years. It’s a lot better with the bar-coded tags and automation.

Drusas ,

Lucky. I stopped checking bags when the baggage handlers stole from my locked suitcase.

maniacal_gaff ,

Wish I had your luck. I’ve had issues three times with checked bags in the last 15 years.

invertedspear ,

That fact doesn’t do you much good if you have a carry-on. And most everyone is trying to get by with a carry-on and a personal bag to avoid checked bag fees.

PatMustard ,

Isn’t “carry on” just the American name for “hand luggage”? As in you’re only getting one free bag which has to be small enough to fit under the chair anyway, right?

jumjummy ,

No, the carry-on is a piece of luggage that can be stored in the overhead compartment (assuming there’s room, hence the waiting in line). In addition you can bring a personal item (backpack/purse). It’s those bags being put up top as well where the dick moves come in since, on a full flight, there’s not enough space up there and the passengers who boarded before you have put BOTH their carry-on and personal item up there.

PatMustard ,

In addition you can bring a personal item

I see you’ve not had the pleasure of traveling with Sleazyjet before!

eclipse ,

At the cost of leg room.

PatMustard ,

You can bend your legs under the chair? Obviously I’m exaggerating but I don’t think it really takes away that much of the tiny amount of leg room you get anyway!

saiarcot895 ,

With the backpack I have, I do lose a good part of my leg space from having my backpack underneath the seat in front of me. That’s why I sometimes pull my backpack out and then set it down in front of me, but not underneath the seat in front of me; this lets me stretch/move my legs more than before.

Nemo ,

Maybe you can, I need that space for feet.

Drusas ,

I don't know how people can stand putting an item under the seat in front of them. I'm not even tall and I sure as hell need that space for my feet.

JohnnyCanuck ,
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca avatar

Overhead bin space for carry-on bags.

As someone who travels with carry-on only (as much as possible), if I’m in economy I make sure to board as soon as I can to ensure there’s space in the overhead bins for my bag.

IrateAnteater ,

Man, I hate traveling carry-on only (unless it’s a short enough trip that the required change of clothes can fit in a backpack). I’ll pay the $50 or whatever it is to not have to worry about needing to cram all my stuff up into the overheads.

JohnnyCanuck ,
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca avatar
  • I hate when airlines lose bags
  • I dislike bringing more stuff than I can easily carry on my back
  • I only have one bag and my laptop goes in it, so it ain’t going down below.

It isn’t about price. In fact some airlines are starting to charge more for a carry-on.

I’m also really good at bringing less. I travel months at a time with carry on only.

MajorMajormajormajor ,

Plus, once you land at your destination you just grab your bag and go. There is no waiting at the baggage carasoul, you beat some of the rush too.

IrateAnteater ,

I guess part of my different perspective is that 99% of my flight travels are for work, and I’m paid by the hour, even on days when I’m doing nothing but traveling.

TrickDacy ,

How about waiting for fuckin ever for a checked bag? I think I’ve waited 40+ minutes for a checked bag before. Not only does it suck to wait after a day or traveling but you also get to have anxiety that your bag might be lost as you continually watch people you recognize from your flight take their bags and go

JohnnyCanuck ,
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca avatar

Oh yeah, forgot to list that one. Some airports are terrible for it too.

TrickDacy ,

For sure! The Rome airport is probably the worst I’ve seen

macarthur_park ,

As annoying as it is to lug a bag around and find room for it, I much prefer this to checking it. There’s the small but nonzero chance your bag doesn’t make it to your destination, plus the added time waiting at baggage return.

scrubbles ,
@scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech avatar

Yeah I avoid checking bags if I have a layover. Direct flight? Eh it’s pretty hard to fuck up then, still absolutely can, but harder. Going to a destination I hate checking because I’m eager to get going, coming home it’s just another 15-20 minutes waiting for my bag usually, so I don’t care.

OhmsLawn OP ,

I get that it’s a hassle to find overhead space late, but I’ve never been in a situation where there wasn’t anywhere at all to put my bag. At the very least, the flight crew can usually put it aside somewhere.

Granted, I haven’t flown US domestic in years, so the nightmare might be worse than I imagine.

ramirezmike ,

I flew around 26 times domestically last year and most of the flights ran out of space. It’s really common for the airline to ask for volunteers to check their carry-ons. If you aren’t in the first 2/3rds of people on the plane, you’ll likely be forced to check your carry-ons.

This problem has gotten worse over the years because airlines have increased the prices for checking your luggage so many people opt to bring carry-ons instead.

OhmsLawn OP ,

That’s awful.

Damionsipher ,

I used to wait until the last minute to board, until the time I had to put my carry on bag at the back of the plane and my personal item under the seat and ended up being the last person off. One of the more uncomfortable flights I’ve been on.

PatMustard ,

But you can fit your hand-luggage under the seat in front

JohnnyCanuck ,
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca avatar

Carry-on is not the same as personal item. My backpack does not fit under 90% of seats, and if it did, I would have nowhere to put my feet, thus the importance of finding overhead space.

PatMustard ,

I’ve not known any airlines that let you bring on hand luggage that’s too big to go under the chairs so consider yourself lucky to even have that!

TrickDacy ,

Yeah I kind of get this but at the same time, it’s rare I have an issue finding a spot for my bag very near my seat. I’ve always been of the same attitude as OP

JohnnyCanuck ,
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca avatar

Great, if that works for you! I’ve seen plenty of people have to check their carry-ons. I’ll gladly get on before you to ensure my overhead space.

TrickDacy ,

So as luck would have it, yesterday this bit me haha

I was one of the first few forced to check my bag at the gate. Then, also, my bag was waiting for me at the kiosk when I got there which feels very rare. I feel like I usually have to wait at least 10 minutes any time I check a bag. So I guess I both did and didn’t learn my lesson? Lol

superduperpirate ,

I’m about to be seated for five hours straight with no possibility of standing or moving around. I’m standing while I still have the opportunity.

bunkyprewster , (edited )

Even worse, people have to pay to be in an earlier boarding group. I think they use limited overhead bin space as a hostage.

OhmsLawn OP ,

I’m actually in that group 1 position right now, in a LatAm A320 premium economy seat. Besides the service upgrade and baggage allowance, it’s just economy with the center seat reserved. Oh, and free messaging WiFi, too, which somehow includes Lemmy Sync.

bionicjoey ,

Relevant CGP Grey

OhmsLawn OP ,

I was just mentioning this to my lady before boarding. I found that video absolutely fascinating.

kbin_space_program ,

Because you do not have assigned overhead bag storage, and people bring either bags that are too big, or bring multiple bags

classic ,

Exactly. The airlines created this situation when they began charging for check-in bags

PatMustard ,

Haven’t they “solved” it by charging for hand-luggage too?

son_named_bort ,

Not all airlines assign seats. I know Southwest doesn’t, you just find an empty seat once you board. In that case it makes sense to stand in line.

OhmsLawn OP ,

Absolutely.

RvTV95XBeo ,

But your position in line is assigned. When they ask the A group to line up and the Bs start hovering they’re not accomplishing anything.

Zak ,
@Zak@lemmy.world avatar

Southwest assigns you a position in line. You can pay for a better one. Their passengers don’t spend a lot of time waiting in ad-hoc lines before their group is called like other airlines.

ininewcrow ,
@ininewcrow@lemmy.ca avatar

People’s mentality after waiting at the airport for six hours for a six hour flight …

THIS IS THE LAST HELICOPTER OUT OF VIETNAM!!!

youtu.be/4qA1qziN484

Blackout ,
@Blackout@kbin.run avatar

I do it to give the people still sitting something to tut over.

finthechat ,
@finthechat@kbin.social avatar

The question you should be asking instead is why would you shoot a man before throwing him out of a plane?

vext01 ,
@vext01@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

Same when the plane lands. You must be the first to unclip and stand. He who stands longest wins.

themadcodger ,
@themadcodger@kbin.earth avatar

That for me is a stretching thing. I don't care if I'm back of the plane, I'm standing up as soon as we're allowed.

Skua ,

You're allowed to get up during the flight though

themadcodger ,
@themadcodger@kbin.earth avatar

Oh, well in that case I'll just stand during the flight, and remain seated when we land so other people who care too much about what strangers are doing feel more comfortable.

Skua ,

Mate I'm not telling you off for wanting to stretch, just puzzled about why you don't do it earlier on when you start feeling cramped

feebl ,

Because him standing early so he thinks he can get off the plane earlier good, standig during flight bad because logic

Sneezydinosaur ,

I’m on a Boeing plane. I’ll stay buckled and seated, thanks.

HopFlop ,

Every time, a good 75% of people stand up before it’s allowed and it annoys me every time.

jaykay ,
@jaykay@lemmy.zip avatar

Naaah, leaving the plane should be in order of the seats. Not “I stood up first”. Now you have to play the game of:

  1. Push your way into the standing line
  2. Let one standing person through, but then the whole line just keeps going cos they’re in a rush to stand in another line at the airport
vext01 ,
@vext01@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

I was being sarcastic, in case it wasn’t clear.

GBU_28 ,

Standing is superior to sitting unless you are disabled or unhealthy

originalucifer ,
@originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com avatar

eh, if youre in first class you could potentially start getting served drinks before boarding is complete. i know i have.

that said, ive often waited til the plane was mostly seated/no line before boarding even if seated in first.

Dempf ,

The nice thing if you ever fly first class is that you’ll typically get boarding priority and sometimes even your own door on larger planes so that you don’t have to interact with the poors (j/k I’m a poor too, I’ve just booked first/business class before when I have enough points saved up so that it’s worth it).

neidu2 , (edited )

Because once through thebgate, there’s the line of actually getting into your seat because some people tend to stand in the aisle and block everyone while taking their jacket off. And if you’re in a prioritized boarding group you can circumvent most of these by getting into the plane early, which results in more time watching youtube while sitting on my ass.

Source: frequent flier. In fact, I’m typing this from seat 9F on an Airbus A320neo right after sitting down.

sanguinepar ,
@sanguinepar@lemmy.world avatar

There’s no way the airlines allow you to take a donkey onboard, surely?

jaykay ,
@jaykay@lemmy.zip avatar

I don’t want to look for my seat with 20 people in front and 20 people behind me, touching my ass cos there is no space . If I have a window seat, then I have to also deal with the people sitting next to me, they get up, walk out, I sit down, they get in blah blah blah

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