# Airlines - why do you want to board early? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245 "2013-10-25T21:21:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/61 "2013-10-30T15:18:33Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I like traveling, but I hate the transition times. I don’t want to be idling around with my stuff knowing I’ll have to move any minute. I just want to get settled in and zone out. Pretty much, this. I reserve aisle seats when I can, and usually don’t carry on more than just a laptop. Still, every time I’ve boarded close to end, there will always be a pile of jackets, purses and other crap sitting on my reserved seat, as if the adjacent seatmates are expecting me to say “Never mind. I’ll just sit someplace else.” Also, I like being able to walk to my seat without being delayed by a bunch of people blocking the aisles to pile stuff into overhead bins. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/62 "2013-10-30T19:56:09Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Because no one would comply. First, a good half the people on the plane would have no idea if their seat was a window or the aisle; second, families will want to board together, and refuse to abide by the rules. They wouldn’t have to know. The attendant would just announce which seat was boarding and they would look at their ticket and board accordingly. The announcement could be something like, “Now boarding all “A” seats and companions.” Wouldn’t that work? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/63 "2013-10-30T20:15:43Z")
To be fair airlines have tried all of these options and more. The real issue is that airline passengers suck at following directions and those things that logically should work better just don’t because of the lack of compliance. So they do what works sort of well with the reality they have to live with. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/64 "2013-10-30T20:35:47Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > To be fair airlines have tried all of these options and more. \*\*The real issue is that airline passengers suck at following directions \*\*and those things that logically should work better just don’t because of the lack of compliance. > > So they do what works sort of well with the reality they have to live with. No kidding. Once we were a bit late and the captain told everyone to remain seated and let those 6 or so passengers that had close connection’s to leave first. Know body listened ('cept me and the Wife of course) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/65 "2013-10-30T20:38:52Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I generally get too grumpy at people if I rush off the plane, so I tend to hang back. On international flights, however, I am running off as quickly as possible. I tend to travel without checked luggage, so if I hustle I have a good chance of getting to the front of the customs and immigration checkpoint. Being stuck at the back of one of those is miserable. Yeah, 3 hours if you’re lucky. Seriously, a lot of stuff could just be avoided if the airline people FORCED everyone to comply with their overhead bin rules. See those things by the check-in counter? They are to measure your luggage, and everyone should be made to do it. No one should be allowed to bring a gigantic bag and stick it in sideways, and make things miserable for everyone else. Obviously the reason they can’t board logically (odd/even rows) is that people are stupid and also that people just don’t read and pay attention. The latter I’ve noticed even in smart people. I listen constantly for instructions when I am at the airport, watch the signs. I’ve noticed even smart people just totally space out. I love flying, but people really suck. One of the flights I was on a couple of years ago had an entire Spanish family who would not shut up or sit down. When we were getting ready to land, the stewardess told them 100 times to sit down and put on their seatbelts and they seriously laughed in her face. I don’t know how she got it resolved eventually but they were really pissing me off. I only know they were Spanish because they kept saying things in Spanish…I understand enough Spanish to know they weren’t saying nice things. I don’t know how the stewardesses put up with it, between that and the grumpy old businessmen who open their stupid newspapers as wide as they can go. Get a tablet, entitled! ---
**Author:** ![huitzilopochtli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e99b99/32.png) [@huitzilopochtli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/huitzilopochtli)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/66 "2013-10-31T01:06:59Z")
I wish that on final descent the overhead bins would lock for “safety” and remain locked until gate arrival and for a few minutes afterwards. That way passengers who don’t have anything to grab from overhead can exit quickly and free up the aisle. I fly 5-6 times a year and stow something overhead half the time so I’m not just looking out for me. Anyone rushing to make a connection can use the gate check option and be on their merry way. This just seems so obvious to me. Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/67 "2013-10-31T03:39:35Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > To be fair airlines have tried all of these options and more. The real issue is that airline passengers suck at following directions and those things that logically should work better just don’t because of the lack of compliance. > > So they do what works sort of well with the reality they have to live with. Yeah, United boards (or used to board) from windows on in, and when I started flying everyone boarded back to front. But that was before charges for checked bags, multiple levels of frequent flier programs and ginormus carry in bags. Now you might be first to board in steerage class and still have a hard time finding room. I usually fly Southwest, where boarding order matters but where it is organized. Otherwise I just want to avoid the milling throngs near the gate. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/68 "2013-10-31T03:55:57Z")
> [@Seymour Guts](#): > > …Obviously the reason they can’t board logically (odd/even rows) is that people are stupid and also that people just don’t read and pay attention. The latter I’ve noticed even in smart people. I listen constantly for instructions when I am at the airport, watch the signs. I’ve noticed even smart people just totally space out… You know, your post made me realize another reason I want to board early: until I have my gear stowed and I’ve flopped down in my seat, I have to keep a small part of my brain switched on and paying attention. I’m listening to gate annoucements, my boardiing group, etc. Once I’m in my seat, I can fully relax. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245/69 "2013-11-01T18:15:31Z")
I think some people simply want to be first and it’s no more complicated than that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airlines-why-do-you-want-to-board-early/672245.md?page=3)