# People who pretend to not understand boarding groups for airplanes. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2012, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686 "2012-02-13T06:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/81 "2012-02-14T13:52:24Z")
I’m less worried about space for my bag than space for ME! I’m 6’5" and simply don’t fit in some airline’s cattle class seats. I mostly fly Virgin and their standard seats aren’t too bad but I take advantage of their Premium Economy or legroom seat upgrades every time. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/82 "2012-02-14T14:16:48Z")
I only fly to get somewhere fun, typically the Caribbean. Also I’m typically beginning my vacation early, so I’m a little buzzed. The flight attendant could walk down the aisle and intentionally throw piss in my face and I’d just wipe it off and chill. Don’t get how people who do business travel on a regular basis deal with it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/83 "2012-02-14T14:26:49Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Also note that for pretty much every airplane designed prior to about 10 years ago (so, most planes most of you have ever flown on) were _not_ designed with the intent of every passenger having room for one wheeled-carry-on bag in the overhead bins. You are not entitled to overhead bin space for anything at all. > [@mnemosyne](#): > > So I return to the fact that it’s unreasonable for passengers to expect the airlines to accommodate their luggage desires, simply because it’s literally impossible to do so. There’s an easy solution to this: Let my bags ride underneath, where there’s plenty of room, without charging me an arm and half a leg for the privelege. I am perfectly happy to take the extra time to wait for a checked bag in exchange for not having to lug a heavy carry-on through security and across two miles of terminal. But, if it means I’ll end up with an extra $50 in my pocket, I’ll lug the bag. Stop charging me to check my luggage, and _voila_, I won’t be using any of your precious overhead space. So I return to the fact that the airlines have brought this upon themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Oliveritaly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oliveritaly/32/15233_2.png) [@Oliveritaly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oliveritaly)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/84 "2012-02-14T15:18:24Z")
I fly a lot and I think I agree with everything the other frequent fliers here have said. When getting in the screening line do you all do a quick, which line seems to have the most single people? They, perhaps incorrectly, seem to go much faster (I know, I know it’s a hassle traveling with kids and what not. My sympathies)… Finally, I don’t get the jumping ahead either. You’re just going to be crammed into the plane seat LONGER … I purposely wait until it’s almost fully boarded anyway. Even when I am upgraded, which is frequently, I’m in no hurry to get in there … less so when it’s a quick flight but for a distance flight, god no. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/85 "2012-02-14T15:21:51Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’m trying to remember my last flying experience. > > I couldn’t find out whether or not I’d be able to take my walking stick on board with me. I was prepared to have it stowed in an inconvenient place, but the website didn’t say whether or not I could take my stick on board. After I got back home, I bought a cane, but the stick is still easier for me to use to walk. > > The website said that I could take my medications and devices with me, in an additional carryon bag, at no extra charge. However, when I arrived at the boarding gate, the woman there insisted that I check either my purse or my medication bag or my carryon bag. She didn’t care that I had several hundred dollars in medications, supplies, and appliances in my med bag, nor did she care that I didn’t want to check my purse. When I got home, I complained about this to the airline, and the CS rep said that no, I shouldn’t have had to check one of my bags if I had to have a med bag with me. > > So, in my experience, the website doesn’t cover all of the things that I need to know. And sometimes, even if I find out what I want to know, a worker might not have read the website or the rules. IF I ever fly again (and it looks like I’m going to have to in the near future), I’ll make sure to print out the pages that say that yes, I’m allowed to have an additional bag for my meds and supplies. I once wanted to carry a small container containing a cosmetic product that would be considered a “gel-type” product. I actuially went to the TSA website and was happy to find that it was allowed in quantites under 3.4 ounces. The container was 3.125 ounces. However, when I got to the airport their rules and signage listed a maximum limit of 3 ounces and the product was confiscated…grrrr… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/86 "2012-02-14T15:28:17Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > While I heartily endorse the OP, the airlines have brought this situation on themselves. If you’re going to encourage people to carry on everything they possibly can by charging baggage fees, then PLEASE _enforce your own fucking carry-on rules_! You know those little test bins where you can see if your bag will fit in the overhead? Ever see anybody using one? Me neither. People bring these enormous oversized suitcases on board and cram them sideways into the bins because they won’t fit wheels-first, people bring three bags and refuse to put any of them under the seat, and nobody ever calls them on it. But if you’re unlucky enough to be in the second half of the boarding process and you can’t find anywhere to put your one reasonably-sized bag, you can bet _then_ there’ll be a pissy flight attendant telling you you’ll have to gate check because they weren’t speaking up when the inconsiderate jackasses\* in front of you were taking up all the space. > > People aren’t jumping the line because they’re worried about their seat. They’re jumping the line because they’re worried there’ll be no room for their stuff. And they’re not wrong about that. > > \*Not everyone is an inconsiderate jackass, of course. But there are more of them than there used to be because such behavior is rewarded more often than not. Amen, amen, amen. I’d love to have them make every passenger put their carryon in the test box before they enter the plane. If it doesn’t fit, check it. Even better- eliminate the overhead bins. They slow everyone down entering and leaving the plane. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/87 "2012-02-14T16:20:05Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > A better way to board airplanes [has already been invented](http://www.economist.com/node/21528218), and it’s pretty damn obvious when you think about it: window seats first, then middle, then aisle, starting with even rows, then odd. This method spreads people around the plane and maximizes the use of the aisle, while also giving people enough space to hoist their bags into the overhead bins. It nicely avoids the current situation, where everyone crushes toward the back and then has to stand in the aisle while people are struggling to put their bags in the bins, clogging up the only narrow pathway through the plane. There’s even a [video](http://youtu.be/o9-XjEI8VmA) showing how it’s done. > > Airlines don’t use it because they think it’s too complicated for people to understand. Actually, what I think would be problematic is when you have a parent or a child in the window seat and the child or the parent in the middle seat. Your choice is to board the plane without your kid and abandon him, unsupervised, in the gate area, or put your kind on the plane by herself and hope she finds the correct seat. It’s one thing if your kid is 12-ish or older and can read the labels above the plane seats, but I think it’s a whole other matter if you have a 3-12 year-old who may not necessarily have the skills to board by themselves. Otherwise, this process looks like it makes a lot of sense. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/88 "2012-02-14T16:22:33Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Actually, what I think would be problematic is when you have a parent or a child in the window seat and the child or the parent in the middle seat. Your choice is to board the plane without your kid and abandon him, unsupervised, in the gate area, or put your kind on the plane by herself and hope she finds the correct seat. It’s one thing if your kid is 12-ish or older and can read the labels above the plane seats, but I think it’s a whole other matter if you have a 3-12 year-old who may not necessarily have the skills to board by themselves. > > Otherwise, this process looks like it makes a lot of sense. A simple fix- families with children go first. Then all the windows, middles, and aisles in order. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/89 "2012-02-14T17:32:16Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Yeah, I don’t see it either, and I fly a _lot_ - at least 50,000 miles last year, and this year I’ve been on 8 flights. It’s far more common for me to see people screw up the TSA line than the boarding line. > > And, imho, if you can’t afford the $25 baggage fee, you shouldn’t bother to fly. But that’s just a personal opinion. 😛 I personally think the baggage fee is bullshit. If I were the head of an airline, I’d just raise the damn ticket prices to make up shortfalls in fuel costs, and advertise that bags fly free. I’d make more money than by nickel-and-diming my passengers to death. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/90 "2012-02-14T17:47:20Z")
Threads about commercial flying are interesting to me, because they (IMO) generate intersting responses. I like airplanes anyway and having worked for Piedmont as a CSR and sometimes flight attendant, I miss those days a lot. Especially since we didn’t have the incidents of air rage we do today. It was actually a lot of fun meeting new people and taking care of them for a little while. I still wear my Piedmont “wings” when I fly home, and every now and then a flight attendant near my age will recognize me and we talk about the “olden days”. Q ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/91 "2012-02-14T17:51:29Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I personally think the baggage fee is bullshit. If I were the head of an airline, I’d just raise the damn ticket prices to make up shortfalls in fuel costs, and advertise that bags fly free. I’d make more money than by nickel-and-diming my passengers to death. See: Southwest. And somehow their ticket prices manage to be cheaper than everyone else’s too. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/92 "2012-02-14T18:04:40Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I personally think the baggage fee is bullshit. If I were the head of an airline, I’d just raise the damn ticket prices to make up shortfalls in fuel costs, and advertise that bags fly free. I’d make more money than by nickel-and-diming my passengers to death. What airlines are still charging baggage fees for one checked bag? Neither of the Canadian ones do, nor does British Airways or Air France. Do the American companies still do so? My flights on United were through Air Canada codeshares, so no extra fees, and Delta didn’t charge to check one bag for international (YUL-\>JFK-\>LHR) travel. I was charged once on American Airlines, in 2006, but since then all the companies I’ve used seem to have removed the fee for the first bag. Is it just on domestic travel from US carriers? Southwest has a low fee/cost structure in large part due to it’s single-type aircraft fleet, which is a rather successful business model (see WestJet and Porter for Canadian attempts at the same). My impression of Southwest, however, is not-so-good… their safety and maintenance records leave a lot to be desired. Too many corners cut, IMHO - they’ve been fined repeatedly by the FAA for missing aircraft inspections and mandatory repairs. There go your ticket cost savings. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/93 "2012-02-14T18:20:17Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Is it just on domestic travel from US carriers? Generally, yes. International flights usually allow one or two 50 lb bags a person. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/94 "2012-02-14T18:29:04Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Is it just on domestic travel from US carriers? I’ll note that there’s one exception to no fees for checked luggage on international flights. I booked a flight overseas through Continental which involved a layover in the US before the international flight. I was charged a baggage fee for the domestic portion because the international part was actually a code-shared partner, rather than an actual Continental flight. So, I got charged even though I booked entirely through Continental’s system. Since I’m in Houston, that probably means more United/Continental travel for me in the future, but I know I try to avoid it as much as possible for the fees, discomfort, and declining level of service - especially after the United folks took over. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/95 "2012-02-14T18:58:40Z")
jetBlue takes the first bag for free. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/96 "2012-02-14T19:15:11Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > jetBlue takes the first bag for free. So if I fly with my wife and her sister only one has to pay? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/97 "2012-02-14T21:14:35Z")
> [@Oliveritaly](#): > > Finally, I don’t get the jumping ahead either. You’re just going to be crammed into the plane seat LONGER After taking a light rail, then a commuter rail, then walking to the correct terminal, then going through security, then waiting for boarding, all I want is to just be settled and on my way. So I understand the desire. That said, I’ve resigned myself to having a crappy experience no matter what I do, so I don’t cut or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/98 "2012-02-14T21:26:13Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > After taking a light rail, then a commuter rail, then walking to the correct terminal, then going through security, then waiting for boarding, all I want is to just be settled and on my way. In general, both the early and the late boarders are on their way at much the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/99 "2012-02-14T21:40:24Z")
I fly every week, and 90% is on Southwest. I love it. I board when it is my turn (tomorrow I am A28). You line up by number and letter. You don’t have to jump up - you simply take your place when they tell you to line up. You then board the plane, grab the first seat you want, and you are done. If you are in the B group, you don’t move until all of the A group is on board. Then you move into the line based on your number. It is more relaxing than any of my travel with United, and a lot more friendly. Plus bags fly free. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/100 "2012-02-15T00:12:34Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I flew first class for the first time the other day … and it was SUPER AWKWARD sitting on the aisle. Note that when flying first class you are allowed to board early, but there’s no requirement to do so. Given that the first class overhead bins serve fewer passengers, I’d say there’s an even better case here for late boarding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686.md?page=6)