# Pre boarding flights **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179 "2023-07-17T22:45:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/41 "2023-07-19T23:41:03Z")
Related but what is up with how 95% of the plane all need to leave the plane the moment it touches ground? They ALL can’t have things that require them to be sprinting out of the airplane or else they’re late, we all have to wait for the baggage carousel anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/42 "2023-07-19T23:42:41Z")
Personally, I’ve been sitting there for several hours, and not allowed to stand for the last thirty to sixty minutes, so I’m standing as soon as I can. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/43 "2023-07-19T23:46:36Z")
I think this phenomenon is related to the zipper merge thread. Anxiety and stress can turn any of us into a-holes and push us into obsessive, competitive behaviour. Roderick Femm has the right idea, and as soon as those a-holes get the %$#! out of my way, I will try to regain my Zen equipoise. But seriously, it’s nott “human nature,” it’s the inhuman conditions we’re forced into, and for many, daily life is onerous and crazy-making. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/44 "2023-07-19T23:50:38Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > , we all have to wait for the baggage carousel anyway. For US domestic ops, barely 20% of passengers check luggage. There is no waiting for baggage claim for them. The race is to get out of the airport and start doing whatever it was they bothered to travel for. Including getting into the line for a cab sooner. Or catching the earlier train into the city instead of missing it by 5 minutes and waiting 30 for the next one. For international arrivals, lots more folks check luggage. But everyone, luggage or no, has to go through immigration before collecting their baggage for customs. So there generally won’t be any waiting for baggage; it’ll be waiting there before you get there. In this case the race is to be one of the first of your 250 people standing in line to talk to one of 3 immigration officers. Rather than being number 240 of your 250 in the same line. That can be an hour’s savings right there. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/45 "2023-07-19T23:56:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > For US domestic ops, barely 20% of passengers check luggage. I have no problem believing that my flights are unusual - but usually way over half of the people end up at the carousel. They aren’t rushing to get the train or a taxi - but they did rush to the carousel… ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/46 "2023-07-20T00:04:44Z")
I never check bags outbound (I can do two weeks international business plus pleasure on regulation carry on), but often check inbound. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/47 "2023-07-20T00:30:01Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > > [@Omar\_Little](#): > > > > I do get that people want to get on before the overhead bins all fill up. But they will just check it to your destination for free, once you’re at the gate. > > Checking it to your destination is fine when flights are dependable. If things get wonky with your flight, your ability to get on a new flight is going to be dependent on whether there’s time to get your bag moved over to the new flight. If there’s not time to move your bag, you’re not getting on the new flight. Or they say they moved your bag to the new flight, but they didn’t really get it moved over so you end up at your destination without your bag. Or they lose it altogether. Having your bag with you means you can try to get on standby lists during the 6-hour unplanned layover when your flight gets cancelled. I’ve had too many flight glitches this past year that I’m only flying with a carry on and keeping it with me if at all possible. This. I’ve had way too many flights where it mattered. And when it matters, having the bag with you is always better than not having it. > [@zimaane](#): > > I don’t get the rush to get on early either. The waiting area is much more comfortable that the plane. I prefer to minimize my time in a small, uncomfortable airline seat. The waiting area is all about stress. Hurry up and wait. And if i don’t pay attention, i risk missing my flight. (I’ve nearly done this twice, when i actually did something other than pay active attention to boarding. Yes, i can lose track of my surroundings when I’m engaged in something, like a good book.) It’s a relief for me to get on the plane and get settled. Now i know i won’t miss my flight. I often stand up shortly after landing, just to stretch. But people usually stay put near their seats until it’s their turn to get off the plane. There’s a really clear order, and it’s rare to see anyone fight that, imo. (It is super valuable to get to immigration before the rest of your huge flight, though.) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/48 "2023-07-20T01:44:03Z")
Or making a tight connection. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/49 "2023-07-20T06:10:29Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I remember I was on a flight that was literally 20 minutes late taking off because we had no-joke TWENTY people in wheelchairs alongside their associates. That’s what you get for booking a flight to Lourdes. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/50 "2023-07-20T06:14:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I do get that people want to get on before the overhead bins all fill up. But they will just check it to your destination for free, once you’re at the gate. I recently got back from a trip where I had to check my bags (my doing cuz reasons). It took 90 minutes in baggage claim before my bag showed up. There was another flight waiting at the same carousel for their bags and an airport employee had to shout, repeatedly (no PA, no bull-horn…nothing), that their bags would not start until my flight was done. Remember…I waited 90 minutes (first bags came down around 70 minutes after we got off). Getting that overhead bin is golden. Having it checked, even for free, is not great. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/51 "2023-07-20T06:20:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > For international arrivals, lots more folks check luggage. But everyone, luggage or no, has to go through immigration before collecting their baggage for customs. So there generally won’t be any waiting for baggage; it’ll be waiting there before you get there. I just came back from Italy. I got through customs and all that (which was its own mess) and no bags. 70 minutes till the first bag showed. 90 minutes till I saw mine. Chicago O’Hare if that matters. Complete mess. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2023, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/52 "2023-07-20T11:15:31Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Or making a tight connection Going to/from the Caribbean we always have tight connections. There are no direct flights. We always try to book flights with reasonable time for connections, but the airline tweaks flights and there are delays. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/53 "2023-07-20T11:35:55Z")
I feel sorry/not sorry for those that have to wait for their stowed bags to come up to the jetway after deplaning because there was no room in the overhead. Some flights I see a dozen or more folks waiting for bags when I deplane. Serves ya right! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/54 "2023-07-20T11:45:51Z")
If it’s actually returned on the jetway, it’s fine. Those never take very long, and more importantly, those never get lost and because you have it with you, if you next leg is messed up, those don’t prevent you from flying on some other flight. Sadly, sometimes those end up with the other checked luggage, and then you are screwed. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/55 "2023-07-20T12:13:54Z")
Last minute bags on the jetway are usually an RJ thing, at least at my carrier. On bigger jets here 95% of the people standing there waiting for something are waiting for strollers or wheelchairs, not luggage. Or waiting for their travelmate who was seated 10 rows behind them. Between that and the wheelchairs & pushers, the jetways are just clogged. Grrr! Sigh. Zen … ahhh. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/56 "2023-07-20T12:45:14Z")
> [@chela](#): > > I feel sorry/not sorry for those that have to wait for their stowed bags to come up to the jetway after deplaning because there was no room in the overhead. Some flights I see a dozen or more folks waiting for bags when I deplane. > > Serves ya right! Serves ya right…for what? Being among the last to board, and having no room in the bins for even the smallest of carry-on items because the earlier boarders were all selfish pigs who took up all of the available bin space with oversized carry-on bags? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/57 "2023-07-20T13:04:44Z")
I am prejudiced against many carry ons I admit it. It would seem a small bag could fit under the seat in front of you but then no room for legs and feet. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/58 "2023-07-20T13:19:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It’s a relief for me to get on the plane and get settled. Now i know i won’t miss my flight. Yep. I’ve always said that my one job when travelling is to make sure I’m on the plane. After that, it’s _everyone else’s_ job to do everything the rest of the trip. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/59 "2023-07-20T14:53:51Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Last minute bags on the jetway are usually an RJ thing, What’s “RJ”? > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Or waiting for their travelmate who was seated 10 rows behind them I don’t do this. The jetway is crowded enough. I’ll wait for my companion in the airport, just outside the door. They’ll find their way out. (Except when i was traveling with my disabled mother. Then i tried to stay in sight of her. But i was also generally seated next to her.) ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179/60 "2023-07-20T14:55:08Z")
On checking / gate checking a bag If I’m traveling for work, I **never** check my bag. I’ve had a of time 20 years ago, where I was forced to check my bag for work, and the airline lost it. It was an international trip, and nothing sucks worse than wearing the same clothes for several days for business. I guarantee my ability to carry on my bag because of my frequent flyer status, that I’m able to get on early enough that there is overhead space. The only instance I’m aware that you can gate check a bag and have it returned to you on the jetway after you land is if you’re on one of the smaller regional jets. If it’s a full size jet and they’ve just run out of overhead bin space it will be checked to be picked up at baggage claim at your final destination. I don’t fly every airline, so there may be exceptions, but that’s how it’s done on all the airlines that I fly. If I’m flying with my spouse, I’ll usually go ahead and check my bag because she’s checking and we’re going to have to wait at the baggage claim for her bag, so… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-boarding-flights/987179.md?page=4)