Bigjay73
Well-known member
Why do they line up 20 mins before boarding time? You're group 1, what's the reason behind not just waiting till they open the gate? Serious question here.
Group 1 passengers
- Thread starter Bigjay73
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Southern Elk
Well-known member
Don’t get me started. Loading the plane from front to back is the most stupid thing imaginable. Think of how much more efficient it would be if you started loading the passengers in the back first. No one would have to wait while people put their luggage in the overhead or walk past everybody that’s already seated.
Phaseolus
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Amen Brother, I've had that thought many times.
Gravelyctry
Well-known member
I’ve been on flights where they loaded rear first. What a cluster.
People with sears in the rear put their carryons in the front overhead storage so when the people with seats in the front got on, they had to go to the back of the plane to stow their carryons and then work back against incoming passengers to get to their seat.
The same cluster happens when they get ready to exit the plane. Front passengers have to work their way against the morons standing in the aisle to get their carryons and then work their way back to the front of the plane against the same morons plus the others coming to the rear to get their stuff.
Rear seating would work better in theory if people weren’t so stupid.
Neil
People with sears in the rear put their carryons in the front overhead storage so when the people with seats in the front got on, they had to go to the back of the plane to stow their carryons and then work back against incoming passengers to get to their seat.
The same cluster happens when they get ready to exit the plane. Front passengers have to work their way against the morons standing in the aisle to get their carryons and then work their way back to the front of the plane against the same morons plus the others coming to the rear to get their stuff.
Rear seating would work better in theory if people weren’t so stupid.
Neil
Bigjay73
Well-known member
Couldn't agree more
Hilljackoutlaw
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This is the smartest thing ever said on HT. You need to take this idea to the Supreme Court of the land!!!
Hilljackoutlaw
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That is the dumbest thing I ever heard on HT. I really dont know how some people are so oblivious to whats going on around them.
Gravelyctry
Well-known member
Not sure if youre saying Im oblivious, but I’m just telling you what happened. Rear seating first would work if people would take their stuff to their seats, but that’s not what happened.
kodiakisland
Well-known member
I've got an assigned seat and put my bag under the seat in front of me. I get on last.
Lol airline boarding just makes no sense! What’s so great about being in group 1 and getting to board early? So you get to sit on a hot stuffy plane for longer and watch 100 stinky humans shuffle past you? Hot tip- I’ve never been turned back for boarding with the wrong group- and I can’t be the only one? 
Also what’s the big rush with standing up as soon as possible after landing?
Also what’s the big rush with standing up as soon as possible after landing?
geetar
Well-known member
No matter what group you are boarding in the worst people are the ones that stand in the middle of the aisle right next to you as soon as the plane stops and start taking making phone calls. Bonus points if they do it on speaker phone.
Hilljackoutlaw
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No not you. The morons on that plane! Haha
Wildabeest
Well-known member
Part of the reason Group 1 gets in line early is that if they don’t, then Groups 2-7 are also jockeying for position well before their boarding group is even called up. Then you have to navigate through, around, over or under all of “the clueless tourists” to board with your group. Biggest benefit of boarding earlier is selection and availability of overhead space.
I generally try to arrive at the gate just as my group is boarding. If I don’t have to break stride, it’s a satisfying experience.
I generally try to arrive at the gate just as my group is boarding. If I don’t have to break stride, it’s a satisfying experience.
Bigjay73
Well-known member
I can see joining the line when boarding starts, waiting in line for 20 mins before the gate opens is good for people tired of sitting around I suppose. I fly United, they keep groups separated fairly well, maybe other airlines group them together more?
Lmartin5
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1000% agree!
Letthemgrow
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Lots of studies have been done on this subject. It doesn't work that way, even though it seems intuitive.
Even totally random is faster.
The most efficient is window seats first.
Oddly, I was just watching clips about this last week after witnessing a 65 minute boarding cycle.
The most efficient mathematically is the ‘Steffen method’, a combination of windows first plus ‘skipping’ rows so that every passenger inside the aircraft is always able to be putting their bags away and sitting down without someone waiting for them.
Then, once Window seats are full, same with middles, then aisles, then move to the other side of the airplane and do it again.
But, human nature being what it is, this is unlikely (at best) to be attempted.
I fly 2-4 flights a week on average and I’m with @Wildabeest - I try and get there AS my group is being called.
If airlines and airports worked on significantly improving the checked baggage process (and cost), this would be almost a non issue since it’s stowing carryon bags (and retrieving them in the other end) that causes the majority of the bottleneck.
But in many airports today, my home airport of DEN being the literal worst, that’s an additional 30-45 minutes of wait time at the carousel after every flight, which for me would mean 25-35 hours of wasted time at baggage claim per year.
But just imagine if your bags always beat you to the carousel and airlines could literally remove overhead bins on airplanes. Planes would feel bigger, boarding and deplaning would be non-events.
Sorry, that was lengthy, but I think deeply about it at least twice a week
Wildabeest
Well-known member
Only time I check a bag is when I’m hauling gear (skiing or hunting trip) or liquor. I’ve done 3 week overseas trips with nothing but a roll aboard and a suit bag.Oddly, I was just watching clips about this last week after witnessing a 65 minute boarding cycle.
The most efficient mathematically is the ‘Steffen method’, a combination of windows first plus ‘skipping’ rows so that every passenger inside the aircraft is always able to be putting their bags away and sitting down without someone waiting for them.
Then, once Window seats are full, same with middles, then aisles, then move to the other side of the airplane and do it again.
But, human nature being what it is, this is unlikely (at best) to be attempted.
I fly 2-4 flights a week on average and I’m with @Wildabeest - I try and get there AS my group is being called.
If airlines and airports worked on significantly improving the checked baggage process (and cost), this would be almost a non issue since it’s stowing carryon bags (and retrieving them in the other end) that causes the majority of the bottleneck.
But in many airports today, my home airport of DEN being the literal worst, that’s an additional 30-45 minutes of wait time at the carousel after every flight, which for me would mean 25-35 hours of wasted time at baggage claim per year.
But just imagine if your bags always beat you to the carousel and airlines could literally remove overhead bins on airplanes. Planes would feel bigger, boarding and deplaning would be non-events.
Sorry, that was lengthy, but I think deeply about it at least twice a week
No matter how fast you board the plane you can still sit on the taxiway for 20 minutes or more waiting in line to takeoff.
I have 1 more trip home (3 flights) and if I never get on a jet again in my life I will consider myself lucky.
The whole process is a circus.
I have 1 more trip home (3 flights) and if I never get on a jet again in my life I will consider myself lucky.
The whole process is a circus.
Same. Hate the game, not the player
But if it was literally no time difference, it would be an option. Airlines have gotten way better over the years at not losing bags so minus rare statistical anomalies, it’s mostly a time thing (and also a cost issue for pax that don’t have any status).
Two thursdays ago at LaGuardia, we sat in the penalty box for 2 hours as there was a line of storms from Detroit to DFW so very limited westbound routings were available, returned to the gate and deplaned, sat in the terminal for another 2 hours waiting on a new crew, then the new crew timed out on there way over from Newark.
Spent another couple of hours delayed the next day (our assigned crew had been 5h delayed landing Thursday night also so they hadn’t met the required rest period) got home 23 hours late. Usually 1-2 of those a year depending on the airport.
Air travel is still unbelievably available, safe, and efficient in the grand scheme of things, but events like those still sting.
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