Boarding a plane is a test of patience and an exercise that causes stress. At least for travelers like Krista Bates, a travel consultant from Austin, Texas. She wonders why some passengers don’t know the basic rules of etiquette for boarding a plane.
“What pets me the most when boarding a plane is walking down the aisle and the passenger behind me hitting his or her suitcase on my ankle,” says Bates, who works at Balboa Travel. “I usually turn around and look, hoping that will alleviate the problem.”
It rarely works. The stampede continues towards the back of the plane. And like many angry air travelers, Bates wonders if there is a better way — especially now, when social distancing is so important.
There should be. Disputes – including disputes over seat assignment, overhead baggage storage, or personal space – often start during the boarding process. So, with the summer travel season approaching, maybe it’s time to reconsider your boarding etiquette.
“Climbing planes can be frustrating and confusing,” says Ann Baum, etiquette expert and author of Small Mistakes, Big Consequences: Develop Your Soft Skills to Help You Succeed. She says there’s a “golden rule” when it comes to boarding: “Help others with their luggage, let someone go ahead and be the friendly flyer. A mistake on the nice side.”
But let’s talk about the details of boarding etiquette. Here are the big questions:
Do I have to stand near the gate before the boarding group is called?
of course not. “You should steer clear of standing in line at the gate before your boarding group,” says Bonnie Tsai, founder of etiquette consultancy Beyond Etiquette.
Tsai says passengers stand early because they think they’ll have an advantage when their class is finally called. But they only slow down the ascent and crowd the gate.
“It may also cause frustration for other travelers and gate agents,” Tsai says. “Putting up before the boarding group is called will not get you to your destination soon. Be understanding, and you will all get what you want.”
Pro tip: savvy travelers without elite status arrive at the airport early and share a seat close to the boarding area. Then, when their class is called, they can line up, which means they’ll reach their section first.
Do faster passengers have the right of way when boarding?
We have all been there. You may be carrying additional baggage. Other passengers began to gather behind you while you stowed your bag in the overhead compartment. Should you get off the road and let other passengers pass you?
Again, no. Stepping aside for faster passengers won’t speed up the boarding process significantly. “It’s most effective in the overall boarding process to have the slowest passengers on board first,” says Debbie Karstens, a professor in the School of Aeronautics at Florida Institute of Technology.
This may seem illogical at the moment, but that’s when we rely on our reserves of good morals. “I don’t want to be that passenger trying to get past mom pushing her kids in a pram,” Karstens says.
Pro tip: consider traveling with Southwest Airlines. “Southwest has a digital boarding order, and it has numbered columns to make sure people get in the correct order before boarding,” says Raj Mahal, the software developer who created the PlanMoreTrips app. “It is no coincidence that Southwest also has the fastest aircraft response time.”
Who owns the space in the overhead locker above your chair?
Travelers traditionally feel that the storage space above their seats is theirs. But don’t be too regional. Etiquette experts say it’s important to be flexible, and remember that it works both ways. The upper box closest to your seat may not be available, and you may have to rely on the flexibility of another passenger.
Furthermore, “If you’re on a flight instructor, don’t use the baggage compartments for business or first class when you get on the plane,” says Rachel Wagner, an etiquette expert. “Also, it is impolite to store your things in the front rows of economy class if your seat is near the back of economy class.”
Pro tip: be patient. “If you need more space, wait until people have all put their things down and see where there is room to put your extra luggage,” says etiquette expert Adeodata Czink. You’ll often find some space, and you won’t have to fight any passengers for it.
So there you have it. Remain seated until your class is called, give passengers in front of you all the time they need to store their belongings and share overhead bin space. These are the basics of boarding etiquette.
“My grandmother always said, ‘Courtesy costs nothing,'” says Julian Walker, head of market communications and PR at travel management firm CWT. We are immersed in our own worlds.”
