Some flyers believe that the best thing to do when your plane lands is to remain seated until it’s their turn to get off of the aircraft. They shake their heads, wondering why people stand up when they can’t really go anywhere until the doors of the aircraft open, and everyone ahead of them gets off first. This view is sometimes expressed in harsh terms, mocking those who stand immediately. But it’s also 100% wrong.
Why are people on planes like this…? You’re not going anywhere pic.twitter.com/HcmivU3PUG
— Cruz Oxenreider (@TheRealCruzOx) June 23, 2024
You may not get anywhere (much) more quickly, but you might be more comfortable and crucially by using all the available space in the aircraft you’re helping other passengers be more comfortable too.
There are three reasons to get up right away – why it benefits you and most importantly benefits your fellow passengers.
- Getting ready to deplane, including getting things out of the overhead bin, speeds up the process. That means getting everyone off the aircraft a couple of minutes faster. And that means more people make tight connections (which is polite to your fellow travelers). It also means allowing those couple of minutes for cleaners to get on board and clean the aircraft (polite to the cleaners, letting them do their job, and polite to the next passengers on the plane). It helps with the airline’s operation, too, which makes them more efficient and holds down costs and ultimately fares.
- It’s polite to the middle seat passenger who’s been stuck in place for hours when the person in the aisle seat gets up into the aisle. When you no longer have to have seat belts fastened, you want to take advantage of all of the space in the aircraft. The aisle seat passenger gets into the aisle, the middle seat passenger now has the space of the aisle seat to spread into, and the window seat passenger has a bit more elbow room as well. Why wouldn’t you use all of the space in the aircraft for comfort?
- You’ve been stuck in an uncomfortable seat for hours, why not stand as soon as you can? Especially in an era of less-padded slimline seats, it’s time to give your back a rest.
Kevin Dahlstrom also adds a point that I hadn’t considered, but is actually a fourth reason. Some people operate with high urgency across all facets of life. Other people don’t. That’s ok – you do you – but high performers shouldn’t have to slow down for people that aren’t.
Why the rush to deplane?
Why do you walk so fast?
Why are you always in a hurry?I’ve heard it my whole life and used to think maybe they were right. Then I realized that operating with urgency is a superpower and a hallmark trait of high performers.
There’s really little benefit to remaining seated until it’s your row’s turn to deplane. While there’s no real obligation to cram into the aisles immediately (except perhaps an obligation to make a little room for the passenger in the middle seat to stretch out), it’s certainly not reasonable to criticize passengers for getting up to stretch, and to get their carry on bags down in order to deplane efficiently.
You should stand as soon as your plane lands and arrives at the gate. You shouldn’t wait until everyone in the rows ahead of you has had their turn to get off the plane. This helps everyone stretch out a little bit, and move faster off the plane, which benefits other passengers, the airline, and ultimately you too. It’s the sort of forward-leaning behavior that’s the hallmark of high performers.
Smiling. How ableist this is — and how unrealistic for many of us with mobility disabilities. EVEN if we can stand and hold on, we can’t deplane until (unless?) they bring the requested wheelchair to the door of plane on the jetway. If only it were so easy! One day perhaps it will be.
I’ve never understood this silly “rule” about not standing up when the plane reaches the gate. There’s no harm in it, and it is marginally effective in unloading the plane faster. I’m an upright biped; standing is my natural state, and after several hours of not standing, I feel compelled by nature to stand when the opportunity avails itself. Leave me alone.
You’ve made two statements, Gary !!! “You should stand as soon as your plane lands and arrives at the gate. You shouldn’t wait until everyone in the rows ahead of you has had their turn to get off the plane”. I’m strongly agreed with you on the first, and not agreed with you on the second: As a matter of common courtesy, it’s appropriate to wait for the rows ahead of you to deplane.
Waiting until the plane is at the gate is a safety first matter. It’s a matter of the plane is still in motion and if someone falls or worse, odds are they’re going to sue and get a $ettlement. Enough of those $ettlement$ yanks up everybody’s airfare.
That said, once at the gate, please let’s say our thank yous to the aircrew – both pilots and FAs – and get going so those with tight connections can make them. Frankly I prefer the Delta way of deplaning – those with truly tight connections, regardless of seating class deplane first.
I need just one reason. Because I decide to. If you don’t like or understand it, tough shit.
I’m usually in the exit row aisle on narrowbody aircraft and I’m happy to let window/middle scoot past me as I wait for the door to open and the line to start moving. They can then stand in the aisle doing nothing as I quietly read something on my phone, before standing up at the appropriate time and making it off the aircraft literally two steps behind them.
High performers also don’t waste more energy than we need to!
I’m usually at the aisle, and I stand up as soon as it is OK to do so, for the reasons given here. I also pull items out of the overhead bin, so I’ll be ready to go immediately when it’s my turn, and to make it easier for others to get their items. I really don’t mind if other aisle people don’t stand right away, but it’s one of the minor annoyances of life when someone at an aisle in a row in front of me does nothing (except probably stare at a phone) until it’s their turn to deplane, and only then starts fumbling around for carry on items. Be ready when it’s your turn is the only obligation, as I see it.
“Then I realized that operating with urgency is a superpower and a hallmark trait of high performers.”
Good lord get over yourself and stop listening to whatever stupid pseudoscience podcast you’re subscribed to
I always stand as soon as the jetway has connected and the all clear is sounded. Being of the over 50 club….plus more…it takes me time to get moving. Stretching while standing in place helps..as well as grabbing the overhead luggage and helping others get their overhead bags as well. Mama always told me to be kind to others…
Aww hell no. Nonsense article.
So, the title really should have been, If you are seated in an aisle seat, here are 4 reasons you should stand up as soon as possible. They put windows in the airplane for a reason, and that’s where I’ll be seated if possible. But, that’s why I don’t sit at the aisle, and are stuck until everyone in front of me leaves.
This seems like parody, but I know it isn’t! 100% of the time, I walk faster than the person deplaning in front of me, so if I stay seated, they’ll still be holding me up walking down the aisle and until I can pass them on the jetway. This rule might make sense for some, but it doesn’t for me. I’m going to stay seated.
Another high performer hallmark: Medellin Moon Dust.
Biggest reason I think you failed to mention is that standing up prevents the rude people from running from the back of the plane and not letting everyone deplane in order from front to back. Only time I dont stand up is when flight attendants ask us not to because some people need to make a connection.
There is also a strong MEDICAL reason to stand right away if seated in an aisle seat-if you have had pulmonary embolisms, as I have, you should be on a blood thinner and nearly all cardiologist’s recommend not sitting for longer than 2 hours. that is the sole reason I stand from my aisle seat on every flight. Prior to the P/E’s, was always a window guy.
Everyone ought to remain seated until called by the FA , in alphabetical order .
Possibly the dumbest reasons ever? “It’s polite to the middle seat passenger who’s been stuck in place for hours ” – yes, because it’s polite for the few people that can stand to put their ass in the face of those next to them they can’t, either because of the overhead bin or the lack of space. “including getting things out of the overhead bin,” – yes, because there’s not only room for a bunch of standing people but also for their carryons? “operating with urgency is a superpower and a hallmark trait of high performers” – ugh, hardly. citation to support this “theory?”
I’m going to be in an aisle seat. I’ll stand up and get my small carryon from under the seat or overhead. All the time, I’m making sure not to interfere with the other chap in the opposite aisle seat who is also up. Then, I’ll ask the person(s) in my row if I can grab something for them from the bin. Ninety percent of the time they ask me to. They’re happier, we save a little time a small percentage of time, and it’s something to do while stretching my legs.
I’m the opposite. I stand up only when a couple rows in front is leaving. I think we’d better free up the aisle until it’s your turn to leave because:
1. Some passengers in the back may have tight connection, so let them deplane first.
2. Some passengers may have their carry-on a few rows in the back. They have to move backwards in the aisle, and it’s really hard when the aisle’s packed.
It’ll actually make deplaning faster than having everyone stand up and occupy the aisle.
Totally dumb, and demonstrative of the author’s lack of empathy and imagination.
First, some people have a greater need to disembark quickly. If the author and all his fellow sheep stand up immediately, it is harder for them to make their connections. I hope Mr Leff is stuck behind people doing this and misses many connections.
Second, many of us are not midgets, and can’t stand comfortably in the window or middle positions.
Third, the aircraft turnaround time arguments are total nonsense. Cleaners tend to work from the front to the rear, so start before everyone has disembarked.
Fourth, on smaller regional jets not only are more people discomforted by the low ceilings, but you’re rushing to stand on the jet way for your carry-on bags.
I reckon this is either a stupid clickbait article or Mr Leff is slightly deranged. Or both.
There isn’t enough room for everyone in aisle seats to stand. I take up the entire width of the aisle when I stand and most of the length of a seat as well. If every aisle seat occupant stands up, we’ll all be uncomfortably pressed against each other.
I am an aisle flier in First domestically. Why not stand up? I want to be first out but won’t fly bulkhead.
On domestic flights my preferred seat is 1B or 1C which I often occupy when I fly American due to frequent upgrades. Otherwise 8C. When in 1B or 1C I frequently allow the patron in 1A to squeeze past while I relax, take my time, stay out of other patrons mad dash for the exit, and gather my overhead storage items while staying out of the aisle as much as possible.
I definitely believe patrons sitting further aft should only stand when the 2 or 3 rows ahead of them are in motion. I consider moronic the behavior of patrons who have window seats and stand in contorted postures for 5 or more minutes until they can reach the aisle and stand fully straight.
I consider Mr. Neff to have a fetish about this matter as he has repeatedly posted his views on jumping up as soon as the “ding” is heard. Something akin to imposed Pavlovian responses I would assume is Mr. Neff’s fancy.
“High performers also don’t waste more energy than we need to!”
Good lord. Get over yourself. I know, as you said you have big feet and a …to go with it. How much energy does it take to stand?
I love inter-island Hawaii flights. Locals typically sit until it gets to their row. Don’t have to worry about someone’s ass in my face while sitting. Orderly and respectful.
Here’s a hint….The seatback in front of you is NOT a grab bar. Use the armrests to get your butt up.
My biggest pet peeve! Do some sit ups and lay off the chips to get your core strength back so you don’t need to pull on every surface to get up.
@pilot, if I have a setback puller behind me, as soon as I feel the seat pull back, I’m pushing the recline button and not saying a damn thing.
I think it’s interesting how so many people are deathly uncomfortable in a plane. “I gotta stretch!!!” Why is it that serious???
Just don’t fly if you have to act like that. Sheesh.
People often stand up and look confused and/or annoyed that they aren’t able to leave right away. What did you think? Why pop up like that?
Not to mention that when passengers stand right away, they very often get right in the flight attendant’s way.
I thought that passengers figured that they need to pop up like that because they see the flight attendants do it. When we stand… We start to disarm the doors or do other arrival tasks. Once those things are done most of is sit back down [if we are working in the back] while you guys are still standing there looking confused and/or annoyed.
When I fly as a passenger, I wait for about the row in front of me to start deplaning before I start getting ready.
That Kevin Dahlstrom is a prize idiot. I’m shocked that you’re pushing a judgy agenda with a hyper-judgy individual who tries to tell everyone what the universal truths are for a group where he represents a grand total of one out of millions. Using the same logic I can speak for all 6’4″ Americans, right?
Getting up in a hurry is a great way to block off those poor desperate schmucks who have tight connections and helps ensure they don’t make it. You may crow about it but I think it’s lacking in taste.
@ Malcom “Cleaners tend to work from the front to the rear, so start before (!?!?) everyone has disembarked.” Have you flown?
Idiotic.
Do not stand when the plane lands. That is what you said, and not only is it stupid but a violation of FARs.
Want to stand once the seatbelt sign is off? By all means, go ahead. But those in front of you get to get off first.
Terrible advice. Flight attendants have always praised my patience in staying seated. You get up when the line is moving a few rows ahead of you and then you can grab your stuff. Always heed the flight attendant, none of them encourage this.
If you’re an aisle guy, you can stand, grab your stuff from right above you, and sit back down if you want to move quickly when it’s time. Standing just clogs the aisle for no reason.
You’ve flown hours. You can sit a few more minutes. This reads like it was written by a child.
Gary just when I think you couldn’t dumpster dive any deeper, you prove me wrong. You need a new job.
@David you are the reason this world is going to effing hell. People just like you exist.
I always get the aisle seat and so does my spouse. We always stand as soon as we can to block the uncivilized idiots that rush the aisle before it’s their row’s turn.
Row-by-row is how it should go. It’s not a bus in the third-world. Wait your turn.
Good points, Gary. If it sounds ableist…oh well…so is everything else.
PLEASE DO NOT ADVOCATE THIS.
It makes my job harder when you ask people to block the aisle. We sometimes may have to get passengers with tight connections out of the planes first. You also omit the fact that regional planes do you have middle seats. Sometimes, there may be emergencies that will require people from back of the plane to the door… or having the authorities grabunruly passengers upon arrival. Blocking the aisle is not a smart thing.
So, please do us a favor and stay seated. Be civilized and wait your turn. An extra 5 minutes is not going to kill your day
It’s great how everyone has an opinion on this, which is mainly that everyone else is wrong!
It reminds me of one of my favorite FlyerTalk threads, where someone posted, “Don’t you hate rude people on planes who cut in front of you after you have been waiting patiently in line to disembark?”
People were like, “Hell, yeah- I hate rude people on planes! Wait, what do you mean, waiting in line?”…
You’re really contradicting yourself:
“Getting ready to deplane, including getting things out of the overhead bin, speeds up the process. That means getting everyone off the aircraft a couple of minutes faster. And that means more people make tight connections (which is polite to your fellow travelers).”
Staying seated and letting people with tight connections deplane before everyone else is the answer here. On delayed flights, the cabin crew will specifically ask for this.
This article is basically the worst advice ever and will just fuel the entitled idiots that will want to get up at any price; even if there is no more place for them in the aisle.
I can agree that, while space permits, a few people can start preparing in the aisle, but usually it ends up in impolite swinging (and potentially hurting) carry-on bags over the place without checking if there is space. There is no real reason to hurry while the crew is waiting for the doors to open and having premium cabins deplane first.
When I have travelled on planes at certain times and once they land & get to the gate,I will certainly stand up and get my things out from the overhead bin and I will get ready to move and if some travellers on the flight have any problem with what I do, then I pretty much say “Tough Shit”, Ya got a problem with me doing what I choose to do,then too bad for you because to me,you are an Absolute Nobody to me
Very American attitude…