I often say that you do not want to board first. You want to board ‘not last’ so that the plane hasn’t run out of overhead bin space by the time you get on. Boarding early is about one thing only: not having to gate check your carry on bag.
That’s why I absolutely love a quick overnight, and on a two night trip sometimes stretch myself to travel with just my laptop bag, so that I don’t need overhead bin space. I can show up at the airport later. I can work productively in the lounge. And I don’t have to rush boarding. As someone that values every 5 minutes in my day (I really do keep myself that busy), this matters to me.
- Why on earth does first class board first, instead of last?
- Why is early boarding a benefit and not a punishment?
In an idealized world this seems right:
Screw boarding a plane first. Why would I want to sit on a plane and wait for everyone else to board? I want a special ticket that allows me to board *last*. And I get to board 5 minutes after they say boarding is now closed. And when I walk in they play my theme song and I do a
— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) June 6, 2024
While this is true, priority boarding is still important, especially on U.S. airline domestic flights, or else you won’t have access to overhead bin space. People even get an airline’s credit card just so they can board earlier and spend more time in a cramped seat because overhead bins will be full by the time you get on if you board last. Plus when you board last you’re just going to be stuck behind a line of people on a backed up jet bridge.
Overhead bin space is less of an issue, at least in theory, when bin space is assigned by cabin (a first class bin says first class on it) but that doesn’t guarantee coach passengers won’t use the bin or that first class passengers won’t take it all placing their personal item up there – plus, flight attendants may be using it too, and sometimes there’s equipment in the bins taking up space as well.
I’ve had airlines ask me whether I wanted to board first or last when flying first class. I always prefer last, unless it’s a new cabin product I’ve never taken photos of and want to get in early for blog content.
Of course these are cabins where overhead bin space isn’t going to be an issue, either because the seat itself has the needed storage (even for a carry-on bag) or because worst case there’ll be plenty of closet space. I’m not risking overhead space, and I’m not going to get caught on a jetbridge.
What I’d love to see is overhead bins reserved for passengers in each row, with each row receiving designated space. Wouldn’t it be nice if you’re stuck in the bulkhead row of first class – with no underseat storage area – not to have to worry about having space above your head?
U.S. airlines, sadly, don’t often even have the closet space that they used to. It’s been sacrificed, along with seat pitch, galley space, and size of the lavatory, in the name of squeezing in an extra row of seats.
The other worry about boarding last is that the TSA has treated this as a security flag that you might be a terrorist.
A true premium experience would be the ability to board last without the consequence of losing out on overhead bin space and either having to gate-check your bag or (best case) having it stowed in an overhead bin eight or ten rows behind you. But U.S. airlines aren’t in the business of delivering true premium experiences on domestic flights.
@Lance, I am tired of this “first world” BS criticism. Someone lost his left hand. Oh, what a first world problem, there are people who lost the whole arm. We can simultaneously ponder small issues even when there is war, famine, and climate change. We are that talented.
Is it known that KLM disallows use of the Amsterdam Lounge with a Business Class ticket ? There was no issue inbound but she charged 80 Euro outbound. There was no upgrade or “miles” used in the ticket. The flight was long haul to Panama – Dreamliner paid for fully.
For years flying SQ (in business usually) from and to Changi I adopted a ‘last on first out’ strategy. It worked very well. I still try to do this on my long haul flights. It’s preferable to enjoy a lounge instead of sitting in a seat on the plane as crowds walk by as they board. Although I now travel more with my wife and she likes to arrive at airports early, board first, etc.
It simply gives you an option to board first, doesn’t force you to board first. If airlines started elites to board last you will not have the option to board first but with the current setting you can also board last without waiting because they have a separate line. I really don’t understand your logic…
@Hance. I used the Schengen lounge at AMS on a DL business class ticket last month. The KLM.fr website says of the non-Schengen lounge: “Are you travelling in Business Class? Visiting our Crown Lounges is included in your Standard and Flex ticket.” I assume from the wording it is possible an additional category(ies) of business exists that would not have free access.
I find the business/first class seat is more comfortable that the seat I vacated in the lounge or gate area (if lounge access isn’t included). Overhead space isn’t an issue for me. I only carry a backpack that can go underneath (and I never select bulkhead) on narrowbodies.
Last year AF and KL went down this road of having an international long-haul business class fare type that excludes lounge access and only the economy class checked-in baggage allowance.
OMAAT said this at the time:
“Air France and KLM have introduced new Business Light fares in most long haul markets, which cost an extra €100 each way. These fares don’t offer lounge access and come with just one checked bag, but if you have SkyTeam Elite Plus status, you can still take advantage of elite perks.”
No one forces you to board when first class is called. Linger in the gate area all yiunwant while the rest of us ard getting situated, stowing carry on luggage, and occasionally being served a beverage. If i am going to wait for take off in a chair…be it in the gate area or first class plane seat, i will choose the plane.
Ummmm you can board last if you want to, airlines allow business and first classic board at any time, they just have priority to board first if they happen to be standing around the gate. What a pointless article
I travel with medically necessary equipment, have to have a place on-board for it. Unless they GUARANTEE an overhead slot, will board as early as I can
Makes sense to me.
Board the back of the plane early. They take the longest to get settled in.
Keep the overhead bins closed/locked in F while boarding the back of the plane to insure those are truly reserved for F only.
This gives me more time to enjoy the UAClub and not be rushed to the gate.
Of course, I also enjoy telling the young children as they walk past my wide seat with lotsa legroom that if Mom and Dad loved them, they’d be in these seats.
My preference is the bulkhead seat in First class. I like boarding early to make sure I do have overhead storage. I also am not a good person and enjoy the envious looks I get from the coach passengers. 🙂
This works for international cabins where the hoi polloi turn right (or have a separate jetway) and many airlines used to do it this way.
Unfortunately can never work on a US airline because elites want overhead space and it will be all gone if they board last.
This article had no value at all for those of us that travel business class. You can board at anytime.
This article missed the mark. The point of boarding higher classes last is that you speed up the boarding process significantly. With traditional boarding, with first/business boarding first, front to back, you always have a bottleneck as people up front who are finding their seats and placing their bags as people sitting behind them are piling up behind them and up the jetway, having to wait. Boarding should be back of plane first, middle rows next, and up front last, with overhead bin control. On a typical mid-sized aircraft this would speed up boarding by 10 to 20 minutes, and of course, help with delays.
Wait till last to board seemed like a good idea and tried several times here in the USA on domestic flights but I use busineI ss class. Several times I went put my
a carry-on the overh bin v and it was full of bags from economy, the FA came and 4helped. The worst was an Afffrican Karen refused to remove bags and insisted my business class seat belong to her. She attacked me and spit and referred to as re entitled white cracker and set down,she was to be far back economy and FA me to use her seat. I took my carry-on and l left.booked on another airline but did receive a refund. Now living in an Asian country I use 2 different Asian airlines. Much better than the US airlines and the pot smoking drunk drugies and African racists.
How moronic. Trying to reverse engineer logic?
First and business class cabins are in the front row – because it is quieter not having to listen to jet blast roar at the rear.
And being at the front, means there might be a centre of gravity problem if you load the unsupported rear area first. The plane might be tipped nose up during the loading, if cargo bay loading is not synchronised (loading the front first).
Overhead bin space used to be a non-problem when airlines and airports don’t lose luggage or handles them efficiently. People often choose not to check their luggage in because of that reason.
lol imagine another @gary article in which it had no purpose…. This is that one.
Just board later? Who gives a flying shit.