Southwest Airlines took to social media to congratulate passengers who stay seated until it’s their row’s turn to deplane. By implication they’re criticizing those who stand up immediately once the plane pulls into the gate and the captain turns off the seat belt sign. This strikes me as misguided.
— Jeremy Danner (@Jeremy_Danner) December 2, 2022
It may seem more ‘civilized’ to wait patiently in your seat, rather than everyone rushing into the aisles. However,
- If everyone waits to get up, it takes longer to deplane the aircraft. That’s because when you get up in the aisle, you remove your bags from the overhead bin. Each passenger not getting their bag until the row ahead has gotten up means several extra seconds per passenger to deplane. It takes longer to turn an aircraft that way, leading to delays – bad for passengers, and especially bad for the airline which needs to schedule longer sit times and winds up with less efficient aircraft utilization and higher costs.
- When you’re in a coach seat on a several hours-long flight (remember – Southwest flies transcons and to Hawaii!) it’s totally reasonable to stand up and get out of that seat as quickly as possible. Why be forced to sit any longer than necessary?
- If the passenger in the aisle gets up, then the passenger in the middle has more space – something they’ve been denied throughout the flight. It’s rude to keep the middle seat passenger hemmed when they don’t have to be.
It was a common early pandemic procedure for some airlines to instruct passengers to remain seated and stand only by row, so that fewer people would be taking items out of overhead bins at once, in order to reduce congestion in the aisles. That meant more time on the plane on most airlines when the engines and APU were off, which meant (depending on aircraft) that HEPA air filtration wasn’t occurring. And in the case of many European airlines it meant waiting longer on the plane in order to crowd into buses after arriving at a hard stand.
There’s no real obligation to cram into the aisles immediately (though try to make room for the passenger in the middle seat to stretch out). But it’s not reasonable to criticize passengers for getting up to stretch, and to get their carry on bags down in order to deplane efficiently.
I used to be the last person to board; why sit longer than you have to? However once, myself and two BIG Olympian shot putters waited til everyone else boarded. When we stepped onto the plane, our seats were taken up by other people! The airlines had “overbooked” so we were put on another flight to another destination then bussed to our original destination. Needless to say I did not get my luggage until the following afternoon and had to go to my work conference in my travel clothes.
Now when they call my section, I BOARD!
How about we do away with all the oversized carry-on bags and people check their luggage? That way everyone could get up grab their small bags and get off the plane. It’s those that pack more and more into these oversized carry-ons, so they don’t have to wait for luggage. They hold the rest of us up!!! I know I’m in the minority because during our last flight there were more people that didn’t check luggage than people who had to wait for bags…
I completely disagree!
I am over 6’3″ and have had multiple knee surgeries. By the time the plane lands, I am more than ready to stand and relieve the pain in my knees. I always reserve the aisle seat for this reason. I don’t push my way forward, I wait patiently until it is my turn to deplane.
Countries at war, death from starvation, rampant homelessness, and people are worried about getting off of an airplane 60 seconds quicker. Wow!
The misunderstanding in the comments is…special. No one is talking about rushing forward, just standing up, which doesn’t negatively impact anyone but does help out those next to you.
There is the scenario of people connecting but you can just slide back with your head down, no problem.
I will say that if there’s an opening to move past the row in front me because they’re taking soong to get over and out and I know I won’t slow them down, I’ll do it.
If people would check bags everyone could get off quickly. All these bags on the plane are the real problem. Trying to walk back 6 rows to grab your bag is what wastes time deboarding.
As a semi-frequent flyer on Southwest, I have always viewed it as extremely rude for people to not be ready to leave when it is their time. These rude people wait until their turn to block any movement as they struggle to get their luggage from overhead, often requiring others to help them; all the while, no one is able to get out.
This author is crazy. Sit your butt down and wait your turn. I’ll elbow and push the people that are behind me that try to crowd out before it’s their turn. The whole time telling them they need to learn manners and wait. If you’re sitting in the back of the plane that’s your choice, you already decided to wait now do it.
You’re absurd. We’re in a tripledemic. Staying seated is reasonable.
I never would deplane before the row ahead of me and despise people that try to do so, unless they have a connection and really need to.
However, I do stand up after the seatbelt light is off. I want to stretch mr legs. I’m not going anywhere -it’s not bothering anyone if I stand up.
This is an absolutely asinine take. No one gets anywhere faster just because you’re hunchbacked in your row or sardined in the aisle, while people in the rows ahead are daring to take a few seconds to pull their luggage out of the overhead.
I stand up at the ding to start getting the circulation back into my foot. I don’t grab my bags until it gets to my row and I’ve never tried to push past any of the rows in front of me. But if you don’t get up when you hear the ding,I guarantee you somebody will be standing right next to you.
FACT: If everyone checked their bags, boarding and de-planing would be 80% faster. I would guess that 90% they’ll let you check your bag for free. Check your damn bag!
@Lightwave – SW doesn’t charge to check a bag and they still have a lot of carry on luggage. It isn’t just the cost (most of us don’t pay bag fees anyway) but the convenience. If I’m gone for less than 5 days no way I’m checking a bag. Why stand at baggage claim and possibly risk it getting lost or stolen?
People.
I am 6’5″, 265 #. I have severe Arthritis in my body, especially my knees.
Using common sense, I get up, every 45 minutes to an hour. Typically, I take that time, and go to the bathroom. It allows me to stretch, and relieve myself. Noone has ever complained to me about getting up several times during a flight. And, except on long, international flights, I rarely find anyone else in the aisle, except to go to the toilet.
Why would anyone, wait until landing, to get up and exercise your legs? I’m at a loss as to “why”.
The trouble is if you don’t stand up folks in the way back come charging up to crowd in front and you still can’t get your bag down. You’ve got to stand up just hold position.
As a frequent flyer, nothing, NOTHING annoys me more than people who immediately get up knowing damn well they aren’t getting off any time soon.. blocking the aisles for no reason.. knowing damn well you have to wait for an eternity to get out… Blocking people’s view and air
It’s actually common courtesy to stay seated until it gets to your row, especially if you’ve reached your final destination. This keeps the aisle clear for people to deplane first if you have a connection.
At unloading: I will stand when plane stops. Get circulation back, if I don’t someone else’s butt will be in my face.
Waiting till my route exists is the polite way.
I do like the free check bags in. Carry ons should fit under seat. No overhead bins.
Loading:. I’ve noticed we all wait as people load their overhead bins as we stand waiting or turn.
If we load from back of plane loads first, loading would go far, far faster.
These comments are hilarious. “Common courtesy to stand and give middle seat room”, “rude to stand and block the isle”, it’s like the reclining seat arguments. Just rest assured, whatever you do, half the people will think you are an inconsiderate @ss, and the other half will agree that’s what you should have done. So do you. Lol
Lot of people in these comments with bad circulation.
No you should wait till it gets to your row. That’s called waiting in line. People that crowd you from the back to pass you are douchebags.
Some people, like myself, have back issues or other health issues. So by time the plane lands I stand up ASAP in order to help alleviate my pain.
This is a good article, and grateful that the author took the time to write it. The unique thing about air flights is that certain passengers will have excruciatingly tight connections, in which case, some airlines, such as forward-thinking United Airlines, announce to the entire load of passengers that there are indeed some among them who would welcome deplaning quickly in order to catch their super-tight connections. United graciously asks any passengers who have extra time to remain seated or to hold back, to allow those with the time-sensitive connections to get going fast.
what really bugs me is the people who get up before we stop at the gate and the seatbelt sign goes off. I wholeheartedly approve of any pilot who refuses to move the rest of the way to the gate until they sit back down, and honestly wish some of those people would be met by security at the end for interfering with flight operations. I don’t even mind if it makes me miss my connection, I despite them that much.
Last night, I connected through Houston. The flight attendant looked up the connections, and while we were taxinging to the gate, the lead fight attendant listed about 5 connections with short connections, one at a time, and asked them to push the call button. He asked those of us not in a row with a light on to stay in our ride until the people with short connections left the plane.
We all agree that the “me first idiots” should be shoved back into their seats. At least I hope we agree.
I fly Southwest more than once a month, but they arevnot the onlyvairline with this problem. I am mobility challenged. I don’t EVEN try to stand up until most people are off the plane. I have been pushed, elbowed and cursed at too many times because it takes me “too long” to stand and get my bag down and move to the exit. Seldom has anyone offered to help. Often, as I try to stand from my seat, others rush by to make sure I do not inconvenience them by ensuring I cannot get up even though they see me struggling to get upright. Even though I do have a wheelchair waiting for me on the jetbridge, I will stay seated until all of those who are determined to be fast have deboarded and tip my attendant a little more for waiting for me.
I disagree, sir!
It’s really uncomfortable to stand up when there already many passengers in that narrow aisle. On top of that passengers try to get their carry-on luggages from overhead bins. Also, it’s possible their luggage could be in some other bin other than where you are sitting
Gary, you’re correct in your logic however the problem is not people standing beside their seat, it is passengers moving ahead with their bags impeding people in rows ahead from getting up. This is the cause of the delay.
My question is why are all these people wearing masks when masks are not required anymore and masks do not work it’s been proven by science that masks do nothing but yet these morons still continue to wear masks I don’t understand
I’m in the window seat or middle seat I stay seated and don’t push out the row behind me. But, if the person in the isle seat doesn’t cut people out I’m not worried about it. I have had people behind me who were standing rush ahead. It’s simple, there’s not enough room for everyone to stand up and there is plenty of time to wait your turn and my legs are freaking killing me too, but I wait my turn.
Seriously? Our country is about to embark on a major recession. Many citizens, due to absolutely no fault of their own, are forced to live from paycheck to paycheck. (Unlike you, flying anywhere is not even a financial possibility for many Americans. Therefore the purpose of your article is complete nonsense to them.)
Interest rates are out of control. The homeless are struggling just to find a hot meal and a warm, safe place in the middle of a brutally cold winter for them, their children, their parents and their families to lay their heads at night; the housing crisis is out of control; and the Covid pandemic is now interlaced with RSV and one of the worst flu outbreaks in history. Yet the main issue that concerns you is when to stand up on a commercial aircraft. Please leave your shallow, self entitled, narcissistic world that revolves solely around you like a padded coccoon, take off your luxury cooling eye mask so you can clearly see reality, and return to the REAL WORLD immediately. After all, you seem to believe you know how to solve the fictitious apocalyptic issue of standing on a plane. Perhaps you can address and fix those actual serious world issues mentioned at the beginning of this reply. Once you have done that, we might possibly be ready to entertain your travel plans.
The answer to this travel quandary is ……………”there is no answer”
Flight attendants have asked politely and directly all over the world .The passengers WILL do what they choose predicated on the fact that the flight attendant or fellow passenger will not confront the situation in a real way .Ive been on so many flights and no matter the circumstances ,it depends on the crew and the blend of passengers .Sometimes its pretty unbelievable the amount of very rude people gathered on a plane .Not just talking about standing up . I would LOVE to see one small carryon …it would be very entertaining 🙂
Respectfully disagree with the author. You can stand up or sit down when the plane comes to a complete stop and you hear that ding. However, you’re not going anywhere until the people in front of you start moving. I find it more uncomfortable to stand awkwardly in the aisle or even worse underneath the overhead compartment. I stay seated until the people a few rows ahead of me start moving. That gives me plenty of time to grab my things and keep the line moving.
Been flying since 1966, since seats were comfortable and carry-ons were only the size of a shoulder bag for a magazine.and some toiletries.. Never imagined flying would be like the 8am New York subway. I guess it was subsidized then or perhaps they underpaid staff. Lately we’ve been required to check our carry-ons and they’ve been quite quick at the carousel. Of real note is that now on AA they are requiring exit row heroes to confirm their ability to communicate with staff and public AND to be able to gauge conditions outside the exit door window as safe enough to pass through. My biggest concern these days is a recline button that is unusable!! Cramped coach seating will hinder evacuation…no doubt people will be trying to get their items out of overhead bin as the plane goes bottoms-up. Still safer than the highways.
The problem is people in the back of the plane rushing forward in an attempt to get off the plane sooner. If people simply stood but waited their turn, that would be one thing, but many don’t. The only way to prevent that? Have everyone remain seated until it’s their turn.
Back in the day maybe as recently as 20 yrs ago.. everyone who was sitting on the aisle got up first got their stuff first and got off the plane first then the people in the middle then the people at the window it was part of the reason you chose those seats and it was a much faster way to deplane I’ve stood behind people slowly taking their bags off when I’ve got mine and so is everyone behind me and we’re waiting for that one person who could have just let everyone else go people are naturally selfish
I disagree with the author and a bit surprised he isn’t backing up his de-plane efficiency hypothesis with any data but rather just his hypothesis confirming gut feel… but, hey, I have old school courtesy hang ups – ie, I don’t recline my seat either – so I guess the joke is on me.
I’m sure to enjoy many of these commenters midsections in my face for 10 min when I’m patiently seated in the isle of row 28.
That said, the real truism for the truly travel hardened – “to each their own!” Safe travels all.
Misinformed article with a deceptive title. Nobody was admonished. One group of people was complemented for the manner in which they conducted themselves. Equating that to admonisment of those that did not conduct themselves in a similar manner is the thought process of a child. It matches the childish position of the me centered article. Any process carried out in an orderly manner, particularly where humans are involved, is always the most efficient.
I agree with the author. I do not rush forward but appreciate being ready to deplane ASAP!
Last several times I flew Southwest, people from the back just about knocked you down rushing rudely up the aisle (only to have to wait to deplane) . However their standing in the aisle kept me from being able to stand or get into the overhead. Their rear in my face was not pleasant. If they want to deplane first they should pay the extra cost to board sooner and this have a seat closer to the front.
I’ve had 9 back surgeries, I have 6 metal rods and 19 screws in my back and it hurts to sit even one minute longer than necessary. So when the seatbelt sign goes off I am going to stand up and anybody who doesn’t like it can blow me.
Those in rows further back who stand up and move to the rows closer to the exit should be called out for their rude behavior. Sure, they may not have a bag and can leave immediately, but that doesn’t entitle them to jump ahead and block others from leaving their seat and causing them a delayed exit.
Please. Just admit that if you’re standing up that you’re not allowing your entire row to stand. It’s SELFISH. Stop with the lame excuses. Keep your butt seated like everyone else. An extra 5 minutes isn’t gonna kill ya.
I guess Gary boy here would be that one guy that would knock over a 90 year old lady just to get off the plane 3 seconds faster. All he does this entire article is a tirade about how his way is better and examples of how his way works better for him. Well Gary boy, your way is very rude, and it shows you have zero compassion or empathy for your fellow man.
Just to throw another gallon of gas on the fire, why should someone that is flying just TO the hub wait to get off because the airline didn’t operate their flight on schedule or schedule enough connecting time to give people sufficient time to make a comfortable connection?
Everyone here wants to impose requirements on other people.
If you feel compelled to do something that YOU think might be beneficial to someone else, DO IT.
But don’t expect anyone else to do the same thing or even think with the same values that you do
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I check my bags. I stand up at my seat wait to watch the passengers that did not check their bags. Or the pasengers that need assistance get their bags. Who made the rules on gettiing of the plane? Anyone who is raller, heavier, is uncomfortable in these smaller seats so getting ready to exit plane should. Everyone needs to do what feels right for them. Live and let live. If you dont like it dont fly.
Try to sit patiently and you end up last person on that plane. Once people start moving, you almost can no longer grab your overhead luggage. If the airlines had more legroom, people will deplane more efficiently.