I don't travel much at all. I'm very much an infrequent flier. (It's the main reason I use a rewards credit card that isn't tied to an airline. I sacrifice effective cash-back rate, but I know that I'll use the rewards.)
I got my airline ticket with Travelocity (check rebates) and had absolutely no intention of paying for any upgrades. I don't fly often enough to even care about such things. One time a number of years ago, I got upgraded to first class, and it was nice — but not so nice that I'd willingly pay for it.
Paying for exclusivity
Airlines regularly invite their first-class fliers to board the plane first. I get the reasons why they do this:
- People naturally look to who is boarding. The have-nots see what the haves are doing.
- Everyone else boarding the plane has to walk through the first-class section en route to their smaller, tighter, more pedestrian seat.
- As the proletariat trudge aft, they see that the first-class section already has beverages in their hand — some of the fun grown-up variety, which are all complimentary of course.
The entire situation pronounces overtly: “This could have been you. But, alas, not this time.”
But what about faux-exclusivity?
Other groups are allowed on the plane before others, for good reason. People who need assistance get on before others, because there's less traffic to navigate. And many airlines will board the rear seats before the front ones to reduce traffic.
On the flights I took, though, one group the airline let on earlier didn't make a whole lot of sense. The airline singled out people who carried the airline's branded credit card, and let them on ahead of others.
It's good advertising for the airline's credit card, I guess, as are all of the different levels of frequent flier recognition. The airlines have a captive audience, so why not?
But these people were boarding in the coach section. The cheap seats, along with almost everyone else.
Maybe I don't get the allure of boarding coach early because I don't do it often — and I'll concede that if it's a blind spot. But, really? I don't get it:
- Outside the plane is spacious. Inside the plane is cramped. Why would people want to spend more time inside a cramped space and less inside an open space? It's certainly not my idea of a good time. Even standing in line on the ramp down to the plane is less cramped than inside the plane.
- Unless I have a window seat, it's virtually guaranteed that I'll need to get up again, maybe twice. I get in early, and sit down. (I can't stay standing, because others need to get by.) Then the person (or people) in my row that are closer to the outside of the plane want their seats. Not my idea of fun, either (though indeed there are worse things to go through).
- I'll get on the plane regardless of when I board. I do trust that the airline won't let me onto the ramp if I'm going to play musical chairs inside the plane. There will be a seat for me, and it will be there for me regardless of whether I'm the first one on, or the last.
Again, I'll concede some blind spots in my travel savvy. What am I missing?
Carry on luggage.
Ha, yep! Five out of five votes for luggage positioning! 🙂
I’m an 80-90% of the year business traveler and am always in the first group to board, but it doesn’t mean to me what it does to most.
Aside from the perceived general oneupsmanship of being “first,” boarding early in the modern climate of air travel means being more likely to find a place in the overhead to stow your carry-on luggage — that carry-on luggage that’s really too big to be carried on in the first place, but you were compelled to bring it because the airline was going to charge you an extra $25-$100 extra to check it at the desk and claim it at your final destination.
I travel often enough to have the status that allows me to check two giant bags for no fee, so I only ever carry my backpack to the gate, and am upgraded to first class about 75% of the time. But even amongst the first class passengers who know they won’t have to fight for overhead space, they just don’t get it. If you’re an aisle seat, you should hang back and board toward the end of that group or else you’re going to have to sit down and then stand right back up.
For myself, I enjoy boarding early these days since I can turn on my tablet and start watching a saved TV show or movie and not have to turn it off again until I’ve landed — tuning out all of the airplane chaos as soon as possible.
Gotcha. Looking back, the airline was pretty lax about checking the size of my bag. I imagine quite a few people “get away with” carrying on an oversized bag without getting charged.
(Thanks for stopping by!)
Here’s what it’s about to me – getting space in an overhead compartment. These days people try to pack everything on carry-on to avoid baggage fees and mishaps. With so many using the overheads now the space fills up fast. I’ve seen instances where people had to have their carry-on luggage checked because the overhead was filled. Not so bad but still annoying is having your baggage stuffed somewhere else on the plane so when it’s time for you to leave you might not be able to get to your bag yet.
Outside of that I agree with you, it doesn’t really matter when you get on. It used to be you might want to make sure you got a blanket or pillow but you don’t get those on planes anymore.
This brings up a really good point, Glen.
Going into the NOLA trip I admit I was a bit chicken. I followed the airline’s rules on baggage to the letter. I didn’t take on more than I was allowed, and even went conservative on the size of the bags. But, there were no real checks that I, or anyone else, were following the rules. Someone could have gone on with an oversized bag fairly easily. I’m not willing to push the rules that far.
About the only perq I can see for boarding coach early is making sure your luggage finds a spot in the overhead bins.
Otherwise, you are correct–waiting until closer to the end of the cattle stampede makes more sense.
To be fair, they did offer courtesy checking of the luggage when we got to the gate. The flights were full both times this past weekend.
My husband and I try to understand this as well. The most plausible reason I can think of is ensuring that you secure overhead bin space right at your seat. And obviously, on a carrier like Southwest without assigned seats, earlier boarding would hopefully mean a better pick.
We always find it ironic that airlines invite parents like us with small children to board early, even when seats are assigned. If your small child is mobile, why would you want to be stuck on a plane one second longer than absolutely necessary? 🙂
Right! I have flown SW a few times and I remember the free-for-all.
On the flight out to NOLA I briefly ran interference for a woman with a toddler, so yes, why have all of that youthful energy on the plane for longer?