Preserving one's right to exit the plane in one's turn
#61
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC/Northern NJ
Programs: 1K - UAL, Platinum DL, Marriott, Hilton, SPG
Posts: 1,815
same issue on boarding
a parent is not going to let little Jimmy board in his window seat first while the parent waits at the gate for the middle seats to board or board first and let little Jimmy wait out in the gate area till his section boards.. just isn't going to happen
a parent is not going to let little Jimmy board in his window seat first while the parent waits at the gate for the middle seats to board or board first and let little Jimmy wait out in the gate area till his section boards.. just isn't going to happen
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
(We've several times now taken 11CEG on the AA763 with my daughter, and indeed, middle-section on a 767 is by far the best place for a family of 3, and a non-exit bulkhead is really nice.)
#63
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Altoona, wi. usa
Posts: 148
sit tight!
If you know you will be slow in de-planning, Just sit tight and wait for the rest of the passengers to deplane. People with canes, crutches, strollers, toddlers, bags too heavy for them or that must walk slowly, just exit last, for pete's sake. I once had a women in front of me holding up the whole plane because she was straightening the collar on her teenage daughters jacket and fixing her hair too, adjusting their carry ons etc, all oblivious of holding up the entire plane!! Other times we finally get to the jet way, to only have to jockey around an elderly passenger waiting for a wheel chair or taking up the entire walkway with their walker or cane. Why do you want that pressure of knowing there are LOTS of people waiting behind you!!!!???
And if the plane has been delayed, the FA should be asking if anyone needs to make a quick connection. No one would mind letting a few people off first!
And if the plane has been delayed, the FA should be asking if anyone needs to make a quick connection. No one would mind letting a few people off first!
#65
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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#66
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,508
Selfish parents with little kids and tons of overhead luggage block other passengers from getting off the plane and block the jetway waiting for their carriage. Are they so inconsiderate to realize a business traveler has someplace to go whereas little Suzy walks slow, talking, half asleep and I wish to hit her with my roller bag because I can't get around her but it would be considered rude on my part. WAIT UNTIL REST OF PSGS DEPLANE
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2. Everyone has some place to go, otherwise they wouldn't be on the plane. You're not that special Mr. Business Man.
#67
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,576
If you know you will be slow in de-planning, Just sit tight and wait for the rest of the passengers to deplane. People with canes, crutches, strollers, toddlers, bags too heavy for them or that must walk slowly, just exit last, for pete's sake. I once had a women in front of me holding up the whole plane because she was straightening the collar on her teenage daughters jacket and fixing her hair too, adjusting their carry ons etc, all oblivious of holding up the entire plane!! Other times we finally get to the jet way, to only have to jockey around an elderly passenger waiting for a wheel chair or taking up the entire walkway with their walker or cane. Why do you want that pressure of knowing there are LOTS of people waiting behind you!!!!???
If someone is a bit slower than you, that does not mean they have to delay themselves even further in order to accommodate you. They have the same right to get off the plane in turn that anyone else has. Some people who are ahead of you will be faster than you, and some will be slower. Deal with it. Your total door to door travel time is likely several hours. Another 5 minutes is not going to matter.
I have seen FAs try that. It has no effect. Once the FA even listed the airports, and said that people going there could get off first. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off (or even before), everyone was up and in the aisles.
#68
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#69
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Programs: Delta Silver thanks to Million Miles; Choice Plat., point scrounger everywhere
Posts: 1,594
I'm the OP on this and just want to add a couple of points. As I mentioned in my original post, I frequently just keep my seat and let the crowd clear (more on this later) rather than rush off the plane. But I do believe the "right" to deplane first belongs to those in the front rows who wish to get up and deplane.
Many people say those standing in the aisles should exit first, followed by those sitting. This isn't practical. There is already a mad rush for everyone to stand up with their heads hunched over as soon as the plane lands. We don't need more of this.
Waiting for someone to get up from a window seat and retrieve their luggage does not usually delay the deboarding process. Yes, a temporary gap appears, but this is almost always closed quickly so that no actual time is lost.
If we accept that people should deboard in row order, then someone who turns sideways and puts their knees in the aisle to block line-breakers is not being "passive-aggressive," as some have suggested. Helping others to follow society's rules is a good thing, and such behavior is "passive-helpful."
I do agree that slow people should have the decency to just keep their seats and let others exit.
An Anecdote: I mentioned that I often just keep my seat and let others deboard. This was especially true when the kids were young. On one trip my wife and two then-young children were slowly getting our things together to deboard. We had allowed everyone to get off ahead of us and were taking our sweet time in getting our stuff together. Finally a stewardess came back and told us that "everyone's waiting." It seems that the plane did not deplane into a terminal but rather into some bus contraption. So when we finally boarded the "bus" there were roughly 150 or so people who did not appreciate our act of courtesy glaring at us.
Many people say those standing in the aisles should exit first, followed by those sitting. This isn't practical. There is already a mad rush for everyone to stand up with their heads hunched over as soon as the plane lands. We don't need more of this.
Waiting for someone to get up from a window seat and retrieve their luggage does not usually delay the deboarding process. Yes, a temporary gap appears, but this is almost always closed quickly so that no actual time is lost.
If we accept that people should deboard in row order, then someone who turns sideways and puts their knees in the aisle to block line-breakers is not being "passive-aggressive," as some have suggested. Helping others to follow society's rules is a good thing, and such behavior is "passive-helpful."
I do agree that slow people should have the decency to just keep their seats and let others exit.
An Anecdote: I mentioned that I often just keep my seat and let others deboard. This was especially true when the kids were young. On one trip my wife and two then-young children were slowly getting our things together to deboard. We had allowed everyone to get off ahead of us and were taking our sweet time in getting our stuff together. Finally a stewardess came back and told us that "everyone's waiting." It seems that the plane did not deplane into a terminal but rather into some bus contraption. So when we finally boarded the "bus" there were roughly 150 or so people who did not appreciate our act of courtesy glaring at us.
#70
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Montral
Programs: Air Canada, Hyatt
Posts: 1,376
On a flight just landed at ORD last year, I had some old, fat Midwestern woman literally push right past me while I was in the aisle getting my luggage out of the overhead bin. I couldn't believe it. Then, after I recovered my balance, I started again pulling my bag out - and her old, fat Midwestern friend did the same thing - this time pushing me even harder. Everyone around me was stunned - one guy and I made eye contact, and he just said, "that was so wrong!"
So when I get off the plane, I see the women standing bovinely right outside the gate, not walking anywhere, just hanging out. I say to the second woman, who pushed me the hardest, in a polite but firm voice, "For future reference, one exits the plane row by row." She responded that I should go to hell.
My response is not fit for a family website.
So when I get off the plane, I see the women standing bovinely right outside the gate, not walking anywhere, just hanging out. I say to the second woman, who pushed me the hardest, in a polite but firm voice, "For future reference, one exits the plane row by row." She responded that I should go to hell.
My response is not fit for a family website.
Had I been drinking milk right now it would be shooting through my nose.
#71
Join Date: May 2007
Location: IAD
Posts: 2,060
I had an interesting one last week. Was traveling light for a couple-day business trip, on a two-hour flight. I'd put my laptop bag in the overhead directly above my seat and didn't bother keeping a book or anything with me because it was such a short flight. So we land and get to the gate, wait forever until the back of the plane where I was could exit the plane. When it was my row's turn, I got up and realized that I had to open the bin which slowed me down by one second. Started pulling my laptop out when the teenaged kid who was in the window seat next to me started getting up, which delayed me by one more second because I didn't want to smack him in the head with my bag. By the third second as I was actually pulling my computer out of the bin, some young woman with a huge backpack and a one-year old child on her hip literally smashed herself between me and the seats to push past. As I glanced around in annoyance, I noticed some guy further back in the plane was laughing at her rudeness. Anyway, after she forced her way past me I was finally able to pull my bag out and walk down the aisle.
Only to stop five rows up when I caught up with her because she had to set her oversized backpack in a seat while she re-jiggered the kid who she was about to drop.
Only to stop five rows up when I caught up with her because she had to set her oversized backpack in a seat while she re-jiggered the kid who she was about to drop.
#72
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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I had an interesting one last week. Was traveling light for a couple-day business trip, on a two-hour flight. I'd put my laptop bag in the overhead directly above my seat and didn't bother keeping a book or anything with me because it was such a short flight. So we land and get to the gate, wait forever until the back of the plane where I was could exit the plane. When it was my row's turn, I got up and realized that I had to open the bin which slowed me down by one second. Started pulling my laptop out when the teenaged kid who was in the window seat next to me started getting up, which delayed me by one more second because I didn't want to smack him in the head with my bag. By the third second as I was actually pulling my computer out of the bin, some young woman with a huge backpack and a one-year old child on her hip literally smashed herself between me and the seats to push past. As I glanced around in annoyance, I noticed some guy further back in the plane was laughing at her rudeness. Anyway, after she forced her way past me I was finally able to pull my bag out and walk down the aisle.
Only to stop five rows up when I caught up with her because she had to set her oversized backpack in a seat while she re-jiggered the kid who she was about to drop.
Only to stop five rows up when I caught up with her because she had to set her oversized backpack in a seat while she re-jiggered the kid who she was about to drop.
Calm down everyone. We ain't getting off the plane any faster. If you want to get off the plane fast, then select and pay for a premium seat upfront of the plane.
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
Recently went through one of the delays where the FAs asked us to wait while people with tight connections exited first. Most, including us, complied.
A handful of people rushed off the plane, including a couple who'd been seated across from us. After taking our normal turn a few minutes later we noticed them sitting at the Starbucks having coffee. At least they looked sheepish when they saw us looking at them.
Some people are jerks, but I've learned that my life is happier when I just ignore them.
A handful of people rushed off the plane, including a couple who'd been seated across from us. After taking our normal turn a few minutes later we noticed them sitting at the Starbucks having coffee. At least they looked sheepish when they saw us looking at them.
Some people are jerks, but I've learned that my life is happier when I just ignore them.
#75
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC/Northern NJ
Programs: 1K - UAL, Platinum DL, Marriott, Hilton, SPG
Posts: 1,815
Isn't going to happen; elites with kids have the same first call on the good seats at the front of coach as elites without kids.
(We've several times now taken 11CEG on the AA763 with my daughter, and indeed, middle-section on a 767 is by far the best place for a family of 3, and a non-exit bulkhead is really nice.)
(We've several times now taken 11CEG on the AA763 with my daughter, and indeed, middle-section on a 767 is by far the best place for a family of 3, and a non-exit bulkhead is really nice.)