Proper Etiquette to Leaving an Airplane for the Most Efficient Deplaning
#16
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: DL-DM/1MM, HILTON-DIA, .HYATT-DIA/GLOB , IHG-PLT,HERTZ 5*, NATIONAL ES
Posts: 8,691
#17
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Here
Posts: 224
A little off topic, but I am Plat. Med. on Delta so I had to post it here - And to add to some AA comments a page back - I was on a quick flight from NYC-DTW on an AA CRJ seated towards the back (the AA fare was I think half what Delta was charging so had to go with the "cheaper" of the 2).
So upon touchdown, taxing up, and finally hearing the seatbelt ding, I do what I naturally do as a delta flyer, I get up and start to unload the OB, but much to my astonishment, no one else in economy got up- literally no one. I actually thought I was doing something wrong. So I slowly sat back down and just watched other passengers just sit wait. Now the first class cabin was of course all standing up and all had grabbed their bags down from the bins and once the last 1st-class passenger deplaned, the economy comfort (or what ever AA calls it) got up and grabbed their bags, and so on, until finally it was my turn.
I couldn't believe how civilized these AA passengers were. I hadn't flown AA in a couple years and of course living in southeast Michigan, Delta is where my loyalty lies, but man, it was something I will remember for a while.
my 2 cents - My perfect airline would consists of having United's boarding process, delta's planes, AA deplaning process (the one I witnessed), and Alaska Air point redemption haha - just a random thought that occurred
So upon touchdown, taxing up, and finally hearing the seatbelt ding, I do what I naturally do as a delta flyer, I get up and start to unload the OB, but much to my astonishment, no one else in economy got up- literally no one. I actually thought I was doing something wrong. So I slowly sat back down and just watched other passengers just sit wait. Now the first class cabin was of course all standing up and all had grabbed their bags down from the bins and once the last 1st-class passenger deplaned, the economy comfort (or what ever AA calls it) got up and grabbed their bags, and so on, until finally it was my turn.
I couldn't believe how civilized these AA passengers were. I hadn't flown AA in a couple years and of course living in southeast Michigan, Delta is where my loyalty lies, but man, it was something I will remember for a while.
my 2 cents - My perfect airline would consists of having United's boarding process, delta's planes, AA deplaning process (the one I witnessed), and Alaska Air point redemption haha - just a random thought that occurred
Much better all around.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,346
Delta can't even enforce this during BOARDING. Good luck enforcing it during deplaning. I really wish Delta would enforce boarding zones during boarding, but if I'm up front in Y, I'm not waiting for DMs to deplane from the back. This is just ridiculous. If I'm in the 2L row in Y on the 757, and we're deplaning out 2L, I head out the door before waiting for first class to make their way back and head out first.
Last edited by ATOBTTR; Jul 24, 2015 at 9:35 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 87
I disagree with this- if someone is has higher status than me but I am sitting EC and they are sitting several rows behind me, I am not waiting for the PM or DM. If that makes me a DYKWIA so be it.
#21
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Here
Posts: 224
Delta can't even enforce this during BOARDING. Good luck enforcing it during deplaning. I really wish Delta would enforce boarding zones during boarding, but if I'm up front in Y, I'm not waiting for DMs to deplane from the back. This is just ridiculous. If I'm in the 2L row in Y on the 757, and we're deplaning out 2L, I head out the door before waiting for first class to make their way back and head out first.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,346
#23
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: AA, DL Gold Med , UA, AS, WN, HHonors Silver, Marriott, IHG Rewards Club, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 323
A little off topic, but I am Plat. Med. on Delta so I had to post it here - And to add to some AA comments a page back - I was on a quick flight from NYC-DTW on an AA CRJ seated towards the back (the AA fare was I think half what Delta was charging so had to go with the "cheaper" of the 2).
So upon touchdown, taxing up, and finally hearing the seatbelt ding, I do what I naturally do as a delta flyer, I get up and start to unload the OB, but much to my astonishment, no one else in economy got up- literally no one. I actually thought I was doing something wrong. So I slowly sat back down and just watched other passengers just sit wait. Now the first class cabin was of course all standing up and all had grabbed their bags down from the bins and once the last 1st-class passenger deplaned, the economy comfort (or what ever AA calls it) got up and grabbed their bags, and so on, until finally it was my turn.
I couldn't believe how civilized these AA passengers were. I hadn't flown AA in a couple years and of course living in southeast Michigan, Delta is where my loyalty lies, but man, it was something I will remember for a while.
So upon touchdown, taxing up, and finally hearing the seatbelt ding, I do what I naturally do as a delta flyer, I get up and start to unload the OB, but much to my astonishment, no one else in economy got up- literally no one. I actually thought I was doing something wrong. So I slowly sat back down and just watched other passengers just sit wait. Now the first class cabin was of course all standing up and all had grabbed their bags down from the bins and once the last 1st-class passenger deplaned, the economy comfort (or what ever AA calls it) got up and grabbed their bags, and so on, until finally it was my turn.
I couldn't believe how civilized these AA passengers were. I hadn't flown AA in a couple years and of course living in southeast Michigan, Delta is where my loyalty lies, but man, it was something I will remember for a while.
This is in contrast to LAX-SFO flights on WN and VX which are more of the typical free-for-all.
(And what you saw in AA isn't systemwide. Deplaning on any AA flights to or from South America tend to be chaotic too.)
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,346
Actually this has been default behavior of passengers on Delta Shuttle flights between LAX and SFO that I've been on. The aircraft are Embraer 175 operated by Compass and the passengers on board deplane as you described above.
This is in contrast to LAX-SFO flights on WN and VX which are more of the typical free-for-all.
(And what you saw in AA isn't systemwide. Deplaning on any AA flights to or from South America tend to be chaotic too.)
This is in contrast to LAX-SFO flights on WN and VX which are more of the typical free-for-all.
(And what you saw in AA isn't systemwide. Deplaning on any AA flights to or from South America tend to be chaotic too.)
#25
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Here
Posts: 224
I thought I was dealing with a crowd that was better than that.
#26
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Dallas
Programs: DL DM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 97
fair enough, I am right at 6'3" too. You make a good point. When I took the niece and nephew to the beach I was able to stretch in to their unused leg room area, had I not, I suppose I would have jumped up to stretch too.
#27
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 86
Which is fine. But what kills me is when people do absolutely nothing to get ready to go, and when the person in front of them finally begins walking, only then do they even START getting their things together, including (particularly) doing things they could have easily done while still sitting in their seat or standing in the aisle waiting - putting their books and Ipads away, folding their jacket, etc. The person in front of them manages to walk the entire length of the aisle and get off the plane and they're still trying to get their stuff together. Drives me nuts. Just because you don't have anywhere to be doesn't mean people behind you don't as well.
#28
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 209
#29
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: DL-DM/1MM, HILTON-DIA, .HYATT-DIA/GLOB , IHG-PLT,HERTZ 5*, NATIONAL ES
Posts: 8,691
If I sit aisle, I will get up, grab my crap, and leave as much space for seat mates to push in to the aisle. If I know which bag they had, I will offer to pull it down.
I think this is common courtesy.
In my view it is rude to be in the aisle and not have the backs of the window/middle folks in your row. (Unless they were pure ares during the flight-which has happened )
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
When the seat belt light goes off, some people get into the aisle. They must take their bags down. (If they put their bags someplace they can't reach them, they have to leave the aisle.)
When the door opens, everybody in the aisle just walks off the plane. Do not stop to let someone go in front of you.
Look at it from the viewpoint of the doorway: at any given time, either there is a person going through or a gap. When enough people have gone through, the plane is empty. The total time taken is the time for all the people plus all the gaps, therefore we want to minimize gaps.
Gaps are created when the person at the front of the line stops moving. Whether that's to take down the bags he put 15 rows ahead of him, or to let someone slowly climb into the aisle and then get down their bags, doesn't matter. Creating gaps slows the plane emptying.
When the door opens, everybody in the aisle just walks off the plane. Do not stop to let someone go in front of you.
Look at it from the viewpoint of the doorway: at any given time, either there is a person going through or a gap. When enough people have gone through, the plane is empty. The total time taken is the time for all the people plus all the gaps, therefore we want to minimize gaps.
Gaps are created when the person at the front of the line stops moving. Whether that's to take down the bags he put 15 rows ahead of him, or to let someone slowly climb into the aisle and then get down their bags, doesn't matter. Creating gaps slows the plane emptying.