Rant on deplaning
Oct 14, 2012 | 11:17 am
#166
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 6,640
So your unwillingness to be separated from your partner for 2 minutes should make me miss my connection?
Uh, yeah. 125 people conforming to social norms, thus avoiding arguments and fights, trumps your lack of ability to plan a trip. If your connection is tight due to factors Beyond your control, I'm sympathetic, but guess what? There's probably a bunch of people in The same boat.....so the same norm applies...
To surreal...thanks for asking. Yes, it's incredibly rude. Remember that on some equipment, especially regionals, the window seat passenger can't even stand until the seatmate gets up. For that tight connection, check the actual arrival times of your flight to see if its really as tight as the schedules indicate.
I usually stand in a half crouch, signaling.....I'm trying to get off as quick as I can too...
Uh, yeah. 125 people conforming to social norms, thus avoiding arguments and fights, trumps your lack of ability to plan a trip. If your connection is tight due to factors Beyond your control, I'm sympathetic, but guess what? There's probably a bunch of people in The same boat.....so the same norm applies...
To surreal...thanks for asking. Yes, it's incredibly rude. Remember that on some equipment, especially regionals, the window seat passenger can't even stand until the seatmate gets up. For that tight connection, check the actual arrival times of your flight to see if its really as tight as the schedules indicate.
I usually stand in a half crouch, signaling.....I'm trying to get off as quick as I can too...
Last edited by LaserSailor; Oct 14, 2012 at 11:25 am
Oct 14, 2012 | 12:50 pm
#167
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 105
To surreal...thanks for asking. Yes, it's incredibly rude. Remember that on some equipment, especially regionals, the window seat passenger can't even stand until the seatmate gets up. For that tight connection, check the actual arrival times of your flight to see if its really as tight as the schedules indicate.
I usually stand in a half crouch, signaling.....I'm trying to get off as quick as I can too...
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Okay, thank you- now I know it's rude- which I don't want to be. I have an aisle seat and would disturb no one in my row.
I've seen some flight attendants make the announcement to those who do not have a connection, or do not have tight connections, to remain in their seats so that those with connections leaving soon can deplane quickly.
I hate asking a flight attendant to do that and inconvenience people, but I'm just trying to figure out a way not to miss my flight. Thank you for the advice.
I usually stand in a half crouch, signaling.....I'm trying to get off as quick as I can too...
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Okay, thank you- now I know it's rude- which I don't want to be. I have an aisle seat and would disturb no one in my row.
I've seen some flight attendants make the announcement to those who do not have a connection, or do not have tight connections, to remain in their seats so that those with connections leaving soon can deplane quickly.
I hate asking a flight attendant to do that and inconvenience people, but I'm just trying to figure out a way not to miss my flight. Thank you for the advice.
Oct 14, 2012 | 3:34 pm
#169
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: I miss NW, TW
Posts: 4,828
On a flight a couple of months ago from LGA-ORD, after we landed, everyone got up as usual to get their bags from the overhead bins and file off the plane.
As I was standing in the aisle to reach my bag, a rather large, 60-ish Midwestern woman sitting a couple of rows behind barreled right through the aisle next to me, saying "Excuse me! Excuse me!" rather aggressively as she did so.
I was annoyed, but whatever. I went back to trying to get my laptop bag out from the overhead. Then another 60-ish, large Midwestern woman did the exact same thing, literally pushing me out of her way and almost leading me to drop the laptop bag. She was a friend of the first woman.
I was sort of stunned, and a couple of guys who were waiting behind me just looked at me with compassion and said they couldn't believe what just happened either. It was pretty shocking behavior.
When I got off the plane, the two women were just standing like sheep right in the gate area, in no apparent hurry to go anywhere. As I passed by, I said - in a calm, non-aggressive voice - that the courteous thing to do is to deplane by rows rather than pushing other passengers out of your way as you storm down the aisle.
The second woman just glowered at me and yelled, "Oh - shut the hell up!"
Welcome to Chicago, I guess.
As I was standing in the aisle to reach my bag, a rather large, 60-ish Midwestern woman sitting a couple of rows behind barreled right through the aisle next to me, saying "Excuse me! Excuse me!" rather aggressively as she did so.
I was annoyed, but whatever. I went back to trying to get my laptop bag out from the overhead. Then another 60-ish, large Midwestern woman did the exact same thing, literally pushing me out of her way and almost leading me to drop the laptop bag. She was a friend of the first woman.
I was sort of stunned, and a couple of guys who were waiting behind me just looked at me with compassion and said they couldn't believe what just happened either. It was pretty shocking behavior.
When I got off the plane, the two women were just standing like sheep right in the gate area, in no apparent hurry to go anywhere. As I passed by, I said - in a calm, non-aggressive voice - that the courteous thing to do is to deplane by rows rather than pushing other passengers out of your way as you storm down the aisle.
The second woman just glowered at me and yelled, "Oh - shut the hell up!"
Welcome to Chicago, I guess.
Let the TSA be your friend! No need to worry about being shot. 
Oct 14, 2012 | 3:49 pm
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I fly on AA (and generally am upgraded, so I'm in the first few rows). On many flights, a FA has announced (on the PA), that there are several pax who have close connections, and to let them deplane first. I wait to see that these pax are heading down the aisle--but this never seems to be the case; perhaps other pax (from the rear of the plane) did not let them through, so after waiting a reasonable amount of time deplane as usual. Where were these close connectors?
Oct 14, 2012 | 6:00 pm
#171
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 88
Oct 14, 2012 | 7:32 pm
#172
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 6,640
I terrified of blue, too.....I mean yellow!!
Surreal....maybe you could depart MSY earlier to ease that connection? 30 minutes at ATL is tight...
Could you buy a front seat to put you at the early deplane position ?
The scenario of deplaning tight connections by request first rarely works, imhe. There are enough bad actors who think this the calling to just get off before their turn since no one will know.
I ONCE in my flight career had a pilot come on the intercom say, "after we land, seats 3B and 27 C are the only ones to get up, due to tight connections ".
That worked.
Surreal....maybe you could depart MSY earlier to ease that connection? 30 minutes at ATL is tight...
Could you buy a front seat to put you at the early deplane position ?
The scenario of deplaning tight connections by request first rarely works, imhe. There are enough bad actors who think this the calling to just get off before their turn since no one will know.
I ONCE in my flight career had a pilot come on the intercom say, "after we land, seats 3B and 27 C are the only ones to get up, due to tight connections ".
That worked.
Oct 14, 2012 | 8:22 pm
#173
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,556
Reduce your stress by handling this now. There is a good chance that despite attempting to deplane quickly you will miss your connection anyway. Do yourself a favor and see about getting an earlier initial flight - or else a later connecting flight.
Oct 15, 2012 | 10:56 am
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,163
Perhaps you can cite scientific studies that use queuing theory and have simulated this problem.
Also you might want to correct your unwillingness to book flights with enough connection time in between. Accept responsibility for missing your connection, the universe does not revolve around you.
Also you might want to correct your unwillingness to book flights with enough connection time in between. Accept responsibility for missing your connection, the universe does not revolve around you.
I see no reason to spend extra hours in airports in order that other people can be rude and block the aisle when there are 150 people waiting (and at least 50 of them ready) behind them to get off the plane.
Claiming that what you want is a "social norm" isn't a very convincing argument when the topic is what should be done.
If your connection is tight due to factors Beyond your control, I'm sympathetic, but guess what? There's probably a bunch of people in The same boat.....so the same norm applies...
Oct 16, 2012 | 5:42 am
#175
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Programs: AA, HH, UA, Amtrak
Posts: 270
This problem is a well studied one and the airline industry has supported research by computer scientists on this problem. There are published results available.
But when <b>YOU</b> felt strongly about it, you would have gotten more support for your statement if you had cited some peer reviewed work, than touting your own back of the envelope. I don't disagree that aisle-->middle--> window deboarding is one of the most efficient ways to do it, but can you persuade a mass of people? Can you persuade persuade people to drive at more efficient speeds or heck, drive around roundabouts?
Nov 1, 2012 | 1:44 pm
#176
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 721
My comment was pretty much lets say you're at the gate, the seatbelt sign is off etc, but they aren't letting you off the plane yet. This happened to me at ROC last night on a turbo prop. I have my two bags, and I stand in the line that is the asle. What I'm referring to is the people that didn't wait in the line, and then try to jump in when you're trying to move forward.
Not everyone wants to stand up for five minutes or more in the aisle after the plane has arrived at the gate (and some people are more or less prevented from doing so, either by age or infirmity, or because they can't get out of their seat because of other people being in the way, or whatever).
Nov 2, 2012 | 7:35 am
#177
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 8,351
I've done the queueing-theoretic analysis. If you want me to write it up formally, you'll have to pay for my time.
I see no reason to spend extra hours in airports in order that other people can be rude and block the aisle when there are 150 people waiting (and at least 50 of them ready) behind them to get off the plane.
On my planet, being "courteous" does not involve being nice to one person in front of you who wants to slowly get suitcases down from the overhead and rude to 50 people standing in the aisle behind you who want to exit the plane. Perhaps on Planet Solipsist, people you don't see don't exist so you aren't being rude to the people waiting impatiently behind you.
I see no reason to spend extra hours in airports in order that other people can be rude and block the aisle when there are 150 people waiting (and at least 50 of them ready) behind them to get off the plane.
On my planet, being "courteous" does not involve being nice to one person in front of you who wants to slowly get suitcases down from the overhead and rude to 50 people standing in the aisle behind you who want to exit the plane. Perhaps on Planet Solipsist, people you don't see don't exist so you aren't being rude to the people waiting impatiently behind you.
Nov 2, 2012 | 2:57 pm
#178
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Zealand/ UK
Programs: NZ, EK, QF, SQ.
Posts: 776
To all who get worked up about who gets off the plane first, I recommend taking domestic flights in China.
IME, as soon as the wheels touch the ground, regardless of whether or not the seat belt sign is still on, the Chinese passengers will bounce up from their seats, retrieve their bags and stand in the aisle - even while the plane is still rolling at speed. Nobody gets off any sooner, because it still takes the same amount of time for the plane to arrive, be parked and get connected to the air bridge.
On these flights, I just sat still until the mad rush was over.
After several of these flights, any system of disembarking in the US or other parts of the world seems very orderly!
When I am in a middle or window seat, I appreciate the courtesy of the aisle passengers who stand up and then stand back a little, so that I can also get up when it is the turn of my row to disembark.
IME, as soon as the wheels touch the ground, regardless of whether or not the seat belt sign is still on, the Chinese passengers will bounce up from their seats, retrieve their bags and stand in the aisle - even while the plane is still rolling at speed. Nobody gets off any sooner, because it still takes the same amount of time for the plane to arrive, be parked and get connected to the air bridge.
On these flights, I just sat still until the mad rush was over.
After several of these flights, any system of disembarking in the US or other parts of the world seems very orderly!
When I am in a middle or window seat, I appreciate the courtesy of the aisle passengers who stand up and then stand back a little, so that I can also get up when it is the turn of my row to disembark.
Nov 2, 2012 | 4:26 pm
#179
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,424
I always ask for an aisle seat, and when the time comes, I ask if the person in the window/middle seat wants to get up. They say no typically, but then just push by me anyway.
Depending on which part of Y I'm in, I'd hurry back to the lav to really get out of everyone's way.
Depending on which part of Y I'm in, I'd hurry back to the lav to really get out of everyone's way.
Nov 4, 2012 | 1:41 pm
#180
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,424
To all who get worked up about who gets off the plane first, I recommend taking domestic flights in China.
IME, as soon as the wheels touch the ground, regardless of whether or not the seat belt sign is still on, the Chinese passengers will bounce up from their seats, retrieve their bags and stand in the aisle - even while the plane is still rolling at speed. Nobody gets off any sooner, because it still takes the same amount of time for the plane to arrive, be parked and get connected to the air bridge.
On these flights, I just sat still until the mad rush was over.
After several of these flights, any system of disembarking in the US or other parts of the world seems very orderly!
When I am in a middle or window seat, I appreciate the courtesy of the aisle passengers who stand up and then stand back a little, so that I can also get up when it is the turn of my row to disembark.
IME, as soon as the wheels touch the ground, regardless of whether or not the seat belt sign is still on, the Chinese passengers will bounce up from their seats, retrieve their bags and stand in the aisle - even while the plane is still rolling at speed. Nobody gets off any sooner, because it still takes the same amount of time for the plane to arrive, be parked and get connected to the air bridge.
On these flights, I just sat still until the mad rush was over.
After several of these flights, any system of disembarking in the US or other parts of the world seems very orderly!
When I am in a middle or window seat, I appreciate the courtesy of the aisle passengers who stand up and then stand back a little, so that I can also get up when it is the turn of my row to disembark.
I'm familiar with that daily occurrence in China, though that doesn't bother me as much as the jet bridge controllers who just can't seem to get it. In Japan they're so efficient about the motions, but in the NYC-area, what's going ON?
But really, like any flight, all it takes is one passenger, one airline rep., one seat pitch, one meal to ruin the experience. That's why the mp3 player comes in handy when its use is allowed...