I imagine this has gone around before (although I don't recall seeing it) so mods feel free to merge if you like.

Questions - Do you say/do something when people try to force their way to the front during de-planing? How often have you observed this behavior?

For the second time in 200+ flights I had the unfortunate chance to view a couple jerks physically pushing their way to the front of the plane while everyone is getting up and getting their things. First time was years ago and I was with my wife in a window seat and was told to keep quiet (by my wife). Yesterday I was alone and couldn't take it. The offenders were about to "bulldoze" over a somewhat elderly couple and I called them them out (again in a window seat or I would have just blocked them). They stopped just short of my aisle and "normal" de-planing continued. I was thanked several times walking out which gave me the perfect chance to explain loudly (as said jerks were right behind me) to not be discouraged that most people at our destination were polite.

Anyway, how often does this happen? And, do you speak up?

Standing (still) in the middle of the aisle is effective IME.

It does happen. Never had to speak up as I have been in aisle and just blocked them. Thought I once had a woman basically humping my pack wanting to get by.

Let’s not forget the ft thread of a guy getting bumped out of the way by a FAM. Never block a FAM or tsa person :-)

If people explain that they have a short connection, I'll let them go, but pushing their way through with no explanation is something that should be stopped by the crew. It's dangerous with people in the process of getting their bags and it shouldn't be the responsibility of other passangers to enforce safety on the aircraft.

What I see far more often, and find mildly irritating, is when someone seated in row 1 or row 2 boards late and has to stow their bag (steamer trunk, but that's a different rant. Hint - "Leave *something* at home, people!!!") several rows back. As soon as the seat belt light goes out, they bound out of their seats and plow their way back to get their bags.

Ok, I get it. Sort of. I don't arrange my life so that every second is accounted for, but you do you.

Where I have a problem is that when they pull down their bag, they immediately turn around and force their way back up the aisle to "their rightful place".

Get your bag and stay put. Inconveniencing everyone *twice* is just rude and selfish.

I've had people try it with little success. Aisles are narrow. I am not.

I'm generally in a window, but I'd absolutely block a pusher. More often I see people bolt and scarper as far forward as they can get before they're impeded, mostly roll my eyes at that [and overtake them in the terminal]. Most annoying are those who try to block you in your row during deplaning - I generally need to stand in the aisle to grab my stuff, so no I'm not letting six people who happen to have theirs but were further back trap in for the sake of the five seconds I need. You want off quicker, pay to get closer to the front.

And not strictly on topic: every time I'm in the US I'm struck by the contrast between the rush to get aboard and the utterly dawdling pace most proceed to disembark at...!

2500+ flights here and the only time I've let someone cut in front of me was for a women who had to puke.

That baffles me as well. 99% of my flights are US domestic. Passengers do not even realize the aisle seat armrest can be raised on most newer aircraft for easier & faster exit.

I've no problem with either just standing still in the aisle (no-one can get past an even average size person, surely?), or standing aside to let someone who politely explains they have a tight connection/family emergency/ whatever past - one day it might be me.

I agree with those circumstances. The two times I've seen it the offenders basically leap into action right as the plane arrives at the gate and push people back that are getting out their seats until someone stops them.

I find more often that the opposite is true. People don't get out of their seat until all of the rows ahead are almost at gone. I get annoyed when they take their sweet time doing a big stretch when they stand up and then decide to bend over and get the bag or purse from under the seat and then they start looking for which overhead bin has their suitcase. In other words, they aren't close to being ready to step out into the aisle and deplane when it gets to their row.

Yeah, this is true to some extent too and plenty annoying when people aren't efficient. Although, I remember back during Covid the "policy" of telling everyone to stay seated until the row in front of them had cleared their area. LOL... yeah, right. That had about 0.00% success rate!

I can appreciate the fact that some people prefer to remain seating instead of standing still in the aisle or jetway. If they happen to be disorganized, so be it.