ok - i just dont get it -- why do they board from the front of the plane? i mean i know that the FC wanna be on first (i have now flown fc cuz im so big) but dont get it...

if the plane filled from the back forward then the guy in row 45 wouldnt have to wait/knock over 50 aisle people to get to the last row...

wouldnt it be faster this way?

just curious

And, what do you think will happen to the overhead bins?

Because an awful large portion of the elite flyers wouldn't like it! One of my favorite things to do is board in the first couple dozen passengers. Most elites aren't in the back of the bus. You herd me like cattle and make me wait until my seat row, and you lose me as an elite. It is actually that simple!

I am sure there are dozens of other reasons... but that is mine!

Pre-board elites, then board from the back. That makes sense! I've wondered for years why they've not done this. If I'm not upgrading I love the back of the bus anyway...usually higher percentage of empty seats back there based upon my experience.

You need to be able to get your FC passengers off first which I think is why the front door is always used. But a lot of the time when using steps, I have seen them use both the front and back doors.

When I flew People Express regularly, they always boarded from the back.

I think a number of airlines did on occasion, too; otherwise, why would the manufacturers put doors back there?

But I think the real reason is that they think this somehow increases security.

The ATR-72 turboprop boards from the rear, because that's where the only passenger door is located.

Do you mean board those in the last 5 rows first, then the 5 in front of that, then the next 5, etc. That is what many airlines do/used to do, but after F and elite's boarded. Now they do it by zone, but that's a combination of back and window seats which, if you think through it, is even more efficient.

So what you're suggesting is how they do it. I'm sure you're not suggesting on doing aways with elite pre-board in advance of the back-to-front. That's grounds for expulsion from FT.


Or are you talking about physically rolling a jetway to the back of the plane? I don't think going from the back would be much better, and I don't know if many jetways even reach that far. Some major international airports and big planes do have multiple jetways and can do front, mid, back door loading at the same time.

I think that is how most US airlines do their boarding if they board by group. It's just not as obvious as the old numbered rows method.

If carriers were to board from the back, then the a/c would have to be 'backed' into the terminal gate rather than being parked 'head-on' towards the gate. Or they would need extra long aerobridges to reach the the rear doors, or the a/c would have to have it's long body parked parallel to the terminal building.

Rejuvenated - I think the OP is referring to procedure for boarding passengers - back of the plane passengers in first and then going forward.

In my opinion, this is a result of the poor baggage handling services provided by airlines in the USA. Since it takes such a long time for checked bags to be delivered to the carousel after arrival (I waited 55 mins on Thursday for the first bags to be delivered on arrival into MIA, and after 70 mins it became apparent my bag was not there - it was delivered to me 14 hours later!), travellers in the USA have become accustomed to avoiding checked bags if at all possible.

By not checking bags, people end up carrying on large bags (often more than one, even though there are now restrictions), causing great contention for overhead locker space. That causes people to want to get on board as early as possible in order to secure overhead locker space. So the airlines have had to honour the desire of their elite FF members to board first so they can secure overhead locker space.

And if they boarded the rear rows first, the rear passengers would fill the forward overhead lockers making it a real mess when the forward passengers are forced to squeeze their bags into the lockers behind their seats. So upon arrival we would then have people trying to move backwards down the aisle to get the bags.

I find the situation in Australia (my home) much more civilised. Checked baggage service is generally good, with bags arriving at the carousel within a few minutes of the passengers. Carry-on luggage is strictly enforced for size (not so often for weight), resulting in minimal contention for overhead locker space.

Since there is plenty of overhead locker space, people sitting aisle seats or in the front cabin (more appropriately named business class on a domestic flight) don't want to board first, but prefer to spend more time in the lounge and board last knowing there will be plenty of space for their carry-on bags.

As a result of all of the above, boarding is generally called by row numbers, starting from the back of the cabin. Business class passengers are free to board at their leisure. When I am in business class I prefer to stay for another drink in the lounge and board after the queue has died down, rather than rushing on board just to end up sitting watching the rest of the passengers walk down the aisle.

When I travel in F in the USA, I get on-board early, knowing that the overhead bins even in the F cabin will be filled!

So I believe this is a USA cultural difference, similar to tipping. When in the USA I follow the local boarding process just as I follow the local tipping culture. But I prefer the system back home (regarding both boarding and tipping).

You hit the nail on the head, NM.

Although I get the feeling many people would still rush to be the first aboard even if there was guaranteed to be bin space for their single bag, since most Americans (and a lot of others) feel an irrational need to be at the front of lines, even when it's actually better not to bother. I think Brits and Aussies, by temperment and experience, do better with queueing up.

Count me in as one of the ones who are in the elite mad rush into the plane to secure overhead space. It'd be nice not to have to worry as much. However, even when I don't have more than a backpack, I tend to board at the beginning anyways.

what i meant was that say there are 50 rows on the plane -- board the elites first (tho i think this is stupid) -- put rows 40-50 on first, then 30-40 and so on... so that the people in the back get on without waiting for gramma ethel to get her bag up on the top in row 14.

now if the door is in the back - then board from the front...

i really think this would cut the boarding time by at least 20% and in addition make less bruises on arms in aisle seats.