Why do people stand up as soon as the aircraft docks at the gate? It makes no sense. Sometimes, they stand for several minutes before moving.

After docking, there's at least a minute or two wait as the doors are disarmed and the FAs do whatever they do before letting the passengers off. Plus, the people near exits have an insurmountable advantage in getting off that people not near the exits don't have, standing notwithstanding. Plus, on long international flights, almost everyone has to wait at Passport Control and at the baggage claim. Standing as soon as the plane gets to the gate does little good.

So I just sit and wait for the plane to clear out, which is why I always try for an aisle in the middle. If I'm on the side, the person in the window seat is giving me the evil eye for not moving.

I stand because I'm sick and tired of sitting down for the past however many hours, and I want to stretch my legs.

Most times I have a connecting flight, or rushing to make a meeting (etc) and so try to get off quickly. I don't stand before seatbelt sign comes off, though. As for immigration - well at some airports, at some times of day, the difference between first to reach immigration and last can easily be more than an hour extra wait (depending on how many other flights have just arrived).

[mod hat on]
Moving this to Travel Buzz as not SQ-specific.

Kiwi Flyer
SQ moderator
[/mod hat off]

I used to do this at LHR, pre-IRIS.

I still do this at a variety of places including ORD, CDG, SYD, JFK, EWR, and SFO.

Wirelessly posted (My IV to the Net: BlackBerry7250/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Not only do I rush to stand up pushing my way forward I also whip out my BB, attach it to my ear, and start talking loudly into it about my latest hedge fund purchase and any hostile takeovers I am involved in, usually no one is on the other end but I do want people to think I am important.

Seriously, I sometimes stand to stretch my legs. If I am in a hurry then I stand to get in the best position to leave the plane.

hedge fund purchases and hostile takeovers and you're flying commercial? Must not be doing very well.

It would be nice if the people who stood up removed their carryons from the overheads while these were waiting, instead of standing in the aisle unloading their carryons blocking everyone else in when their turn to leave comes.