Can You Stay on the Plane??

[Gold60]

This will seem like a very odd question, BUT - I HAVE to know!!!

I am planning an RTW trip and often see where the gaps between arrival and departure in a transit point, are very short - like say an hour or so.

For these really short transits, do they keep you on the plane, assuming of course the plane is going where you are going ? Or can you, or do they insist, that you deplane so it can be cleaned, restocked, fixed, etc.....

If they make you get off, can you leave your stuff on the plane if it is up in the bins - or would this be a security breach, etc?

This question came about because I was looking at train trips in Japan and on one trip I saw they said you could stay on the train if you wished while the train was in the station for the 20 minutes or so it was there for. So I wondered if the same thing happened on planes these days.............

 

[Boris spatsky]

They make everyone get off and take your gear, regardless of your next destination.

 

[RooFlyer]

Mostly its get off, but I still occasionally come across the 'stay on plane' - such as in Sth America on LAN a couple of times earlier this year. But these were quick stops at small intermediate airports (with A319/A320) where it might have been a case of inadequate ground logistics rather than airline want. We continuing pax were asked to remain in our seats while the cleaners came aboard, but most stood in the aisle.

 

[lathiat]

This is generally not allowed. For a few reasons:

- A surprising number of these flights also will actually have you fly a different plane for the next hop.. the same flight number can often be more administrative for various reasons (cabotage, etc)
- They need to clean the seats of those that are not travelling the next leg, also ready for those that may be joining
- It's also probably very difficult for them to be precisely sure who is on board unless everyone gets off.

 

[defurax]

The last flight that comes to mind where PAX were allowed to stay on-board was an EK flight SIN-CMB-DXB. PAX whose final destination is CMB are the only one disembarking in CMB.

 

[dajop]

Depends on sector. I've stayed on plane at MXP when travelling between SIN & BCN and vice versa, and at YVR travelling from JFK-HKG (only in that direction). Also some LAN flights and some triangle flights on Rex and QF link (which they I don't think they have any more).

 

[ermen]

xBKK is stay on board IIRC

 

[dk4]

Depends on location, transit port, flight and airline. Off the top of my head: QantasLink - I have stayed on the plane... In Europe, on Iberia - I have stayed on the plane... And even in the USA, on Alaska & American - I have stayed on the plane...

 

[Austman]

They make everyone get off and take your gear, regardless of your next destination.

I know this is not always true.

It's odd, and country, airline, airport dependant, but while mostly true, it's not always true.

 

[coolumbla]

The last flight that comes to mind where PAX were allowed to stay on-board was an EK flight SIN-CMB-DXB. PAX whose final destination is CMB are the only one disembarking in CMB.

And the DXB -CMB_SIN one as well

 

[JohnPhelan]

Going back a few years, to when QF used to fly LHR-BKK-SYD:

The standard approach was everyone got off in BKK while the aircraft was cleaned. However, on one southbound run, we were delayed at LHR by about four hours by a tech issue. This meant a similarly late arrival in BKK. This was going to be a problem because we were racing to beat the SYD curfew at the other end. So the captain told everyone continuing on to SYD to stay on the aircraft, as it would take too long to deplane and then reboard everyone.

We did the stop (and the refuel, deplane arriving pax, board new pax, restock and a cursory clean) in less than an hour.

The sad bit is how it ended. As we flew over NSW, ATC told us that our estimated touch down time was 2305 - 5 minutes beyond curfew and there would be no dispensation. So we ended up diverting to MEL!!!

 

[JohnK]

xBKK is stay on board IIRC

Correct.

I have done HKG-BKK-SIN on CX and was allowed to stay on board.

Few weeks ago SYD-BKK on EK with the aircraft continuing to DXB. Those continuing were given choice to stay on board or deplane. If deplaning must take personal belongings with them.

 

[YSSY]

I have stayed onboard on several flights where its a plane going onwards. The following come to mind that I've been on where its happened; BAH-BKK-MNL, MCT-AUH-LHR, AMS-AUH-MCT, SCL-PMC-PUQ and number of others. Also, I've been on flights which have required me to get off and board again such as MNL-DVO-SIN.
On some of the flights where i've stayed on, they come through and ask you to identify your bag for security reasons.

 

[kelvedon]

Correct.

I have done HKG-BKK-SIN on CX and was allowed to stay on board.

Few weeks ago SYD-BKK on EK with the aircraft continuing to DXB. Those continuing were given choice to stay on board or deplane. If deplaning must take personal belongings with them.

I was on an EK DBX-BKK-SYD a few weeks ago and everyone had to get off at BKK so there appears to be no consistency.

 

[yohy?!]

Some of CXs north Asian bound flights stop at TPE on the way and deplaning is optional, cabin baggage must be taken by those who get off.

 

[JohnK]

I was on an EK DBX-BKK-SYD a few weeks ago and everyone had to get off at BKK so there appears to be no consistency.

That is interesting. Could it be coming back to Australia everyone has to be rescreened in BKK?

 

[seanpodge]

For the curious, I was on the first leg only of CZ6268 (LDS-HRB-PEK) last week and all passengers were made to disembark at HRB. The FAs announced this as we were taxiing to the gate. They wanted to clean the plane while at HRB. Also, passengers who were continuing on to PEK were allowed to leave their hand luggage on board in an overhead locker while at HRB if they wished.

These multileg domestic flights seem fairly common in China although this is the first time I've taken one, as far as I know. Just wondering if anyone else has taken such a flight in China and if the same procedure applied.