Last to board

[Muzfly]

If your thrill is being last to board then you've problems that need professional attention...... In any event board last and you can enjoy the fun of trying to find somewhere to stash your carry-on baggage as you can be sure that every square cm of space will be gone, and while you might be sitting in 5A your carry-on will be somewhere around row 75......

 

[JohnK]

Interesting assumption people make that everyone travels with carry-on only.

I prefer to check-in as much as possible and the less I carry the better and worse case scenario is it fits under seat in front. Only hassle is bulkhead but worry about crossing that bridge later.

 

[tuapekastar]

Domestically more often than not I'll be in Y with hand luggage so prefer to board early - do not want to be storing luggage any more than a row or so from my seat. PB (when it works) helps here. If overhead space near my seat was guaranteed I probably wouldn't mind boarding last.

Internationally, in recent years (trans-Tasman aside) I've been in cabins other than Y and am still happy to board early and settle in and avail myself of complimentary French fizz.

And the comments on the US domestic airlines are spot on - I get to the gate early (as do many other AFFers).

 

[blackcat20]

I've been near to last only once, because I got taking to a friend who happened to be on the same flight LAX to JFK. Not so late that they called though, I'd be too embarrassed if that happened.

Domestically I like to board early if I'm HLO, because there never seems to be enough overhead space. Internationally it's whenever they call my row.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Really depends on a number of factors for myself, including which airline, where I'm seated, which class I am in, international or domestic and how much hand luggage I have.

If I have no hand luggage, I'll wait at the gate until the lines dissipate unless I am in a premium class, then it's almost always first on board! (Although not First on board...yet )

 

[rotor]

Good pointers on the US flights - I hadn't encountered that before - almost every flight I've been on in the US has been only 30% full.

I can see how you might say getting a rush is low rent - I'm someone who is never late, so watching people queue up before the boarding call and queuing last puts me outside my comfort zone

I also think that it's better to stay on solid ground as long as possible, but not to the inconvenience of other passengers - I'm not suggesting I like to be one of those stragglers that boards when everyone is already settled - for me there's always a queue in the airbridge.

 

[Burrito]

I had always been last to board then access to PB came along and changed it all

 

[Simo]

I prefer and Aisle seat so I prefer to be last to board otherwise I have to get up and down a few times.

If I have a window seat I prefer to board early rather than later.

 

[joyvee]

I hate being trapped in the airless passenger bridge while everyone else is trying to board. If I have an aisle seat then I will aim to be amongst the last on board.

I was once last on board as I just had to stay and watch Obama make his inaugural speech. Such an historic moment. JoyV

 

[QF WP]

I like to board earlier than later, get settled, and start enjoying the hospitality

+1. Start reading or having a drink if in J. Make sure there is space for my bags, rather than having the FA take them 10 rows down to find a spot.

 

[Shelf]

A few years ago SWMBO, BFF and I were returning from a ski trip in NZ. We had a reasonably tight return connection in SYD. After our bus trip from Int-Dom I could hear our names being paged... the 3 of us ran to the gate and were the last to board.

To make matters worse we were in the last couple of rows of the plane, so I could feel the glare from most other pax.

These days I'll allow oodles of time with connections.

 

[RooFlyer]

Last to board.

<snip>....

Ah! So it was you we were all waiting for....

 

[burmans]

Definitely not last to board in the US. 3 times i have been last (due to late connection) and been told at the gate that the flight was oversold, so i was being kicked off.

Not always a bad thing dependant on your situation, some of the stories I have heard about being bumped seem quite attractive. Personally has never suited me but would suit some.

 

[casanovawa]

Usually happy to be later to board than early, especially if a few numpties get up way before boarding commences and start a big line, then happy to be almost the last to board...

Overwhelming majority of my flights have been economy, but even if business, champers doesn't do that much for me frankly so getting two drinks in prior to take off isn't that compelling.. And yes often something to get a bit more charge in, and also your leaving a place so a few extra minutes before you board and might never be back...

My first J flight last year from Perth i was in the QF lounge and stopped to do something after the announcement and ended up being the last to board, but i think the lounge announcement must have been pretty late, didn't worry me greatly as had a smile on my face for about the first 30 minutes with all that extra space...

 

[VHOEJ]

I try to get on early because I usually have a window seat (no luggage to go in the overhead compartment) but every single time, no matter how early I board, someone in the aisle seat will have to get up to let me in, wasting more time.