There is only one airline that it makes sense to wait in line at the gate. That aside, I have no clue why people do that. Every time I see it, it boggles my mind. There is no prize to board first, at least no prize that I know of.
Everytime I see people standing in line half hour prior to boarding time I can t help but laugh. It makes me think about the comedian Brian Regan talking about people and aviation. Priceless !
In response to Joanna, the reason that people “do that” is to ensure they have overhead space for their carry on bag. Thanks to bag fees casual travelers now stuff the overhead bins nearly immediately.
I used to enjoy being the last one on the plane, now I have no choice but to try and board first. Being on a jet 2 to 4 times each week makes checking my bag very impractical.
See, I don’t mind if I’m at the end of the line and all of the overhead bin space is taken. I mostly only travel with a bag that can fit under the seat in front of me. If I traveled with the largest regulation size carryon I’m not quite sure what I’d put in it. I can get everything I need into a bag that is the size of the old fashioned flight bags they used to give out on TWA and the like.
That said, there have been times where I have had two bags and so one has had to go in the overhead bin. Should that happen, and there be no more overhead bin space, I’m quite comfortable with gate checking my bag. I know it is going where I am going, as a gate check means that it will end up on my flight. I know it will be there when I deplane. And the extra 20 minutes or so of waiting for it to appear on the belt … so not a problem to me. I’m patient.
I am perplexed by people who are anxious not to gate check. Perhaps you can explain it to me?
I can’t speak for everyone, but I often have computer equipment in my carry-on bag (scanner, sometimes 2nd laptop) that aren’t covered for damage if the airline breaks them or loses them. I’ve had bags come to the claim area busted open as well. (Not often, but if that’s your clothes/supplies for a business trip it’ll ruin your day.)
Also: Yes, it’s an extra 20 or 30 minutes per flight. Doesn’t sound like much, but that adds up over the course of 2-4 flights per week. (I don’t even want to think of how much wasted time that would be per year.) I don’t care so much when I’m coming home, but when I’m going to see a client I’m on billable (hourly) time. I’d rather get to the office and start working rather than spend 20-30 minutes of non-billable time standing in an airport.
Okay Ellis, but here’s what I don’t get with that. If you really do fly 2-4 times a week, then you most certainly have some kind of elite status on the airlines you fly. That would mean you get priority boarding, so you get to board well before the vast majority of everyone else on the plane, which would always guarantee you plenty of overhead bin space.
Not if you are cheap and fly with the cheapest airline that particular week, OR if your company makes the reservations and you have no say in either the airline or the amenities.
Heather Poole 
Watch out, gate lice!
There is only one airline that it makes sense to wait in line at the gate. That aside, I have no clue why people do that. Every time I see it, it boggles my mind. There is no prize to board first, at least no prize that I know of.
Everytime I see people standing in line half hour prior to boarding time I can t help but laugh. It makes me think about the comedian Brian Regan talking about people and aviation. Priceless !
In response to Joanna, the reason that people “do that” is to ensure they have overhead space for their carry on bag. Thanks to bag fees casual travelers now stuff the overhead bins nearly immediately.
I used to enjoy being the last one on the plane, now I have no choice but to try and board first. Being on a jet 2 to 4 times each week makes checking my bag very impractical.
See, I don’t mind if I’m at the end of the line and all of the overhead bin space is taken. I mostly only travel with a bag that can fit under the seat in front of me. If I traveled with the largest regulation size carryon I’m not quite sure what I’d put in it. I can get everything I need into a bag that is the size of the old fashioned flight bags they used to give out on TWA and the like.
That said, there have been times where I have had two bags and so one has had to go in the overhead bin. Should that happen, and there be no more overhead bin space, I’m quite comfortable with gate checking my bag. I know it is going where I am going, as a gate check means that it will end up on my flight. I know it will be there when I deplane. And the extra 20 minutes or so of waiting for it to appear on the belt … so not a problem to me. I’m patient.
I am perplexed by people who are anxious not to gate check. Perhaps you can explain it to me?
I can’t speak for everyone, but I often have computer equipment in my carry-on bag (scanner, sometimes 2nd laptop) that aren’t covered for damage if the airline breaks them or loses them. I’ve had bags come to the claim area busted open as well. (Not often, but if that’s your clothes/supplies for a business trip it’ll ruin your day.)
Also: Yes, it’s an extra 20 or 30 minutes per flight. Doesn’t sound like much, but that adds up over the course of 2-4 flights per week. (I don’t even want to think of how much wasted time that would be per year.) I don’t care so much when I’m coming home, but when I’m going to see a client I’m on billable (hourly) time. I’d rather get to the office and start working rather than spend 20-30 minutes of non-billable time standing in an airport.
Okay Ellis, but here’s what I don’t get with that. If you really do fly 2-4 times a week, then you most certainly have some kind of elite status on the airlines you fly. That would mean you get priority boarding, so you get to board well before the vast majority of everyone else on the plane, which would always guarantee you plenty of overhead bin space.
Not if you are cheap and fly with the cheapest airline that particular week, OR if your company makes the reservations and you have no say in either the airline or the amenities.