The stampede to deplane...

Very good point Tim! I recall a couple of years ago flying home from Orlando. I got to the gate area very early and got a seat near the boarding area - as I was in 21C, I knew I would be one of the last people to board the flight.

There was one guy who was clearly eager to board & take up his seat in UC. He kept on going up to the gate agent to enquire when boarding would start. When boarding did start, he was first in the queue - and he had to pass the security screeners at the gate. As he was the first person, they were not busy with someone else, so he got stopped for secondary screening. I think he ended up boarding behing most of UC and PE.

Originally posted by Tim
I'm more amazed at some peoples eagerness to board a flight.

Don't people understand that its not like a bus or train where the last on have to remain standing for the whole trip.

I'd rather spend a few extra minutes sat in the relative luxury of a airport seat than became involved in the scrum to get a 'Y' seat.

Overhead bins!

I'm as bad for this, but then I have analysed why am i so keen to have my stuff readily available during the flight. I take out my book and ipod/psp as I arrive at my seat, and I can count on the fingernails of one finger how often I need to go back into my bag during the flight.
And then on arrival, if I need to stay sitting until the cabin crew can reunite me with my coat and bag, so what?

Oops, you've just helped me to convince myself to stay in the bar until the boarding calls are threatening to remove my bags from the hold!

THe best I ever saw was on a flight to LHR many years ago. I was flying business class and was in the front row. About 5 minutes before landing the cabin crew sat down ready for landing. I can still recall the look of horror on the face of the stewardess when at abot 30 seconds from touchdown, she looked down the aisle to see a guy standing there in the aisle with briefcase in hand as if it were a bus he was about to get off. She shouted at him to sit down immediately and I must admit I did not stop laughing for an hour after.

For me it depends on which airport you're flying into. LAX I'm as bad as the rest, in an oft futile attempt to spend less than 90 minutes in the passport control queue. Carribean destinations it just isn't worth the bother; just relax and enjoy some aircon while you can. When you deplane it's your into a world that works to a different rhythm and pace. I don't envy the holiday reps in their task of organising taxis and mini buses for passengers rapidly going puce because (a) they insist on standing in the sunshine (b) their ride hasn't arrived in the first five minutes.

My bad boarding / deplaning behaviour touchstone is an Air France flight I took from CDG to LAX in 2002. Despite announcements in several languages as soon as the gate opened there was an unseemly rush, and when taxiing into LAX people just got up and started queueing to get off. Pretty dreadful service all in all as I recall; no seat back entertainment, and not even a pen to complete the green visa waiver cards. That was the one time I was through passport control on the hurry up; I'd persevered in finding a pen and completing the form. Few others had, so many were presenting blank forms to the officials, and being sent to the back of the class...

Paul

As PJH has quite rightly said it does depends on which airport...USA stations being worse. Now I dont know if this is because (without offending anyone) US passengers are used to flying on Airlines which dont really enforce safety in the cabin to the same degree as UK or European carriers.

May US passengers think its ok to wander around the cabin when the seatbelt signs are illuminated, Now Im comparing this to the leisure routes with mainly European customers where generally instructions are obeyed. It is a ANO (Air navigation Order) Requirement to obey the instructions of a captain by visual or verbal instruction, But Ive never seen anyone prosecuted. Likewise the USA TSA state customers should use restrooms within their own cabin...???

Back to the point of seatbelts after landing...Ive just one thing to say with airport gates being so busy and tight its not unusual for a tug to bring a aircraft onto stand... therefore engines are off and then suddenly a massive jolt! yes those standing go flying and it does happen... please dont let it be you!

Originally posted by milehigh
As PJH has quite rightly said it does depends on which airport...USA stations being worse. Now I dont know if this is because (without offending anyone) US passengers are used to flying on Airlines which dont really enforce safety in the cabin to the same degree as UK or European carriers.

Slightly off topic, but I flew internal in the US from Chicago to Richmond in an exit aisle seat (first time!) a few months back and they were *very* strict in making sure that I understood the duties I was expected to perform. I always thought it was just "head between legs, kiss a*se goodbye" but on a serious note thety were almost at the point of setting a written test..

VS003 this morning - a couple at the rear of the PE cabin barged through people try to sort their bags to get to the front, then when off sauntered to immigration and ended up back where they were! Madness!

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by milehigh

It is a ANO (Air navigation Order) Requirement to obey the instructions of a captain by visual or verbal instruction, But Ive never seen anyone prosecuted. Likewise the USA TSA state customers should use restrooms within their own cabin...???

Well the controlling body, the FAA goes further to require pax obey all crewmember instructions. Thats all crewmembers, FAs and flight deck.

ISTBC but the lav in your cabin is an airline rule/policy atleast thats how is was in the DH SOP. The TSA requires the there be no line for the forward lav.

My luggage has never yet beaten me off the flight, why rush when you can sit and be entertained by the antics of your fellow pax![:w][}:)]

^The only place my luggage beats me off the flight is LAX.

But that's not because of the high effeciency of the handlers, it's because of immigration.

And sometimes, not only does my baggage beat me, it sits around for an hour or two with lots of other non US citizens bags, just waiting to be riffled through by some stranger!!