49 Comments
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Steve's avatar

First mistake is buying a plane ticket.

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Steve's avatar

I can’t even fly in a video game.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Haha touché, Steve. Step one: don’t fly. Step two: don’t need to read my boarding tips 😄. But hey, if you ever do book again… I’ve got you covered!

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Stephanie Foster's avatar

I rarely have a carry-on and book an aisle seat. I wait for everyone to board and then I go

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Stephanie, you’re a kindred spirit! That’s exactly the move aisle seat, no carry-on, last to board… and still first to relax. You basically wrote the pilot’s playbook. 😄

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Jay See's avatar

Most of these recommendations seem nonsensical and completely out of phase with the reality of onboarding airplanes. Waiting 10 to 12 minutes almost always results in being trapped in a long line on the jet way. Etc

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Totally fair, Jay. My strategy definitely isn’t one-size-fits-all and jet bridge traffic can be its own kind of purgatory. Appreciate you pushing the conversation with real-world nuance.

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….'s avatar

One of the advantages of boarding early is that you can use the overhead locker; board later and it’s usually full…

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Walking in the Light's avatar

Exactly, you end up hunting for a space and may need to have it put in the hold… bad news. I want to get on to stow my carry-on. Nowadays with charges carry-on is essential.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

That scramble for bin space can really add stress and once that carry-on gets gate-checked, you're stuck waiting at baggage claim too. I always recommend a soft-sided bag for max flexibility in tight bins

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

I always say: no carry-on, no problem. A soft bag under the seat buys me peace and a later stroll onboard. Thanks for your reply!

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adrienneep's avatar

Doesn’t this just beg the question: why not just check your bags and be free of this rush and hassle? Your personal bag is just an “overnight” small backpack that goes fine under the seat, at your feet. Easy in and out. No fuss. Makes waiting in air conditioned baggage claim seem like a breeze.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Exactly! That’s the heart of what I was getting at once I started traveling with just a small soft bag under the seat, boarding became so much less of a battle. No overhead bin stress, no need to rush, and yes… baggage claim isn’t the enemy when you’re not in a hurry. Love how you put it: no fuss, just flow.

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XF1's avatar

My strategy is to avoid the de-humanising cattle experience altogether. From the check in queue to the 'security' grope to the lack of seating space to being cared for by a Vaxxed crew.. Nah.. It's now just a another 'symptom' of a society I don't want to be part of.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Appreciate you sharing your take, XF1. There’s no doubt modern air travel can feel cold, crowded, and disconnected and for some, it crosses a line that’s just not worth it. I get it. My goal’s always been to make the experience a little more human and a little less stressful, especially for those who still need to fly.

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XF1's avatar

Appreciated… I have a humble VFR only PPL and enjoy slipping the bonds of earth blah blah blah.. Cattle truck travel limits the emotional engagement that many more people should experience from flying… but there it is, functional and not fun.

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吉米's avatar

I work in aviation and I'm embarrassed that I tried reading this.

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John Cook's avatar

I’ve often wondered why they don’t try boarding and deplaning by seat position instead of section. Windows first, middle second, aisles last; exceptions for small children & special needs. Deplaning is aisles front to back then middle back to front, then windows back to front. It seems as though that would send a steady stream up the aisle instead of the huge breaks left by passengers settling and unsettling row by row. One could estimate the efficiency by timing the spaces between passengers leaving the aircraft.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

John, this is the kind of logic airlines should be testing more often. Boarding by seat position makes so much sense, less aisle congestion, smoother flow, and less frustration all around. The current methods often feel like a relic of habit rather than efficiency. It’s a complex process for sure. Not to easy to implement. Thanky for your reply!

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Miranda R Waterton's avatar

Good advice. I’m surprised how few people seem to realise that if you’ve got a reserved seat in the front rows (in Economy) it doesn’t make a lot of sense to push ahead and board early. Let everyone behind you get settled first. I suspect a lot of the rush has its psychological roots in the feeling of powerlessness - you spend so much time waiting in various places before boarding (on a recent straightforward flight I counted six instances of significant waiting around) that you feel an overwhelming urge to get the whole experience over with).

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Brilliantly said, Miranda. That insight about the psychological need to reclaim control after all the pre-boarding waiting is spot on. It’s not just about logistics, it’s about agency. And yes, if you’re seated up front with no carry-on drama, boarding later is almost always smoother. Love your observational approach too, six waiting zones is a lot of passive time!

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David King's avatar

Flew for business 50 weeks a year for 20 years. 1. Would not drag a bag on other than a SMALL under seat item, no matter what. 2. I never lost a bag ( there were delays) in 20 years. 3. Don’t pack what you would not want to lose. 4. If you are tall & over 200 lbs buy a better seat if available. (That gets a LOT more important as you get older.) 5. Have patience. Lots of patience sometimes as needed. 6. Buckle your seatbelt. 7. Don’t recline your seat. Your log legs will take care of a recliner in the row in front of you. Be kind, listen, keep alert. Enjoy the experience.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

David, this is pure gold. Every single point here is worth its own chapter in a travel guide especially #6 and #7. Seatbelt on at all times (turbulence doesn’t knock), and kindness really does go a long way at 35,000 feet. Thanks for sharing your hard-earned wisdom from the skies.

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David King's avatar

Thanks for the kind words. A whole separate subject is the people you meet, like the sweet fuzzy haired 80 year old woman who ferried aircraft of all sizes back & fourth across the Atlantic in WWII. Met on a fun bouncy day from Hartsfield to somewhere. Was privileged to have met 2 of these unsung hero’s.

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Anne Servant's avatar

Well ok but I haven't been on plane recently that there was enough space in overhead bins. The planes are always packed full (half empty flights are forty years in my past), and there is barely enough space for my legs never mind my luggage underneath the seat in front of me. Hence my rush is always about procuring some comfort for my replaced hips and broken pelvis that didn't heal quite right. Flying these days is a misery only to be undertaken if there is absolutely no alternative.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Anne, I really hear you and you're absolutely right. The space crunch today is no joke, and for anyone dealing with pain or mobility challenges, it’s a grueling experience. I wish more could be done to prioritize comfort for those who need it most. Thank you for sharing this your perspective is so important.

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JJ(Janoman)'s avatar

Just on a flight this week with four deadheading pilots. They boarded first and filled some luggage bins near front of plane. If I followed this advice I would have had no space in overhead bins which the flight attendant was closing before half the passengers boarded.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Classic! Sounds like those deadheading pilots should’ve read my newsletter before boarding 😄. Rule #1: don’t steal bin space you’re not sitting under especially if you wear stripes!

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Esther Stanway-Williams's avatar

Yep, I’m totally with you on all of this….but does this work if EVERYONE applies your strategy??!

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Great question, Esther! If everyone followed this strategy… we might just achieve the impossible: calm, efficient boarding with no wrestling for bin space 😄. But until that day, I’ll keep quietly slipping on last with my underseat bag…

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Esther Stanway-Williams's avatar

Ha ha…your secret is safe with me 🤪

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Janice | Travel & Photography's avatar

So many pieces of unconventional advice. I've found overhead space fo baggage is a huge problem in the US and not anywhere else I've travelled to. So personally I think boarding first is more relevant in the US and not so much anywhere else.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Thanks, Janice! Totally agree, the overhead bin scramble is definitely more of a U.S. thing, where boarding groups can feel like a competitive sport. That’s why I always remind readers: these “pilot tips” aren’t one-size-fits-all, just ideas to adapt depending on where and how you fly.

Personally, when I’m on the road for just 2–3 days, I try to travel with a soft bag instead of a roller, makes life (and boarding) so much easier especially during summer when flights are often full! Appreciate your insight!

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BillB's avatar

I use a soft shell small duffle bag for my carry-on. Squishes into any crack in the overhead space. I consider carrying it thru terminal useful exercise.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Same here! But when I am on a 2-3 days trip only then I need a bigger 🧳

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Bitsy54's avatar

If only I could get my husband…”gotta hurry”….to do this. It is what I presser for all the reasons you put forth.

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Lessons From The Flight Deck 💺's avatar

Haha, I hear you! There’s always one in the couple who’s ready to board early… and the other who’s still grabbing snacks 😅. Maybe send him the post next time you're at the gate pilot’s orders! ✈️👨‍✈️

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