Queuing to board?

Overbooking does happen, yes. However, the overbooked passenger will be informed at check in that the flight is full. This would never happen at the gate. Otherwise they’d have to remove people’s checked baggage.

you will have to queue at some point anyway unless you are front row. You can't just stroll in once everybody is already seated, so I'd rather go quickly inside, sit down and let people stand for ages in the aisle waiting for others to stop faffing and blocking the way.

It's a choice but neither is "wrong".

Someone has to start boarding at some point.

I bet they are hoping to find a free seat that is either window or aisle, but they don't want to pay for one!

Why. Why, why queue?????

Depends.

If we've arrived early and had a good run through security etc, I'm often so sick of sitting around that I'll get up and queue just for something to do!

But there's a special place in hell for the twats who bunch up around the front of the queue and block everyone's way before their group is even called.

Or you’ll be on a bus first so the most you will gain is being first on the bus. Which probably means last off 🤣

YABU. What's the point of standing around for ages if you can wait a bit until the rush has settled?

Last summer we were waiting for a flight home and before the gate was even open people were queuing up. The plane hadn't even landed on the inbound journey yet, but folk were up and queuing, and moaning about having to stand in the queue. The fact that there wasn't a plane at the end of the skybridge should have been a clue...

Don't get me started on people who rush to stand up as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off after landing. THEY'RE LETTING US OFF IN ORDER, STANDING UP WON'T GET YOU DEBOARDED ANY QUICKER, SIT DOWN

If you are first to get pass the boarding desk,there is no guarantee that you are going straight into the plane. On flights run by budget airlines,there is a chance you are going to find yourselves standing in a narrow corridor or a staircase as they often start boarding people before passengers are out of the plane that has just arrived.

I have an allocated seat beside a window - but near enough to the front and want to make sure my case goes over my head or in front of me, not behind me.

I also want to just sit down, pull out my iPad and start the movie I downloaded to escape from the shit show that is my life just now.

But I am happy enough to spend the time on a plane

I queue, I hate getting on late and my hand luggage having to be in an overhead bin nowhere near my seat as the ones near me are now full.

My partner and I prefer to wait and board later. This paid off last year when there was a problem part way through boarding resulting in a half hour wait. Those that had already boarded were stuck sat on the plane, we had a more comfortable wait.

Definitely Team DH here. Last flight I got they gave we the choice of standing in a queue for 20 minutes for speedy boarding or sitting down for 25 minutes for slow boarding. Slow boarding it was.

Yes otherwise the overhead lockers fill up.

I prefer to sit and wait before boarding. I hate planes so the least time spent cramped and nervous the better for me.
I travel very light, usually just have my Uniqlo cross body bag so no need to be trying to cram a case in the overhead locker.

I agree with your husband although I only ever have a rucksack which goes under the seat - I much prefer to have my stuff accessible so dont put it in the locker even if there's plenty of room.

I hate queuing and then if you board with the other keen beans it's exasperating shuffling sloooowly down the aisle to your row while people faff with their stuff. Much prefer sauntering on at the end, straight to seat, job done.

If you like doing it the other way fair enough though.

I can remember back in the 1960s when seats on a plane were not allocated and there was a queue to get on and secure your preferred seat.

#notallflights

I've seen people queueing before the plane has even landed and you can clearly see the tunnel with no plane attached through the window. I join the queue once it starts moving and I can see people boarding.

I am with your husband. I also always book aisle and only have luggage that fits under the seat in front.

You should have pursued that with the airline, in fact you still can if it was less than 6 years ago. How much was the fare difference?

I prefer to sit and wait unless for some reason I have speedy boarding (like if I’m
with someone who wants or needs the front row)

I try not to bring a case on the plane as it’s annoying

Your husband is right. I just don’t see the point in queuing if the seats are allocated. As long as I’m by the gate so I can see it’s not closing without me, I’m fine to be the last one on 🤷‍♀️ Might as well be sat down just chilling.

I used to be like DH but I board last a few years ago and an aggressive man refused to move out of my seat. I was forced to sit in the centre of the back of economy when I'd booked and paid for a premium economy. Cabin Crew just let him do as he pleased. I got no £ back. Now I board early to make sure i get my seat.

Sorry I have never understood the queuing if you have a seat, I like to get on last

I find that people are either one or the other and very entrenched in their views. I’m a sit & wait and honestly can’t understand why you’d stand and queue, to sit in a pre allocated seat, to then sit and wait on the plane. But after travelling with colleagues who need to stand and queue the second the gate is announced and can’t see the other viewpoint I put it down as just one of those things.