AIBU - Etiquette disembarking plane

[planeetiquette]

I recently flew into LA, the flight was jam packed and the overhead lockers filled up quickly so the flight attendants took bags off people and put them wherever they could find space in the lockers.

I was in an aisle seat, and had a connecting flight, so when the seatbelt sign went off I stood up like everyone else, got my carry on out of the overhead locker and waited to disembark.

That's when an American lady from the row in front of me turned to me and said she needed to get past me to get to her luggage and then bring it backto her place in the queue.

I said sorry, that's not going to work as the aisle is really narrow and filled with luggage right now, it'd be best if you sat down and waited until some people have disembarked so there's more space.

She got angry and said "Fine, if you don't move I'm going to BLOCK the aisle. We'll get the flight attendants involved"

It wasn't just her, there was also a group of men in front who needed their luggage from the back of the plane as well and they backed her up (!)

After such a long flight I was over it, and said in my most calm but firm voice:

"Guys, waiting is a fact of life, you're just going to have to sit and wait.

"Your luggage is down the back of the plane. I'm sorry but that's not my fault. This is a very narrow space and I don't know what you want me to do."

In the end the flight attendants never got involved, as someone behind me passed luggage over my head to the lady and the men.

At the time I thought I was in the right (I fly a lot for work). But the more I think about it, is that just how they do it in the US? If you're "ahead" in the rows, you retain the right to get off first even if you're not prepared? If that's the case, I understand why she was angry.

This would have been preferable to what OP actually did though, as soon as the woman was past her and got her luggage she would have been stuck at the back of the plane and wouldn't be OPs problem anymore.

Nope, I'd assume it was the same world over. I fly often, and if I only have carry on I hate it when I'm not on fast enough to get it over my head and it ends up miles away, because I know I'm going to have to wait to be able to get it.

Did everyone clap?

OP has already explained that she had a connecting flight and very nearly missed it. If she'd sat and waited for everyone else to go ahead of her, she would have done.

Generally I stick my luggage on my seat and stand squished in front of it - usually because I don't have an aisle seat but the person in the aisle seat gets it for me.

Why would your luggage have been blocking the aisle? Surely you stay in your sear until a couple of rows ahead of you are disembarking and then get your bag out of the overhead locker?

It can be if the plane is delayed. I was on one delayed flight in the summer where they requested that everyone not taking (specific connecting flight) remain in their seats and let those people disembark first, because they had something like 20-30 minutes left before that flight was to take off and it was their only chance of making it there that night.

Even without such extremes, depending on the airport/flight, it can really make a big difference whether you're closer to the beginning of disembarking or nearly the last person off the plane. Passport queues can really build up, while in some airports the baggage gets unloaded really quickly. If you're near the end, by the time you get to passport control, there's the full line of another flight behind you and your fellow passengers have travelled half the road into town.

I'm not sure why the discussion?
She wants to squeeze past you and the rest of the world - knock yourself out. Good luck trying to squeeze back up the queue past 10 rows with the bags.

OP I don't understand why she asked your permission/she was discussing it with you?

Generally the etiquette would be to stay in your seat and get your luggage down once it was getting closer to your row not block the aisle whilst waiting.
You were patronizing in the way you spoke to them and for all you know they might have had a connecting flight as well.

So you were stood in the aisle so she couldn't retrieve her bag? Why didnt you just sit down for a minute and let her pass?

I would assume if your luggage was behind you then you wait til the plane empties a bit, not get everyone to shuffle about so that you can trek up and down to your luggage.

It’s not everyone else’s fault that you’ve boarded late and had to shove your luggage wherever it fitted.

They might have had a connecting flight too. You stood up and blocked the aisle- there was no way for you to leave so you could have just moved back to your seat. If your bag was so close you could’ve just grabbed it as you disembarked. I don’t understand why you blocked the aisle when there was no where to go, and why you were so rude and superior

Connecting flight?

Someone waiting to pick them up?

Need to use the loo?

Shall I continue?

When I rule the world, the etiquette will be...

• those with connecting flights disembark.
• then those without overhead luggage,
• overhead luggage lockers

Yes it actually can.

Although if I was on a tight connection I would probably speak to the flight attendants beforehand and get my luggage moved up to a place where I could get it quickly and get out fast.

Also if connections are tight very often there will be a request for non connecting people to remain seated while people with connections get off first.

Needing the loo? Really? 🤣 I'm pretty sure on a long flight you'd have the chance to organise that so you weren't busting as the plane was landing.

I've taken dozens and dozens of flights and in my experience, that happens very rarely. 90% of the time people stand up and move into the aisle if they are in an aisle seat when the seatbelt sign goes off.

They didn't have connecting flights, because I explained to them I had a connecting flight and they would have said something.

If there was room in the aisle for you and your luggage their would have been room in that same aisle for her and your luggage momentarily while you sat down to let her past.
You were just determined that you were right.

Great idea

This is pretty common. I've been in that woman's position when my modest bag was moved back by the flight attendants to make space for a late border's large case. And I've seen it happen to others lots of times. Generally if it is just a few rows and you can get someone's attention other passengers will pass it over. I'm not sure why you are put out that the luggage was passed over your head.

I've also been in the position where I was asked to move seat to accommodate a group that wanted to sit together. As everyone was on the plane by this point most luggage bins near my new seat were full so the attendants found some space about twenty rows back and said they would bring it to me when landing. They didn't. I was last off the plane and in a huge queue for passport control because I had moved to do someone a favour. No good deed goes unpunished.

Just to be clear, she was being aggressive and I was being calm back to her.

@Whatwillitbenext "whispers" you do know you can start needing the loo at any time don't you?

Tell me you're not an IBS sufferer without telling me you're not an IBS sufferer?

And needing the loo is laughable!

Because they were cabin suitcases and could have easily dropped on my head. Usually you ask politely before getting in someone's personal space.

@planeetiquette you were not being calm, you were being condescending!

It's not the same thing at all.

Yes probably, the way she was behaving (saying she was going to block the aisle, call the flight attendants over this non-issue) was insane. I think my tone was even though.