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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Queuing to board?

215 replies

holachicatita · 12/07/2026 11:19

So.. currently waiting to board my flight and me and my husband have had a disagreement. Seats are already allocated but I still like to queue and get on the flight once the gates open. He likes to sit and wait until the last minute, looking down his nose at all the silly little people queuing. AIBU to start to queue once the gates open?

OP posts:
allthiscarryon · 13/07/2026 15:43

I think it’s dumb! Quite often We’ll walk past the queue and go and sit in the lounge area and the daggers some people give! We then get up and join boarding.
if you’re the kind of idiot who wants to queue all the way down the corridor rather than sitting the lounge like a normal person then that’s on you.
Then staff should tell people to go and sit and not block the way.

Goldengirl123 · 13/07/2026 16:22

I really don’t understand why people queue. I board last

KitsyWitsy · 13/07/2026 16:25

Goldengirl123 · 13/07/2026 16:22

I really don’t understand why people queue. I board last

If you read the thread, it's been explained many times...

HoppingPavlova · 13/07/2026 16:32

Goldengirl123 · 13/07/2026 16:22

I really don’t understand why people queue. I board last

Really, you can’t think of any reason 🤔

PolkaDotPorridge · 13/07/2026 16:36

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 12/07/2026 11:21

It depends on if you have a small case to go overhead. If you board last there’s often no room.

This. We use fast track security because you just go straight through without queuing and priority boarding because there is often no room for overhead luggage near your seat if you don’t , with priority boarding you are guaranteed the space.

parthyphibday · 13/07/2026 16:39

I can completely understand why people might want to wait until last, but with some people there is a really odd smug arsehole attitude about it - as if everyone who doesn't want to wait until last are idiots - 'look at them queuing to get on - idiots, they could still be sat in this dusty old terminal seat for an extra 10 mins, but instead they are using their own muscles to stand up. The fools. I'm so chilled I get to enjoy some extra terminal time'

There are lots of reasons why I might want to stand and queue.

Overhead luggage space
I might feel like standing up and stretching my legs
Unless you are first you have to queue somewhere
I have ADHD and have missed a flight whilst sitting next to the gate before - that can't happen if I'm in the queue
The passport/tickets faff - I use the queue time to sort myself out so I'm not doing it right in front of the check-in clerk
Not feeling rushed

Plus there is the rather obvious part - if everyone waited to be last to get on - no one would board the plane.

BringBackCatsEyes · 13/07/2026 16:50

parthyphibday · 13/07/2026 16:39

I can completely understand why people might want to wait until last, but with some people there is a really odd smug arsehole attitude about it - as if everyone who doesn't want to wait until last are idiots - 'look at them queuing to get on - idiots, they could still be sat in this dusty old terminal seat for an extra 10 mins, but instead they are using their own muscles to stand up. The fools. I'm so chilled I get to enjoy some extra terminal time'

There are lots of reasons why I might want to stand and queue.

Overhead luggage space
I might feel like standing up and stretching my legs
Unless you are first you have to queue somewhere
I have ADHD and have missed a flight whilst sitting next to the gate before - that can't happen if I'm in the queue
The passport/tickets faff - I use the queue time to sort myself out so I'm not doing it right in front of the check-in clerk
Not feeling rushed

Plus there is the rather obvious part - if everyone waited to be last to get on - no one would board the plane.

My ex was one of those arrogant, snooty types.
He did the same getting off the flight.
Granted, standing there with your head on the wonk for 40 mins is a bit stupid, but we literally had to be asked to get off one time cos they needed to clean the plane.
That was the time the smart arse left his passport on the aircraft.

honeylulu · 13/07/2026 18:59

Weeellokthen · 13/07/2026 07:19

In all the flights I have been on, I have never witnessed this 😁

I've seen this happen on some full flights though in the gate lounge before boarding started. Staff would patrol up and down and ask people to volunteer to check luggage. I only ever have a small rucksack and have never been asked. They always pick people with those small wheelie suitcases which can't go under the seat, starting with the biggest looking ones. I've seen someone protest and the staff member whipped out a tape measure and announced it was too big anyway and it was carted off to the hold.

nomas · 13/07/2026 19:05

honeylulu · 13/07/2026 18:59

I've seen this happen on some full flights though in the gate lounge before boarding started. Staff would patrol up and down and ask people to volunteer to check luggage. I only ever have a small rucksack and have never been asked. They always pick people with those small wheelie suitcases which can't go under the seat, starting with the biggest looking ones. I've seen someone protest and the staff member whipped out a tape measure and announced it was too big anyway and it was carted off to the hold.

It can work in travellers' favour too. I had about 10 kilos of excess baggage on top of my 30kg allowance. The check in staff said if I allowed them to put my cabin case in the hold, they would forego the money for the excess baggage, which would have been ~$40 per kilo.

likelysuspect · 13/07/2026 19:29

BringBackCatsEyes · 13/07/2026 16:50

My ex was one of those arrogant, snooty types.
He did the same getting off the flight.
Granted, standing there with your head on the wonk for 40 mins is a bit stupid, but we literally had to be asked to get off one time cos they needed to clean the plane.
That was the time the smart arse left his passport on the aircraft.

I stand up the minute the flight lands and the last time I heard the woman say behind me to her husband 'dont know why people stand up so quickly, no one is getting off yet' Didnt occur to her that Im uncomfortable sitting down and will always rather stand up if I can rather than sit down. If Im waiting for something I will always stand rather than sit.

MrsShawnHatosy · 14/07/2026 10:09

likelysuspect · 13/07/2026 19:29

I stand up the minute the flight lands and the last time I heard the woman say behind me to her husband 'dont know why people stand up so quickly, no one is getting off yet' Didnt occur to her that Im uncomfortable sitting down and will always rather stand up if I can rather than sit down. If Im waiting for something I will always stand rather than sit.

IME the fasten seatbelt sign doesn’t go off until the aircraft has finished taxiing.

OnGoldenPond · 14/07/2026 19:44

Arlanymor · 12/07/2026 11:58

I didn't say individually. But every flight I have been on they have done priority and then 'Boarding rows A-E' and so on and so forth. It's never been a rugby scrum. With the exception of boarding planes with only eight seats and then it's done by weight!

They don’t do this on the cheapy airlines I travel on, you are clearly moving in more refined circles than me Grin.

Though I have never been on a plane where the rows have letters. Have always been numbered.

QueenStevie · 14/07/2026 20:01

We have this exact scenario. I am an incredibly nervous flyer and DH takes charge at the airport. I do as I am told (in this specific and limited situation only).

Arlanymor · 17/07/2026 19:47

OnGoldenPond · 14/07/2026 19:44

They don’t do this on the cheapy airlines I travel on, you are clearly moving in more refined circles than me Grin.

Though I have never been on a plane where the rows have letters. Have always been numbered.

Probably the first and last time anyone will say that to me! I will cherish that! But the most recent planes I have been on are military ones - and then you absolutely do what the person in green at the front tells you what to do! And I'm a civvy!

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