I know that waiting to exit an aircraft can become very tedious, especially if you are in the back of the plane, but jumping up and bounding past other folks is just plain rude.
It is RUDE To Jump Up And Dash Down Aircraft Aisle To Get Off Plane More Quickly
Video shows a man who jumped up when his JetBlue flight pulled up to the gate and made a mad dash for the front of the plane. He did pretty well, making it past about 15 rows before too many people got in his way.
View this post on Instagram
But there were two moments, one in particular, that I did not like about the self-professed “top five plane unboarder” who has “zero patience when getting off planes.”
He pushes past one guy without even clearly saying “excuse me,” though it looked like he had a bit of space to do so. But I really did not like how he tried to wedge past the woman in the pastel shirt and light jeans. He seemed to wedge his way through, mumbling “excuse me” only after he had invaded her personal space.
Was that really necessary? To what, save 45 seconds? No, it was just rude.
I choose window seats and typically will not get up until the others in my row exit. In fact, sometimes I’ll just wait for the plane to empty out. While waiting, I put on my AirPods and listen to classical music. It’s a wonderful time that decreases anxiety rather than increases it (like everyone else fighting to get off the aircraft).
You should try it.
CONCLUSION
Rather than fight my way off a plane, I am often the last one off. I like it that way and think it is a far better alternative to being rude in order to save yourself a minute or two while exiting. Instead of pushing people, why not push through some great music?
(H/T: Jeb)
I had something similar happen to me once. I was travelling with my kid, who had fallen asleep. I was in an aisle seat, so after we landed I stood up, got my carry-on down, and set it in the aisle to wait my turn (all while juggling a sleeping kid). We were about half-way down the plane (mainline, narrowbody) in coach. A lady pushed passed, turned to me, said something along the lines of “It’s rude to block the aisle while others are trying to get past”, then continued to push past everyone else to get to the front. To be clear, no one around us was moving. We were all just standing and waiting except for this one lady. The other passengers looked at me, as befuddled at this lady as I was, and a few even spoke up with comments like “You’re fine, who knows what’s up with her?” It was a very odd interaction.
All passengers ought to remain quietly seated until the door is opened and crew give permission to stand and walk out . It is a very uncouth habit for passengers to stand and open the bins beforehand .
Furthermore , some of those bags in the bins are heavy and will harm people if they fall on their heads . Some people may ‘think’ the plane has stopped , but then it lurches forward when it is pulled by a tug . Rather unrefined behaviour, what ?
I wouldn’t stay on the plane until being the last off as Matt does, but I’m usually pretty relaxed about waiting my/our turn until others in the front have gotten off with… this caveat: If it’s international and I need to take the family through passport control and additional transit screening, I will be the nag that drags my wife and 7 year old as if the world is coming to an end. It has made the difference in being able to (barely) make connections in that if I’m ahead of most other passengers, we save a good hour in line.
Reminds me of a guy who made every effort to squeeze by me, which made me slightly amused given that I already knew (by looking out of the window) that we would disembark through the other door and he just ensured that he now would be behind me.
There are certain areas of the world where it seems culturally acceptable to bum rush the front of the plane at the earliest possible opportunity. I say that because it feels like all or most try to engage in the behavior in that part of the world.
But I’d agree that in the western world, such behavior is definitely uncouth. Though I ado have some sympathy for those attempting to make an at-risk connection.
Yes . In some areas of the world they scrum , even before a flight . I have encountered scrums at a ticket counter in Delhi , and whilst boarding in Cairo . In Japan and Singapore , however , everyone forms an orderly queue .
Galoot I also remember the days of the Cairo scrum to board. Once the doors opened, there was a beat feet to get to the plane. Good times (sort of) 😉
Seatbelt sign off, I hop up right away and grab my roller outta the overhead…..then I sit back down. Why do I jump up right away and get it down? So I’m not the schmuck holding everyone from deplaning once the door opens. Mock the guy who jumps up right away all you want but I will NEVER be the inconsiderate a-hole holding up the deplaning line.
I sometimes run but I am not rude. This method allows me to progress 4 rows while still being civil. I do this only if late for a connection. If really late, I can sprint and get 6 rows but no more than that.
On a recent flight, I was #1 to exit but that was only because I was in business class.
When trying to make a tight connection I’ve had no choice but to do exactly what this guy did. Even when the flight attendants made an announcement to please remain seated while those with a tight connection disembark yet everyone stands up in the aisle the moment the seatbelt sign goes off. Who is being rude in these circumstances?
What if everyone has a tight connection?
Statistically unlikely, I’d say!
This is ridiculous but I experienced this week what it looks like to fly in the back. I booked a last minute domestic flight and got the last seat on row 30. Plane arrived at the gate and oh boy…. people really lol their time to exit the plane. Some people think they are in their own plane and have all the time in the world to grab their luggage from the overhead bin. It was so annoying and by the time I left the plane the cleaning team was already getting close to my row. Never more.
Does Air Asia still have general boarding with no assigned seats? What a scramble. Those were the only times I ever wished I wore spiked wrist bands.
They have been assigning seats on all of their flights for over 10 years at least.
When these people pull that stuff: I stand up and put all my bags in the aisle and make them deplane ON ORDER. I paid to board first and deplane first. Period.
He’s black so he can get away with it.
Most whites are so terrified of being called racist that they won’t even talk back anymore. Black people know this now and use that fear to get what they want.
BINGO !
That’s the stupidest comment on here, this happens with black, white, Latin and Asian people. Great way to bring your racist attitude into this!
The execution may have been rude, but I’ll give the guy the benefit of the doubt and assume he had a tight connection, maybe had a #2 emergency that couldn’t wait, or maybe running late for a meeting/appointment/interview because the flight was delayed.
What about the boarding process which happen to me last night with an aisle seat and a couple in the middle and window seat.
I had to get up and block the aisle while the man pulled a copy of the New York Times out of his carry-on. Then the wife wanted her charger cord. Then the hubby got up again to get his book. Then wifey wanted her book. By this time, the FA came by and requested hubby sit down till all were seated. Neither read their books or played with their phones for they slept for the entire flight once they got their cocktails.
Go figure!!
Flying into our local, regional airport, final leg with no other connections, a woman tried to shove my husband out of her way. Being a regional jet and my husband being a large man, she was not successful. Even if she had been, the aisle was full of other passengers standing waiting for the door to open.
He asked to to give him some space and she snapped about not wanting to wait.
Later at the baggage belt, our bags came out ahead of hers. I smiled, waved and said “enjoy the wait.”
Some people are just awful.
On my flight last night saw this happening. Several people sitting mid plane got up out of their seats just as the seatbelt sign went off. I overheard one woman say she was worried about missing her connecting flight. I asked her if it was also on Southwest and she said yes. I told her the gate agent had announced that all connecting flights would wait. (The gate agent announced this 3 times.)
I think people don’t listen to gate agents or flight attendants and they should. It can be very helpful.
Last night the flight attendant announced a wallet had been found. We all looked up and then he said now that he had our attention he would go thru the safety info. Most people laughed but it’s a comment on how we ignore info that is for our own good.