By Shawn Gallagher
Why do people want to board a plane early, and sit and wait for a longer time in the small cabin? This is a commonly asked question.
Although everyone values early boarding differently, there are several benefits that a lot of people can agree on.
Here are some that I think are the biggest advantages of priority boarding.
1. Avoiding Lines
There’s a lot of standing around during boarding. The further back you are, the longer you are in lines and standing around, especially on a larger airplane.
Boarding early eliminates this, and you can relax and give yourself more time on the plane to get your seat ready and make yourself comfortable before takeoff.
There’s a good chance that you’ll get stuck in the jet bridge as well. It can take a while to actually get to the plane, and standing around in lines like this isn’t exactly comfortable.
2. Overhead Storage Bins
This is arguably the biggest benefit. You don’t have to worry about not having space overhead for your luggage.
It’s common today to have to check in your carry-on bag at the gate if you board towards the end. But the possibility of that is eliminated if you board early.
Related: 5 Things You Should NEVER Put In Your Checked Luggage
Even if you do manage to get your carry-on in the cabin, you may have to place it several seats away if there isn’t any space left above your seat.
All of this can be stressful for many travelers, and priority boarding eliminates them all.
3. Bypass Lines When You Arrive Late
Many airlines let you bypass the standard line if you arrive late as a priority passenger.
For example, American Airlines has two lanes for boarding. One labeled Main, and the other labeled Priority. If you’re a priority passenger, you can bypass the Main line and board the plane even if you arrive after standard boarding has started, while the gate agents halt the boarding process for the Main passengers while you go down the Priority lane.
Again, less lines and less waiting with priority boarding.
Related: American Airlines Boarding Groups, How Do They Work?
Bottom Line
Every passenger values priority boarding differently. Often, it’s just something that comes along with their fare class or frequent flyer status. But it does help make the boarding process less hectic and stressful. There’s a reason why frequent flyers get to board first, instead of last.
All photos taken by the author.