Gate Lice

[Zorba]

I mean the later Delta zones are fairly random and its still a shit show. Which lines up with what researchers found when they've looked into it from time to time. Generally the window, middle, aisle boarding generally does the best outside a much more complicated "Steffen Method" or a "Slower first" method. For example: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1108.5211v1

We tolerated Southwest's open seating and miracle flights (I took a Vegas to Florida flight once and Jesus himself must have been on that flight judging by all the people who could suddenly walk off the plane on their own) but I did like their orderly "Everyone gets a boarding number". Until they monetized the shit out of it so you had to add Early Bird to everything at purchase time to get a decent position. YMMV of course but we did a lot of Southwest flying via Companion Passes and basically gave up flying them. If you don't care where you sit then they're probably still fine but I've developed strong opinions about my seat choice so I'll stick with airlines that let you choose them.

I never have an issue getting a good enough boarding position to get a decent seat. The worst positions I've ever gotten have actually been when I've used my annual early bird check in.

 

[Exterous]

I never have an issue getting a good enough boarding position to get a decent seat. The worst positions I've ever gotten have actually been when I've used my annual early bird check in.

Hence the YMMV part

 

[hal2kilo]

Damn travel agency (Amex) that the company I used to work for had me in the back 3rd of the plane for like 90% of the flights I took. I don't know how many times in frustration I just grabbed the bag the some 5 ft who munchkin couldn't lift there bag into the baggage just to get another seat further back.

 

[Stokely]

I'm confused, do you not all have assigned seats before the flight? Are people taking them first-come-first-serve or something?

Or is it just about space for items (which is ludicrous, if you sell x tickets there should be room for x allowed baggage)?

 

[Brainonska511]

It might be annoying that airlines have monetized boarding order, but there have also been people who buy the basic economy tickets that don't entitle them to anything beyond a personal item who were trying to board early to game the system.

 

[hal2kilo]

I'm confused, do you not all have assigned seats before the flight? Are people taking them first-come-first-serve or something?

Or is it just about space for items (which is ludicrous, if you sell x tickets there should be room for x allowed baggage)?

Almost all do. Have you ever been in an airport and traveled on a national carrier?

 

[Brainonska511]

I'm confused, do you not all have assigned seats before the flight? Are people taking them first-come-first-serve or something?

Or is it just about space for items (which is ludicrous, if you sell x tickets there should be room for x allowed baggage)?

It's mostly just overhead bin space. People don't want to gate check, so there is value in being part of an early boarding group.

AA has some incentives for that: Group 1/2 if you are in a higher class, Group 4 if you have their credit card, Group 5 if your a frequent flier member Group 6 for not, and like Group 8/9 if you bought a basic economy ticket (where you only get a personal item for free).

Antisocial people decided that rules don't apply to themselves, so they try to do things like buy the cheapest basic economy seat, then just cut the line at boarding to get a free carryon.

 

[Stokely]

Yes. I guess I'm belatedly questioning why it matters if someone gets on the plane early, if they aren't taking someone's seat--other than the baggage consideration.

Personally I'd prefer to wait as long as possible before jamming myself into a seat, but I'm tall so flying sucks balls for that amongst all the other reasons (I try to get an exit row for this reason)

 

[UNCjigga]

There is a proper way to “gate lice” if that can even be a verb. Typically what I do is join the tail end of the zone ahead of me. If they call “Zone 4” and I’m Zone 5, I’ll wait for the Zone 4 folks to queue and join the tail end of their line. That way I’m the first from Zone 5 to board.