Efficient Airplane Boarding for Anglers
If you’re headed on a long-distance fishing trip – or any trip for that matter – the process of boarding the airplane can be mentally draining. We all want it to be efficient, but that means different things to different people. Collectively we have a stake in boarding progressing as quickly and painlessly as possible, but individually we want to make sure that we’re there first and that our stuff is safe and sound and in our continuous possession. Those two goals are not always in concert with one another.
I’ll be honest – I’m selfish when it comes time to get on the big bird. I want to be on as soon as possible to lay my claim to my seat, my armrest and in most cases to some amount of overhead storage. Meanwhile, the airlines in particular are incentivized to get the human herd of cattle into place as quickly as possible. Toward that end, United Airlines recently unveiled a new process which they estimate will shave a not-inconsequential 2 minutes off of their average boarding time. Now boarding order on most flights will in most cases be determined by seat position: For passengers flying basic economy window seat passengers will board first, then those in middle seats, followed by people in aisle seats.
Those of us who prefer an aisle seat will likely not be thrilled. Meanwhile, some others say that this is not the best way to fix slow boarding. Here are some examples:
Math Proves the Fastest, Most Efficient Way to Board a Plane
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Everyone Onboard An Aircraft?
Whether you believe the system remains status quo, whether it should be semi-random (like Southwest), festival seating, front-to-back or left-to-right, the bottom line is that we as passengers have little control over the process. It’s still a matter of taking care of yourself while trying to be considerate to others, especially those who may not fly much and therefore may not know they’re boogering up the process.
Again, the first rule is the Golden Rule. We all have assigned seats, we’ll all be given time to get on. There’s no reason to push over toddlers and old ladies. If you’re Group Seven, there’s no reason to line up at the gate before anyone else has boarded. There’s no reason to incautiously cram your bag into an overhead compartment where it won’t fit without crushing someone else’s.
The second rule is self-preservation. Watch out for your stuff and stand up for your rights, because no one else is going to do it. If it’s going to make you mentally unstable to have to wait until the last minute to see if you’ll have space for your stuff, then take preemptive actions to be in an earlier boarding group or to get dedicated space. That could take the form of purchasing a Business Class or Priority Economy seat, or it could come from gaining status, even by purchasing your ticket with an airline-branded credit card.
Part of the problem with boarding inefficiency comes from the fact that most airlines now charge for checked bags. That incentivizes many travelers to push the limits on the size of their carry-ons and often decreases the amount of available space for later boarding passengers. Furthermore, on many regional or commuter planes there may not be space in the overhead compartments for full-sized carry-on bags. Accordingly, if you 100% refuse to gate check your carry on, make sure that it will fit under the seat in front of you.
If you’re willing under the most dire circumstances to gate check your carry on, make sure that its contents will be secure. If you have reels in it, or medical equipment (like a CPAP), or other valuables, have them in a fitted case that you can extract and carry with you. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive or fishing-specific – indeed, it can come from Wal-Mart or the Dollar Store – but should be easily removable and stowable. I have a Yeti Packing Cube that came with my suitcase that holds my Kindle, my glasses, my phone charging cord, business cards, gum and ear plugs. Before I board (even if I’m bringing my carry on onto the plane) I extract it and place it on my seat for easy organization.
If you’re also bringing one or more travel rods on the plane, be sure to pack them in some sort of hard-sided case. One way or the other, you may have to check them at the ticket counter or at the gate, and I guarantee you that if someone else handles them it’s more than likely they’ll break. The hard case doesn’t eliminate that possibility completely, but it does reduce it substantially.
Even if you bring the tube on the plane, they are awkwardly shaped and if you board relatively late there may not be space for it in the overhead bins – and they may be too long to put under the seat in front of you. Fight as much as you can NOT to check it, and if it won’t fit above, ask the flight attendant to put it in a front coat closet. They’ve done that several times for me, although one time I nearly forgot it. Don’t make that mistake.
As with all aspects of increasingly fraught air travel, the key when boarding is to stay calm, not forget your stuff, and to treat people with respect (even those who act like jackasses). The plane can’t go until you’re all settled, and the more delays you create or allow, the more likely you are to get delayed or deplaned. Take note when it goes smoothly and be thankful when it does.
