What is the advantage of boarding a flight last?

Question

Can one utilize any benefit in having the privilege to take a flight last when one already has a seat allocated to him?

Answer 1

Yes, the last to board the plane fewer the minutes you will have to be on the aircraft before it takes off. It also reduces traffic in the gate and jet bridge which could improve the boarding process. This is especially helpful when your hand luggage is not very large and you don’t mind the overhead storage.

Comments

There is an exception to the "board last" rule. If you got hand luggage and expect the overhead lockers to be full once you board, in this case go earlier.

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The problem with boarding last is that the overhead storage around your seats become full as passengers carry luggage more than allowed and then you have to walk around looking for empty storage space.

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Overhead bins tend to fill up, mostly due to people who bring more than their allotted bags and airline personnel who refuse to enforce those limitations. For this reason, it might make sense to board as quickly as possible.

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I once boarded near the last similar to your first suggestion. It was the first leg of an international flight. They ran out of overhead bin space and demanded I check my carryon luggage to my final destination (Europe)My carryon had essentials for my layover. I begged them to let me try to fit it up top. I will NEVER delay boarding again.

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The problem today with “boarding last” is that you will NOT have overhead space on most flights, which are typically packed. If you’re checking luggage it’s fine, but doing that adds as much as an hour on both ends of the flight.

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One of the bad things that happens these days is people who sit in the back put their carry on luggage in the first available overhead space. By the time you get to your seat there’s no place left to put your own luggage. Airlines need to stop allowing passengers to put luggage anywhere except where they are sitting.

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I always aim to board first. Boarding last means you have to still wait for all the slow people blocking the isle, sorting their luggage into overhead storage, sorting their kids, etc… rather stressful. By getting to my seat first which is always the window seat, I avoid the hassle of asking people to stand up to let me in. I can also spread out to sort all my stuff for the flight, iPad, drinks, snacks, look at the inflight menu, etc. Once settled, I put my headphones on and start a movie on the iPad, oblivious to the other chaos around me! Less stressful.

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The narrator made me laughing hard on some of his extra comments. Very entertaining. I’m used to flying long distance like 15 hours nonstop flights and these tips are very helpful. The death on board creeps me out though. Never thought of that happening. Thank you for bringing them up.
I do wait last for boarding, no sense of waiting in line long time. International flights are pretty strict with carryons luggage, so no one really have 10 extra plastic bags with them like they just came back from the mall lol
Tip on hydration on long haul flights: Bring your stainless steel water bottle on board, empty of course. Then, ask your stewardess for extra water and ice and fill up your water bottle. In this way, you will have cold water to sip on whenever you like throughout the flight without calling for it. It work for me on long flights.

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The problem with boarding last... which I have personally encountered, particularly at the holidays, is that your carry-on baggage may wind up not only disallowed in the cabin, but on a later flight. The last flight I took, not only my luggage but the carry on luggage of eight other people who were last to board, was put on a later plane. Luckily I was going home and not to a vacation destination, the way I was when I traveled to Spain and was without clothes and toiletries for 3 or 4 days. I would rather stand up by the gate for a few minutes, waiting my turn to board, then relaxing in a seat and not have my luggage when I arrive.