Why you should stand in the queue early when boarding a plane even with just hand luggage.
Yesterday I flew home from Porto to Eindhoven. I don’t fly that often but I never understood why some people are so eager to get on the plane when the call for boarding comes over the speakers. They literary jump up and run towards the boarding attendant to be let on the plane as fast as possible.
I do understand now…
Our last day in Porto. A great city to visit. Loved it. Bianca felt better the last day.
I’m not that fond of standing in a line if I don’t have to so I usually sit in the lounge enjoying the WIFI of the airport waiting for the line to get smaller. I’m also not scared of missing the plane. I’m already there!
So here I am sitting in the lounge watching the other passengers get in line. When the line is almost gone, I get up and walk towards the boarding area.
I show my ticket to the attendant and she says:
“Your bag needs to go into the cargo hold.”
“why?”
“Too much hand luggage on the plane.”
“darn…”
“Can I take something from my bag?”
“Yes, but hurry up sir…”
I took this picture while looking at the line...many regrets not much later.
A well-deserved lesson for being lazy.
So now I need to think fast. What am I going to get out of my bag to take on the plane? It’s almost a 3-hour flight. I’m going to be bored!
I open my already filled to the brim bag and start digging for my laptop, book and Moleskine. I shove a pen and a bottle of water into my coat pocket.
“Pleas hurry sir!”
I put the items under my arm and grab my bag with the other. Outside I need to give my bag to the cargo people. I board the plane carrying my items. The plane is indeed full. There is no space to store my stuff!
I sit down fully dressed. Boiling hot and a ton of stuff on my lap. I’m regretting my earlier laziness. But it’s my own fault.
3 hours later we land in Eindhoven. I got off the plane.
Most of the other passengers are happily walking straight towards the exit. Not me. I must now wait for my bag to arrive. It takes around 40 minutes before I see it appear from the door of the luggage conveyer.
I put my stuff inside and finally can get to my car to drive home.
So much time lost for just 15 minutes of extra WIFI. Next time I'm not going to be so lazy anymore.
A well-deserved lesson learned!
Follow Me @exyle
After years of airplane travel I have learned to be near first in the queue - but not first. Even though I may need to move to let others access their seats I have no problems storing items.
Being first - has its challenges - once when catching a flight where you need to walk the tarmac I was first, saw several planes to choose from and took my best guess - like sheep everyone followed me to the wrong plane. The ground staff hadn't quite got their act together in shepherding me to the correct plane.
I'll be in the queue earlier from now on. Especially on budget flights. Your story about boarding the wrong plane is hilarious! lol!
I'd never realised that either. I too, wait until almost the last minute before standing up, but I'm usually in the check-in area anyway and I stand up to join the queue before the very end. Perhaps I've been lucky so far?
Thanks for the heads-up.
No Problem! I guess I was lucky until yesterday as well.
Hey man!
Whoa, that was a close call! But take.comfort in knowing I would have done the exact same thing. When people are called to board a plane, it transforms into a WWE Royal Rumble. And that's something I don't wish to be part of, lol...
But you made it out the other side and that's what counts. I've got an 11 hour plane ride coming up next month. Must make sure that doesn't happen to me, so thanks for the heads up.
Another outstanding posts as always. Great job!!!
Let's get ready to rumble! I don't like it either man. But I got home in the end with all my stuff and a lesson learned. Where are you going, man? I'm sure your plane will be bigger (because of 11 hours) and you can take all your hand luggage no problem! Thanks for the compliment!
Interesting... How do they know it's too much hand luggage? What is this "too much" anyway? Some stupid airlines indeed!
Hahaha, I don't know how it works. I guess they have some experience with guessing the amount of hand luggage that can be on the plane with the passengers. I guess this is also a price to pay for flying budget.
Thanks for the heads up! I tend to join the end of the queue too but I don't wait for the very end. Ryanair is known for taking more passengers than they can carry so I was always concerned with that.
I have to brag that I've gotten good at waiting with just my thoughts and not getting bored just by enjoying my surroundings. Maybe it's because I've given up TV but I can find entertainment in very small things and I mean as tiny as eaves dropping on a conversation or "people watching" as I like to call it, when you try to work out what might be going on in the lives of the people around you who are maybe fidgeting anxiously or staring into their phones or people watching like me lol.
But when it comes to being on an airplane I can't imagine how anybody can be bored lol. Look out the window man, YOU'RE FLYING!! Watch out for land, or ships in the sea below or windmills or mountains, even the clouds are amazing to look at (I know I know I'm as easily amused as a 3 year old) even watch out for other planes passing, it's as lucky as seeing a shooting star and I've seen more of both than anybody I know in my lifetime simply because I look out for them.
Anyway, I dunno I guess I'm trying to say enjoy the moments. And be careful not to miss your flight ;)
I didn't know they take on more passengers than fit on the plane :O. Another reason to queue up.
I never tried people watching, maybe I should. I can get lost in a book for hours! that works for me 100%. But yours is a good backup to have!
I couldn't watch out the window (sadly). I was in the Aisle seat and it was very cloudy :).
That does not stop me lol. I will stare across the people beside me like a wierdo!! LOL
lol, that made me chuckle!
Wow, I didn't know that could happen. I'd be panicking, because my camera bag is always my hand lugage and I don't trust anyone with it.
Thanks for the warning!
I didn't know it could happen until it did!
I was thinking the same with my (work) laptop! Without it, I am lost! I don't trust many with it either. Especially not bouncing around in the cargo hold!
thanks fina bilder
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