One of the biggest annoyances in life is hearing the announcement that your flight back home is about to board, and having to wait 20 minutes until they finally let your area board. It might be tempting to skip the long lines, but boarding before calling your zone isn't just a lapse in airport etiquette; it can also disrupt the progress of other passengers.
"Airlines board by zones for a few reasons, but primarily it's to help manage passengers so the process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible," Mary Silva, editor of travel website JohnnyJet.com, tells Bustle. "The airline you're flying on may have a system in place to help prevent aisle congestion. For example, some airlines board through a system called WilMA — meaning they board through the window first, then the middle, then the aisle — while other airlines board from back to front. “Another reason airlines use specific boarding processes is to reward premium customers, such as first- or business-class passengers or airline credit card holders.
Likewise, some people who board early, such as those with small children or the elderly, will need help from the crew, so it's best for them to board before everyone else, flight attendant Lisa Schoenthal tells Bustle. “Prior to boarding allows flight attendants time to assist passengers in need before the plane becomes crowded with passengers,” she said.
Patrick Smith, an airline pilot since 1990, host of AskThePilot.com, and author of "Cockpit Confidential ," tells Bustle that's not always the case. "In the past, planes were boarded from back to front by row number," he said. Zone boarding incorporates elements of old-style row boarding, with priority given to frequent flyers and first-class passengers. "It's a good idea, but it can be confusing when an operator has multiple zones with different but similar-sounding names," Smith said. "If people have to stare at their boarding pass for 30 or 60 seconds to figure out what zone they are in, that's not OK."
Is it possible to board the plane at other times?
Whether you can board in non-designated areas depends on the situation. Silva says to only board when your zone is called. Expedia communications manager Alexis Tiacoh agrees. "I encourage travelers to board when called for their respective state, ticket type or region," she tells Bustle. There are exceptions to this rule: as mentioned above, anyone who needs extra help can board first. Typically, airlines also invite active duty military members to board early.
But what if they already called your area and you missed it? Then it's time to move to the front of the line, Schoenthal said. "But never do it until your boarding group has been called," she said. Mindy, a former flight attendant, asked that her first name be used to protect her privacy. She said some people may indeed try to board before their zone is called, but advised against doing so. "Since there are so many people waiting, it's best to be polite and wait your turn," she said.
How to make boarding easier
Orbitz director of brand marketing Carey Malloy tells Bustle that if you're flying economy, you're bound to stand impatiently next to a group of Zone 4 passengers while flight attendants constantly announce priorities and first-class boarding. The plane asks passengers. "While boarding by zone helps flight attendants avoid chaos and maintain order when boarding, waiting too long to board can cause frustration and anxiety for many travelers," she said.
Smith thought there was a way to make the entire boarding process smoother. "One of the most annoying passenger habits today is insisting on queuing at the door and forming crowds," he said. "As soon as they were notified to board, the 200 passengers, no matter which section or row they were sitting in, would immediately stand up and form an irregular queue." He said that those whose turn was next to board had to rush to the front. "Everything about this slows down the already tedious boarding process," he said. "No excuse. Please remain seated until your zone is called and then proceed to the gate."
No matter when you board a plane, there seems to be a way to go crazy. Whether you upgrade to priority boarding to avoid the line, or sit back and wait until your zone is called, just know you'll get on board eventually. But the more you simplify the process, the better.
