If you like lining up to get on the plane first, don’t let me spoil your travel habits. There’s nothing wrong with waiting first in line to get on the plane promptly.
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In some cases, you might even be protecting yourself from getting bumped on a flight due to overbooking. You might also skip out on checking your carry-on suitcase should the overhead cabin fill up.
That being said, I’m a fan of boarding last. From long-haul flights to short journeys, I linger at the back of the pack. I might even avoid boarding with my group to slip on last.
Why would I have that outlook? Are there good reasons to board the plane last versus first? Here’s my take as a travel writer who flies too much.
Top 5 reasons to board the plane last from a travel writer
Reason #1: It gives me more time to stand and stretch
I prefer aisle seats because shrinking seat sizes have left me feeling a little claustrophobic in the window seat. At this point, I might take a middle seat over a window seat just to avoid the sensation of being locked in.
Boarding last lets me stand, stretch, and otherwise enjoy the space before strapping into a tight seat in a big metal cylinder for hours on end. (I know it’s an airplane.) That might not be big on your radar if you aren’t a claustrophobic traveler, but let this be your reminder: Flights are more prone to delays than ever before, meaning you might find yourself waiting to take off on the tarmac for well over an hour.
Get in that one last stretch, especially before long-haul flights, and especially if DVT is a big concern.
Reason #2: I prefer for gate agents to check my carry-on suitcase
If you’re like me and don’t particularly mind checking carry-on suitcases, board last. You’ll get to stretch and relax while others are jockeying for position in Groups 2 and 3. You’ll also get to off-load a heavy piece of equipment for free, meaning you only need to account for a personal item.
Why does that matter? Because if I enter the plane with a carry-on suitcase and a personal item (which is usually a heavy bag for me), I have to keep my personal item with me or under the seat in front of me. That results in less leg space.
If the airline checks my carry-on, that’s not the case, meaning I could potentially snag an empty spot in the overhead bin. In my experience, there’s often space for me to slide my bag between suitcases without taking any space from other passengers who need it.
Reason #3: I get to use the last of the overhead cabin space for personal items
Let me be clear: Overhead cabin space is precious, and anyone with a carry-on suitcase or a cumbersome duffel/weekender bag gets dibs. But if you’re looking for reasons to board the plane last, keep in mind that the last passenger on the plane gets final dibs on overhead cabin space.
In my experience, there’s always a spot to slide in a bag and/or coat. If the airline also checked my carry-on bag, I’m sliding into my seat with just the bare essentials, letting me maximize the limited seat space.
Reason #4: It keeps me psychologically relaxed
I’ve already touched on this point in the first section, as boarding last lets me get in more stretching before locking into a small seat for hours. But it’s worth reiterating that boarding last gives me a sense of psychological calm. That’s important for any traveler, but it can make a big difference when I’m facing long flights and multi-leg journeys.
One of the longer flights I’ve had in recent memory was a twelve-hour journey from Barcelona to San Francisco, then a six-hour flight down to Cancun from San Francisco. Before boarding both flights, I let other passengers skip ahead of me so that I could stretch. Half the stretching was for my body. The rest was for my mind to make sure I stayed in a relaxed state when dealing with long lines, stressed crowds, and noisy passengers.
If you’ve noticed travel has gotten more unpredictable and stressful in the last few years, don’t underestimate the psychological benefits of slowing down. Waiting until last to board the plane simply feels less stressful for my nervous system.
Reason #5: It’s part of my travel routine
I’m leaning further into the psychology of boarding the plane last here. But if you’re starting to travel more often, I highly recommend developing a few habits or a routine. These help create predictability in a place where unpleasant surprises are par for the course. (I’m talking about the airport, not the plane itself.)
Of all the reasons to board the plane last, creating a new habit might not seem important. But I’m a travel writer who wants to encourage you to feel empowered at all points of your journey—including during hectic boarding times.
The more that you can develop positive travel habits, the more comfortable you’ll feel heading off to far-off places that necessitate long flights. Again, if boarding first gives you peace of mind, go for it—maybe that’s your travel routine. But if you’re feeling actively stressed out during each boarding process, I encourage you to switch things up and board last.