Boarding

Sometimes boarding is like a slapstick comedy.

I love the British though. They queue no matter what and are friendly.

Most horrific are flights from Germany. They seem to try to test how many people can pass simultaneously through a single file door.

Currently some airlines have a strikt “board by group ID” policy. If these are called, all English try to get in the queue with the appropriate number. The Germans just go to group 1.

Then you have people who see how long the queue is and try to get on the plane first.

And all of this because the luggage policy has changed. One now needs to pay quiet a lot of money for checked in luggage. Which results in everybody trying to bring on board as much as hand luggage as they possibly can. Which again results in no space in the overhead locker if you board after the 20th passenger.

Besides that a lot of people are very self centred and put small bags and coats which could go under the seat in front of them in the overhead locker. And they have a pretty bad reaction if they are asked to move it. I was once flying and a guy (even though no luggage in the overhead locker) insisted that this is his space and it must remain empty.

Then there are the people once on the plane, they take ages to get into their seat so that no one can move ahead for felt ages. Airlines calculate 30 minutes for boarding, but with Lufthansa from Frankfurt they usually need at least one hour.

Boarding – it is very entertaining if you just watch people and try to stay calm and friendly.

There are people who get very annoyed if someone bumps with their bag into them. The conversations sometimes are hilarious “Why did you bump into me?” – “Because you have to brake lights”.

There are the young consultants which will board with all force even ahead of mothers with their children. (I have rarely seen that anyone is helping them, even though they can board first – but if you have to take a bus from the terminal to the plane …).

Which is another thing, have you noticed that if at Frankfurt the plane is at a field position that it feels like they are driving you to your destination?

And then the tourists which are totally overwhelmed with the whole situation.

Anyhow, my recommendation:

1. Check in your luggage
2. Be at the gate early
3. Try to leave frustrations from work at work. It is already stressful enough.
4. Try to pack your Hand luggage in a way that you can easy access the thing you will need to take out: toiletries, electronics
5. Have you passport close at hand
6. Smile