Boarding an airplane is a crap shoot. On some airlines a back row seat – generally considered a rougher ride – gives you an option to board after the road warriors and before the rest of the crowd. Other airlines stagger this boarding to every 5th or 7th row in hopes of minimizing time you have to step over other customers and get to your seat.
Also, boarding first gives you a better shot at finding a place to store that luggage you don’t want to pay to check. The spouse, who indeed has earned his own road warrior badge, is frustrated that sometimes even his elite status lands him in lines that fill a small plane by half or more.
The bottom line is that early boarding matters if you are carrying on your luggage. Since you won’t check it, American Airlines is selling you the right to get it one the plane. Expect others to follow in an attempt to maximize revenue.
For ten bucks each way, Group 1 all yours. I wonder if they sell a fixed number? I’ll say for me, and this would be traveling sans spouse, I doubt it. Pre-boarding the elites chews up all the good stuff and it’s anything goes after that anyway.
First, I gotta say my captcha word was hooters which cracked me right up.
Second first I thought this was odd but you know, I once booked a cruise and wanted a specific cabin – well not a number but mid ship – had to do with where the least movement was. As in a way I paid a premium to book that way. It’s kind of the same.
I lost the ability to get a free upgrade – and also certain discounts.
Tracy
I would pay the fee. I would pay for executive status too if they offered it. I would pay a fee to not stand in security behind the occasional flyer who hasn’t a clue that all that jewelry must come off. Or that yes, pocket change must be outta your pocket.
I miss Midwest Airlines. It used to be that the best seat on the plane was at the rear of the plane. You got on the plane first. You had your choice of places to put your luggage first. And for whatever reason, they served food and drink from the back of the plane going forward, so you didnt’ have to wait. Life was good. Those were the days
I would take my cane (even though I don’t use it much anymore). That with my handicapped card would sometimes help me get on first. If it didn’t work – I would just bop them with my cane.
Mom! Guess everyone should look out for the cane-wielding grandmother from Oklahoma.
I like your attitude, Jvee!
Well I guess no one should be surprised with what I say anymore. You can plainly see I come by it quite naturally.
Neither one of us has ever been a “wallflower” at a party. You come from a long line of confident women.
wow… i hadn’t thought of using a cane. I can do that too. wow.. good ideas from this site…. smile
She’s a bad influence Wilson828. Be careful.