There are certain topics that are guaranteed to get a rise out of frequent travelers. Things like whether you can save seats on Southwest Airlines while you’re boarding (no), whether you prefer the window or aisle (aisle), if you should check bags or not (#TeamCarryon) or if parents of young children should give goodie bags to fellow passengers (no). But perhaps nothing raises the hackles like people complaining about other passengers standing up as soon as the plane lands.
The Conventional Wisdom – Don’t Stand Up
This was a topic recently covered by both View From the Wing and One Mile at a Time, and I thought I’d add my 2 cents. The conventional wisdom that I’ve seen says that you should not stand up as soon as the plane lands (or rather, when the plane arrives at the gate). The idea is that we’re all going to the same place, so just wait your turn until everyone ahead of you has deplaned. I’ve even seen people get super aggressive about it (at least in their words) – talking about how they will physically try to stop someone who tries to advance down the aisle “out of turn”
And I do understand the conventional wisdom here, and if this is how you like to approach things, I have no problem, as long as you are expeditious at getting your own bag out and deplaning as quickly as reasonably possible.
4 Reasons To Stand Up When The Plane Lands
Here are 4 reasons to stand up when the plane lands:
1. I’ve Been Sitting Down For Hours
The first reason is that I’ve already been sitting down for hours, depending on how long the flight was. I want some extra time to stand up, stretch my legs and just get more comfortable. I can’t understand why anybody would have a problem with my doing this.
2. It Gives More Room To My Seatmates
Of course this really only applies if you are in the aisle seat, but as soon as we get to the gate, I will usually unbuckle my seatbelt, stand up and step out into the aisle.
(SEE ALSO: I used to be on #TeamWindowSeat… then this happened)
Doing so gives more room for my seatmates in the middle and window. Depending on what else is happening, they may not be able to also get into the aisle or even stand up completely, but they can also scoot over, stretch out some and maybe more easily get their personal item ready for deplaning.
Delta A321 from Delta.com
3. It Speeds Up The Deplaning Process
If there’s room, I will also usually get my carryon out of the overhead bin and put it down in the aisle in front of me. I think that generally will help speed up the overall deplaning process. I try to place it (and myself) in such a position where I am not blocking anyone else’s ability to get out into the aisle. Slow de-boarders are probably one of my biggest traveling pet peeves. So many people seem to treat the deplaning process as a total mystery. “WHAAAAT? IT’S MY TURN TO GET OFF? OH OKAY LET ME STAND UP AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO….”
4. It (Maybe) Gets Me Off The Plane Faster
Okay maybe this is the most controversial of the reasons, but in some situations I think it also helps me get off the plane faster. I generally am not one who tries to rush to the front of the plane, pushing past people in an attempt to be “first”. But I have also been on planes where I stand up and literally NOBODY for 5 to 10 rows in front of me gets into the aisle, even after I wait for awhile. So in that situation, I don’t think it’s a problem to slowly walk towards the front of the plane while there is empty space in front of me, until someone else in a row ahead of me gets out into the aisle. When that happens, I stop and let them out and then continue waiting.
The Bottom Line
I mean, this is the Internet, so I don’t expect to change anybody’s mind here. But I just thought I’d share my thoughts on why I prefer to stand up as soon as the plane gets to the gate. I also would not have a problem with everybody following this philosophy, even though it might slow me personally down. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and get off the plane as quickly as you can when it’s your turn, it works for me.
What about you? Do you stand up as soon as the plane gets to the gate? Or do you wait in your seat until everyone in front of you has deplaned? Leave your strategy in the comments
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
“Of course this really only applies if you are in the aisle seat.” (You should’ve started with that.)
Shouldn’t be difficult for anyone to figure this out for themselves, eh?
I’d never get involved in this debate … I am standing up the instant I’m allowed to. I’ve flown with people who just sit in that seat for six hours, but I ain’t one of them. Nothing will stop me from standing up as soon as possible … it doesn’t get me off the plane faster, it just feels good to stand up. I did have a drunk woman come barrelling out of coach once, she bounced right off me. Then she came back, determined to push her way to the front of the line. I’m 6′ tall with linebacker shoulders … it was a wasted effort on her part.
Idiot. You obviously do not understand the saftey rules…
I prefer to dit I’m tall do standing often involves being bent a little and all the jostling gets me down so I patiently sit until there is room to move. I’m fast on my feet so often pass many others that got off before me on the way to baggage or whatever
Is deplane real word in English, surely one disembarks from a plane, having embarked when getting on board earlier?
Unfortunately yes the airlines say deplane.
Standing up right away tells me you are an idiot!
Agreed! The reasons given are completely lame. People jumping right after landing are often bumping into me, dropping a carryon on my head, and invading my personal space. Does it really make a difference to have to sit 5-20 minutes instead of being a self-entitled jerk.
Agree! Hate the people who stand up right away – wait in-line like the rest of us. Basic courtesy; the reasons otherwise are all B!”,,,sh8’
Obviously – you all don’t fly a lot. This article would only make sense to road warriers who fly a lot (2 million miler here).
If someone is in the aisle seat does not get up – I typically just push them out of the way.
The title and content are somewhat at odds.
When the plane lands, it still has to taxi to the gate. Standing up as soon as you land would be a really bad idea.
Standing up while at the gate as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off? Sure.
Anything else smacks of entitlement.
I’m 6’4″. If I’m fortunate enough to fly first class and have an aisle seat I’ll often stand up as soon as the seatbelt sign turns off. Otherwise I’ll wait my turn. Sometimes there are people trying to make very tight connections and I’m not so important that I need to exit the flight before them.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and personal experience in this article. It’s interesting to learn about the practice of standing up as soon as the plane lands and the reasoning behind it. Your insights and suggestions provide a fresh perspective on air travel etiquette and can help make the disembarkation process smoother for everyone. I appreciate your unique viewpoint and the reminder to be considerate of others while traveling. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and encouraging thoughtful behavior during air travel.
People who do this or suffering from premature evacuation
As one of the first on the plane as a wheelchair user, I’m always the last off so I sit back and watch this comedy unfold on each flight. I don’t understand why, but nice people become animals when that plane lands. I’ve watched people actually get argumentative over getting off the plane a few minutes quicker. The best for me to watch are always the wheelchair miracles. I’m sure you’ve seen one. They need help getting on the plane, but can jump up and fight their way out when the plane lands. Ha ha. Honestly, I don’t care if people fight to the death to get off the place just watch your darn bag doesn’t hit people! Lol. The irony of the situation is getting off last, if I have a checked bag, I tend to get to the turnstile just as the bags are getting off and my “need to get off immediately friends” are all waiting there. Lol. Just be kind and considerate and I promise you’ll get off the plane!
I have heard it referred to by a boarding agent as “Jetway Jesus.”
People that needed a wheelchair for boarding (and thus being the first on board) suddenly do not need a wheelchair to disembark (and thus being last off the plane.)
This is an individualistic mindset. Not everyone can do this, not even just the people with aisle seats, especially if they want to also take up the aisle space with their luggage, there just isn’t enough room. After several hours in the plane you can wait 5 more minutes. We get a warning that we have a little time before the seatbelt sign comes on so we can use the restroom then. This is a good time to access your carry on and put belongings in it. Once the plane lands and it’s your rows turn to get off, simply stand up, grab your bag and keep walking. Deplaning does not take as long as people think- the door isn’t open the second people start standing up. If you aren’t ready to deplane when it’s your rows turn simply let the others out and get back in your row.
“1. I’ve Been Sitting Down For Hours”… The only time you are required to sit is when the seat belt sign is on. If you want to “stretch (your) legs and get more comfortable”, you’ve got the whole flight to do this when the aisles are wide open. As an aisle guy, I am happy to oblige if an inner seater needs to get out during the flight; however, after we’ve landed, I’ll be damned if I’m going to stand up into an aisle packed with overly anxious passengers just so you can have a little more room.
You forgot the most important reason to stand as soon as allowed. You block the aisle from people who are trying to rush the aisle to get ahead of everyone else.
When I have an aisle seat I always stand up right away and get my gear ready. I hate when passengers try to jump in front UNLESS they have a pressing connection. Then I will always let them go in front and even help them if I can. I’ve had occasions where it’s been me, and have seen both types of reactions from others – go ahead and good luck versus “hell no you’re not getting around me no matter what”
Pure selfishness. Manners have given way to the “it’s all about me” mindset.
One flaw in the logic (and it’s obvious and a biggie…..) Is that the seatbelt sign is still ON until one reaches the gate. Ive seen flight attendants (backed up by their captain) refuse to taxi the plane until everyone sits down (including those that felt they had to use the bathroom just before landing). Its a safety issue. I dont necessarily agree ots unsafe to stand in the aisles while taxiing… but those are the rules. Companies cam make their own rules and if people don’t abide by them they can do what they wish. I can already hear the “well you must not be a critical thinker” comments readying to by deployed by some.
I’m sorry, but in the world we live in today we still have rules that need to be followed (despite beliefs of certain wackos and radicals to the contrary)?
Sitting for hours… so have the rest of us. You’ll be alright.
It gives more room to your seat mates… but invades the space of others. The last thing I want while waiting to get off the plane is someone’s rear end in my face while they stand in the aisle waiting for the 75-150 people in front of them to get off first.
It speeds up the deplaning process…. no, it doesn’t. Maybe reword this to say “for you” because now you’re preventing others in your vicinity to maybe put away their things and prepare to get off when it’s time for your row to exit.
It (maybe) gets you off the plane faster…. it doesn’t and you know it doesn’t hence the (maybe) but you’d like to think it does. It only gets you off the plane fatter if you’re in row 1-3 and even then it’s only mere seconds.
Just be patient, take your time, and stop living like the world revolves around you. If you want to be first, get off (deplane) quicker, or any of the other reasons you have from your own individual perspective, spend the extra dollars to sit in first class. If not, just be courteous.
https://theshovel.com.au/2018/02/15/man-shaves-1-7-seconds-off-2-hour-flight-by-standing-up-as-soon-as-plane-lands/
OMG. If I was that far down the tunnel I would just give up.
At the first glance, I believed that your demonstration was a long ironic, subtle double entendre. Well, no… You really do what you write.
Disagree. For most of us frequent travelers we understand that we are all going to get off the plane quickly, so we return it if somebody is quick then you may pass.
Agree with others… wait your turn! There are fellow passengers that are concerned they may not make their connector flight. If this is a possibility, the cabin crew will normally ask those on board to remained seated while allowing fellow passengers needing the extra time to disembark. Standing is understandable, but attempting to disembark before fellow passengers is just rude! As a frequent flyer I can say this, be respectful and patient, everyone will get to the jetway and gate in reasonable time!