Flight Attendants Are Sick And Tired Of One Popular Plane Boarding Trend

It's no secret that traveling via airplane is not as glamorous as it once was. While there have been some exciting aviation changes recently, the golden days of flying are long gone. It seems like planes are only getting more crowded and uncomfortable as the years go by. The legroom in between seats in the economy section continuously shrinks as airlines attempt to shove in more rows for additional passenger revenue. Unless you're willing to splurge on upgraded seats in business class, you're likely going to be in for a cramped and slightly uncomfortable journey to your destination. On many budget airlines, your seat won't even recline anymore, making inflight naps difficult.

If you're someone who finds airplane seats confining, you're certainly not alone, which is exactly why you shouldn't try to sneak into a better seat during the boarding process. A popular travel hack making its way around the internet encourages passengers to board last, and simply sit down in any open seat to avoid getting stuck in the middle, or to score an entire row to yourself. While it might feel tempting to try your luck — don't. Flight attendants are fed up with poor passenger behavior, which they notice notice when you board a plane. Refusing to take your assigned seat can cause problems that delay the boarding process, and you might find yourself in a sticky situation. These days it's common for flights to be quite full, so your chances of scoring an open row are slim. You might even risk ending up with a worse seat by waiting to board.

The internet is full of "travel hacks" and not all of them are worth experimenting with. While some travel hacks are super budget-friendly, clever, and can help you save time, others might not end so well. Some even encourage tourists to break the rules. TikTok user @bengleason23 posted a video with the caption, "Pros to boarding last: you can sit in any open row you see available without going to your seat first." It may seem like a good idea, but there are plenty of reasons to pass on this trend. If you aren't one of the lucky travelers who gets away with the unauthoriz, you could be throwing a wrench in your travel plans.

First of all, the order in which passengers board is strategic. The process varies depending on the airline, but it's common for passengers with carry-on luggage to receive a boarding zone that enters the aircraft earlier than those without. If you have a carry-on bag and you board last, it's quite possible that there won't be overhead bin space available.

Before I began travel writing full-time, I worked as a flight attendant for seven years. I can't tell you how many times passengers with large carry-ons would wait to board last, and then throw a fit when their bags wouldn't fit in the overhead bins. When overhead bin space is full, any overflow will be gate checked and you'll have to pick it up in baggage claim. This can be particularly problematic if you're taking another flight on a different airline and you don't have enough time between flights to grab your bag and go back through security. 

It's understandable to want to ensure you have the most comfortable flight possible, but not if it means potentially ruining another traveler's vacation. Sitting in a seat that is different from the one you're assigned can potentially lead to flight delays, which may cause people to miss their connections. Small delays tend to snowball throughout the day, meaning some passengers will be running between gates to catch their connecting flights. Perhaps a family who is running late was meant to sit in the row that you've occupied, and when they arrive everyone has to shuffle around to accommodate you. It can be really frustrating for flight attendants and for other passengers.

Some seats cost extra, and if you try to sit in a seat that costs more than the one you paid for, flight attendants will usually ask you to move back to your assigned seat as it isn't fair to passengers who paid extra for the seat. This is especially true if you sit in an emergency exit row. Some airlines charge extra for emergency exit row seats, and others randomly assign them, but flight attendants are required to check-in with exit row passengers and usually offer a short safety briefing. If you board last and sit in the exit row, you'll probably be asked to move.

Your best bet for ensuring you have a comfortable seat on your flight is to select your seat ahead of time when you book your ticket. If you think your flight might be empty and you'd like to change seats, you can talk to a gate agent prior to boarding or ask a flight attendant to move once you're on the plane. If you're polite, you'll usually receive permission to move as long as seats are available.