There has long been debate about whether or not you should queue to get on a flight as soon as the gate opens.
Those in favour say you have a better choice of seats on the plane if you weren’t able to reserve one in advance. And, you’re more likely to find space for your luggage in the overhead lockers.
But a number of TikTok users think queueing is silly – after all, you’re all travelling to the same place. So why not sit back and relax for a while until everybody else has boarded?
As it turns out, there are a few ‘vital reasons’ why you should never be the last person to hop on the plane.
A travel expert has shared why you should never be the last person to get on the plane (Getty Stock Images)
Gareth Llewellyn, a travel and luxury golf holiday expert explains that boarding the plane last can lead to problems with storing your bags.
“One of the biggest risks of boarding at the last minute is that overhead baggage space can be limited,” he says. “Most passengers will have already stowed their carry-on luggage away, and late boarders will be forced to find space wherever they can – often away from their seat.
“In worse case scenarios, individuals may have to gate check-in their carry-on baggage, which means it is stored with larger pieces of luggage, and adds to the inconvenience of luggage retrieval when you land.”
On top of this, in special circumstances, boarding late could result in you forfeiting a pre-booked seat.
Gareth explains: “Another risk of boarding late is that passengers may be asked to move to accommodate other passengers including families who need to sit together. Airlines reserve the right to reassign seats at their discretion so if you board late you might have to switch seats – which can be frustrating.”
He says you could miss out on important announcements and be left with limited space (Getty Stock Images)
And lastly, you might miss out on important announcements that affect your overall travel.
Flight attendants often make important announcements during boarding. If you arrive late, you may miss out on information needed for the journey and onward travel.
Gareth adds: “While TikTok hacks can be useful, it’s important to consider the practicality of them. Boarding at the last minute might seem clever but the downsides often outweigh the benefits.”
Passengers have also been warned against using another TikTok travel hack after it resulted in a man being banned from his flight.
The ‘pillow hack’ sees travellers stuff their clothes into pillowcases and neck pillows in order to get around paying for an extra bag.
But, a recent video shows one traveller’s sneaky plan foiled by an airline attendant at Orlando International Airport.
The man was offered the opportunity to pay the set fee for an additional carry-on, but declined and he ended up being escorted out of the airport by security.