Should airlines allow travelers to board by rank and service?

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 May 2018 02:51:00 -0400

Getting ready to board in Korea. I’m too far in the back of the line.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 3:00 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 May 2018 03:00:29 -0400

It's the privilege of rank, Sir. Sort of like standing at the end of the line when entering the DFAC.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made May 4 at 2018 3:01 AM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Fri, 04 May 2018 03:01:32 -0400

No by height, tall people to the front of the line.

Response by CW3 Harvey K. made May 4 at 2018 3:49 AM

CW3 Harvey K. — Fri, 04 May 2018 03:49:07 -0400

O K -- let the 1st class passengers board. Then the handicapped and those traveling with children. Then fill the plane from the rear to the front. All that happens AFTER I get to my seat.
(AND get my gin and tonic served.)

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made May 4 at 2018 4:07 AM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Fri, 04 May 2018 04:07:04 -0400

Hey now, favor ain't fair :0(

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made May 4 at 2018 4:07 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 04 May 2018 04:07:54 -0400

I'd say on a civilian airline unless its a Military charter flight just go with the herd. On Military aircraft the junior gets on first but the Senior Officer get off first and other remain seated until they have departed the aircraft. If they are senior enough they may well have a staff car waiting for them.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 4 at 2018 5:54 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 04 May 2018 05:54:28 -0400

Army in the front, then each service branch in decending order by established date.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made May 4 at 2018 7:38 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 04 May 2018 07:38:37 -0400

Yes, I do. All the lower ranks should board before the Officers. That's the Infantry way. First in combat, last in the chow line.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made May 4 at 2018 9:23 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Fri, 04 May 2018 09:23:11 -0400

absolutely not. no disrespect intended - but wait in line like the rest of us - your rank does not mean you get special privileges.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made May 4 at 2018 10:32 AM

SP5 Peter Keane — Fri, 04 May 2018 10:32:04 -0400

North or South ?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 12:37 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 May 2018 12:37:35 -0400

COL Private RallyPoint Member Sir, the obvious answer is to board all women service members/veterans first along with their Marine Honor Guards.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 4 at 2018 1:12 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 04 May 2018 13:12:18 -0400

No. This gets into the separation of powers. We work for the Taxpayer, they are ultimately our boss.

Response by TSgt David L. made May 4 at 2018 3:22 PM

TSgt David L. — Fri, 04 May 2018 15:22:20 -0400

LOL I don't really care anymore unless the overhead bins are already full when I get there. I hate trying to get it under the seat. Then I don't have any leg room! LOL

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 3:23 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 May 2018 15:23:59 -0400

On a side note, at least I don’t have far to walk when I go to the bathroom since it’s right behind me!! - for the next five hours. Now about seating assignments by rank....

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 4 at 2018 10:17 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 04 May 2018 22:17:36 -0400

Now, Now Sir- one of the 1st times- first come first served, Enjoy!

Response by SN Greg Wright made May 5 at 2018 1:24 AM

SN Greg Wright — Sat, 05 May 2018 01:24:43 -0400

This, too, shall pass.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 5 at 2018 4:18 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 05 May 2018 16:18:47 -0400

I think I'll don my ALICE Pack and walk instead.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2018 5:25 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 May 2018 17:25:23 -0400

MAC commercial flights (AMC) used to board VIPs first (O6 and above). On Space A they could bump you for higher pri/rank also. That was in the time of Flying Tigers, Arrow Air etc. Commercial air - fuggetaboutit, you're lucky to get peanuts and hope to not get sucked out a window.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Nov 7 at 2018 2:33 PM

SFC Harry H. — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 14:33:02 -0500

I get the rank part, but by service? So if your Army you board first, then Marines, which boards before the toss up of Air Force and Navy, then Coast Guard?

Response by LTC John Griscom made Mar 14 at 2019 8:28 AM

LTC John Griscom — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 08:28:52 -0400

If these are civilian airlines, no.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 14 at 2019 10:52 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:52:45 -0400

Absolutely. First class service boards first, then business class, then economy. Pilot boards before co-pilot, then head flight attendant, junior flight attendants, then passengers.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 18 at 2019 1:09 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 13:09:52 -0400

YES on Military flights!

Response by SGT Gene Schwenke made Oct 16 at 2019 12:28 PM

SGT Gene Schwenke — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 12:28:32 -0400

I would 1st ask if it is a commercial airline flight or a Military flight, like for moving a Unit somewhere?

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Nov 8 at 2019 5:15 AM

PO1 John Johnson — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 05:15:04 -0500

What they really need to do is board people from seat position, from the rear and working their way forward.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jan 11 at 2020 1:32 AM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 01:32:36 -0500

I would still board last. Last on is the last in a cramped airliner and whether first or last on, plane does not take off until the boarding line is gone.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 28 at 2020 2:09 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:09:08 -0400

No not the way I see it.

Response by SMSgt David A Asbury made Oct 19 at 2020 11:51 PM

SMSgt David A Asbury — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 23:51:34 -0400

Thanks for sharing.

Response by SSG Byron Howard Sr made Dec 29 at 2020 1:40 PM

SSG Byron Howard Sr — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 13:40:16 -0500

I just wanted to get aboard.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Mar 4 at 2021 9:27 AM

LTC Stephan Porter — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 09:27:41 -0500

I have given up a seat given to me to junior enlisted folks.

They should be first!