We had just wrapped up SunExpress’s press conference in Antalya and were heading back. I took my seat on Turkish Airlines’ wide-body aircraft. I was in the middle seat, with another journalist friend in the aisle seat. The window seat was still empty.
The cabin crew did their headcount, and there was talk of a missing passenger. The plane was almost packed. I didn’t rush to move to the window; maybe the missing passenger was assigned there. And I was right.
The last person to board was a tourist woman in her 50s. She looked flustered, clearly overheated from Antalya’s hot weather. As a journalist and an observant one, I couldn’t help but watch her, noticing all the little inconveniences caused by being the very last to board a full flight.
That’s when I decided to write this piece: “Woe to the Passenger Who Boards a Full Plane Last.”
Here’s what happens when the last-minute passenger not only complicates operations but also disrupts the comfort of those sitting nearby.
The last to board is the last to get off
When you’re the last one on, you’re in a rush to shove your bag into an overhead bin near your seat and sit down quickly. But “too late!” there’s no space left. You end up cramming your bag into someone else’s bin, risking damage to their belongings. The cabin crew eventually steps in and stores it wherever they can, often far from your seat. That means when the plane lands, you’ll be the last to retrieve your bag and the last to disembark.
The seat shuffle struggle
Once the bag drama is over, the last passenger finally tries to get to their seat, in this case, the window. This means disturbing the two people already settled in the row. They have to unbuckle, move their bags, stand up, and awkwardly make room. You, meanwhile, try your best not to brush against anyone, but it’s usually a losing battle.
Disrupting your neighbor’s comfort
Flushed, sweaty, heart pounding, and out of breath, it takes this passenger a good 15–20 minutes, about the time it takes to climb to 15,000 feet, to settle down. You find yourself just waiting for them to normalize so you can return to your own comfort zone. Then, just as things calm down, the meal service starts, triggering another small wave of chaos.
When body odor joins the flight
That mad dash to make the plane, the frantic bag-stuffing, and the stress all add up to one thing: sweat. The result? A lingering smell that can make the rest of the flight feel far less pleasant than you’d hoped.
The early-grab maneuver
Because their bag is far away, the last passenger is also the one who tries to stand up the moment the wheels touch down, unbuckling before the seatbelt sign is off, reaching for their bag, and blocking the aisle. They may not realize this could lead to both safety issues and fines.
Dear readers, a mistake made at the start of a flight can affect the whole journey. And none of us has the right to ruin another passenger’s comfort.
Safe travels.