[caymanjim]

I've flown over 100 times and only once had to gate-check my bag due to insufficient space. I was thankful for the chance because it's free, you get your bag faster on landing, and you don't have to wrangle it down the aisle.

I always board as late as possible. Why sit in a hot/cold/stuffy plane while people jostle all around you?

[jwcacces]

Haha, lucky you. I might not fly as much as you, but in my experience the moment a bag leaves my line of sight, the chance it gets lost leaps dramatically. As someone who's had checked bags lost, and gate-checked bags lost, the ability to get on earlier translates directly into peace of mind that my bag will be with me when I land.

As for getting my bag faster if it was gate-checked, how does that happen? Every time I've been gate-checked, my luggage ends up down in baggage claim the same as if I had regular-checked it. The only luggage that has met me at the gate has been a stroller.

Maybe I'm just flying cheap airlines, but I'll take first on and sitting in a stuffy plane over the chance of disaster and standing in the terminal any day of the week. You're waiting the same amount of time either way wherever you are.

But hey, your yin and my yang work great together, so you do you!

[jwilber]

I flew twice a week for years and it really just depends on the route (ie airports, day of week, and time of day) that you’re flying.

Popular business routes will always have full overhead bins, so you either check your luggage, bring a week-bag that you can fit under the seat, or get on early and get the overhead space.

Personally, I prefer to travel light so always wait until the last second to board. But that also depends on the cabin - if you’re at all above average height it’s absolute hell to fly in general, even worse when your limited leg room has a backpack.

[dllthomas]

> Why sit in a hot/cold/stuffy plane while people jostle all around you?

Because I can get lost in my book and not worry about missing anything. YMMV (mine does).