Why Do Passengers Almost Always Board From The Left?

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  • čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
  • The impacts of the ongoing health crisis have meant that the sensation of boarding an aircraft has become a less common occurrence for most people. One of the most notable aspects of this procedure is that it is always carried out from the left-hand side of the aircraft, regardless of the type. But why is this the case? Let’s take a look.
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Komentáře • 122

  • @taridean
    @taridean Před 2 lety +62

    It's cool seeing how the time-lapsed clips show the planes getting lower as the passengers board.

    • @LatteGN
      @LatteGN Před 2 lety +1

      thats exactly what i noticed

  • @jimhal5553
    @jimhal5553 Před 2 lety +69

    Another reason has to do with the airplane's steering (on the ground) was only able to be done from the left seat. Many newer planes can be taxied (steered) from either seat. For those that will claim that they use the rudder pedals to steer the nose wheel, that doesn't apply to commercial jets. They have a "tiller" for steering the nose gear. At one time, I was taxi qualified on Boeing 727s, 747s, and Douglas DC-8s.

    • @ghost307
      @ghost307 Před 2 lety +2

      I winced when said that the pilot judged how far he was from the terminal building. The pilot is always watching the guy on the ground who's directing him. You don't 'judge' with the wing of a very expensive airplane.

  • @macsandsquid528
    @macsandsquid528 Před 2 lety +12

    Bonus points for teaching me about maritime history (starboard and port). I have boarded and exited several aircraft from the right. They were aboard US aircraft carriers, where the Island and ship's access was to the right of the landing deck.

  • @eamonahern7495
    @eamonahern7495 Před 2 lety +24

    I've boarded at the front, the back, through stairs and jet bridge but I don't ever remember boarding a plane on the right.

    • @paulshields2220
      @paulshields2220 Před 2 lety +4

      If you have to use a handicap elevator they use the same door as the food truck so they would use the right side. More common in Europe where they still use stars to board. In the US where entry from the gates are wheelchair accessible.

  • @Hopeless_and_Forlorn
    @Hopeless_and_Forlorn Před 2 lety +7

    Of course I have emplaned and deplaned from the right side--the Convair 240 (1948) and the turboprop 240 conversion Convair 600 had the passenger door/airstair assembly on the right. I was a mechanic for Central airlines when it placed the first Convair 600 conversion in service in 1965. Later Convair models included the 340 and 440, produced after 1951, and they had the passenger door and airstair on the left. The airstair mechanism on the 340/440 was greatly improved in function over the troublesome installation on the 240. Jetways are the real reason that left-hand boarding is now standard, but jetways generally cannot be used on propeller driven aircraft.

  • @SabotsLibres
    @SabotsLibres Před 2 lety +8

    It may all possibly go back to mounting horses - traditionally always from the left to avoid the soldier’s sword (kept on the left hip) getting in the way…

  • @prajwalramgond4192
    @prajwalramgond4192 Před 2 lety +18

    Answer to the question: So that the Ryan Air flyers don't get to see the 5 star service their baggages recieve.

  • @dave4shmups
    @dave4shmups Před 2 lety +2

    I didn’t know why before watching this video. Great job!

  • @BRTripReport
    @BRTripReport Před 2 lety +5

    Super interesting, never thought about this before… 🤔

  • @kimrnhof107
    @kimrnhof107 Před 2 lety +11

    Its quit clear that it is the maritime tradition - you normally board ships from the port side - this is as you stated due to the vikings ships having their steering oar on the right side of the ship : this is in danish called "styrbord" = starbord - styr = stearing and bord = bord or plank of the ship - In danish the other side is called "bagbord" or back board in swedish "hamn" = English port.
    You would not put the ship to the dock with the right side and risk harming your steering oar, so you would choose to use the other side.
    it is interestering how a technology from pre 1000 influences us today !!!

    • @ghost307
      @ghost307 Před 2 lety +1

      And the first passenger airplanes followed suit because they were flying boats before wheel landings became the norm years later.

  • @samueljackson1606
    @samueljackson1606 Před 2 lety +1

    When I was 13, my flight to London on Pan Am was diverted to Shannon after flying in circles waiting for the morning fog to clear. The air stairs were placed on the right side on the second floor from the front. I disembarked and bought a Toblerone from the duty free gift shop and then reboarded. The descent and ascent we're the deepest and most beautiful green that I had ever seen. It was 1981.

  • @Capt.bhuvnesh
    @Capt.bhuvnesh Před 2 lety +3

    I asked the same question to my Captain friend. His answer was the same.

  • @edvaira6891
    @edvaira6891 Před 2 lety +36

    Always wondered that! Thanks! Another “dad fact” I can bore my kids to death with next time we’re in an airport!

    • @Kalvinjj
      @Kalvinjj Před 2 lety +4

      Too bad they aren't into it, cause to me it was the opposite: my dad would tell me all those things and it would just get me more curious.

    • @jun_suzuki42
      @jun_suzuki42 Před 2 lety +3

      I love listening these "dad facts"!!!

  • @zacktong8105
    @zacktong8105 Před 2 lety +7

    I have boarded and deplaned from an exit door mid way down the right side of a Boeing 767-200 parked on a remote stand at the Delta terminal at JFK twenty some years ago on a foreign carrier which had a more lenghty ground time from a transatlantic flight. All preflight services including baggage loading/unloading had been accomplished or would be accomplished on arrival. The more numerous economy passengers did not have to wait for front cabin passengers to and from a lift mobile lounge and the aircraft could start engines and move off the remote stand without a pushback.

  • @lironl6782
    @lironl6782 Před 2 lety +4

    I've boarded and exited a 747 on the right hand side exactly once each at Melbourne (Australia) airport in the early 1980's. Both were international flights. What's more, the exiting was through the front door, so you had to walk through economy and first class to exit the plane. This was rather odd, I always wondered why that happened.

  • @trob0914
    @trob0914 Před 2 lety +6

    I can't ever remember boarding from the "'Starboard/right side, however growing up in Alaska ( USA), I've flown quite a few times!

  • @CheapBastard1988
    @CheapBastard1988 Před 2 lety +3

    Yes I've entered commercial airliners from the right side of the aircraft many times because I work in aviation as a mechanic. Real bugger on the 737 as the service doors (on the right side) are lower than the entry doors (left side). Bumped my head multiple times because of it.

  • @richardmccarthy9580
    @richardmccarthy9580 Před 2 lety +4

    You learn something everyday. I thought Port and Starboard (…and the word Posh) derived from ancient routes and the view to land, rather than a paddle

    • @davidwright7193
      @davidwright7193 Před 2 lety

      Posh is supposed to be Port out, Starboard home that being the East/North side which was in shade. That gives the lie to the idea that the port was to the left and the stars to the right as that would change on the return trip compared to the outbound trip.
      Steering boards stopped being standard sometime in the 14 or 1500’s (Mary Rose didn’t have one). So we are boarding planes due to a constraint that disappeared 4-500 years before planes were invented.

  • @rmyerscmi
    @rmyerscmi Před 2 lety +9

    Second most popular has to be the DC-9, et all, out the air stairs in the rear. Did that several times back in the day!

    • @gteixeira
      @gteixeira Před 2 lety +4

      The 727 also had the cloacal exit. It was popular among skydivers.

    • @markvolpe2305
      @markvolpe2305 Před 2 lety

      I've done it on the MD-80's a few times as well

    • @dfirth224
      @dfirth224 Před 2 lety +3

      @@gteixeira That's why D.B. Cooper chose the 727. :)

  • @henri373
    @henri373 Před 2 lety

    very interesting again!

  • @jean-pierremichau8041
    @jean-pierremichau8041 Před 2 lety +2

    Once deboarded an aircraft (at Port Elizabeth airport) on the right side due to weather.

  • @lewismcgarry9204
    @lewismcgarry9204 Před 2 lety

    I was thinking this yesterday !

  • @wizardgmb
    @wizardgmb Před 2 lety +2

    Airliners are boarded from the left despite having doors on both sides. Non-legacy and jet general aviation aircraft are built with with left side entry.

  • @dodoubleg2356
    @dodoubleg2356 Před 2 lety +1

    REALLY INTERESTING VID!! Just when you think you know all there is to know about aviation, ha....

  • @Trek001
    @Trek001 Před 2 lety +1

    Oddly enough, I am watching this video today (23/2/22) after boarding a Ryanair flight that boarded using R1 and not L1 which was said to be exceptionally rare - I wrote it down in my logbook and asked the Captain to sign it which he duly did

  • @rajr5936
    @rajr5936 Před 2 lety +3

    I am pretty sure no body ever thought about this. The moment you scan your ticket barcode.... anxiety begins .....all you pray for safety throughout the journey.

  • @nandbala
    @nandbala Před 2 lety

    During monsoon season, in Mumbai, India, it is a regular practice to board the passengers from the right hand side

  • @JETZcorp
    @JETZcorp Před 2 lety +1

    It blows my mind to suddenly realize that the "port side" is the side that the port is on.

  • @na195097
    @na195097 Před 2 lety +2

    I boarded or exited a plane from the right once. I only remember because I actually thought, 'oh, this is the wrong side.' It was a smaller plane. We had to check our carry-on baggage at the gate too (super tiny overhead bins.) So that might have had something to do with it?

  • @rjackson5191
    @rjackson5191 Před 2 lety +2

    Always from the left (port) or the rear (tailgate).

  • @rosswheeler
    @rosswheeler Před 2 lety +1

    No, and I’ve never boarded a plane from the right hand side. Though, I have disembarked a from the right hand side once.

  • @varyagus
    @varyagus Před 2 lety +1

    once boarding on ATR was from right side.

  • @N1njaSnake
    @N1njaSnake Před 2 lety +8

    It's not about the side you board from. It's whether you need to go left or right once you do.

    • @get2dachoppa249
      @get2dachoppa249 Před 2 lety +3

      Or upstairs, sometimes.

    • @thatguyalex2835
      @thatguyalex2835 Před 2 lety +1

      I think first class and pilots take a left (front of plane), while economy is to the right (rear of the plane).

  • @traveler5566
    @traveler5566 Před 2 lety +2

    Could you do a video on airports that are no longer around and why? Like the Denver Stapleton Airport.

  • @a4yster
    @a4yster Před 2 lety

    I have actually gotten off the plane on the right once. There was construction everywhere and we parked on the far side of the field and the left side of the plane was blocked by all sort of construction equipment. It was early -teens and if im not mistaking - Varna arport.

  • @tapalmer99
    @tapalmer99 Před 2 lety

    Western airlines back in the 1970s ran prop planes which I believe were two engine Convairs Denver-Cheyenne I took a couple of times and in Cheyenne we boarded from the right and luggage was hand loaded from the right I think because they kept the number one prop spinning as it was a quick turnaround and all the cabin services cleaning and bathrooms and soda and ice were all done down in Denver

  • @luisandrade5126
    @luisandrade5126 Před 2 lety

    I once deplaned a Boeing 737-200 from the front right door. It was very odd to me. But the plane was parked facing the starboard side to the little San Tome (SOM) terminal in Venezuela. We were few passengers deplaning there. The rest of the passengers were continuing to Barcelona (BLA), also in Venezuela. Therefore there was very little ground handling at that stop.

  • @moriver3857
    @moriver3857 Před 2 lety

    Goód point and somtching unlikely to ever change. Many years back the aft and fwd doors were smaller and defined as galley doors. To this days galleys are still on the right side of the cabin, though the doors are now all the same size.

  • @karan_IV
    @karan_IV Před 2 lety

    Though not passengers but I have seen flight crew boarding from right side, it was on KE 777F which was parked at passenger gate at YVR.

  • @rossmason8812
    @rossmason8812 Před 2 lety

    It’s something that I never questioned.

  • @Kalvinjj
    @Kalvinjj Před 2 lety +2

    From memory, accessibility lifts that board wheelchair passengers do use the right side, is that correct?

  • @llzaqwsx
    @llzaqwsx Před 2 lety +3

    Portside, the side the port is on.

  • @MrSalvageman
    @MrSalvageman Před 2 lety

    I exited and re-boarded a South African Airways B 747 on Sal Island in the Cape Verde Islands where we stopped to refuel en route from Johannesburg to London. That was the only time.

  • @rickespi31
    @rickespi31 Před 2 lety +1

    There are some aircraft that are loaded from the left like CRJ 700, 900, and 1000 series.

    • @ghost307
      @ghost307 Před 2 lety

      CRJ planes are boarded from the left...as opposed to the vast majority of passenger aircraft that are boarded from the left??

  • @e57alex88
    @e57alex88 Před 2 lety

    I have boarded planes often from the right in PNG and ABS.

  • @dmfraser1444
    @dmfraser1444 Před 2 lety

    I did once get on a 1943 Stinson 2 seater from the right.

  • @AaronShenghao
    @AaronShenghao Před 2 lety

    Not just that, some aircraft have smaller doors on the right side to save weight and cost.

  • @ivanblakely903
    @ivanblakely903 Před 2 lety

    I recall boarding (747s) from the right at Melbourne, back in 80's.
    Maybe just one or 2 gates were like that, and haven't seen it for many years - maybe temporary ??

  • @brad4057
    @brad4057 Před 2 lety +5

    Port Side where the port is ....airport ..

  • @benwilson6145
    @benwilson6145 Před 2 lety

    The Port side, cargo ships generally berth port side to.

  • @thegreenguy5555
    @thegreenguy5555 Před 2 lety

    You could also have mentioned that the Boeing 737 has a smaller door on the right

  • @andrewallen9993
    @andrewallen9993 Před 2 lety +1

    No, it's because the Douglas DC3 had its loading door on the left or. Port side.

    • @25mitchel
      @25mitchel Před 2 lety +1

      Many early DC-3s had right side doors, it was an option and prior to the DC-3 aircraft like the Ford Tri-motor had right side boarding doors only.

    • @andrewallen9993
      @andrewallen9993 Před 2 lety

      @@25mitchel You learn something new every day.

  • @spicemasterii6775
    @spicemasterii6775 Před 2 lety +1

    That's the port side

  • @endoetz
    @endoetz Před 2 lety +1

    *me tired and want to rest*
    Why do passengers almost always board tfrom the left?
    me: "hmmm... interesting..."

  • @ethanslaney4966
    @ethanslaney4966 Před 2 lety +4

    Could boarding on both sides of the plane help speed up turn around of wide bodies with 2 aisles?

    • @juanmanuelortego8896
      @juanmanuelortego8896 Před 2 lety

      The problem is that Right side Doors are smaller than left side Doors, as they are designed mainly as emergency exits.
      I think Capitanjoe has a video about it

    • @AnotherPointOfView944
      @AnotherPointOfView944 Před 2 lety +6

      You would then hold up ground crew access to the baggage areas and catering supplies. So probably wouldnt speed things up.

    • @Kalvinjj
      @Kalvinjj Před 2 lety

      @@AnotherPointOfView944 it could be feasible with jet bridges in other hand, I would also assume most widebodies load pallets or containers into the cargo hold, same with the A320, so not much hand work necessary, in comparison to a lower height cargo hold (the 737 and A220 come to mind).
      Weight distribution should be made carefully tho of course, and I suspect you couldn't use the same amount of doors on both sides because of stuff like loading food and drinks like you mention.

    • @liamharding9338
      @liamharding9338 Před 2 lety +2

      @@Kalvinjj most of the time with what you just said you would be right however there are times where loading pallets can take longer then loading up a 737 and a220 such as the cargo hold flooring has water all over it due to the place it came from having rained heavily meaning the pallets won’t move at all or there is no power to the rollers on the floor of the cargo hold meaning we have to manually push the cargo which can get quite troublesome since I’ve dealt with China airlines a330 where there was no power and had to manually push 4.5 tonne pallets which is a nightmare situation in a quick turnaround

    • @Kalvinjj
      @Kalvinjj Před 2 lety

      @@liamharding9338 Damn, manually pushing LD3s and heavy pallets on a widebody sounds like a hellish task...

  • @hilman94
    @hilman94 Před 2 lety

    ehm, does anyone remember that Convair Twin Props had the airstairs on the right, so passengers boarded the plane form starboard side?

  • @sportsMike87
    @sportsMike87 Před 2 lety

    The correct side to board and drive

  • @primelegionaries1413
    @primelegionaries1413 Před 2 lety +2

    doors on the left hand side where passengers are boarding from are also bigger than on the right hand side. This means it has to be a little more reinforced and actually reduces the over all strength of the aircraft, the service doors as they now are called on the right side are smaller and thus add strength, if both where large it would reduce the aircrafts safety and passengers boarding from the right is actually very unsafe.

    • @davidwright7193
      @davidwright7193 Před 2 lety

      I strongly suspect this is total bull. The main constraint on door size is there use as an emergency exit which applies to both sets of doors. You have to be able to clear the plane in 90 seconds with any 2 doors blocked so both usual entry doors can be blocked. Also there is one group of passengers often boarded from the right, those needing wheelchairs who are often put on via a service lift. The group who need the widest doors.

  • @finleyfendt3750
    @finleyfendt3750 Před 2 lety

    American Airlines originally boarded the DC-3’s on the right side of the aircraft. I know some of you do not even know what a DC-3 is. On the left side the Captain could watch when it was clear of passengers to start engines. 👍👍👍. 2-13-22

    • @ghost307
      @ghost307 Před 2 lety

      The door on the B-17 that most of the crew uses is also on the right side.

    • @finleyfendt3750
      @finleyfendt3750 Před 2 lety

      @@ghost307 Thank you for that information. Passengers boarding is just a little different. Passenger safety is the Captains responsibility.

  • @islatheremin
    @islatheremin Před 2 lety

    i’m just shocked we don’t board through the right in the UK

  • @pacquing
    @pacquing Před 2 lety

    🎶🎶Board the cabin on de left-hand side
    🎶🎶Board the cabin on de left-hand side

  • @MrTwinkie797
    @MrTwinkie797 Před 2 lety

    The doors are different on most planes aswell, much smaller on the right side :(

  • @crazyjay7676
    @crazyjay7676 Před 2 lety

    I've entered from the rear on air stairs before.

  • @nx181cc2
    @nx181cc2 Před 2 lety

    I enter the aircraft from the right on every flight as I use the ambulift

  • @nadeemalvi7728
    @nadeemalvi7728 Před 2 lety

    l was taken as wheerchair assistance off at Muscat on arrival was expecting staff assistance as early moring arrival on step no jet walk ones but one other Glasgow was also wheelchair but on back of plane boarded left side

  • @jbrynolfsson
    @jbrynolfsson Před 2 lety

    Why is it that SAS, a small airline, moonlights in so many airline videos? Cheers from 🇸🇪

  • @ElectricUAM
    @ElectricUAM Před 2 lety

    Yes, and what is even more interesting is that a helicopter pilot sits on the right side, unlike its winged counterparts. The question is why did one adopt the maritime system and the other did not. In the end, I'm right-handed, and flying a helicopter with a right hand on the control and the left on the less tactile important collector makes more sense. Strange, no?

  • @suh-guy
    @suh-guy Před 2 lety

    Welp, I thought since we board mini-bus taxies ,buses, trains & escalators from the left - why not aeroplanes.

  • @blinard1
    @blinard1 Před 2 lety +1

    Up next - Why do planes have engines?

  • @beepIL
    @beepIL Před 2 lety +3

    "They board from the left so ground grew can work on the right"
    errr...
    well if they boarded from the right the ground crews couldn't work from the left?
    How is that an explanation ?

  • @nurrizadjatmiko21
    @nurrizadjatmiko21 Před 2 lety

    Now i know

  • @jimmyyu2184
    @jimmyyu2184 Před 2 lety

    Is it just me, or when paratroopers jump, or even just regular sky-diving planes; it's always the right hand door? But when watching documentaries, they always board on the left side? Or am I losing my mind here?

    • @ghost307
      @ghost307 Před 2 lety

      C-47 paratroopers jumped from the left side; most military jump planes now use doors on both sides to get everybody out faster.

  • @John-ww3ji
    @John-ww3ji Před 2 lety +1

    The right hand rule.

  • @MrSalvageman
    @MrSalvageman Před 2 lety

    Should have said via the starboard exit.

  • @AviaZou7A
    @AviaZou7A Před 2 lety

    Next Video: Why Do Captain's Always Seated at the Left :3

  • @raxxmoriti
    @raxxmoriti Před 2 lety

    Ships load from the port side, airplane passengers board from the port side and see the stars on the sta board side :-)

  • @andyowens5494
    @andyowens5494 Před 2 lety

    Was more fun boarding up the middle (727).

  • @markvolpe2305
    @markvolpe2305 Před 2 lety

    I've entered an airplane from the rear stairs before.

  • @Aprilium
    @Aprilium Před 2 lety

    Is this why the left side is called the Port side?

  • @rogerpenske2411
    @rogerpenske2411 Před 2 lety +6

    Yes, it is both because of nautical tradition, and the fact that the British drive on the wrong side of the road

  • @earlturner8174
    @earlturner8174 Před 2 lety

    Because that’s the side the door is on.

  • @edka1031
    @edka1031 Před 2 lety

    Remember the Boeing 727...

  • @fabriziopiantamar
    @fabriziopiantamar Před 2 lety +3

    Commercial aviation began with seaplanes, so they copied the ships

  • @botondbubcso5428
    @botondbubcso5428 Před 2 lety

    Only one in my lifetime

  • @johndonald3566
    @johndonald3566 Před 2 lety

    On the 737 , it's so you don't smack your head🤣

  • @TheLiamster
    @TheLiamster Před 2 lety

    It’s because Beyoncé said so

  • @AvroBus
    @AvroBus Před 2 lety

    Very simple answer! The skipper gets to check out the pretty girls and as he sits on the left..............

  • @dewiz9596
    @dewiz9596 Před 2 lety +3

    Horses. It all goes back to horses 😉

  • @jun_suzuki42
    @jun_suzuki42 Před 2 lety

    Another joke, so captain can judge their passengers when they are boarding hehe

  • @alloy299
    @alloy299 Před 2 lety +1

    Video starts at 1:24

  • @user-uc2iu8hr5fyygttghtg

    you only board on the right you are getting asdints

  • @anewworld2693
    @anewworld2693 Před 2 lety

    Not first

  • @rogerpenske2411
    @rogerpenske2411 Před 2 lety

    Because the British drive on the wrong side of the road

  • @kimsmoke17
    @kimsmoke17 Před 2 lety

    You board a vessel from the port side. Convention for humans for 2000 years. No reason to make a long video about it… yawn.