People Who Wait Until The Very Last Minute To Board A Flight Usually Display These 11 Traits
Who wants to wait on the plane longer than they have to?
Drazen Zigic | Shutterstock Traveling patterns, airplane etiquette, and airport habits are all incredibly controversial, considering these moments in someone’s life are often characterized by anxiety, excitement, and minor inconveniences that derail a person’s mood. Whether it’s paying for snacks at the airport or waiting in line to board, there are always a million people putting negative, resentful, and irritable vibes out into the airport atmosphere.
However, people who wait until the very last minute to board a flight usually display these traits — they’re not only patient and empathetic, they’re often quietly self-assured. They appreciate and love travel because they don’t let other people’s negativity, minor inconveniences, or misguided unwritten airport rules ruin their trips. Also, who truly wants to wait longer on a plane for no reason?
People who wait until the very last minute to board a flight usually display these 11 traits
1. They're procrastinators
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Whether it’s waiting until the last second to use the restroom or get their airplane snacks, people who wait until the last minute to board a flight may simply be procrastinating all their responsibilities before flying.
Even if they’ve given themselves enough time to get through security and to check their bags, they’ll linger around and indulge in mindless entertainment until they absolutely need to start boarding.
There are two kinds of “airport people,” — those who procrastinate leaving for the airport and are always rushing around, and those who show up three hours before and wait restlessly at their gate for the boarding doors to open.
2. They hate confined spaces
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If someone hates confined spaces and dreads having to squeeze into an airplane seat surrounded by a bunch of strangers, it makes sense that they’d wait until the very last minute to board their flight. They’re soaking up the freedom of the airport lounge or hanging out sprawled across a few spaces at their gate — they couldn't care less about being the first person on the plane.
Considering a fear of confinement and lingering in these spaces for too long can impact mental health, like a study from Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews suggests, people who wait until the very last minute to board a flight may simply be reducing their chances of anxious thoughts and restlessness waiting for take-off.
3. They're empathetic
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People who wait until the very last minute to board a flight usually display overly empathetic traits. Whether it’s giving families and elderly folks a chance to get settled without anxiously feeling rushed or even connecting with someone in the last boarding group at their gate, their empathy often keeps them from immediately rushing onto the plane.
They’re also most likely to offer their bags to be checked at the gate to make things easier for everyone else. They don’t mind being the last person on the plane, because they’ll check their bag, so worrying about overhead space isn’t even a thought.
4. They're seasoned travelers
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More than 80% of American flyers trust airports and airline personnel to protect their safety while flying, according to a Harris Poll study, so it’s not surprising that they don’t often burden themselves with unnecessary anxiety. They’re seasoned travelers, know how to prepare efficiently, and often make the most of their time to prioritize comfort when they’re traveling.
Unlike the average flier, who may disrupt their whole day or waste time when heading to the airport, seasoned travelers who wait until the very last minute to board a flight are intentional and thoughtful with structuring their time on travel days.
5. They're efficient
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If getting to the airport “late,” making the most of boarding time to get snacks, and waiting until the very last minute to board a flight is how a seasoned traveler efficiently crafts their time, so be it.
They don’t need to self-soothe their anxiety by being the first one on the plane or prove something to other travelers by waiting by the boarding door — they’re perfectly content and efficient being the last one on.
Even if that means they need to gate-check their carry-on, they’re perfectly happy to do it, rather than anxiously waiting and worrying about finding space.
6. They dislike small talk
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According to psychotherapist Kaytee Gillis, there are several reasons why someone might dislike and actively avoid small talk in their everyday lives. From being an introvert, to having specific gendered experiences, preferring alone time, and even being emotionally drained, people who wait until the last minute to board a flight could be intentionally avoiding superficial interactions.
They would prefer to spend time at their gate, enjoying their own company and entertaining themselves, rather than being pressured into a sterile conversation with a seat partner on the plane. They’re avid headphone users, efficient time planners, and patient when it comes to travel, all to protect their own peace.
7. They hate waiting in lines
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While disliking waiting and being annoyed by lines in public can sometimes be a sign of an entitled or spoiled person, sometimes it’s simply a fact of life. Minor inconveniences like waiting in lines can disrupt our mood and day, but for people who wait until the very last minute to board a flight, they’re usually easily preventable.
They simply wait. They stay in their seat at the gate and wait for the line to dwindle. They avoid the frustration and annoyances of the minor inconvenience by being patient at their seat, even if it means they’re the last one on the plane.
8. They're quietly rebellious
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Even if their lives are typically rigid and efficient, people who wait until the very last minute to board a flight may be quietly rebellious. They love the moments of adrenaline they rush through in the airport — playing the game of “will they, won’t they” when it comes to catching their flight.
While it might feel counterintuitive, these short-term moments of stress and self-inflicted adrenaline often boost cognitive function and physical performance, according to a study from Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. So, not only are they heading onto the plane in a better mind space, they’re also more energized and invigorated throughout the day.
9. They're patient
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People who wait until the very last minute to board a flight usually display several niche personality traits but, most of all, they’re patient. According to a study from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, patience is often directly correlated with emotional regulation skills.
If someone has the internal skills and self-awareness to regulate the anxiety, fear, or frustration they might experience at the airport, they’re going to feel more grounded and at ease, even amid the chaos of boarding a flight.
They’re waiting until the last minute to get on, because they don’t have anything to prove or anyone to “beat” by being the first one in line or the first person settled on the plane.
10. They work best under pressure
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While the general actuality of “working better under pressure” is largely a myth that procrastinators use to justify their lack of initial effort or planning, like psychology professor Joseph Ferrari suggests, this belief in small doses — like at the airport — can actually make people more efficient.
They don’t waste their whole day fretting about getting to the airport or waiting around at their gate, but give themselves a small window to be incredibly efficient about checking bags, getting through security, and boarding the plane. Even if it stresses out their “Type-A” friends and passengers, if it works for them and isn’t hurting others, it works well.
11. They're minimalists at heart
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If boarding the plane at the last minute and efficiently showing up to the airport with only moments to spare means only packing a single carry-on bag, these kinds of travelers don’t mind.
They’re minimalists at heart, with routines and airport rituals that tend to mirror their internal appreciations of the bare minimum. Their life revolves around experiences, so the material things — whether it’s clothing or a first-class ticket — just don’t hold the same weight as they might for someone rushing into line to fight for overhead space.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a staff writer with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
