Originally Posted by
llondel
The only incentive for getting on early is when the space in the overhead luggage bins is in short supply. OK, so that's 99.99% of US domestic flights, but if you're going to sit in that cramped metal tube for hours, why rush? Once I had a seat in the row right by the door (international flight, not cattle class), so I just waited until pretty much everyone else had boarded before I bothered to get up and go to the gate.
The overhead space is issue become increasingly important in Europe as well and it is the reason I like to board first. My father who traveled extensively during the 70's and 80's often in business follow you logic about taking his time to board but I don't know how difficult was to find space on the bins for his bag.