Why Do We Always Board Planes From the Left? The Safety and Logistics Behind It

Have you ever noticed that passengers always board and disembark commercial aircraft from the left side? The plane's door is on the left too, right? We always climb onto the jet bridge, which is always attached to the left side of the plane. But why the left?

Safety First

The reason for the left-side boarding is all about safety. A former pilot, Dan Bubb, explained to Travel + Leisure that the right side of the plane is busy with operations, like refueling, loading baggage, and catering.

"It would be very dangerous to have passengers boarding on that side (right) while there are other vehicles and equipment moving around," said Bubb, who is also a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This is especially true when passengers disembark using stairs instead of a jet bridge. Airports want to keep passengers and crew away from potentially hazardous activities.

A Matter of Logistics

The reason for the left-side boarding is a combination of logistics and safety. The jet bridges are designed to connect to the left side, and loading passengers on the left keeps the right side free for other activities. This reduces the risk of collisions between passengers and equipment.

Why Do We Always Board Planes From the Left?

Ever noticed that passengers always board and disembark commercial aircraft from the left side? The plane's door is on the left too, right? We always climb onto the jet bridge, which is always attached to the left side of the plane.

But why the left? It’s all about safety.

A former pilot, Dan Bubb, explained to Travel + Leisure that the right side of the plane is busy with operations, like refueling, loading baggage, and catering.

"It would be very dangerous to have passengers boarding on that side (right) while there are other vehicles and equipment moving around," said Bubb, who is also a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This is especially true when passengers disembark using stairs instead of a jet bridge. Airports want to keep passengers and crew away from potentially hazardous activities.

The reason for the left-side boarding is a combination of logistics and safety. The jet bridges are designed to connect to the left side, and loading passengers on the left keeps the right side free for other activities. This reduces the risk of collisions between passengers and equipment.

This practice even predates airplanes. The terms "port" and "starboard" in maritime terminology refer to the left and right sides of ships. "Port side" literally means boarding from the left. While modern ships allow boarding from both sides, airplanes continue to use the left for boarding and disembarking.

Why is the right side of the plane considered busy?

The right side of the plane is busy because it's where refueling, baggage loading, and catering activities take place.

Why is the left side of the plane considered safer for passengers?

The left side of the plane is considered safer because it keeps passengers away from potentially hazardous activities that take place on the right side, like refueling, baggage loading, and catering.

What are some activities that take place on the right side of the plane?

Activities that take place on the right side of the plane include refueling, loading baggage, and catering.

Why do airports want to keep passengers away from potentially hazardous activities?

Airports want to keep passengers away from potentially hazardous activities to ensure their safety and prevent collisions between passengers and equipment.

Rooted in Maritime Tradition

This practice even predates airplanes. The terms "port" and "starboard" in maritime terminology refer to the left and right sides of ships. "Port side" literally means boarding from the left. While modern ships allow boarding from both sides, airplanes continue to use the left for boarding and disembarking.