Thoughts When Sitting in the Back of a Domestic Flight: Is This Like the Old Third Class?

Since the end of the pandemic, I've been flying so often for work trips and business days that I now believe there's a certain fate tied to airplane seats.

If you sit in a good seat up front (Domestic First), people are ready to get off before the plane even lands, and those sitting behind can exit right after landing.

However, when you end up in the very back of a Southwest 737 or a United 320, the story changes completely.

A few days ago, I found myself sitting near the back of the plane. We definitely landed. The seatbelt sign was turned off.

But even after 10 minutes, I was still on the plane. Up front, people were retrieving their luggage, and some were repeatedly opening and closing the overhead bins because they couldn't find their bags. One row clears, and then it stops again.

It seems like the people in front are already in line to get their bags, while I'm still staring at the ceiling from row 37.

In moments like this, I think of the third-class passengers from old movies. In films like Titanic, the distinctions between first, second, and third class were very clear.

Wealthy people dined in nice rooms and enjoyed spacious areas, while third-class passengers lived in cramped quarters below deck.

Even though we were heading to the same New York, the travel experiences were completely different.

Modern airplanes aren't quite that extreme. Just because you're sitting in the back of economy doesn't mean they won't give you water or that you can't use the same restroom.

However, at the moment of landing, it strangely feels like a class society is revived.

First and business class passengers exit first. Then the front of economy follows in a line. We wait.

Especially when someone is waiting for me at the airport or when I have tight travel times, it's nerve-wracking.

What's even funnier is the unique urgency of Korean people. As soon as the seatbelt sign goes off, everyone stands up.

Standing up doesn't mean you get out quickly. You end up hunched over, standing for 10 minutes.

I feel like I'm missing out if I don't stand up, so I join in.

And then I think, why am I standing right now?

Finally, the command to disembark reaches the third class.

When I get to the airport, it's only a 10 or 15-minute difference.

But those 15 minutes waiting on the plane feel like an hour.

Next time, I'm determined to pay a little more for a better seat.

And yet, when I find a cheap ticket for my next trip, I'll probably end up booking the back again, haha.

How easily people can change.