How long can they hold you on a plane after landing?

How long can we wait at airport after landing?

Hours, maybe.

It feels like forever sometimes, that waiting.

They don’t rush you.

• Public areas are fine.
• Don’t sleep there.
• Airside is tricky.

Airside… Feels like prison if you’re stuck.

I spent 6 hours once, delayed connection. Missed my brother’s wedding.

• Delayed flights, the worst.
• Lost luggage, the worst.
• Crying babies, the worst, really.

I would never risk airside.

How long between landing and getting off plane?

Twenty minutes, sometimes less, sometimes more. It feels longer. Always feels longer. Especially on those 6 AM flights. God, those 6 AM flights.

The wait drags. You’re trapped. Stuck. Like a fly in amber. Except the amber is recycled air and the smell of stale coffee.

It depends. A jumbo jet? Forget it. Forty-five minutes easily. Smaller planes are quicker. But even then, the taxiing… the agonizing taxiing.

Key factors impacting disembarkation time:

• Aircraft size: Larger planes = longer wait.
• Passenger volume: More people = slower exit. Duh.
• Number of jet bridges: Multiple bridges speed things up. One? Prepare to shuffle.
• Baggage claim issues: My flight from Denver last year? Forty minutes just standing around, waiting for my goddamn suitcase.

I hate the whole process. The feeling of confinement. The air, thick with anticipation and sweat. 2024 has been rough, this year especially so. The delays. The crowded airports. My back hurts just thinking about it. Seriously. It’s killing me.

What is the average turnaround time for airlines?

Okay, so last July, my flight from JFK to Heathrow was, man, a nightmare. We landed, right? It was like 11 PM, totally exhausted. The plane sat there, FOREVER. Felt like three hours, easily. I was freaking out. My connecting flight to Dublin was in an hour and a half. I needed to go to the loo; bad.

They finally started unloading. Slow as molasses. People were grumpy. I swear I saw someone almost punch a flight attendant. Then, baggage claim. Chaos. Total chaos. My bag? Nowhere to be seen. My anxiety went through the roof.

International flights, huh? Two hours is a joke. This was way longer. Missed my connection, obviously. Ended up sleeping on the floor of the airport. Hard benches. Cold. I had a terrible headache. Then the ordeal to rebook; getting a hotel voucher. Ugh.

Major airlines? Don’t believe the 1.5-hour turnaround time for international. Pure fiction. At least for my experience. They should be honest about the actual time it takes. I really want to see a regulatory change to fix this.

• My flight: JFK to Heathrow (July 2024)
• Problem: Excessively long turnaround time; missed connecting flight.
• Consequences: Missed flight to Dublin, stressful night in Heathrow, rebooking hassles, hotel voucher.
• My feelings: Anxious, stressed, angry, exhausted. Completely ripped off.
• Personal note: I’m filing a complaint. Seriously.

This experience messed up my entire trip. Cost me a fortune on top of the initial flight price.

How long does it take for a plane to unload after landing?

Plane unloading: Variable.

Factors: Plane size, passenger count, baggage handling efficiency, gate congestion.

• Small planes: 15-20 minutes. Quick.
• Large planes: 30+ minutes. Slower. Expect delays. Always.

My flight last Tuesday, Southwest 4721, took 25 minutes. Annoying. Even with pre-boarding.

Time isn’t linear. It’s subjective. Perception matters. Thirty minutes feels like an eternity. Especially after a long flight. Especially in a crowded gate area. Brutal.

Airlines aim for efficiency. Lies.

This year’s data shows higher average times. Increased security screenings. Ironic. More security, less efficiency.