Everything You Need to Know about Flight Bus Boarding in Europe
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IF YOU’RE FLYING DOMESTICALLY IN EUROPE, YOU’RE LIKELY TO COME ACROSS A PRACTICE KNOWN AS “BUS BOARDING.”
It’s when you are bussed out to your aircraft to board the plane, rather than simply walking onto the plane directly from the airport, usually via a connector known as a jet bridge.
It’s a very common, and yes, very annoying, practice at European airports.
And if you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I have to take a bus to board my plane in Europe?,” then this explainer is for you.
READ ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS QUIRK OF AIR TRAVEL THAT YOU’RE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER ON YOUR NEXT EUROPEAN VACATION.
Everything You Need to Know about Flight Bus Boarding in Europe
What is “Flight Bus Boarding”?
The term “bus boarding” refers to any airplane boarding procedure that involves the use of a bus. 🙃
And despite its name, it can also be used to de-board a plane, or to get passengers from the plane back to the airport at the end of a flight.
THE PRACTICE IS USED TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AT AIRPORTS WHEN THE NUMBER OF ARRIVING AND DEPARTING FLIGHTS EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE GATES.
A British Airways plane sits on the tarmac with its doors open, ready for passengers to arrive for boarding via a bus from the terminal.
Remember when you were a kid, and you could tell the neighbors were having a party because of all the cars parked up and down the street, sometimes even on the lawn?
IT’S JUST LIKE THAT: NOT ENOUGH PARKING SPACES FOR ALL OF THE ARRIVING VEHICLES.
Airports deal with this by creating airplane parking lots far removed from the airside terminal.
(They’re more sophisticated than simple parking lots, but the analogy fits.)
They then bus all of the passengers for that flight out to the parking lot where their plane is waiting.
What’s the Rationale behind Flight Bus Boarding?
I’M JUST GOING TO COME OUT AND ADMIT THAT I REALLY HATE BUS BOARDING.
Anytime I’m flying within Europe, I pray that my flight is one of the lucky few with a proper gate and boarding via a jet bridge.
But there are some benefits to the practice that I understand and even, a tiny bit, begrudgingly respect.
First of all, bus boarding helps airports reduce flight delays and cancellations.
THIS IS A BIG ONE, AND IT’S ALSO A LARGELY INVISIBLE BENEFIT.
We experience the (small) inconvenience of bus boarding, just so that we don’t have to experience the (very large) inconvenience of a missed connection, flight rebooking, or an overnight stay in an airport.
Some aspects of bus boarding, like allowing passengers to board the plane through both the front and rear doors, help to speed up the boarding process.
Second, because aircraft are moving more efficiently through the airport, the amount of time that passengers spend waiting on an aircraft is reduced.
How many times has your flight arrived with plenty of time for you to make your next flight, only for wait-time on the plane to imperil your chance of making your connection?
IT’S THE SAME WITH DEPARTURES, WHEN THE TIME TO GET FROM THE GATE TO THE RUNWAY CAN SOMETIMES TAKE SO LONG THAT A FLIGHT MISSES ITS TAKE-OFF WINDOW, AND PASSENGERS ARE MADE TO WAIT FOR A NEW SLOT.
Third, I’ve seen how bus boarding can actually speed up the boarding process.
Unlink with a jet bridge, which offers boarding via the plane’s front door, boarding from the tarmac allows passengers to enter through either the front or rear doors, whichever is closer to their assigned seat.
And finally, bus boarding reduces aircraft emissions by reducing all of that idling time for the planes themselves.
EVEN WITH THE ADDED EMISSIONS OF THE BUSES THAT MAKE BUS BOARDING POSSIBLE — AND AT LEAST IN EUROPE, MANY OF THEM ARE EVS — THE BENEFIT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IS CLEAR.
Why is Flight Bus Boarding So Common in Europe?
BUS BOARDING IS ACTUALLY QUITE COMMON IN MOST PARTS OF THE WORLD, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE USA.
But stories about bus boarding are becoming more and more common in the USA, too, as airports try to improve their operational efficiency metrics.
From a cost perspective, using bus boarding allows airports to handle a lot more volume, without the added investment of physical infrastructure like additional terminals with more gates.
How Can I Make Flight Bus Boarding as Easy as Possible?
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE BUS BOARDING PROCESS INTRODUCES A SMALL ANNOYANCE THAT SAVES US FROM BIG ANNOYANCES LIKE CANCELLATIONS OR DELAYS.
Keeping that in mind can help you to manage the in-the-moment frustration that comes with having to get on a bus to get to your flight.
If you’re traveling with small children, or you or someone in your group has mobility challenges, speak to the gate agent well before the boarding procedure begins.
Ask them if your flight will use bus boarding, and if they confirm that it does, kindly request early access.
Bus boarding isn’t so bad in warm and sunny conditions, but it can be quite unpleasant when the short walk from bus to plane is cold, rainy, or windy.
UNFORTUNATELY, BUS BOARDING OFTEN INVOLVES WALKING DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.
If this will be difficult for you, politely request assistance or early access to give you more time to complete the walk to the bus.
Don’t forget to consider the weather!
Many passengers pack their outer jackets into their carry-ons after airport security.
BUT IF YOU’RE FLYING IN THE COLD MONTHS, BUS BOARDING WILL TAKE YOU OUTDOORS AGAIN, SO BE PREPARED WITH THE PROPER OUTERWEAR FOR THE BRIEF TIME OUTSIDE.
Conclusion
BUS BOARDING ISN’T ANYONE’S IDEA OF A FUN TRAVEL EXPERIENCE.
But it’s a small inconvenience that keeps flights running on-time, reducing delays and cancellations, and even benefits the environment.
The next time you find yourself boarding a bus instead of walking down a jet bridge, take a deep breath, and remember: it’s a unique part of the European airport experience. ✈️
Until next time,
Angela
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