Early boarding

Why do people like to stand in line for ten or fifteen minutes, just for the privilege of getting on the airplane early? It seems like that would be a punishment: that you want to put off, as long as possible, climbing in to the flying tin can.

It's not like getting on early gets you a better seat: it's assigned seating.


Addendum: I asked my dad about this. He noted that getting on early lets you stash your carry-on luggage in a better place.

Fair enough. I only have a knapsack and a small messenger bag, so it doesn't matter to me.


--GG