Travelling with colleagues but seated separately - wait or not after flight?

[dajop]

Just curious, what is the standard practice if you are travelling with colleagues (but not seated together), after landing. Do you just ignore the fact and do your own thing? By mutual agreement say "seeya" on boarding before the flight? Or wait for them?

When travelling home on domestics it always used to be a conversation before boarding about not waiting and heading home. But heading to somewhere (particularly where sharing transport after the flight) I typically wait after disembarking (once outside airbridge). I have noticed though last time I flew with US colleagues, they headed straight out of the airport and met up with me landside before sharing same ground transport, being the get out as fast as you can mentality, although in practice they need to wait for the last person anyway.

I thought about this last week, coming home into SIN, I had two of my staff on the plane with me and I was in third row of economy, so I was off quickly. One of them based in SIN, the other connecting through to Indonesia. I waited for them as it seemed the polite thing to do, to say farewell, have a good weekend etc. But I know many wouldn't.

Curious what others do.

 

[AWA2602]

I always make a point of deciding and agreeing on this before leaving the lounge with any colleagues or staff on the same flight.

Generally, if its the end of the trip and we're all heading in our own directions we bid farewell in the lounge before boarding so there's no need to delay each other with pleasantries on the ground when all everyone wants to do is just get the hell out and on their way.

If its the start of a domestic trip and we have shared ground transport then we meet at the baggage carousel or at the ground transport meeting point if none of us have any checked baggage. This gives those who were seated in the forward sections time to visit the toilet, grab a coffee or whatever by the time those seated in the rear cabin sections have deplaned.

On international trips we generally just meet at the ground transport meeting point because there's too many variables that impact the time taken to get through Immigration and Customs.

The key is being clear before boarding the flight what the game plan is so that there's no confusion or dilly dallying at the other end.

 

[RooFlyer]

Pretty much what AWA2602 said.

 

[vertisol]

If heading to the sameplace I generally wait at the gate and collect everyone before heading off to the taxi rank. Coming home though is a different story.

Always give them my 'see you tomorrow' before boarding. Most people are in some sort of hurry to get home, especially if we've been away overnight.

 

[Cynicor]

Get to the bags or through customs/quarantine if it exists in a real fashion. I do this with my GF if we are separated for some reason. I.E. EU with my UK passport and her Aussie. That way I have the bags already and we can just leave.

 

[flychrisfly]

Pretty much what AWA2602 said.

+1
[junk text ]

 

[SeatBackForward]

Most of the times we say bye as we board the plane, that way we're not reliant on the other to get home ASAP. It does make it interesting if you end up in the taxi queue right next to each other though.

 

[simongr]

It all depends

Travelling home - once I get on the aircraft you are dead to me. I will exit as quickly as I can.

Travelling to same location - booked transport - I will wait at the gate. For example if travelling to MEL and I have a car booked I will wait at the gate as the car isn't going anywhere (BTW of you have checked luggage you aren't in the car with me).

Travelling to same location - not booked transport - if we are arriving somewhere and expect there to be a queue then the fastest will head to the queue to get a spot whilst the slow and the weak catch up.

 

[JohnK]

I travelled to Asia a few times with a colleague and we met before the flight (guested into lounge) and then met up after the flight as we were going to the same place.

Coming back we would often be on different flights.

I think most people want to head home as soon as they arrive but I would prefer to visit the lounge if there is time.