Gate Campers Are Taking Over America’s Airports—And Atlanta’s within the Prime 3

You lastly make it to your gate, sweaty from speed-walking by means of the terminal, a half-smashed bagel in a single hand and your boarding go within the different. You’re hoping for a quiet nook to catch your breath, perhaps scroll your cellphone. As an alternative, you discover a couple totally reclined throughout 4 chairs prefer it’s their private Airbnb. One’s consuming Panda Specific. The opposite’s charging three units. Stranger Issues is enjoying at full quantity.

They’re gate campers. They usually’re in every single place.

A brand new survey from Sudoku got down to establish which U.S. airports are affected by the best variety of gate campers—aka vacationers who not solely present up means early, however unfold out, hunker down, and clog the gate space prefer it’s their very own private ready room.

Who Tops the Listing?

Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) takes the crown with the best gate camper rating within the nation. Scorching on its heels: Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO), the place vacationers are more than likely to reach early particularly to attraction gate brokers into seat upgrades.

And proper behind them? Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport. That’s proper—ATL ranks third, with 99% of normal vacationers there admitting they arrive early out of sheer concern of lacking their flight. Comprehensible, contemplating ATL was the busiest airport within the U.S. in 2023, transferring greater than 50 million passengers by means of its halls.

In reality, vacationers flying out of JFK and PHL report attending to their gates almost 1.6 hours early. ATL vacationers are proper there with them—beating the nationwide common and proving that punctuality (and panic) go hand in hand whenever you’re coping with an airport that’s principally a small metropolis.

Why Are We Like This?

Sudoku’s survey reveals the reality behind this very particular traveler conduct: 96% of People present up early just because they’re afraid of being late. That’s it. Plain and easy.

After all, it doesn’t harm that arriving early means time to seize meals, hit the restroom, or lock down a kind of prized charging retailers. One-third of vacationers admit they’re principally looking for a spot to plug in. One other chunk simply needs a seat close to the gate to safe a stable boarding place.

As a result of let’s be actual: Even when your group is boarding third, we’ve all seen that one man hover close to the gate throughout pre-boarding like he’s afraid he’ll miss his title being known as on The Value Is Proper.

Solely 27% of individuals take a relaxed strategy to boarding. The remainder of us are locked in a quiet conflict of passive-aggressive physique language and suitcase barricades.

The Worst Behaviors? We Requested.

Gate campers aren’t simply early birds—they’re typically chaotic ones. In keeping with vacationers surveyed, these are the highest three most annoying behaviors:

1. Standing on the gate earlier than your group known as (46%)
   It’s not a race. You have got a seat. So does everybody else. Sit down.
2. Loud cellphone calls
   Virtually 1 in 4 individuals say that is the conduct that grinds their gears probably the most. Nobody needs to listen to your speakerphone enterprise assembly whereas attempting to zone out with a podcast.
3. Utilizing chairs for baggage
   One in six vacationers are over it. If somebody’s standing whereas your carry-on enjoys a window seat, anticipate the side-eye.

Atlanta: Gate Camper Paradise?

At ATL, it’s simple to see how this occurs. Between navigating the airport’s dimension, tackling TSA traces, and finding your concourse (plus the prepare experience, as a result of sure, there’s a prepare concerned), exhibiting up early turns into a part of the tradition. Toss in the truth that discovering a charging station or an open seat throughout peak hours appears like a aggressive sport, and it’s no marvel Atlanta ranked so excessive.

Nonetheless, there’s a distinction between being ready and turning Concourse A into your front room. The survey’s backside line? Just a little consciousness goes a good distance. You don’t must camp on the gate to make your flight on time.

Whereas You Wait…

Whether or not you’re an unapologetic gate camper or simply caught in the course of one, Sudoku suggests passing the time with a logic sport as an alternative of stress-scrolling. Strive a puzzle. Remedy one thing. And please—maintain your suitcase out of the aisle.