Coming from someone who used to work the gates, I used to stop boarding until people cleared the boarding area. I would advise everyone to make a walk way, or take a seat or the flight would depart late and everyone would miss connections if they didn't clear the boarding area and remind them that this wasn't Southwest, there was no need for the herd of cattle to stand around the gate. It's the rudest thing people can do. You all have an assigned seat, no one is going to take it. Standing around the boarding area only delays boarding and adds to the time it is going to take for people to get on board while they weave in and out and around the people that stand around. GTF out of the way!!! Unless you are flying Southwest, with their cattle call style seating, no need to stand around like a herd of cows.

Also, know where your bag goes. On wide body aircrafts with the bins that lower from the ceiling in the middle, put small, lighter bags in those compartments, leaving the other side for larger, heavier bags. It's not going to blow away if it isn't sitting directly above you. And DON'T try to cram a rolling bag in the tray compartments for gods sake. Those things don't latch sometimes and will pop open during take off and landing, and I've seen the contents fall on to the passengers below or into the aisles narrowly missing the opportunity to kill someone.

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