Common flight etiquette rules you might be breaking
Flight attendants have shared six common airplane etiquette rules that many people unknowingly break.
Following numerous in-flight incidents making headlines across South Africa and around the world, it might be a good time to be reminded of the appropriate etiquette when flying.
We've all experienced situations where someone's in-flight behaviour struck a nerve due to poor manners.
Southern Living recently spoke to veteran flight attendants who said many travellers break aeroplane rules, often without even realising it.
They shared their biggest pet peeves and the most common etiquette offenders.
Here are six aeroplane etiquette rules you might be breaking:
Make eye contact during service.
"It's incredibly frustrating when you have to repeat yourself three times to the one passenger who won't take off their headphones," says Ally Murphy, former flight attendant and host of The Red Eye podcast.
"It feels rude—and it slows everything down."
"When it's drink service time, get off your phone and make eye contact when you order. 'Please' and 'thank you' are always nice to hear, too," adds Alaska Airlines flight attendant Jenn Lujan.
Don't recline without warning
"The biggest etiquette mistake I see is reclining without informing the person behind you," says Murphy.
"Or being mad at the person in front for reclining. Seats recline—that's what they're designed to do!"
Murphy recommends giving the person behind you a heads-up before reclining.
Don't stand around in the aisle
"Passengers stopping to unpack or reorganise their bags in the aisle hold up everyone behind them," says Ally Case, a flight attendant for a major U.S. carrier.
"Just step into your row, stow your bag quickly, and get situated once seated."
Consider other people's senses
Playing videos without headphones, eating super-smelly food, clipping your nails, brushing your hair, or doing an elaborate skincare routine are all big no-nos, according to these flight attendants.
Gauge receptiveness when trying to converse with seatmates
"Your seatmate might be travelling for a funeral, going through something heavy, or just anxious about flying," says Case.
"It's always best to read the room before diving into conversation."
Get off the plane in an orderly manner
"Aeroplane etiquette when deplaning is to go row by row, front to back," Lujan reminds us.
"Don't leap into the aisle the second the seatbelt sign turns off—especially if you’re in row 22.”
The key takeaway? Always be kind and thoughtful to crew members and fellow passengers alike.
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