12 Bad Behaviors Fellow Passengers Are Begging You To Stop Doing When Flying

You might assume that everyone has good flight etiquette — 88% of Americans have flown commercially at least once — but that’s not always the case.

Even for people who have a life where they can travel when they want , basic flight etiquette should be a requirement for all. Everyone can engage in proper conduct by avoiding these simple faux pas.

1. Taking your shoes off on the airplane

The sight or smell of bare feet can ruin a flight for your co-passengers, and it can make flight attendants want to retire early .

We have to take our shoes off at security, but that’s why socks were invented. Otherwise, it’s unpleasant and unsanitary for everyone.

Please, keep those tucked away in your shoes where they belong.

2. Talking loudly on the phone

We’ve all been in situations where we’ve been bothered by someone talking loudly on the phone. It gets irritating to anyone who’s near them.

Now imagine being trapped in a metal cylinder with them.

Be aware of your volume while speaking on the phone on the plane.

3. Not showering before the flight

Personal hygiene can be challenging some days, but taking care of it before you travel is crucial. Everyone is on an airplane together, and the air is recirculated. Not showering before a flight will inconvenience your fellow travelers.

Also, make sure you wear deodorant. No one wants to smell bad on a flight, and no one wants to be able to smell you on a flight.

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4. Joining the Mile High Club

Everyone seems to want to be a part of The Mile High. But take a moment and think to yourself, is this considerate to the flight attendants and other flyers?

The airline attendants can open the lavatories from the outside, and they are required to do safety checks in the bathrooms every 20 to 30 minutes to ensure that there are no fire risks.

This means that you can be caught in a very uncomfortable position. So please do us all a favor and don’t try to join the Mile High Club next time you fly.

5. Pretending that your dog is a service dog

Service dogs are welcome on airlines. For your dog to become a service dog, however, you must have a disability defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Additionally, your dog needs to be able to act appropriately in intense situations and perform at least one task that mitigates your disability.

It’s a crime to fake having a service dog. You could endanger actual service dogs and other people surrounding you. Plus, it’s just bad form.

As much as we love Fido, either fly him as a pet or keep him home.

6. Approaching service dogs on flights

Service dogs are medical assistants for their owners. Distracting a service dog can cause the dog to miss a critical alert or a task and cause issues with the handler’s safety. Don’t approach them; let them do their job.

Similarly, don’t approach the handler and ask about their dog. Like you, they’re just trying to get from one place to another. Fielding questions about their dog, what it does, or how they got it can be exhausting.

7. Not using headphones

We all get that you’d like to watch or listen to something while on a flight. It keeps you occupied and distracted while flying.

However, not using headphones or earbuds while listening to things/watching things disrupts other fliers.

When you don’t use earbuds or headphones, the people surrounding you also have to listen to what you’re watching or listening to. It’s just not considerate on a flight.

8. Clapping when the plane lands

We get it, you’re not trying to be rude, and you want to congratulate the flight crew for a good flight and a safe landing.

However, what you considered a good landing could have felt very different to the pilots. Your applause could come across as sarcastic rather than sincere.

So do the pilots and crew a favor, and don’t clap.

9. Rushing to get get off the plane

You may want to get off the plane after a long flight, and you don’t care how you have to do it. That train of thought is very understandable.

However, it’s not good practice to follow through on these thoughts. Everyone else wants to get off the plane too.

It’s understandable to be antsy about it, but pushing and shoving people to get off the plane is rude.

10. Mistreating flight attendants

Flight attendants are just trying to do their job and ensure no incidents happen on the plane. That means they may not always say what you want them to say. They will enforce the seatbelt rule, even if it irritates you.

Not hearing or getting what you want is not an excuse to be rude to them. They’re doing what they can to keep you safe.

You may not like what they do, but they’re people too. Think about how what you say or do will affect them before you do it.

11. Drinking too much

Having a beer or glass of wine at 35,000 feet feels like the peak of luxury. And by all means, have a drink!

But consider your co-passengers before you ask for another. Be honest with yourself. Will you start acting differently? When you have more than one or two, do things tend to get out of hand?

Even the constant need to go to the bathroom can disturb other passengers. So save the partying for when you land.

12. Complaining about the food options

Passenger planes aren‘t Michelin-star restaurants. Though a small snack bag might not be what your palate demands, that‘s likely all the staff can offer.

If you have dietary restrictions, the attendants may be able to accommodate.

In any case, plan your travel day to ensure you get your regular meals. You are allowed to bring a meal on the plane (just make sure it‘s not stinky).

On longer flights, the meal selection is often more expansive. Revel in the relative luxury!

Bottom line

Flying commercially can be an amazing experience if you and your fellow passengers follow proper guidelines and are conscious of other peoples’ experiences.

Whether you avoid pushing and shoving to get off the plane or stay seated until the fasten seatbelt signs turn off, you can make a difference in the entire vibe of the flight.

And the next time you book a flight, consider using a travel credit card . How could you cause trouble while you‘re earning travel rewards?

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