Following flying etiquette is important because it ensures a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone on board. By focusing on little things like respecting each other's personal space and keeping noise levels down, passengers can make a big difference in creating a pleasant atmosphere, which also allows the crew to be more efficient and might even help prevent certain delays. However, common courtesy is not always that common. So in an attempt to facilitate it, we at Bored Panda dug around Reddit and put together a list of rules that frequent flyers believe every traveler should know.
Continue scrolling to check them out and don't miss the talk we had with travel writer and photographer Jon Miksis, who shares his adventures on the blog My Global Viewpoint.
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If your kid kicks my seat one more god dam time I'm going to turn around and tell him Santa's not real.
Control your sh** bags.
Exactly! A time ago a kid kicked, talked and annoying to everybody in the cinema, somebody call out and the father said "he´s only 6!" and I said "and my daughter is five" haha I know, so mean, but my child was trying to watch the movie also, but so calme
Load More Replies...I would pay extra for a child-free flight. Way too many entitled parents out there who think their child is everyone else's problem to endure.
Why can't we have child free options for a lot of things- like movies and restaurants? I'd pay just to have the option. Sorry you decided to procreate, but that doesn't mean we have to tolerate the kid's AND their parent's bad behavior for experiences that should be pleasant and peaceful.
Load More Replies...All my mom had to do was give us "the" look and my sisters and I knew we better be still and not bother the people around us.
Ah, The Look. It strikes terror within the heart of every and any kid
Load More Replies...I was on a flight with an 8 year old jerk in front of me with his mom. He kept bouncing against the seat so I couldn't use the tray. I asked him and his mom to please stop, to no avail. After about 3 hours mom went to the restroom. I then leand over the seat and asked "Have you been in the bathroom on the plane yet?" He said yes. I asked if he know why happened when the toilet flushed? He said no. I told him it sucks everything out and dumps it out of the airplane! He looked worried. Then I sad "you rock in your seat or slam into the seat back again, I'll take you into the bathroom and flush you down the toilet! Got it?" He never moved and inch for 4 more hours. HAHAHAHA!!!!!
It’s even worse when they kick the back of a wheelchair at a publisher concert - and the occupant has severe pain and spinal damage. Mother took umbrage when requested the behavior stop. It. Is. NEVER. Ok. Do not mick, run in front of, jump on, grab, lean on, move or touch anyone’s wheelchair. First, you don’t know what their medical issues are, and secondly it’s blatantly rude, inconsiderate and potentially danger to you, your child or the occupant. And the person doesn’t have to be in a wheelchair for getting kicked from the back to cause serious damage. ALWAYS be considerate. Period.
Not just in an airplane. Went to see a horror film. An entire family with 3 toddlers sat directly behind us and let them run everywhere. Kicking, screaming, spilling things. I lasted 10 minutes and asked for a refund.
And just because I have a kid, don't expect me to understand. Note my kid isn't doing that.
Parents that make their kids behave in public are saints! No one minds a well behaved kid.
Load More Replies...*sitting at the gate this very moment, very judgementally looking at an extremely cute ~5yo in front of me*
Once it was the husband. Wife berated him and made him swap seats with her. She is good.
I can't believe they called kids s-bags😱😱😱😱 It's a kid!! The parent is the one allowing it and not saying anything the kids is innocent. Shameful. Cool comment until that point😥😑
Sorry, but it doesn't invalidate OP's feelings. Sometimes we can't control our thoughts. As long as OP doesn't call the kid a shitbag in public.
Load More Replies...I flew from MA to WA long flight with 2 very young kids. One had to be on my lap, This was in 1982. Not a peep. I was approached by a passenger after the flight to praise my well behaved children. Made me feel so good. You can have well behaved children if you start when they are very young. They are wonderful adults today.
I have had a very sick 3 year old, flying from Frankfurt Germany, to Boston, FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. Because she was a very little girl, and on airplane supplied Oxygen, you would think, maybe American people, and German people alike would see, a pale gray, little girl, with an oxygen mask and think, maybe some compassion.. maybe some kindness, for her and maybe her exhausted, terrified Mother, Hell NO, in one case an elderly woman left her seat to start clapping in my sleeping child's face, if she could not rest neither would the WHOREMONGER, AND THE WHELP. So having an ill child made me a Pimp of old, and my child born of an animal. A male STEWARDESS (enough said), named Guido.Threw a Bud Lite can at my child. At which time a tired Italian man,stood and dealt with the STEWARDESS. She cried, Leucemia, in midstage, hurts. I hope all those people on the plane feel half the pain she felt, the fear we both felt. All Karen's should face the hate they spread.no fly lists aren't enough.
And to add, the male STEWARDESS, was very knowledgeable about my child's sickness, he was the person who had received the medical bag, containing the narcotic pain medication, and the nausea medication. And the needles I used to feed the medications into her feeding tube. He also had to refrigerate the solution that was fed into her feeding tube, and the sterile water used to flush it. He had to sign and acknowledge the medical supplies where safety locked away from theft or use by anyone else.. but that A*****E STEWARDESS, still rolled his eyes,crapped his foot with his hands on his very wide hips, when ever I asked for said supplies.But still flung a beer can at her, after she choked up, and couldn't stop crying, if there were flights for kids, and parents only, most parents would be happy to fly them. To stay away from the ignorant, judgemental, insulting, preaching A******S, that hate themselves more than others.RIP my hope in humanity. I lost it, when I lost my child.
Load More Replies...Also when you're driving and the damn house monkeys 🐒 keep kicking the back of the seat 💺. My own kids when they were young. They got the " mommy look" and "you've got 10 seconds to stop that, 1..10" 👹
The level of people's ignorance never ceases to amaze me. Do you really believe the stupidities you are spouting or are you just venting? Do you seriously not understand that NO PARENT wants their kid to act like an annoying jerk? But sometimes they don't listen. So yeah, it may take 50 times telling them to stop before they do, or sometimes they stop only to start up again 30min later. People with kids don't live some magical fairy tale existence where it's all sunshine and lollipops. It may come as a surprise, but yeah, sometime we feel like we need a vacation too. Just like the rest of you. So if your solution is 'dont travel anywhere if your kids misbehave'......please take your entitled non empathetic ignorant a** elsewhere, and your ill informed moronic opinions too. I spend half of my time reminding my kids to show some kindness, empathy, and patience when dealing with those that are difficult......so shameful certaiin grown a** adults haven't figured this out yet.
It's a child, they have control issues. You as an adult shouldn't. Grow up and suck it up.
Their parents should PARENT and teach them manners. That's how they learn how to control their behavior.
Load More Replies...Traveler Jon Miksis has an alternative expression for the term flying etiquette and he calls it "the art of not being a complete jerk while flying."
"You know what I'm talking about, that person who reclines their seat all the way back, leaving you with no legroom? And let's not forget the person who insists on talking to you for the entire flight, even though you've clearly put on your noise-canceling headphones and have your eyes closed," Miksis told Bored Panda.
"Flying etiquette is all about making the experience comfortable for everyone. This includes respecting the flight crew's rules and instructions, being mindful about your personal space, and not being disruptive to other passengers," he explained. "One scenario (that is all too common) is when people hog the overhead bins — bringing their entire house with them as carry-on luggage and leaving no room for the rest of us. I've been on multiple flights where I've had to put my carry-on under the seat in front of me even though I paid for an overhead bin. Not fun when you're 6′4."
If you're sick, wear a mask. - It may not be 100% helpful, but it does 2 things: 1) prevents you from sneezing and coughing on anyone/thing. 2) It lets everyone around you know that you're making a very serious attempt to prevent your germs from getting spread and that means you at least have some basic common courtesy.
Keep your hair, feet, hands to your effing self.
2021 was the worst year on record for unruly airplane passenger behavior in the United States, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A total of 5,981 reports of unruly passengers were logged by the organization, with 4,290, or nearly 72%, being related to mask incidents.
However, the unruly passenger incident rate has dropped since then, with 1,973 reports logged during the first nine months of 2022. Despite this, the FAA has stated that "there remains more work to do."
Although the overall number of reported incidents has decreased, the number of cases in which enforcement action was initiated has increased, with 468 cases being recorded during January-September 2022, compared to 350 in 2021.
Minimize your cologne/perfume usage. Believe it or not, not everybody wants to smell a cheap french hooker for a long flight.
Former flight attendant here:
Don’t bring your massive bag of leftovers and then throw it away in the plane, we have very limited space for trash on board while in flight.
Don’t come into the galley in the middle of the flight to make conversation. We’re interacting with hundreds of you at a time and we’d like to relax for a few minutes and not interact with other humans. Please let us decompress.
When we tell you you can’t do something, must have your seat up for takeoff/landing it’s not because we are thirsty for power and authority, it’s the FAA. If I don’t tell you to do that or you don’t comply I could lose my job. Don’t shoot the messenger, be a sport and just play along.
Your flight attendant is there for your safety, not pleasure, so don’t be rude. We are trying our best.
Except when I fly business class somehow the flight attendants are so much nicer and accommodating, had to go to the bathroom didn't realise seat belt sign was on and they were so nice about it. Same airlines, similar issue, but in economy they screamed at me. Flight attendants deserve respect and kindness but lets not pretend there isn't a discrepancy in how they treat passengers.
Besides all the misconduct, overall airline behavior can be a lot to handle as well. Recently, Upgraded Points asked 500 Americans to rank airline pet peeves based on how annoying they are the worst ones turned out to be:
- Having the back of your seat kicked;
- Cutting in line;
- Being rude to the airport staff;
- People standing in walkways, blocking others' paths;
- Crowding the gate before the flight is ready to board;
- Someone asking to change seats with you;
- People forcing small talk with you.
The study also found that Americans would rather sit next to a crying baby than a fighting couple. However, if given the choice, they would rather pick a seat next to a dog than a baby. Plus, they would prefer to be seatmates with someone who talks non-stop rather than someone with bad body odor.
Do. Not. Change. Your. Baby's. Diaper. Anywhere. But. The. Bathroom.
Seems like this outta go without saying, but some parents are just honeybadgers and they just don't care.
This one is pretty general, but from experience I guess it still needs saying: If a person has headphones on, earbuds in, whatever, don't try to make small talk. It's nothing personal, but some people have really long days at airports (Can't tell you how many red-eyes I've caught after waiting standby all day) and just don't want to talk.
Follow-up, for the flip side of this instance: If you're listening to music, be reasonable about the volume. The people around you shouldn't be able to hear your tunes.
"I've witnessed my fair share of unruly passengers on flights, and let me tell you, it's never a good time," Jon Miksis, the man behind the travel blog Global View Point, said. "I've seen people get in fights over reclining seats, flight attendants cutting passengers off from alcohol, and everything in between."
"The reality is that you'll be stuck in a metal tube with these people for hours. So, it's always better to stay calm and avoid getting into any arguments on a plane. If a passenger is being extremely disruptive, however, it's a good idea to be proactive and ask a flight attendant for help. You don't have to address the situation in front of the person either — you can do so discreetly by pretending to go to the bathroom and speaking with a flight attendant instead."
"Lastly, if all else fails, you can always take the 'I'll see you in court' approach and secretly document the person's behavior with your phone (just in case you need to use it as evidence in the event of a lawsuit). Just kidding, please don't sue anyone over bad behavior on a flight, it's not worth it," the traveler said.
If you forgot headphones, you are not entitled to playing your movie out loud during an overnight flight while I am trying to sleep. I hated that seat neighbor, I was going insane.
Always carry good silicon industrial hearing protection. Not the little foam ones, longer triple-f****e ones. Moisten them first, then pull the back of each ear back and out while inserting the protector into the ear. Should give a nice, snug fit. They’re what I used while operating a big paper folding machine, which ran at 96dB continuously, far higher that an airplane movie soundtrack!
Be respectful of the person sitting next to you. Don't yell at the lady with the screaming baby, I promise you she wants it to shut up too.
No children at the baggage carousel. Space is tight and bags are flying. My bag WILL smack your kid in the skull, and I will not apologize.
No reason for the whole family needs to be close to carousel. One adult stays close, one adult and kids stands back, when 1 adult grabs a bag, family member grabs it and goes back to rest of family with it. If you are alone with a child don’t let child out of sight and in front of you by carousel too, to easy to kidnap at an airport.
As cliché as it sounds, a pleasant flight starts with us. It is important to remember that flying is a shared experience and we all have a role to play in making it at least bearable.
"When flying, it's always a good idea to be mindful of your personal space and how your actions and behaviors affect those around you," Miksis highlighted. "For instance, if you're going to recline your seat, make sure to do it slowly and check to see if anyone behind you is affected. And remember not to hog the overhead bin with your carry-on, as we all have to share that space. If you want to put your jackets and small bags up there, it should fit on top of your carry-on rather than filling the space next to your bigger bag."
"Lastly, it's important to be considerate of your fellow passengers by taking a shower and/or using deodorant shortly before a flight. Your row-mates will thank you for it," he added.
Do what the flight attendants say.
You would think this doesn't need to be said but many news stories suggest otherwise. If nothing else, you'd think knowing you could be deplaned and/or arrested, go to jail would be enough to make folks shut up and grit their teeth. But some people "know their rights!" and insist on poking the bear.
Wash yourself.
Lotsaa1 added:
Deodorant.
For the love of god, if everyone could learn that people should get out of their seat by alternating rows, de-boarding would be so much easier.
Do not eat egg salad. We aren’t able to crack windows. I’m begging.
I’ve flown over a million miles so hopefully, this helps. Make sure to check behind you before you throw your seat back when reclining.
Last flight I was on a guy reclined aggressively during dinner service without looking and the poor woman behind him had her wine and food go all over the floor.
Make sure that your carry-on can EASILY fit in the overhead. Don't be the guy who delays everybody boarding behind you by trying to squeeze a steamer trunk into the overhead bin.
I think the size of “carry ons ” needs to be smaller and stringently enforced. I know it makes it faster to get out of the airport, but some turbulence can be bad enough that the flimsy closures on the storage doors can allow for them to fall open. A) If the bag is heavy enough, it’s going to force that door open easier and B) When it comes flying out, it could injure whoever it hits. They’re overhead storage compartments, not the luggage compartment.
The middle seat gets both armrests.
I didn’t get either on a recent flight but didn’t want to bother anyone- my back hurt so bad after and it was only a 2 hour flight lmao
Don’t clap when the plane lands. Just don’t.
Before you get on the plane, have what you want for the flight ready so you can stow your bag and get out of the aisle asap.
Buy two seats if you need it.
We did this on our last flight. We bought three seats so we'd have the whole row and not squish any poor person who was between us. SO much more comfortable and cheaper then flying first class. Someone asked us how we lucked out, told him we planned ahead and bought the seat. He said he'd try it next time.
Don't swarm the conveyor belt at the baggage claim area. Is the belt moving so fast that you can't walk over and grab your bag when you see it instead of blocking everyone's view of the belt?
While queueing at security, take your belt, keys, change etc. and place them in the front pocket of your carry-on. You'll sail through the scanners and can reload your pockets when you get to a quiet spot
We all know by now that we have to do this. Why wear a belt to have to take off and put back on again? We know our shoes are coming off. Wear ones easy to remove and put back on.
Have your boarding pass on hand before you approach the gate.
I made my flying life sooooo much easier by aquiring a document case thing which has a transparent window in the front which is just the right size for storing my boarding pass and passport so they're visible (no worrying about where I put the damn things) and easy to take out when needed.
You're taking an international flight and will likely have your own tv screen behind the headrest in front of you. It's not necessary to stab at the screen to make selections. Respect that someone is sitting in that seat in front of you.
When you got to stand up, don't latch onto the seat in front of you and use it for leverage. I am sleeping in that seat and you are waking me up. Just use your legs. I believe in you and your abilities.
When they start the boarding process, you don't have to stand up and queue. It usually takes a long time and you have a seat assigned to you anyway, so relax a bit more before your flight.
Sometimes it’s about making sure you have access to overhead luggage space. But, read the room.
Don't force conversation, but by all means be friendly and talk to the person you're sitting with. Things like destination, job, etc. If they aren't willing to talk don't force it.
And alert the flight attendants if their conversation crosses the line or they make any kind of unacceptable move or gesture. FFS people, don’t be a perv on a flight, unless you want to be jumped by the Air Marshall, the flight attendants, maybe the Captain or First Officer, and all the other passengers—-then gagged and duct taped to a seat next to the Air Marshall. The tolerance for pervs is so low nowadays it’s underground, and people are not going to put up with it.
American here. Please, for the love of all that is holy, learn how to go through airport security! I mean, how long has the TSA required 3 oz liquid items ONLY in a carry on? The amount of time wasted waiting on people who somehow in 2015 STILL don't understand how to get through the security here is astounding!
Probably because everyone going through security is not American. Most countries don't require you to take off your shoes. Some large international airports don't require to take off your jacket either.
Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Most these could be solved if the airliners put actual elbow room on the planes. Used to be a chartered experience now we have to make rules as peasants to accommodate other peasants
Something I would like to add: I am not lending my personal electronics to some stranger's child. Keeping your little angel entertained isn't my responsibility
There are two types of people. People who read the following recommendations and say, yes, I agree, let's be considerate of each other. And, unempathetic a--holes. A--holes will either simply not read these because they don't care, or will read them and ignore them because they are a--holes. My super power would be to be able to shake empathy into people.
Give it your best shot, dear. You're stronger than you know.
Load More Replies...I am going to add.... Don't be the person that insists on talking loud on your cell phone. It is so annoying. Either they are chatting it up with some long list friend or it is some really important business person discussing all things corporate. Stop. No one wants to hear your conversation and it can wait. In fact, how about making that call prior to boarding.
Fifth Element flight scene, get in your own little area, flight staff press a button and you go to sleep.
I wish I hadn't read this. It made me mad all over again. Now I need some cute animal pics. 🐈⬛🐈🐘🐾
What about the person who insists on getting their hourly steps in so whenever the seat belt sign is off just paces up and down the aisle.
About 6 years ago I flew from Toronto to New York,I was seated on outside seat of 2 seats row.when I got to my seat I tried to put my carryon on the overhead compartment but it was full. I had to put it under the seat in front of me I had no room for my legs, no man beside me looked like being in his middle thirties he never looked or acknowledged me, when we got to LaGuardia he stands and takes the 2 bags in the overhead compartment and takes off really fast, I was so pissed he was a rude entitled man.
Whenever I fly, not often (maybe once/year) I love to pass out pink uni-ball 207 Retractable Gel pens that also benefits Breast Cancer Awareness to all the flight attendants. They all appreciated it just as I appreciated them.
Why do some people think that their feet dont stink? I have always thought that planes were filthy and they are.
Flight in the middle of the day and less than 3 hours? Don't lean the bloody seat back. There's not enough room anyway, I don't need you encroaching into it so I can't even put the tray fully down. I'm not fat, there's just not room.
If I’m going to be cramped on a flight for 10 hours I’m going to be comfortable as possible. I don’t see how anyone else’s clothing has any affect on you.
Load More Replies...Most these could be solved if the airliners put actual elbow room on the planes. Used to be a chartered experience now we have to make rules as peasants to accommodate other peasants
Something I would like to add: I am not lending my personal electronics to some stranger's child. Keeping your little angel entertained isn't my responsibility
There are two types of people. People who read the following recommendations and say, yes, I agree, let's be considerate of each other. And, unempathetic a--holes. A--holes will either simply not read these because they don't care, or will read them and ignore them because they are a--holes. My super power would be to be able to shake empathy into people.
Give it your best shot, dear. You're stronger than you know.
Load More Replies...I am going to add.... Don't be the person that insists on talking loud on your cell phone. It is so annoying. Either they are chatting it up with some long list friend or it is some really important business person discussing all things corporate. Stop. No one wants to hear your conversation and it can wait. In fact, how about making that call prior to boarding.
Fifth Element flight scene, get in your own little area, flight staff press a button and you go to sleep.
I wish I hadn't read this. It made me mad all over again. Now I need some cute animal pics. 🐈⬛🐈🐘🐾
What about the person who insists on getting their hourly steps in so whenever the seat belt sign is off just paces up and down the aisle.
About 6 years ago I flew from Toronto to New York,I was seated on outside seat of 2 seats row.when I got to my seat I tried to put my carryon on the overhead compartment but it was full. I had to put it under the seat in front of me I had no room for my legs, no man beside me looked like being in his middle thirties he never looked or acknowledged me, when we got to LaGuardia he stands and takes the 2 bags in the overhead compartment and takes off really fast, I was so pissed he was a rude entitled man.
Whenever I fly, not often (maybe once/year) I love to pass out pink uni-ball 207 Retractable Gel pens that also benefits Breast Cancer Awareness to all the flight attendants. They all appreciated it just as I appreciated them.
Why do some people think that their feet dont stink? I have always thought that planes were filthy and they are.
Flight in the middle of the day and less than 3 hours? Don't lean the bloody seat back. There's not enough room anyway, I don't need you encroaching into it so I can't even put the tray fully down. I'm not fat, there's just not room.
If I’m going to be cramped on a flight for 10 hours I’m going to be comfortable as possible. I don’t see how anyone else’s clothing has any affect on you.
Load More Replies...