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Air travel, a remarkable mode of transportation that connects people across the globe, involves much more than boarding a plane and waiting until it reaches a destination. It requires a delicate balance of mutual understanding and consideration among passengers.

In a thought-provoking post on r/AskReddit, platform user u/ChickenTensity recently delved into the etiquette that governs the skies, inviting travelers and frequent flyers to share the unspoken rules they believe everyone should know. Let's hope the information they've shared fosters smoother, more enjoyable journeys for us all.

#1

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers You're never obligated to yield your seat to someone because they want to sit next to another person.

They didn't plan accordingly, not your problem.

Cassandra_Canmore , Kelly Report

#2

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don’t put your bare feet on someone else’s seat.

cmcrich , TherOboticdan Report

#3

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers When the flight attendant asks you to do something, they’re not actually asking. They’re telling you nicely. And when they request something from you, that is the rule of law on that plane and you will obey.

72scott72 , Pew Nguyen Report

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Tvin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People do realise that flight attendants are trained to save your ungrateful a$$ in the case of an emergency, right?

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#4

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don't be chill when your kids are kicking the seat in front of them...

ETA: If you have an aisle seat and the person in the middle or window seat needs to use the restroom, well, sucks to be you, you have to get up. Please, dear men, don't suggest that the female stranger next to you could crawl over your lap because you're too lazy to move.

Dingbat2022 , Oleksandr Pidvalnyi Report

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Doctor Strange
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I usually book an aisle seat. Due to medication, I very likely Will have to use the bathroom, possibly several times on the flight. So I book an aisle so I don't have to ask people to move.

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#5

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don't wallow in cologne before boarding.

the_purple_goat , Helmy Zairy Report

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#6

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers If you're morbidly obese, you need to buy 2 seats. Sorry not sorry

z3k3sr3v3ng3 , elly Report

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Lou Cam
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have thought this sensible for their own comfort, like tall people booking seats with extra legroom. No one likes being scrunched up uncomfortably.

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#7

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Leave the person next to you alone.
Unless they're about to f*****g die, do not bother them.

rockpebbleman , Sergey Zhumaev Report

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Nikki D
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I introduce myself, as their seat mate for hours, and say if they want to chat it's cool otherwise I'll probably be sleeping. Nudge me if I snore!

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#8

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers No matter the line size behind you, you always give the person in front of you the opportunity to exit first.

reditballoon , Stas Knop Report

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#9

If they announce that some people on the plane have a really tight connection, be polite and let them off first. Especially if you have time to get to your next gate or if you’re at your final destination.

edjennersmilkmaid Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gives me.the chills to have "plane" and "final destination" in the same sentence

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Shawn Barry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in loading a plane they should board the last row first then forward row by row until first class is reached. why in the world would you really want to board (first class) first? then have the rest of the passengers bump and rub against you (if you're in an aisle seat), pack the aisle like sardines. boarding last row first is more logical and less stressful.

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Michael Largey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our plane came late into San Francisco and about a dozen of us needed to run to get our connection to New Zealand. Coming in, the captain announced this situation and asked everyone else to sit tight so we could get off the plane first. Everyone in coach and business class complied. No one in first class did.

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#11

Don't run down the aisle after a rough landing, shouting "Do it again! Do it again!"

In my defence, I was about 3.

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#12

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Long hair people - do not put them over your seat so the tv of behind-guy is covered

EasyVader , Rodolfo Quirós Report

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Peter Parker
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just start sniffing their hair and tell them how amazing it would taste. You'll have your TV screen back in no time.

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#13

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don’t clog in front of the gate if your section hasn’t been called yet

WorcesterRulez69 , Tim Gouw Report

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Sue User
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes please make room for the preboarders. It is not easy wading through a sea of people when you have trouble walking.

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#14

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers H E A D P H O N E S

RobSamson , Justus Report

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Clément D.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And please make sure it does not spit your tunes too loud outside the headphone too :)

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#15

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers You don't ask someone to trade your middle seat for their aisle/window seat

VivianSherwood , ALAMEEN A-DAE Report

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ma laika
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, the audacity! The sheer nerve! The gall! Asking someone to trade their comfy, spacious aisle or window seat for your claustrophobic middle seat is like asking someone to trade their juicy steak for a tofu burger. It's just not going to happen, honey. So, unless you're willing to offer up your firstborn child or a lifetime supply of free flights, I suggest you suck it up and deal with the middle seat like the rest of us peasants.

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#16

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Be patient with the parents if a toddler is freaking out. Trust me, we’re 100X more stressed about it than you.

Except for s****y parents I guess.

lrrssssss , Rahul Singh Report

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Marcos Valencia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My children are already 9 and 6 yo, so it's a pleasure flying with them. But a few years ago, it was a bigger pleasure when some toddler started freaking out and I realized it wasn't one of mines. That was relaxing.

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#17

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Middle seat gets both armrests.

Wegzuwerfendes_Konto , Natã Romualdo Report

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Best Behave
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arm rest maybe, but your elbows do not encroach into my seat space. Yes hipster in the polo neck on the flight to Budapest 3 weeks ago, I mean you.

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#18

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don't grab the back of my seat to help your a*s stand up, and ESPECIALLY don't grab my hair when you do it. I don't need to be woken up by you yanking my head back and pulling out my hair, too.

Helen_A_Handbasket , Daniel Frese Report

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similarly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's better to grab your own seat back, true. Just remember, though, that some of us are disabled, and especially after a long flight, may have trouble standing, walking, etc.

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#20

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers If someone is struggling to put their carry on in the overhead, help them. Don’t be condescending and and watch them struggle (I speak from experience. I’m short and struggled to put my carry on in the overhead and the couple sitting next to me just watched me struggle and said “you can do it”. The dude sitting across from us got up to help me).

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Captain Awesome
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only help if it is actually a carry on. If they're trying to jam a full size suitcase in there, f**k em.

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#21

Your knees don’t have to be pressed against the luggage belt to get your luggage. Stand the hell back, yours isn’t even coming off first.

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LavenderHippoInAJar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, while it is statistically unlikely, *someone's* luggage is coming off first, so it's not impossible...

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#22

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don’t have full volume conversations (or any conversation) on a red eye flight.

sukiejones , Dylan Bueltel Report

#23

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don't eat stinky f*****g food on a plane. You want to eat eggs or egg sandwich or tuna with onion sandwiches? Go ahead to your hearts content on land or when you are home or at your vacation destination. In the plane you eat the least stinky food though. I'm not smelling egg fart smell half the ride or tuna breath. Planes are neutral smell only zone as much as possible. Stick with granola bars or the food they serve you on the plane.

Dancingskeletonman86 , Masahiko OHKUBO Report

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Sue User
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or eat food that will be stinky after you board. No Taco Bell or Indian buffet before flying.

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#24

you are not the only person in this airport/on this plane.

if you are as important as you are making out to be/think you are, why aren't you on a private jet?

bretty666 Report

#25

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers As a pilot, my unspoken rule is to actually land the plane lol

anon Report

#26

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Treat the Stewards with tons of respect.

Remember to stretch on long haul flights (learned this on a 17 hour flight the hard way)

Know what you want from the snack cart

KevinB1520 , Luis Cont Report

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ANONYMOUS
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Stewards are the ones with power on the plane, respect them and you will be blessed for the entire flight.

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#27

Don’t make out during the flight

Illustrious_King_116 Report

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Diolla
Community Member
12 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does the Mile High Club actually exist? After all my years of air travel, have never noticed anybody doing this. Nor have I heard of anybody boasting about doing it. Am starting to think it's an urban myth.

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#28

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Think before going through TSA. Don’t wear lace up boots, all the jewelry in the world, bring multiple computers, forget about your liquors and food. We don’t have to wait while you clog up the line to undress. Wear sweats, a sweatshirt and slip ons.

Intelligent_Rent4672 , EasySentri Sentri Report

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Tams21
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here's some better advice: Get to the airport on time and let people wear whatever the f they want.

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#29

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers So many to list…
Headphones. Nobody wants to hear your music or your conversations.
Wear shoes, this isn’t your living room.
If you’re in zone 5, don’t block the boarding area when they are boarding zone 1.
Move with a purpose. Don’t meander walking through the terminal.
Just because your seat reclines doesn’t mean you should do it.

exbex , Domenico Bandiera Report

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Doctor Strange
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was with you till the last one. I have lower back problems. I CAN'T keep my seat bolt upright, even for the shortest flight, or I won't be able to walk when the plane lands.

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#30

Don't man spread

ThatBitchBengali Report

#31

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers You can stand up as soon as it’s allowed.

It seems to be a thing for people who don’t fly that often, to think people who stand up directly are less experienced than you.
”Look at this noob standing up, you’re not getting off earlier, lol, bet he never flies!”

While in fact, we who do fly often, don’t care. I might have 15h in a economy seat before this 2h flight we’ve been on and can’t stand to sit a second more than I have to.

thx_for_the_fish_ , Athena Report

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Marcos Valencia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bet OP is one of these people who stand up and start opening the overhead bin while the plane is still taxiing.

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#32

Don’t hit people in the face when standing/walking down the aisle.

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CaliPanda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I often early-board and am in an aisle seat. I take a defensive position of ‘arm up!’ to prevent myself from being whacked in the face by backpacks and satchels as others in rows behind are boarding. Ninja moves.

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#33

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don't clap when the plane lands.

BabyFlure , cottonbro studio Report

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Ueda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you land during a massive storm and even the flight attendants are s******g themselves, I think we can break this rule.

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#34

Start fights with the air stewardess who won't serve you your 12th beer!

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#35

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Chew gum before the plane takes off. Stops your ears from popping.

AintshitAngel , cottonbro studio Report

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LapCat
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I traveled with my 2 month old girl and would gently blow in her face during take off and landing, it causes a swallow reflex in infants/babies and it worked for her. She didnt cry.

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#36

Dont be loud. You have to have a reason to not be whisper talking. Like, ordering a drink from the crew, or asking someone to raise their seat. Even then, you don't have to yell. And the plane can be loud, especially by the engines

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#37

Don't request someone else's (usually more expensive) seat unless you have a good reason too. Your child's first flight, or wanting to use the window as a sleeping wall are not good enough. It makes it worse that the crew will almost always side with the requester.

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#38

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Take your full sized luggage on as carry-on. Take up all the over head bin space and when asked to gate check your s**t, refuse. Do this and you will fit right in

Odd_Inevitable871 , nappy Report

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Megan Curl
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The gate check is a great option. Your bag is usually among the first ones off.

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#39

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Don't stick your arm down the airplane toilet just to see where it's all going.

PhreedomPhighter , Kārlis Dambrāns Report

#40

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Your f*****g backpack goes under the seat, not in the overhead bin, you selfish twat.

PerpetualFourPack_2 , Vinta Supply Co. | NYC Report

Note: this post originally had 43 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.