The middle seat doesn’t get both armrests: What travelers said is good airplane etiquette
It seems as if nearly everyone is tense when they board an airplane, which has become the stage for unruly passengers’ bad behavior.
Though some incidents are more extreme than others, frequent travelers know there are some unspoken rules of air travel that can upset other passengers if we break them.
To find out what people consider good airplane etiquette, the travel search engine KAYAK did a survey in June of 1,000 U.S. and Canadian adults who have flown in the past three years.
Most of us can agree having the stranger next to you fall asleep with their head on your shoulder is rude, but do we feel the same about people who fully recline your seat? Or who make a phone call as soon as the plane lands? (The short answer is: pretty much.)
Sixty-four percent of survey respondents said they’ve witnessed another passenger with bad travel etiquette.
"In a perfect world these would grace the seat back pockets of every US flight. But, we recognize this ambitious endeavor cannot be achieved singlehandedly,” VP of North America Marketing at KAYAK Matt Clarke said in a statement. “In solidarity with flight crews everywhere, we hope that airlines will get on board with establishing official etiquette guidelines on all future flights.”
Read below for the unspoken rules of air travel, according to KAYAK.
Get a hold of yourselves: Why air rage on airplanes is every traveler's problem
Reclining your seat on short flights
An overwhelming majority of travelers agreed it’s fine to recline your seat on a flight – but one-third of them said only during a long or overnight flight.
Using both armrests in the middle seat
Being in the middle seat isn’t always easy – you don’t get to use the window or have easy access to the aisle. Still, 57% of survey respondents said the person in the middle seat is not entitled to use both armrests.
Taking your socks off
Setting your feet free is frowned upon, according to KAYAK’s survey. More than three-fourths of people said you should never take your socks off during a flight. In fact, more than half of travelers say you shouldn't even take off your shoes.
Eating fragrant foods
As airlines cut down on free meals, more passengers are bringing their own food. According to the survey, nearly everyone says that whatever food you decide to bring on the plane shouldn't have “strong smells.” Travelers said the biggest offenders are tinned fish, hard-boiled eggs and ribs.
Putting your feet up
More than two-thirds of travelers said putting your feet against the back of the seat in front of you is rude. A 2014 survey from Expedia came back with similar results – “rear seat kickers” were the most annoying type of passengers.
Not using headphones
Unfortunately, no one cares about your taste in movies – 70% of people said failing to wear headphones when watching something is a faux pas. (And if the movie is funny, try to keep a lid on your laughs, because more than half said audible laughing is rude.)
Sleeping too hard
Though there’s no problem with sleeping on your flight, most travelers ask that you still be considerate. The worst faux pas to sleeping on flights is leaning on your seatmate’s shoulder if you don’t know them. People also don’t think you should snore on flights, which may or may not be in your control, and it’s rude to not wake up to let the other passengers get up.
Doing your nails
This may go without saying, but cutting or filing your nails on a flight is pretty much a unanimous no-no. Save the manicure for later.
Calling someone once the plane lands
Sure, you may be excited to call your loved one as soon as you can take your phone off airplane mode, but 69% of survey respondents disagree. They would rather you wait until you’re off the plane to dial someone.
Overhead bin storage
If you feel your jacket or purse is taking up too much space around your seat or under the seat in front of you, feel free to place them in the overhead bin. Almost three-quarters of travelers said it’s OK to put small items in the overhead bin to free up floor space. If the bin is getting full, more than half of travelers said, you can use another row’s.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Save the fish for later: What travelers say is good airplane etiquette
