Rules of etiquette during flight

Every system and every environment consisting of people has a non-written unique set of rules for itself. Our civilization is a web of unwritten rules that formed throughout history and information that is imparted from generation to generation which is not compulsory but enables us to make our lives easier and live comfortably.

Courtesy and etiquette are among these. There is no punishment for not following these rules which may differ depending on time and place; however, people who do not comply with these rules may be labeled as rude by other members of society. Just like in all areas of life, there are rules of etiquette that must be followed while traveling and during flights.

Here are these rules from A to Z:

- While boarding you should proceed on the boarding bridge from your lane in a rapid manner, without limiting other passengers’ mobility.

- If you do not have any medical condition that limits your mobility, you should move faster onboarding the bridge and inside of the plane, as people are not obliged to wait for you.

- After your flight, if you do not need to be somewhere urgently, before the flight you should hand over your baggage to be checked even if it could be cabin baggage. With this, you can avoid the hustle of storing your cabin baggage above in the compartment and make other passengers queue behind you.

- During flights you should give priority to elderly, pregnant, with child and women passengers.

- You should help old, handicapped, and ill passengers to store their cabin baggage in the compartments.

- If your cabin baggage is wheeled, you should carry it in front of you because if it is behind you it may bump into other passengers.

- On the plane when you find your seat, you should be immediately seated. You can store your cabin baggage and take your coat off after you are seated, to prevent queues to be formed after you in the corridor.

- If there is no space in the compartment above your seat, you can store it elsewhere and you do not need to wait for stewardesses to come and assists you. If you need to be assisted, you can wait in your seat meanwhile.

- If you have a backpack you should do the same with your cabin baggage and carry it in front of you to avoid bumping into someone.

- After seated you should not occupy the whole armrest of the seat as there is another passenger right next to you.

- While seating, if there is another passenger in your row and you make eye contact with them, you should gently smile.

- During the flight you should be certain that your arms and legs are not exceeded from your seat, making others uncomfortable.

- Seats, especially in economy class, may have limited legroom between them. However, you should pay attention not to lean your knees on your front seat in an annoying manner.

- If you have long hair you should make sure that your hair does not block the screen of the seat behind you, or discomfort others.

- You should avoid using heavy perfumes on your flight day.

- While stretching, you should pay attention to not make other passengers uncomfortable.

- You should not recline your seat too much, it resulted in other passengers’ legroom being narrowed.

- If you read something, you should make sure that you do not cause discomfort to the passengers next to you.

- During in-flight catering you should not occupy the stewardesses as other passengers are waiting as well.

- Even if stewardesses are present to assist and service you, you should be respectful to them and say thank you.

- You should also be respectful around your fellow passengers and you should not swear.

- You should not talk, laugh, or listen to music in high volumes.

- Your cell phone should be on airplane mode and if you play games or watch videos, you should use headphones.

- After landing, you should be seated and your cell phone must be on airplane mode until you are told otherwise.

Top complaints during flight

- 63% of passengers complain when the seat in front of them is reclined while eating and their tray is open

- 55% of passengers complain when the armrest is completely occupied by other passengers

- 53% of passengers complain when other passengers are rude to stewardesses

- 49% of passengers complain when people carry big cabin baggage and fill up the compartments

- 43% of passengers complain when people talk and laugh loudly

- 40% of passengers complain when people push others to leave right after the landing

- 34% of passengers complain when people constantly stand and check their cabin baggage

- 33% of passengers complain when people extend their legs to the front seat

- 24% of passengers complain when people swear without thinking about others

- 19% of passengers complain when people lay their heads in the windows and block others’ view.