40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers

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.

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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

Final score:

184points

POST

Marcos Valencia 1 year ago

Is that unspoken?

21points

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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

Final score:

174points

POST

Marcos Valencia 1 year ago

Don't take out your shoes, in general.

48points

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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

Final score:

174points

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Tvin 1 year ago

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

56points

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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

Final score:

164points

POST

Doctor Strange 1 year ago

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.

38points

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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

Final score:

162points

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freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

or perfume please for the love of god it's bad enough in a classroom

47points

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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

Final score:

154points

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Lou Cam 1 year ago

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.

45points

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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

Final score:

147points

POST

Nikki D 1 year ago

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!

46points

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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

Final score:

144points

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Paul Scheermeijer 1 year ago

This.. thank you.. row by row exit. Common sense!!

51points

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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

Final score:

144points

POST

Mihai Mara 1 year ago

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

33points

timothythefrog (he/they) 1 year ago

maybe i missing something but they arent in the same sentence?

1point

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Shawn Barry 1 year ago

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.

0points

Michael Largey 1 year ago

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.

0points

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#10

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Wash yourself before the flight.

Vondecoy , Matheus Bertelli Report

Final score:

135points

POST

freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

and wear freaking deodorant istg

47points

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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.

ClydeenMarland Report

Final score:

128points

POST

freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

i was confused at first lmao

29points

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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

Final score:

127points

POST

Peter Parker 1 year ago

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

73points

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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

Final score:

112points

POST

Sue User 1 year ago

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

20points

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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

Final score:

107points

POST

Clément D. 1 year ago

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

29points

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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

Final score:

101points

POST

ma laika 1 year ago

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.

22points

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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

Final score:

101points

POST

Marcos Valencia 1 year ago

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.

25points

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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

Final score:

99points

POST

Best Behave 1 year ago

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.

54points

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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

Final score:

97points

POST

similarly 1 year ago

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.

64points

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#19

40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers Wear comfortable clothes!

DrunkOMalfoy , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

86points

POST

Mihai Mara 1 year ago

My jammies?

15points

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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).

ta_beachylawgirl Report

Final score:

83points

POST

Captain Awesome 1 year ago

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

43points

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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.

Cndwafflegirl Report

Final score:

81points

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LavenderHippoInAJar 1 year ago

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

22points

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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

Final score:

76points

POST

Antia Novas 1 year ago

What is a red eye flight?

14points

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#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

Final score:

74points

POST

Sue User 1 year ago

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

8points

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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

Final score:

71points

POST

Paul Scheermeijer 1 year ago

My private jet had a flat......😉

15points

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#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

Final score:

69points

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Kelly Radcliffe 1 year ago

Well, no matter what happens the plane is going to land.

46points

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#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

Final score:

68points

POST

ANONYMOUS 1 year ago

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

16points

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#27

Don’t make out during the flight

Illustrious_King_116 Report

Final score:

62points

POST

Diolla 1 year ago

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.

1point

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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

Final score:

50points

POST

Tams21 1 year ago

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

36points

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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

Final score:

47points

POST

Doctor Strange 1 year ago

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.

24points

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#30

Don't man spread

ThatBitchBengali Report

Final score:

46points

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similarly 1 year ago

How about we change this to "don't obnoxiously take up space".

70points

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#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

Final score:

43points

POST

Marcos Valencia 1 year ago

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

24points

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#32

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

mixmaster7 Report

Final score:

41points

POST

CaliPanda 1 year ago

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.

8points

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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

Final score:

38points

POST

Ueda 1 year ago

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

73points

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#34

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

Healthy_Aspect_3590 Report

Final score:

37points

POST

LavenderHippoInAJar 1 year ago

I really hope there's a "don't"associated with this sentiment

26points

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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

Final score:

36points

POST

LapCat 1 year ago (edited)

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.

4points

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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

Weirdobanana1 Report

Final score:

35points

POST

N Miller 1 year ago

Slightly confused. The plane is loud so we should whisper?

20points

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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.

maxximii Report

Final score:

34points

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XenoMurph 1 year ago

The crew always sides with the person whose name is on the seat ticket.

80points

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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

Final score:

22points

POST

Megan Curl 1 year ago

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

4points

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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

Final score:

11points

POST

Pineapple 1 year ago

why would sane person do this

38points

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#40

Don’t fart in the plane

Fertankle Report

Final score:

1point

POST

Alecto76 1 year ago (edited)

This is ridiculous. Everybody farts and everybody poops, including on a plane. That's unavoidable. Farts happen. Someone may be having stomach issues. No one likes it, including the farter or pooper, but it has to happen. Its not done on purpose. Let's not pretend we are not all in the same fart/poop boat.

12points

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#41

Don’t recline your seat in coach. At all.

RogerRabbit1234 Report

Final score:

0points

POST

Ivona 1 year ago

The seats are made to recline and are meant to recline. Everyone has the right to recline their seat at least a little bit.

22points

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#42

Wear a hoodie regardless of the weather so your head doesn't touch the back of the seat

MobWife_88 Report

Final score:

0points

POST

Agfox 1 year ago (edited)

I travel in a full hazmat suit, so I'm good, meals & toilet breaks can be a problem though

6points

#43

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

Final score:

-18points

POST

Ueda 1 year ago

This person must be a pleasure to travel with.

65points

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What do you think ?

The first part is just common sense. The second part is just people complaining who should probably travel less.

27points

Gary 1 year ago

These types of posts on board panda are so utterly banal. Obvious thing is obvious. Yes thanks for that.

2points

Magpie 1 year ago

I am amazed that people still have money and carbon credits to waste flying. ... also sad and amazed that such basic politeness has to be taught. Most of this applies to train and bus travel, and just being in crowds. :((

Kathryn Smith 1 year ago

A LOT of people in the US don't even have a choice about it if we want to do things like see family or keep a job.

-3points

pico diablo 1 year ago

If a passenger (or passengers) are asking questions they hope a flight attendant will hear and answer, be helpful. ...15 years ago (before everyone had cell phones), a flight landed in Phoenix, Arizona and because Phoenix doesn't know how to tell time like the rest of the U.S. for 6 months out of the year (no daylight savings time) many people with connecting flights were afraid they'd miss them. One man, however, did know what time it was, but instead of telling everyone, he shouted derisively, "You should all just check your cell phones".

And the like 1 year ago

Just looking at plane pics gives me a mild panic attack

Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 1 year ago

So, why would you be here?

Retread.

Isa 1 year ago

I have never flown.Tell me about train....

Karolína T. 1 year ago (edited)

Please turn off all your f***g sounds or use headphones while playing on the phone or handheld console. The sound of crackin' bubbles or puffin balls are pretty annoying and getting me into tantrum. Ask polite before you recline your seat. Someone behind you can have a drink on the table seat or simple his knees very near to the backs.

Megu GreenOtoole 1 year ago

Don’t try and cut across from one aisle to the other in front of people who booked the bulkhead seats because you want to use the bathroom in the other side. Those seats cost extra so you can have more leg room.

Iblowsheep_V3.2 1 year ago

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40 Common Etiquette Mistakes To Avoid On Your Next Flight, As Told By Frequent Fliers

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