People Share 30 Etiquette Rules When Flying That Some People Still Can’t Seem To Grasp

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."

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.

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:

1. Having the back of your seat kicked;
2. Cutting in line;
3. Being rude to the airport staff;
4. People standing in walkways, blocking others' paths;
5. Crowding the gate before the flight is ready to board;
6. Someone asking to change seats with you;
7. 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.

"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.

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.