It seems as if nearly everyone is tense when they board an airplane, which has become the stage for unruly passengers’ bad behavior.
While some incidents are more extreme than others, frequent travelers know there are some unspoken rules to 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 conducted a survey in June of 1,000 U.S. and Canadian adults who have taken a flight in the last three years.
Most of us can agree that having the stranger next to you fall asleep with their head on your shoulder is rude, but how about fully reclining your seat? Or making a phone call as soon as the plane lands? (The short answers are: pretty much.)
Sixty-four percent of survey respondents said they’ve witnessed another passenger with bad travel etiquette.
Learn more: Best travel insurance
“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 that 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 as 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 that the person in the middle seat is not entitled to use both armrests.
Taking your socks off
Letting your feet free is frowned upon, according to KAYAK’s survey. Over three-fourths of people said to never take your socks off during a flight. In fact, over half of travelers don’t even think you should take your shoes off at all.
Eating fragrant foods
As airlines cut down on free meals, more passengers are bringing their own food to eat on board. According to the survey, nearly everyone thinks that whatever food you decide to bring on the plane can’t have “strong smells.” Travelers said the biggest offenders are tinned fish, hard-boiled eggs and ribs.
Putting your feet up
Over two-thirds of travelers said that 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 not wearing headphones when watching something is a faux pas. (And if the movie is funny, try to keep your laughs on low volume because over half said audible laughing is rude.)
Sleeping too hard
While 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 not to 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-go. 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 like your jacket or purse is taking up too much space around your seat or under the seat in front of you, feel free to put 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, over 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
