Source: The Points Guy
Summary
A YouGov survey, commissioned by The Points Guy, found that 42% of Americans believe airline etiquette has worsened over the past five years. Noise, such as loud conversations or music without headphones, is the most annoying behavior, cited by 27%. Most Americans agree that reclining seats is acceptable if done politely, with 51% saying it’s fine if checked behind first. Only 11% support the idea that middle-seat passengers should get both armrests. Nearly two-thirds (65%) believe passengers should deplane row by row. The survey highlights a preference for courtesy over additional rules.
Our Reading
The escape is carefully planned.
Noise dominates complaints.
Reclining seats require caution.
Armrests are shared, not claimed.
Deplaning follows order.
Passengers blame other travelers, not airlines.
Author: Evan Null
What’s most annoying on a plane? Noise is public enemy No. 1
If you are most annoyed by people talking loudly, blasting phone calls or videos without headphones, you are not alone. A whopping 27% of Americans said that was the most annoying passenger behavior on planes.
What about seat recline?
The debate over reclining seats never seems to go away. Should you never recline? Always recline? Is it your seat, so you can do whatever you want? Our survey suggests most Americans land somewhere in the middle.
Who should get the armrests?
This was the most surprising result in our survey. Not everyone agrees with TPG’s rule that middle-seat passengers should get both armrests. Our survey suggests most Americans never got that memo.
Seat swapping
Have you had a passenger approach you and ask you to trade seats? That has certainly happened to me. In fact, on a recent flight from Vienna to Paris, a man asked me to trade my window seat in a row of two for his slightly worse seat. I did it to be a good human, and most Americans appear to agree it wasn’t rude of him to ask me.
What’s appropriate attire on the plane?
People don’t seem to mind folks dressing less than business casual on the plane. Americans definitely don’t believe you need to wear a suit to fly. Americans overwhelmingly prioritize comfort.
