On my flight to Bologna just over a week ago (mostly Italians on board from what I could make out), there was a lovely round of applause on landing

On the way back from Bologna to Heathrow (also mostly Italians on board), there were two rounds of applause – one after landing then the second after the cabin crew announcement as we were approaching the gate, largely because he wished us all a Happy Christmas (this was the evening flight on Christmas Eve). I think if he’d had said “buon Natale” as well, people would have erupted into cheers.

My travel patterns are not as varied as others on here to know this, but which destinations are ‘better’ for applause than others? Not just countries – it would be interesting to see if flights to/from Southern Italy are more applauded than Northern Italy, for example.

And, is it only in Economy?

Trying not to get into cultural stereotypes here…

My first flights were highly applauded, but more because they were charters to Spain in the 80’s and that’s what people did.

I wonder if flight deck crew get a little narked by it? As in, ‘thanks for the applause people but I do know how to land a plane, thanks’