Superstitious rituals
 

In the excellent "Humiliation" thread I posted a note about my superstition of never removing my shoes before the seatbelt light goes out. (Hey, don't knock it - it works for me!)

Essxjay kindly suggested that this deserved a thread of its own, so here it is...

Robert.

Sorry, but I'm just NOT very superstitious! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Bulkhead, yours is the only one I can think of that I do as well. Don't want to have to run without shoes over twisted sharp metal or glass if there is a survivable accident. But I don't really consider that a "superstition." I just consider it good common safety sense...like buckling your seatbelt. I put 'em on just before landing also.

A couple of times I actually had a FA tell me I had to put them on during take-off and landing, because I was sitting in an exit row. I don't know it this was an airline, FAA, or "FA" rule.

My ex-girlfriend and I used to alway take a stuffed United Pilot Bear with us on each trip, and marked his shirt with the places we visited. This was just for fun, and was more of a tradition than a superstition. But he was considered "Good Luck" to every trip, and I will admit that on the few occasions when we accidently left him behind, I might have thought for just a second during take-offs that I wished our own "Pilot" were here to supervise things. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 09-29-2000).]

Regarding shoes ... I bring along my own slippers and typically put them on as soon as I am seated. In fact, in mid December of last year, I seem to recall taking my shoes off in JFK before I even got on the plane but, for the life of me, I can't remember why http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Like with shoes, if I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt (which I - by habit - always wear with sleeves rolled up) I will always roll down the sleeves.

Not so much superstition, but I read once in some random survivability study that pax in one crash who wore long cotton sleeves did better than those who did not. Makes sense, you're less likely to burn yourself.

Greg

So then why are the babies pajamas always supposed to be polyester rather thn cotton? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

3 Hail Marys after rev up but before rotation. Unless I am sleeping/talking/otherwise distracted.

It has always worked thus far http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

For me, I think it is supersistion/fate. Rational about exit strategy/burns is secondary (though probably rational). For the rest of you - trust me - you don't want to be on a flight where I take of my shoes any earlier than necessary! (And I don't even wear sneakers!)

I see quite a few FF's, particularly from Italy who "cross themselves" on take-off. Fine by me, if I'm on the same flight its good for me too (maybe).

Robert.

No superstitions. I'm terribly unimaginative in that regard.

Not really superstitions, more rituals/habits:

1. I set the second time zone on my watch to the destination airport (even if it is just an intermediate stop) right after the plane leaves the ground.

2. I take off my shoes (on transoceanic flights only), when the plane is over 10,000 ft.

kokonutz, don't you mean 3 bloody Marys? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Nanook (edited 10-06-2000).]

Funny thing is the same subject just popped up on trip.com ... I wasn't going to respond here, as I didn't think I had any superstitions; but both of the entries on that board involving touching the outside of the aircraft before boarding - something that I occasionally catch myself doing.

I always say a little prayer on take off, but moreover I tell my friend to give my eulogy if there is a need. "don't cry for Steve. He went just the way he wanted to...in First Class with a drink in his hand"

I think of mine as safety rituals rather than superstitions. I always count the number of rows I am away from the nearest exit and I always size my seatmate up for their clutchability factor - that is how comfortable I will feel clinging on to them should something go terribly wrong. If their clutchability factor is low, I try to move.

Couldn't have said it better myself, letiole. For all my anti-mysticism, I do do a safety run-through once I'm seated: check the number of seats to the exit rows fore and aft; check to make sure I've got some cotton socks to cover my feet in case of an emergency exit; etc. But I like your assessment of SFC: Seatmate Clutchability Factor. Nice!

Not superstition but tradition when I fly:

*Pay attention to the flight safety announcements (even when I heard them for a gazillionth time.) [b] OMNI: Another pet peeve is when people start yakking away during the safety announcements. They will be the ones panicking when it's time to evacuate.

*Check my seat mate. Most times they stick their face into a computer or book which is fine.

*PRAY upon takeoff and landing.

*Always try to get 1B in First or the aisle seat closest to the restroom. Then I can just head for the lavatory when the seatbelt sign goes off.

I'm obviously not superstitious...I mean I am leaving this Friday the 13th for a 4-flight transpacific trip to HKG.

But I do have this strange need to have a cigarette or two before I step on a plane...Thing is, I'm not a regular smoker, I'm not a nervous flyer--I mean I take 50-60 flights per year. But I absolutely have to have a cigarette before getting on a plane. I buy the pack at my home airport, head for the RCC for another when I get to ORD...Put the pack away, grab my next one before departing for home, another at ORD on my way home, then throw the pack away when I get home.

Easier said than done--smoking at LAX or SFO is a little harder than say NRT or CLT.

Nanook: That's more tradition than superstition http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I, too, keep my shoes on, and my glasses if I'm wearing them, until a few minutes after takeoff, but I've always seen this as more of a "this way I can get the heck outta here and see where I'm going if we have a survivable crash." I also look over the safety information card before takeoff (unless I am SOOOOO tired I just fall asleep); but again, this is more of a safety thing than superstition. There are a lot of different configurations of exit doors, and figuring out which one you have and how to operate it while outrunning flames is not my idea of a good time... And in that vein, I suppose I also make a mental note of the closest exits and how to get there; then how to get there if the plane was upside down. I mean, all of this takes about 15 seconds as I'm getting myself comfortable... I figure I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I survived a crash only to burn or die of smoke inhalation because I couldn't figure out how to get out. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The only thing I do that I would consider "superstitious ritual" is that I pat a kiss on the outside of the plane as I'm boarding (that is, I kiss my hand and then pat the outside of the plane with that hand). You wouldn't even notice it if you weren't really paying attention; you'd probably think I was steadying myself as I stepped onto the plane... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

No superstitions for me, though for some reason I always prefer sitting in a window on the left side of the aircraft.

Regarding taking your shoes off on a flight...

I took an Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation course during my undergraduate coursework for Aviation Administration in Atlanta. My professor was a former NTSB investigator (among other things), and one thing he said to our class regarding this stuck with me:

"Most accidents occur during events leading to and including the takeoff as well as those leading to and including the landing. To increase your chances of survival and aid in your evacuation from the smoldering wreckage, always:

• Wear your seatbelt low on your lap and as tight as you can stand it for the takeoff and landing. Believe it or not, your seat is designed to withstand forward impacts; and many would-be survivors are strangled or have their limbs disabled by loose seatbelts.
• Wear leather shoes (tighed snugly) with thick soles (i.e. Timberlands) so that your shoes will stay on during the violence and so that you can run through fields of sharp, flaming debris.
• Wear as little synthetic clothing (i.e. pantyhose, rayon, etc.) as they will adhere to your body and melt into your skin.

I hope this doesn't discourage you from flying, but it's nice to keep these things in mind from time to time."

Anyway, it always makes me chuckle when I think back on those days; but I also find myself wearing my seatbelt tight and snug leather shoes...

P.S. I would not recommend taking an Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation course unless you absolutely LOVE aviation... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

No flying superstitions.

Tons of baseball superstitions as a Red Sox fan. As you can tell, none of them actually WORK. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I operate on the reversed clutchability factor. How likely am I to be crushed to death by a panicked seatmate? I think I still have bruises from a seatmate two years ago who cut off circulation in my left arm when the flight experienced violent turbulence. She was very apologetic after touchdown.

------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

Yeah, but was she cute?

Friday the 13th don't you know. Who's flyin?

Jet, that's so funny - I do the same thing myself, but sans the hand-kiss. I always pat the outside of the plane while boarding. To me, while the interior of every plane is mainly boring plastics, it is reassuring to make a tactile connection with the cool, solid aluminium hull.

After reading the above answers to this thread, I realized that I do many of the same things, although I never gave much thought that I was doing them for superstitious reasons.
Always pat the aircraft skin when boarding.
Always try for left side--aisle. Don't know why.
Quick glance at safety card. Semi listen to safety lecture.
Shoes (or my cowboy boots if traveling to LAS--for luck) off at cruising attitude, and back on when we start descent.

Me, superstitious???? Naaahhhh http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

bj-21.

Wow.. I do some of the same...

I wear cotton all the time and NEVER wear shorts on the plane... I do wear short sleave cotton shirts.. So I am guessing my arms would be history.

I always bring a bible with me on the plane.. and usually pray... and it has worked so far... (I am safe and also had some very interesting conversations on the plane).

I believe it is much harder to stay afloat and swim with heavy shoes?

I've noticed this one for years, and did perform a random sample over the last 4 flights.

Many, many people seem to close their eyes during take-off. Some feign sleep (how can I tell "feigning?" Body language.), others just put their head back and close their eyes. Lots of people put their book down in their lap and close their eyes for take off and then pick their book back up a minute into the flight.

I tested this on my last 4 flights, all in domestic first class looking around during take-off. On two, around half of the people in the cabin closed their eyes. On one, everyone but me had their eyes closed. On one, only 3 of the 8 in the cabin did. Ironically, this was on the red-eye!!!

I suppose that this is more of a way of dealing with stress/fear than a superstition. But now that I've started noticing/looking for this behavior it has proven onmipresent!!!

kokonutz: I often close my eyes on takeoff, especially after an overindulgent evening - I always thought that it was to minimize the chance of nausea from watching the ground flash by at 150+ mph. That's what I tell myself, anyhow.