Yougov polled people to determine behavior that they found acceptable or unacceptable on flights:


Poll results


https://today.yougov.com/travel/arti...line-etiquette

The most closely divided behavior is:

Leave their overhead light on when the cabin lights are switched off

At 38/36 Acceptable/Unacceptable.

Some very odd responses here. I can�t imagine why having your own overhead light on could be considered unacceptable when that is precisely what it�s for - and it�s not nearly as distracting for those trying to sleep as leaving a flickering screen on.

Also, closing a window shade when taking off or landing can hardly be regarded as acceptable when it�s specifically banned in the majority of jurisdictions.

"Stand up immediately after the plane lands" - not a very clear category. Are we talking about as soon as the wheels touch down and the plane is still taxiing, or as soon as it comes to a full stop at the gate?

I tend to stand up when the plane has stopped at the gate, because I get stiff sitting for too long and want to flex my legs a little before walking off the plane (the joys of arthritis), but then I wait at my seat until my row exits.

One poll that could re-ignite nearly every argument ever had on flyertalk. This could be a long one.

Perfect example of how conventional wisdom is often unmoored from reality.

There�s a �tell� question in the list which shows how few sensible, attentive flyers took part. Only 19% said it was unacceptable to close the window during takeoff or landing.

The most interesting one is Not set devices to Airplane Mode at 64% Unacceptable. I thought people more or less ignore that nowadays. A decade ago that was such a firebrand of a topic.

I will admit to having committed some of the offenses that a majority of respondents disapproved of but don't see the survey changing my behavior. I will continue to take my shoes off, ignore a safety briefing I've heard thousands of times, move forward if the people in the rows ahead are still seated, climb over a seatmate to use the bathroom because the alternative is undesirable and when I do will try my best not to "crop dust" but can't make any promises.

Can't believe flatulence didn't make the list.

46%/32% dis/approve of "silently pass gas".

It is hard to interpret that, however, since there was no question about audibly passing gas. Is the 32% approval implicit, as they think silently is better than loudly? Or do 32% directly approve of stinking up your seat area?

I do a number of the things that people disapprove of. Some are situational - e.g. on a flight that's late where catching my connection is marginal, I will do my best to get off the plane as quickly as possible. Which will include getting off the plane potentially before people seated in front of me.

Saying that it's unacceptable to pass gas ignores physical reality. People will have to release gas sometimes, or we will have an epidemic of passengers exploding. Note that not everyone's gas smells, and for people where gas doesn't smell: silent = undetectable.

I would prefer that people climb over me to go to the bathroom, than wake me up.

I will exercise/stretch in the aisle - or whatever space is available. I've had deep vein thrombosis and it wasn't nice.