1. Bringing strong smelling foods aboard
It was bad enough as a kid opening up your lunchbox in the cafeteria to the fragrantly-insulting tuna fish sandwich your mum had packed. Now imagine doing just that in an enclosed tin can flying through the air. That’s the reason why only 8% of Brits responded that it was okay to bring tinned fish like tuna, sardines and anchovies onboard. In fact, this food got one of the lowest percentages of foods that are okay to bring onboard, coming in second only to strong smelling cheese at 7%.
The third least okay food to bring aboard was a tie between raw fish/sushi and flatulence-inducing foods like beans and cruciferous vegetables, at 12%. Which, if you can imagine watching your seatmate eating beans before taking a nap, you can understand why. Another lunchbox classic, the hard-boiled egg, came in at only 18% of Brits who find this socially acceptable. Among the other “Least Wanted” foods to bring onboard was a full pizza, fish & chips, soup and warm sausages. Really, who brings soup on a flight?
2. Does the middle seater get both armrests?
While the online debate continues about whether the middle seater has the right to use both their armrests, Brits gave quite a shocker in their survey answer: a majority of 63% replied that the middle seater is not entitled to both armrests. (So where do they put their arms then?)
This is quite different from the overall online consensus that the middle seater does have the right to both armrests. Flight attendants have unequivocally declared this themselves on social channels, and some flight captains have even included it in their “welcome aboard” speeches. This perk is likely regarded as the only compensation possible to give these poor souls. So while the rest of the world may have settled this one, Brits are still divided.
3. Asking someone to stop kicking your seat
Oftentimes, it’s not what you do so much as how you do it. Imagine someone’s constantly kicking your seat. The culprit will most likely be a child. Now you could turn around and politely ask the child to stop kicking your seat. You could also ask the parent to get them to stop. But it’s generally frowned upon to hold it all in until you explode at them. So go with the 83% of Brits who say it’s fine to ask someone to stop kicking your seat – just do it with respect and courtesy.
4. Is it okay to ask someone to switch seats?
The opinions on this one were split several ways, with 49% saying it’s fine to ask someone to switch if the reason is to sit next to family, partners or friends. The next most popular opinion at 39% was that you can ask whenever – as long as you ask politely. Only 13% said it’s never okay to ask to switch seats. So we can assume that as long as you have a good reason and you’re polite about it, there’s a good chance your seat switching proposal will be accepted.
5. Resting your head on someone else’s shoulder
Unless you’re a family member or close friend of your seat mate, there is no reason why you should be using their head as a pillow. And that’s not just our opinion: a whopping 91% of respondents said this is a major invasion of privacy. Just imagine a stranger’s head resting heavily on your shoulders, effectively trapping you into your seat as they snore and drool away. Let’s just hope it’s a short-haul flight you’re on…
6. Assuming control of the window shade as a window seater
While some people feel that the window shade is up for grabs by anyone within grabbing distance, 60% of Brits agree that it’s the window seater’s privilege to decide when to open and close the shade (barring any instructions from the airline attendant of course).
And it makes sense. These days, with the option to pay for the seat that you want (and avoid getting a middle seat), many in the window seat have chosen it for a reason: to fully enjoy the views, to have a bit of plane wall to sleep up against… and yes, to have the power to close and open the shade at will. Maybe it’s someone’s very first plane ride, and the thrill of flying is new and exciting. They should have the freedom to experience soaring above the clouds, or watch that sunset at 30,000 feet.
7. Not using headphones when watching or listening to something
This one should honestly go without saying. If you’re listening to your own special blend of music (acid jazz, anyone?) or watching the latest film instalment about cars exploding mid-air, please keep that noise inside your own ears. Unsurprisingly, 82% of respondents answered that it’s good flight etiquette to wear headphones during these activities. Bonus tip: if you’re watching a funny movie or stand-up comedy, keep your laughs to a quiet chuckle – 61% don’t want to hear loud guffaws.
8. Taking your socks off
While opinions are more divided on whether it’s okay to take your shoes off – see the survey results on this one below – it is clearly a cardinal sin to take your socks off. More than three out of four do not want to see a stranger’s bare, pale toes when they’re trying to relax onboard. Is it anxiety over odours? Perhaps the fear of wandering toes invading their own personal space? Whatever it is, the thought had many a Brit’s hair standing on end.
9. Not wearing shoes in the lavatory
There are some places in a plane where it’s okay to have your shoes off. But the loo is absolutely not one of them. That’s why 74% of Brits said it’s good flight etiquette to keep your shoes on before taking a bathroom break. Because… those puddles on the lavatory floor were not created by innocent little rain clouds.
10. Is it okay to even take off your shoes at all?
Starting to get the feeling yet that some people get foot-fixated on flights? In this case, 45%. That’s the percentage of Brits surveyed who responded that it’s not proper flight etiquette to take off your shoes, while 55% had no problem with it. The divide could come from those who’ve encountered truly horrendous-smelling feet on a flight, and those who believe ultimate comfort only comes when you’ve taken your shoes off. Which are you?
11. Clipping your nails onboard
Yes, apparently people do this onboard, even their toenails (trust us, we’ve seen it). But an overwhelming 89% of Brits did not support this flight behaviour. After all, anyone who’s sitting within three metres of the guilty party would be in danger of getting a flying toenail in their coffee. And of course, this faux pas would be a double whammy – involving both clipping nails and the fear-inducing bare feet.
12. Putting your feet up against the seat in front of you
You’ve probably seen it yourself on a flight: a passenger’s legs or knees propped up against the seat in front. And an impressive 90% of Brits were absolutely not down with this behaviour.
Firstly, any action that causes someone’s seat to rock back and forth, like using it as support every time you get up from your own seat or resting your legs or knees up against it, is extremely annoying for most passengers – especially when they’re trying to sleep or eat. Secondly, if you’re going to do it anyway, please, for the love of all things pure and holy, keep your socks on. Because, as mentioned several times by now – no one wants to see your naked feet.
13. Is it okay to use the tray table as a headrest?
While 52% think resting your head where strangers have eaten is acceptable social behaviour, the rest find it off-putting. Of course, some passengers are so desperate to find a comfortable sleeping position that they’re willing to sacrifice both their own and future passengers’ hygiene.
14. Waking up someone if you need to get past them (if it’s to use the loo)
Three quarters of respondents said it’s perfectly justified to wake up someone in your row to be able to get into the aisle – if it’s to go to the lavatory. But that last part is key. As long as you’re disrupting others to relieve yourself, no problem. If however, you want to access the aisle so that you can do some lunges, strike a yoga pose or tell that joke you just remembered to your colleague sitting three rows up, feel free to stay seated.
15. And the biggest one: Is it okay to recline your seat?
This is the mother of all hot online debates regarding flight etiquette. And Brits are right there along with the rest of them. According to our survey responses, 47% say it’s okay to recline – as long as you’ve (again, politely) asked the passenger behind you.
But this grey zone comes with its own caveats. For example, 19% say it’s only okay to recline if you’re on a long-haul flight, 10% say you can recline if the person in front of you has also reclined, and 16% say whatever the situation, it’s okay to recline – after all, that’s why the seats have that function. Just don’t tell that to the 6 foot 2 inch person sitting behind you.
Now that you know what others think about your flight etiquette, search for your next trip.
