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Air travel etiquette debate explodes as experts call for cleaner, more respectful dress
Etiquette expert Alison Cheperdak joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to break down rising concerns over declining air travel manners and explain why dressing clean, staying courteous and respecting fellow travelers matters now more than ever
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Southwest Airlines has reignited one of air travel’s biggest etiquette debates after joking in a social media post that passengers who stand up immediately after landing “won’t get off the plane faster.”
“You 👏 won’t 👏 get 👏 off 👏 the 👏 plane 👏 faster 👏 by 👏 standing 👏 up 👏 .001 👏 seconds 👏 after 👏 the 👏 seatbelt 👏 sign 👏 turns 👏 off 👏,” the airline recently wrote on Threads, using the emojis exactly as shown.
The post quickly revived a familiar debate among travelers.
STANDING UP RIGHT AFTER PLANE LANDS FUELS VIRAL DEBATE ABOUT AIR TRAVEL ETIQUETTE
Some say they view the habit as inconsiderate — while others say standing helps them stretch, retrieve their carry-on bags and prepare to deplane
The comments section quickly filled up as travelers revealed why they stand as soon as the seatbelt sign turns off. Many insisted it’s less about rushing off the plane and more about comfort and being ready to leave the aircraft as soon as they can
Southwest Airlines has reignited debate over airplane etiquette after poking fun at passengers who stand up as soon as their plane lands.(iStock)
“Maybe👏🏻I👏🏻need👏🏻to👏🏻stretch👏🏻my👏🏻legs👏🏻after👏🏻sitting👏🏻in👏🏻your👏🏻cramped👏🏻plane👏🏻,” one user said
“It’s 👏not 👏 about 👏 getting 👏 off 👏 the 👏 plane 👏 fast,” another user wrote
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Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert based in Texas, previously told Fox News Digital that passengers who stand immediately after landing have become a
“With long flights, people are anxious to stand up and stretch their legs,” Gottsman said
Many travelers said they stand as soon as the seatbelt sign is turned off because they want to stretch their legs and be prepared to exit. (iStock)
“They also want to get their suitcases out of the bins and be prepared to efficiently walk out of their aisle.”
Problems arise, she said, when passengers step into the aisle too early, block others or encroach on the limited personal space inside the cabin
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“Moving into the aisle and trying to push is a definite etiquette faux pas,” Gottsman said
“For safety reasons, it’s best to remain seated unless there is room to comfortably move about.”
Etiquette experts say many passengers stand early to grab their bags and be ready to exit, but also warned these actions become rude when they block the aisle, push past others or crowd fellow travelers.(iStock)
Flight attendants should handle the situation to help keep the deplaning process orderly, Gottsman added
Fox News Digital reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment
Many commenters said standing after landing is not the issue. They argued that passengers should wait their turn and avoid pushing ahead of others
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“I stand up immediately and politely grab my stuff and get ready to deplane,” one commenter wrote
“I don’t push in front of people and try not to be in others’ way. I wait for rows in front of me to get off. People who take the time gathering their belongings hold up others and the flight,” the commenter continued
“I find it a form of respect for other passengers and flight attendants,” the commenter added
