A TRAVEL expert has revealed the reason why travellers should stand as soon the plane lands.
Many plane passengers find it annoying when others jump out of their seats as soon as their flight touches down – but that might be the right move.
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The debate kicked off when travel enthusiast Cruz Oxenreider took to X, formerly Twitter, to share his frustration with those who spring up as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off.
He said: “Why are people on planes like this… You’re not going anywhere.”
His post ignited a firestorm of opinions, with users divided on whether standing up right away is genius or just plain silly.
Some passenger agreed: “Often wondered why too, we wait. Plane empties then we casually walk off with no obstructions.”
Whilst others justified the rush saying: “If you’re first off the plane, you’re first at the car hire desk, and you can be in the car 5 mins later.
EXPERT ADVICE
Luckily seasoned travel industry veteran has weighed in, and his take might just change the way you think about deplaning.
According to Gary Leff there’s actually a method to the madness.
He’s made a strong case for why you should be on your feet the second that plane hits the gate, and his reasoning might surprise you.
Firstly he claims it speedens the whole process.
Leff argues that if passengers stand up sooner, they’ll grab their luggage quicker, which can actually shave off a few precious minutes from the deplaning process.
“That means more people make tight connections,” he writes, pointing out that this small act of haste can be a lifesaver for those with close-cut flight schedules.
“Plus, quicker exits mean the cleaning crew can get to work faster, making the turnaround more efficient and keeping costs—and ticket prices—down.
Secondly, Leff suggests that by getting out of your seat, you’re actually doing a favour to those stuck in the middle.
He said: “When you no longer have to have seat belts fastened, you want to take advantage of all of the space in the aircraft.”
With the aisle passenger out of the way, the middle and window seat folks have more room to stretch out and get their things together.
And lastly he addresses the main point online users seemed to express – You’ve been cramped for hours—why not.
Airplane seats aren’t exactly luxurious. If you’ve been wedged into a tight spot for hours, standing up as soon as you can is just about reclaiming some comfort.
As one X user put it: “I’m 6 feet tall and I’ve been scrunched in the seat for hours.
“I’m not trying to hurry off the plane, I’m just making myself comfortable at the earliest possible moment.”
So, if you’re feeling guilty about shooting off the moment the plane lands – don’t.
The unspoken rules of airplane etiquette for the average traveller can be confusing
Luckily, an etiquette has revealed exactly what not to do during a flight, saving you the embarrassment of committing what she considers “the worst thing passengers can do“.
Meanwhile, Plane seats seem to be getting smaller, leaving us with less and less room to stretch out during flights.
Sometimes you may find yourselves stuck in uncomfortable situations when other passengers decide to recline their seats.
But a Tiktokker shares her magic phrase that is guaranteed to stop the person in front reclining their chair, saving you the awkward inconvenience.
Elsewhere, this passenger resorted to punching the back of the person in front’s seat during a flight after they kept reclining.
And another person explained how they win reclining seat wars against other passengers.
5 common mistakes that could impact your flight
Flight attendant Beth Windsor shared the common mistakes passengers make that could negatively impact their flights:
- Walking Barefoot: The plane’s floors are very dirty and can lead to infections. It’s better to wear hotel slippers or sandals if you want to remove your shoes.
- Using Seat Pockets: These pockets are rarely cleaned and can contain unpleasant items like dirty nappies. It’s best not to store personal items in them.
- Drinking Plane Tap Water: Plane water tanks are rarely cleaned and can harbor harmful bacteria. Stick to bottled water to avoid illness.
- Booking Bulkhead Seats: These seats often accommodate bassinets for babies, which can lead to noisy flights. Opting for an exit row may help you avoid this issue.
- Getting Too Drunk: Alcohol affects passengers more due to low cabin pressure, potentially leading to quicker intoxication and possible trouble. Drink in moderation and stay hydrated with water.
