The Unwritten Rules of Flying: Airplane Etiquette Every Traveler Should Know

Flying today can be stressful enough without passengers making things worse. Tight seats, crowded boarding, and long travel days mean that a little airplane etiquette goes a long way.

While airlines have plenty of written rules, there are also a lot of unwritten rules of flying that frequent travelers learn over time. These little things can make a huge difference in how comfortable a flight is for everyone around you.

Here are some of the unwritten rules of airplane etiquette every traveler should know.

Who Gets the Armrest?

Let’s start with one of the most debated questions on airplanes: who gets the armrests?

If you’re sitting in a three-seat row, the unwritten rule is that the person in the middle gets both armrests.

Think about it. The window-seat passenger has the wall to lean on, and the aisle passenger has extra space toward the aisle. The person in the middle got the short end of the stick when seat assignments were handed out, so giving them the armrests is the least we can do to help them survive the flight.

Your Underseat Space Is Yours

Another unwritten rule involves the space underneath the seat in front of you.

That underseat space belongs to the person sitting in that seat. If your bag spills into someone else’s foot space, that’s not really fair to them. Everyone gets their own small area, and respecting that space helps avoid awkward situations once the flight is underway.

If your personal item is too big to fit properly, that’s really a packing issue—not something your neighbor should have to deal with.

Don’t Manspread on the Plane

Airplane seats are already cramped, so respecting the invisible boundary between seats is important.

Imagine a line running down the armrest between you and the passenger next to you. Your knees and legs should stay on your side of that line. When people start spreading out into the next seat’s space, it makes an already tight situation even worse.

A little awareness of your own space goes a long way.

The Aisle Is Not Your Organizing Space

One of the biggest delays during boarding happens when someone reaches their seat and suddenly decides that’s the perfect moment to reorganize their entire bag.

You’ve probably seen it before. Someone gets to their row, puts their bag down, and then starts pulling out headphones, tablets, snacks, jackets, laptops, and who knows what else while everyone behind them waits.

The unwritten rule is simple: get organized before you board the plane. Have the things you’ll need during the flight ready to go so you can sit down quickly and keep the boarding process moving.

Who Controls the Window Shade?

Another classic flying debate is who controls the window shade.

Generally speaking, the person sitting in the window seat controls the shade. That’s one of the perks of choosing that seat.

That said, it’s always good to be considerate. If the sun is blasting directly into someone’s eyes or everyone is trying to sleep on a long flight, it might be polite to close it. And if you’re not in the window seat but want it open or closed, the best approach is simply to ask.

If It Smells, Don’t Do It

Planes are enclosed spaces, and strong smells travel quickly.

Things like putting on heavy perfume, painting your nails, or spraying products during a flight can make things unpleasant for everyone around you. Even strong food smells can be a bit much in a packed cabin.

Basically, if it’s going to make the plane smell for everyone else, it’s probably best to avoid doing it while flying.

Bare Feet Are Never Okay

This is one of those things that shouldn’t need to be said, but it does.

Keep your shoes on during the flight.

Airplane floors—especially the lavatory floor—are not exactly the cleanest places. And no one really wants to see someone’s bare feet up on the armrest or seat in front of them. It’s just one of those basic etiquette rules that helps everyone feel a little more comfortable.

The Reclining Seat Debate

Yes, you are allowed to recline your seat.

If airlines didn’t want you to recline, they wouldn’t design the seats that way. However, there are a couple of simple etiquette rules to follow.

Always take a quick glance behind you before reclining so you don’t slam into someone’s laptop or drink. It’s also considerate to sit your seat upright during meal service so the person behind you has room to eat.

Being aware of the person behind you can prevent a lot of frustration.

Overhead Bin Space Is Shared

The overhead bins are shared space for the entire row, not just the first person who gets there.

Try to place your bag efficiently so there’s room for others. Suitcases should go in wheels-first, and smaller items like jackets can often be placed on top of your bag instead of taking up a separate spot.

If you do need to move something in the bin to make space, it’s always best to ask first. That small courtesy can prevent some pretty tense moments.

Use Headphones

If you’re watching a movie, listening to music, or making a call after landing, headphones are essential.

Nobody else on the plane wants to listen to your movie, your music playlist, or your phone conversation. Using headphones keeps the cabin quieter and makes the flight more pleasant for everyone.

Parents Still Need to Parent

Kids are going to be kids on airplanes, and most travelers understand that.

What tends to frustrate people is when parents completely check out and stop supervising their children. The unwritten rule is that parenting doesn’t stop just because you’re on vacation.

Keeping an eye on your kids helps keep them safe and makes the experience better for everyone on board.

Don’t Rush the Aisle When the Plane Lands

Finally, there’s the moment when the plane lands and everyone suddenly jumps up and tries to rush to the front.

The usual etiquette is that rows exit one row at a time. Trying to push past everyone rarely saves much time and often just annoys other passengers.

If someone has a tight connection, flight attendants will usually ask other passengers to let them go first. Otherwise, patience tends to make the deplaning process go much smoother.

Flying can be a lot more pleasant when travelers show a little courtesy and awareness of the people around them. Following these unwritten rules of flying won’t make the plane bigger or the seats more comfortable, but it will help make the journey a lot smoother for everyone onboard.

So what unwritten rule of flying do you wish more travelers followed?