A
recent survey of travelers found good manners in short
supply, even at 40,000 feet in the air. Excessive cell phone use,
seat reclining and loud talking all were common behaviors among
1,300 customers polled by online agency Travelocity.
Airplane cabins are a free-for-all when it comes to bad
behavior, the study showed. Nearly 20 percent of those surveyed gab
on their cell phones frequently and continue to do so unless told
otherwise by a flight attendant. Keeping conversations brief and
speaking quietly is considered “unnecessary” by about 10 percent of
those surveyed. To make matters worse: 20 percent admit to using
inappropriate language when they feel ticked off.
When asked to trade seats with another passenger, nearly half
of travelers stay put. Five percent said they are offended by such
requests.
And the next time the passenger in front of you lowers his
seat back into your lap, don’t be surprised. A full 33 percent of
respondents frequently or always fully recline their seats. “It’s
interesting to know that common courtesy toward your fellow
travelers can have such an impact on the overall travel experience,
and that some are oblivious to their behaviors in transit,” says
Travelocity editor-at-large Amy Ziff.