10 Things to STOP Doing on a Flight in 2024 (NEW RULES)

Published 2024-06-09
Rules of flying that every traveler needs to know in 2024.

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🐶 Chapters
00:00 Tips for flying
00:18 Mistake 1: Reclining seat
01:08 Mistake 2: NOT checking behind
02:05 Mistake 3: Armrest rules
02:43 Mistake 4: Armrest lift button
03:26 Gross things people do
04:03 Mistake 5: Window shade rules
04:55 Bonus Mistake 10: NEVER do this.
05:31 Mistake 6: Device rules
06:37 Mistake 7: Seatbelt rules
08:00 Mistake 8: Theft and loss
08:43 Mistake 9: Very illegal!!
09:25 Alcohol tip

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All Comments (21)
  • @TheBlackToedOne
    It isn't an issue of reclining or not; it's an issue of shrinking seats and legroom. It's not on the passengers. It's on the airlines.
  • I think the question should be instead, who thinks the seats should be spread farther apart so people Can recline. They have smashed the seats so tight together. The geniuses who thought of this, probably ride on private planes.
  • @HawaiiDave
    Megan, your spilt coffee incident caused by you reclining your seat isn’t your fault. It’s the result of the airlines trying to maximize profits by cramming in as many seats as possible. Passenger comfort has nosedived over the years and questions about whether you should recline your seat have risen. I think you should be able to have enough space to recline your seat without bothering the person behind you. Is that too much to ask for?
  • @eagleheads1221
    For people with bad backs, especially on a longer flight, being able to recline slightly really helps manage lower back pain. So many people have lower back pain, it’s very common.
  • @tejloro
    Reclining is NOT the issue... cramming the seats inhumanely close together is the issue... space them out and reclining is no longer a problem...
  • @pamferguson1870
    I was recently on a 4 hour flight and the person in front of me flung her seat back the minute she could and it stayed that way for the full 4 hours even when she fell asleep leaning forward up against the seat in front of her. I happened to be on a plane with very little leg room to begin with and was literally “held hostage” the whole trip. I couldn’t reach any bag by my feet or put the tray down. If they are going to reduce the legroom then they need to reduce the ability to recline. It was the worst flight
  • @sfg902
    Don't remove the recline feature, instead, put enough room between seats!
  • @steven_dekok
    My wife and I once flew from Vienna to Bucharest on a very small plane. There were 6 rows of first class seats, while the rest of the plan was economy. It was a very full flight. We were seated in the first row behind first class. Now, I am a tall guy and muscular. When the passenger in the first class seat went to recline his seat, my legs were in the way. He kept trying to force his seat back but my long legs wouldn't let him. He was hurting my legs. I gently pushed the front of his seat and politely let him know that his seat had no where to go. He complained to the flight attendant who then looked at me and my legs. I asked her where should I put my legs? She smiled at me and told the gentleman that he needed to keep the seat upright. After she left, he tried a few more times. This time I was not so polite and really pushed his seat forward as he kept hurting my legs. I leaned forward and advised him to stop hurting me. Only then did he realize how big I was and his seat remained upright for the flight that was only a little over an hour long. I didn't like that I had to be stern with him but he was hurting me. (We would have upgraded to first class but there were no seats left. For all future flights on these small planes, we have learned to never book the seats directly behind first class!)
  • @annam7236
    Airline should make sure that the reclining seat will have enough space for things on the tray or make the reclining seat to stop.
  • @user-ed6fj2ex2y
    One that I think people dont think about is loudly talking or laughing on an overnight flight. Last Sep I took a flight from Denver to London. It was an overnight so the plane was dark everyone was trying to sleep. There was a woman in the center of the plane watching something and would laugh so loud it would wake everyone up and she even made a baby cry from startling it. Im not talking about a little giggle either, she was cackling and screaming. This went on for an hour and I believe FAs stepped in after she was asked by her seat mates to keep it down and she started laughing louder and more raucously. Then on the same trip but return flight a trio of women in front of my husband and I were meeting for the first time and loudly discussing their drunken exploits on various trips. They started ordering alcohol and sounded like they meant to party. my whole row just looked at eachother like we were in for a rough flight. I think the FAs caught on and cut them off after the meal service and said it was a drink max policy. No idea if that policy actually exists but thank the stars for the FAs
  • @Belgarathe
    Sad situation that we have to discuss seat recline rules. While I agree about recline slowly I don’t agree that you have to factor if person behind you has laptop or iPad. Sure if flight is less than 4 hrs long you wouldn’t need recline. But if it’s an overnight flight or a long flight try to get comfortable especially when the person in front of you has reclined. What I would suggest is that all the ceo and executive board fly a mandatory 11 hr flight in economy on their airplanes each month and when they suggest new seat layout configurations.
  • I have been hit in the head on several flights because as I am reaching down to get my bag out from under the seat, the person does a full, abrupt seat recline. Before I recline I always look back to make sure I never do that to another passenger. Common courtesy, patience, and awareness of others has gone, literally, out the window when it comes to air travel these days.
  • @airborne63
    Just completed a 14 hour flight from New Delhi to Toronto on a B777ER. I had the aisle seat, as I always do. Next to me, in the middle a grossly overweight man SPREAD himself into half of MY seat by his body pushing the armrest into my ribs and leg. I told him that if he wanted/needed two seats, he should BUY them, not use half of mine. It was NOT a happy flight. As for reclining seats....if the aircraft is used exclusively for flights of 4 hours or less...it's NOT a big deal. Sitting for 14 hours in a seat that DOESN'T recline....would be a 'back-breaker'.
  • @nathanhollis7584
    So wait a-minute….If the person sitting behind he is playing a game on his laptop, he now owns and has control over my seat as well as his own 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
  • @philshallat9043
    I’m here to tell you that non-reclining seats have arrived. I took a Volaris flight, Mexico City to Lima, 5 hours overnight. I was planning to get some sleep on the flight but the rock-hard plastic seats did not recline, not one centimeter! It was the most uncomfortable flight I’ve ever taken. There was only one cabin class on the flight so no option to pay for a more comfortable seat. The stingy amount of space between rows of seats was also to blame for the discomfort. If the airlines ever do eliminate reclining seats in economy/coach class you can be sure it will be for THEIR benefit and profit. It will have nothing whatsoever to do with passenger comfort or safety. Blaming the growing number of people flying for more crowded seating on flights is cheap way of passing the buck.
  • @mrbushlied7742
    At 68, I only fly business. If I can't afford business class, I can't afford to fly. The money saved by flying economy is not worth the discomfort and risk of physical injury.
  • Worst reclining incident for me was on a chartered bus. The woman in front of me suddenly cranked backwards and pinned both my legs when she landed on my kneecaps. She did respond to my screams.
  • @adamwebber1536
    Totally agree on the seat reclining. I never recline my seat out of respect for the person behind me. I was on a 11hr flight recently. The dude in front of me reclined back. I tried to be cool about it, but each time I wanted to get out of my seat, I had to do some creative contortions to get out and back in. Meals and snacks were interesting as well. I finally asked him to put his seat up when my wife had to get up to use the restroom. With their seat back there’s no room to get by. At the very least, I feel like a simple ask should happen. Like, “Do you mind if I recline my seat back?”to the person behind you.
  • @susandobbis
    I agree that the shrinking seats are partly responsible for this new and terribly uncomfortable situation. I also think that it is an opportunity to bring enjoyment between people back in to travel. A simple communication with the one behind you saying you'd like to recline and would it be convenient at that time could be a solution. Taking responsibility for ones actions feels good...and is a friendly gesture (which also feels good). bon voyage!☺