When you’re crammed inside a metal tube hurtling through the sky alongside hundreds of other flyers, everyone wants to have a smooth, comfortable flight. But unfortunately, certain rude behaviors are quite common among airline passengers these days. From eating stinky food to taking loud phone calls and hogging the armrests, here are 10 impolite and inconsiderate actions we witness aboard airplanes far too often.

Making Phone Calls

As Wi-Fi becomes more prevalent and reliable on flights, some passengers have taken to making phone calls or FaceTime calls while on the ground or in the air. Nobody around them wants to hear those loud conversations, especially if their device is on speakerphone. The good news is that Congress has recently renewed efforts to formally ban calls in the air. Instead of bothering others by making calls on a flight, stick to texting or email.

Listening to Audio Without Headphones

Another issue is passengers who watch a show or scroll through loud TikTok videos without wearing headphones. As in any public space, common courtesy dictates you shouldn’t play loud audio in the vicinity of others, as it disturbs the peace. Thankfully, airlines have taken steps to curtail this practice. Earlier this year, United made it clear that flyers who refuse to use headphones can be removed from flights or even banned from flying the airline altogether.

Going Barefoot

Some passengers like to kick off their shoes to feel more comfortable. But you should only do so if you’re wearing socks or slippers. By going barefoot, not only are you exposing your feet to the germ-riddled cabin floor, but you’re also exposing other travelers to potentially unpleasant foot odors, which can be made worse by the fact that you’re in a confined space. (Bare feet are also a safety risk in the event of an emergency.) Always cover your feet and keep them in your own space, rather than resting them on another person’s seat or armrest.

Eating Smelly Food

It’s not just feet that stink up the plane — food can, too. As etiquette expert Thomas P. Farley explained to Fodor’s, “As a rule, any food brought onto a plane should ideally be odor-neutral, neat, and non-noisy.” This means leaving things like fish, stinky cheese, crunchy snacks, or egg salad at home. There are so many tasty, odor-free snacks and meals that you can purchase in the terminal instead.

Getting Drunk

If you’re a nervous flyer, an alcoholic drink may help take the edge off. But it’s important to stick to just one or two. According to a 2024 survey from YouGov, 82% of people said getting drunk on a plane is unacceptable, ranking it as one of the rudest things flyers can do. Remember that alcohol affects you differently at altitude, and becoming intoxicated during a flight can lead to unnecessary arguments and other socially unacceptable behaviors at 30,000 feet. You could even be met by authorities at the end of the flight.

Careless Parenting

The majority of travelers won’t hold a crying baby against their parents — anyone trying to calm a fussy infant is stressed enough without the judgment of other passengers. But that changes when parents allow older children to behave poorly in the cabin. Whether they’re relentlessly kicking the seat in front of them, watching loud videos on their iPad, or running up and down the aisle, certain actions are considered rude to other passengers and can even prevent the flight crew from being able to do their jobs. 

Reclining Too Far Back

Comfort is important, but it should never come at the expense of folks around you. While reclining your seat isn’t inherently rude, the way you do it matters. Picture a situation in which you’re working on your laptop or eating dinner on your tray table, when all of a sudden the person in front of you rapidly reclines their seat without warning and you end up with food all over your lap or a broken screen. It’s common courtesy to check behind you before reclining to make sure you’re clear, and to slowly recline when doing so. And if you notice the person behind you is quite tall and squeezed into their seat, it might be more considerate not to recline all the way (or at all).

Hogging Both Armrests

The rules of the shared armrests are often subject for debate. Flight attendants typically agree that the person in the middle seat gets both armrests, while the people on either end get just one. If you’re in a two-seat configuration, it’s up to you to decide who gets the middle — just don’t be rude and assume it’s yours without asking.

Arguing With the Flight Crew

On airplanes, what the crew says goes, even if you disagree. Arguing about wearing seat belts or getting up to use the restroom isn’t going to do you any favors. In fact, rude flyers who argue with flight attendants may even be in violation of federal law and could be removed from the flight, which inconveniences all the other passengers on the plane, too.

Behaving Like “Aisle Lice”

The term “aisle lice” refers to passengers who jump out of their seats right as the plane arrives at the gate, often pushing ahead so they can deplane quicker than others. And it’s considered among the rudest behaviors by travelers and cabin crew alike. The best way to avoid earning this notorious nickname is to let others who may need to make a tight connection get off the plane before you, and to stay seated until it’s your row’s turn.

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