Things You Should Never Do on a Plane, According to Etiquette Coach

2025-05-30T13:50:11Z

Business Insider asked an etiquette coach what things passengers should avoid doing on airplanes.
She said reclining your seat is OK as long as you’re being mindful of the person sitting behind you.
Avoid bringing smelly foods on board and giving parents dirty looks when their kids are crying.

From holding up the bathroom line with your skincare routine to playing music without headphones, there are numerous etiquette mistakes people make when flying on airplanes.

That’s why Business Insider asked etiquette coach Mariah Grumet about the things passengers should avoid doing while on a flight.

Here’s what she had to say.

Reclining your seat without regard for others

When — or whether — to recline your seat on a flight is a hot topic when it comes to plane etiquette.

Grumet told BI that even though some may find it rude, she thinks passengers should be able to recline since they paid for their seats.

However, she said passengers should still be mindful of the person sitting behind them when deciding when to recline.

For example, Grumet advises against reclining if the person behind you has things on their tray.

Stinking up the plane with food or grooming products

Grumet said it’s really important to be mindful of anything with a strong scent.

For example, if a passenger brings a tuna sandwich onto the plane, the smell can be disturbing to those around them.

Grooming can come with extra smells, too. Items like nail polish or perfume could be distracting or irritating to fellow passengers, so Grumet advised leaving those at home.

Being rude to parents

Young children may act out if they’re hungry or exhausted from a long day. Even if the crying is annoying and disruptive, Grumet said it’s important to be respectful to the parent.

“It’s likely that the parent is already super embarrassed as is, and you don’t want to add fuel to the fire by whispering or giving dirty looks,” she said.

This also applies to children who are a bit older. Grumet added that even if they’re running down the aisle or doing something you think can be controlled, it’s still important to be kind.

Rushing to the front at the end of the flight

“The most polite way to deboard a plane is to let the people in the front go first,” Grumet told BI.

However, she pointed out that many passengers try to rush to the front as quickly as possible.

Even if you had a difficult flight, Grumet said you should allow those ahead of you to go first. The exception to this is if you’re running to make a connecting flight.

In that case, she advised notifying an airline staff member to help you get off the plane as quickly as possible.

This story was originally published on August 22, 2024 and most recently updated on May 30, 2025.

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