The busy holiday travel season is now in full swing and the recent government shutdown is a thing of the past. So instead of mandating a system-wide reduction in flights, the Department of Transportation is turning its attention to unruly passenger behavior and offering travel etiquette advice.
While FAA statistics show reports of unruly passenger incidents have dropped significantly since the pandemic began, the number this year is already higher than in all of 2019 — and that comes ahead of the holidays, when such incidents typically spike.
Bargaining: When is the best time to book the cheapest flights?
So in a “civility campaign” launched ahead of the Thanksgiving travel rush, the Department of Transportation hopes to “restore decorum and class to air travel” and “ensure the safety of passengers, gate agents, flight attendants and pilots.”
A short video introducing the campaign, titled “The Golden Age of Travel Begins with You,” opens with a charming clip from a vintage airline ad before switching to some familiar social media-shared footage of passengers arguing and behaving badly.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy then gave his travel etiquette advice, asking passengers if they are “dressed appropriately”, helping pregnant women put their luggage into the overhead bins, keeping children under control, thanking cabin crew and pilots and “generally saying please and thank you”.
Reward your inbox with the TPG daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts
These tips are a good starting point for becoming a respectful traveler. But especially during the holidays, experts and frequent travelers also encourage all passengers to:
Packing light
Check your luggage if you must (and it’s free), but try not to go overboard with heavy or oversized carry-on luggage.
Board the flight with your group
Try not to join the crowd squeezing the door until your team is called. It just slows everyone down.
organize
Organize your carry-on gear before boarding the plane. Make sure the items you want to use on board are easily accessible so you don’t pull the strings while rummaging through your belongings.
Don’t occupy the armrest
A common practice in aviation etiquette is that the person in the middle seat has the right to use both center armrests.
put on headphones
Everyone, including children, must wear headphones while watching in-flight entertainment.
tilt carefully
While passengers have the right to recline, please consider and check the comfort of the person behind you. Never lean while eating or with an open laptop on a small table behind you.
Please do not bring smelly food on board the plane
It’s okay, and generally wise, to bring your own snacks and meals in airports and on planes, but avoid messy and smelly items like eggs, tuna, pungent cheese and greasy fast food. The smell of these foods can really make your seatmate feel sick.
put on socks
If your feet stink (don’t pretend you don’t know), put on shoes. No one wants to see or smell your bare feet on a plane.
Don’t overdo personal grooming
Just use hand sanitizer and moisturizer. Be sure to eat mints. But wearing nail polish, cutting toenails and wearing perfume are not allowed.
Clean yourself up after going to the toilet
The toilets on airplanes are small and uncomfortable in their own right. Wipe down toilet seats and counters before leaving.
Dress comfortably but “properly”
The Department of Transportation advises you to “dress appropriately” but provides no guidelines.
Airline contracts of carriage often do this. For example, Spirit Airlines revised its contract of carriage in January 2025 to expressly state that it may remove flights “that are barefoot or inappropriately clothed (i.e., see-through clothing; not adequately covered; exposing breasts, buttocks, or other private parts), or whose clothing or items (including body art) are lewd, obscene, or offensive in nature.” […] “.
Comfortable clothing is good, but safety may be even more important.
“Most aviation accidents are not fatal. So travelers should really focus on clothing and shoes that won’t prevent them from getting off the plane as quickly as possible,” said Kristin Negroni, author of “Crash Detective” and the forthcoming book “Don’t Wear Tights on a Plane and Other Lessons from a Wrong Landing.”“ explain.
“Secretary Duffy may be right to suggest low-rise pants, drawstring pajama bottoms, high heels and flip-flops,” Negroni added. “If you’re trying to escape a burning, smoking or damaged aircraft in a hurry, these are very poor options.”
Related reading:
