British tourists have been warned to stop a common flight habit that many find annoying: clapping when the plane lands. Travel experts say the practice is unnecessary and can even be considered rude to the pilots.
Rosie Panter, a travel expert at dealchecker, advised against clapping on most flights. She stated: 'A round of applause. Two words. No and no. If you have had a particularly rocky flight and difficult landing, maybe a slight clap, or thanks to the pilot as you leave, but no regular flight to the Med should result in clapping. Let’s leave that in the past.'
Another etiquette expert, Jo Bryant, warned that clapping after landing could be seen as insulting. She said: 'Applause is not necessary after a landing and is rude to the pilots. If the landing is good, clapping suggests surprise at such skill. If the landing is bad, applause would be insultingly sarcastic.'
Rosie also cautioned against standing up as soon as the plane touches down, noting that it does not speed up exit times. She explained: 'We’ve all done it when in a hurry but standing as soon as the plane touches the tarmac will not speed up your exit time in the slightest. The crew need time to safely prepare for disembarking and opening the doors.'
For those worried about connecting flights, she recommended speaking to flight attendants during the flight, who may arrange for early disembarkation. Booking a seat near the front of the plane can also help passengers leave quickly.
