Latest news with #aislelice
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Do You Have An 'Aisle Lice' Problem? Here's How To Tell.
If you've ever taken a flight, you know the chaos that often ensues after landing when the pilot turns off the 'fasten seatbelt' sign. People are jumping to their feet, swinging their bags down and in some cases, even getting into altercations. And of course, there are the 'aisle lice.' This deplaning phenomenon is quite common, but it can be frustrating nonetheless. Below, travel and etiquette experts break down what the term 'aisle lice' means and what you should know about this behavior before your next flight. What does 'aisle lice' refer to? ''Aisle lice' is a term used to describe airline passengers who immediately stand up and cluster in the aisle as soon as the plane arrives at the gate, often before the seatbelt sign is turned off,' said Lauren Gumport, vice president of communications at Faye Travel Insurance. It's related to the concept of 'gate lice,' the folks who crowd the gate area at the airport during the boarding process, well before their group number is called. 'Anyone who has been on a commercial flight in economy knows the cramped nature of deplaning,' said Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for the flight alert service Going. 'Elbows in faces, bags coming from all angles in the overhead bins and of course, the impatient people who crowd the aisle. Regardless of seat assignment, some people will rush to the front of the aisle in an effort to deplane as fast as possible.' Although aisle lice typically refers to those who refuse to patiently wait in their designated seat until their row's turn to deplane, the term might also apply to passengers who stand and take up space in the aisle at other inopportune moments. 'So long as the attendants have finished their service, it is perfectly acceptable to stand or walk back and forth to stretch your legs. If there is beverage or meal service, you need to remain in your seat.' said Jodi R.R. Smith, the president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. 'While generally used when referring to airplanes, aisle lice can also be found on trains, buses, subways, and even boats,' she added. What's driving this phenomenon?'In some cases, people are trying to make a tight connection, and they are likely the ones to rush ahead with an apology attached to provide context as to why they need to cut ahead,' Nastro said. 'Others are just too impatient to wait either in their seat or near their seat, inching as close to the plane door as possible without any regard for the unofficial deplaning protocol. Maybe they are late for a business meeting, or family emergency.' Whatever the case, she added that it's rare to get a full explanation as to why a particular passenger feels they should be allowed to deplane out of order. Smith emphasized that there can be valid reasons for aisle lice behavior. For instance, there might have been a long delay that shortened passengers' connection times. In these cases, even a few moments can mean the difference between making the next leg or being stranded overnight. 'But other passengers are just done being seated and want to stand to stretch their legs,' Smith said. 'And yes, there are a subset of passengers that are just plain pushy.' After long delays, flight attendants often make a pre-landing announcement asking passengers arriving at their final destinations to stay seated and allow those with tight connections to deplane more quickly. However, not everyone honors such requests. 'Aisle lice behavior is often driven by a mix of impatience, anxiety and a desire to be among the first off the plane ― whether to catch a tight connection, beat the crowd to baggage claim or simply stretch after a long flight,' Gumport said. 'In some cases, it's habit or social mimicry. People see others standing and assume they should, too.' She added that standing prematurely doesn't speed up the deplaning process in most cases. 'And it can create unnecessary congestion and tension, especially in tight cabin spaces,' Gumport said. 'That said, I wouldn't label it malicious ― it's more of a minor annoyance.' Dollar Flight Club founder and CEO Jesse Neugarten agreed that the phenomenon can be annoying, but the urge is relatable. 'I've definitely found myself standing up earlier than I needed to, especially on long travel days,' he said. 'This is one of those classic examples of how air travel kind of brings out weird habits in all of us. Everyone's tired, no one wants to be last. It's not the biggest deal, but it's one of those things where if everyone just relaxed a bit, the whole process would be smoother for everyone.' How can you not let aisle lice disrupt your air travel experience?'Aisle lice has become an even hotter topic in some places,' Nastro noted. 'Recently, Turkish Aviation Authorities have implemented a fine for people who stand up too early in the deplaning process, specifically when it is not safe to do so. These are extreme cases of people really going beyond deplaning etiquette.'In places where passengers are not fined for bad deplaning behavior, however, there are different ways to deal with aisle lice. 'Stand by and let pass, or kill 'em with kindness,' Nastro advised. 'If someone does rush ahead, you can consider politely asking if they have a connection or emergency, and if not, just explain that there is a general deplaning etiquette that ensures everyone gets off as efficiently as possible. If the other person isn't willing to oblige, well, you tried to do your part.' Regardless of how you feel, she emphasized the importance of patience and common courtesy in the deplaning process. 'If there is room, I am all for some of the passengers standing up in the aisle because this allows those still seated in the row a bit more elbow room and the ability to actually look around their seats to gather all of their belongings,' Smith said. 'It also allows for the overheads to be opened, making for easier unloading. What is not OK is pushing those standing in the aisle. Not every aisle seat will be able to stand, and if the passenger across the aisle from you has already stood, you will need to wait.' For those bothered by the aisle lice rush, she recommended booking a window seat and remaining seated until the majority of passengers have disembarked so that you may leave at your leisure. 'Honestly, what is more of a nuisance, especially in airplane travel, are those passengers who stand lollygagging in the aisle, turning this way and that, surprised that it is their turn, while blocking others from disembarking,' Smith said. 'Passengers who require extra time or assistance should, as the airline state, remain comfortably seated, allowing others to pass.' She also urged travelers to pay attention to where their fellow passengers' heads are as they pull their luggage from the overhead for those who stand up in the aisle during the flight, Smith emphasized presuming positive intent. 'Not everyone is able to sit still for hours on end,' she noted. 'For others, it may be medically necessary for them to walk and stretch during the journey.' Related... The Rudest Things You Can Do While Boarding A Plane A Definitive Guide To Airplane Seat Etiquette Is 'Check-In Chicken' The Ultimate Airplane Seat Hack? Here's What Experts Say.
Times
05-07-2025
- Times
The new fines for plane passengers don't go far enough
The most annoying part of every flight? It has to be those ten minutes at the end, after landing. The plane comes to a stop and half of the passengers jump up and grab their bags, sometimes rushing down the aisle so they're closer to the exit. And then they … just stand there, backside in a stranger's face, waiting for the doors to open. Meanwhile, the other, more polite half remain seated, eyebrows raised in disapproval at their travel companions. It reminds me of sitting out of PE at school — what a load of idiots, I thought, running around and making themselves fitter. I was wrong about that. But I'm confident in my dim view of 'aisle lice', the admittedly unpleasant online term for those who clog the aircraft at the end of a flight. Why do they do it? One pilot on a Reddit thread puts forward the sympathetic theory that, after the stress of travelling in an aluminium tube 35,000 feet in the air, 'you subconsciously have a relief mechanism that says 'thank God that worked out''. You could also argue that passengers simply want to stretch their legs (though it happens on super-short trips too and I would point out that the aisle is always available for a quick mid-flight promenade). But I reckon this is a matter of nurture rather than nature. Not only do these misguided travellers simply want to disembark asap — enjoy the wait at the baggage carousel, guys! — they have also learnt through experience that if they don't get up and block the way, someone behind them is going to barge past and hotfoot it down the aisle first. There may also be considerable pressure from their row-mates to rise. One country is heroically fighting back against this vicious cycle. Turkey's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has announced that, following a significant increase in complaints from passengers, those arriving in the country who stand up before the seatbelt sign turns off will be fined about £50. And in an indication that this is about etiquette as much as safety — the concern being that travellers could injure themselves if the plane brakes suddenly while taxiing or bags fall out of overhead lockers — airlines have also been told to issue an announcement encouraging holidaymakers to 'respect the disembarkation priority of the passengers in front of or around you and wait for your turn'. Too right. Two questions immediately spring to mind. First, I'm not convinced that ordering 150 exhausted humans to do this without precise instructions is going to work, so how will the turn-taking be enforced? My suggestion would be to return to the Covid-era policy of making passengers stand up and disembark row by row. We were all compliant with that rule then — and the budget Spanish carrier Vueling still does this, letting five rows go at a time — so I don't see why it wouldn't work now. The second question: if we're going to clamp down on bad airline manners during disembarkation, could this be a good opportunity to scrutinise other iffy behaviour that may affect the entire flight rather than just the final stretch? I have three pet peeves that, while they may not merit a fine, certainly deserve a good ticking-off from attendants: 'bare beating' (the trend for listening to music or watching films out loud on public transport has now spread to planes, which obviously isn't on); lingering in the aisle and chatting to your pals further down the plane (you've got the whole holiday to do that); and taking your socks off (doesn't need explaining). The real reason the aisle lice are in such a rush to get off? Maybe they just want to escape their fellow passengers. Have you seen bad passenger behaviour on planes? How would you tackle it? Let us know in the comments below
The National
29-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Turkey plans to fine impatient plane passengers who stand up too early or block aisles
If you are the type of passenger who jumps out of their seat and opens the overhead lockers before the plane has stopped moving, then you might want to reconsider. The civil aviation authority of Turkey has announced plans to fine impatient passengers in a bid to discourage poor etiquette. Those caught standing up before the aircraft has come to a full halt on the tarmac, accessing overhead lockers, blocking the aisle or moving forward to disembark before others, now risk incurring a fee. While the figure has not yet been announced, it is thought to be about $70 (Dh257). Earlier this year, such impatient passenger behaviour even earned a name – aisle lice. Following customer complaints, the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation took action to promote a smoother journey for all passengers, hoping the fine will allow for orderly disembarkation. "Despite announcements informing passengers of the rules, many are standing up before the aircraft reaches its parking positions and before the seat belt sign is turned off," the Turkish aviation authority said. Those rushing forward, standing up too early, or blocking the aisle can impact other passengers trying to get on or off the plane. "This behaviour compromises the safety of passengers and baggage, disregards the satisfaction and exit priority of other travellers," the release continued. Under the new regulations, all commercial airlines operating in or out of Turkey will now have to inform passengers of the change, via a revised in-flight announcement. As well as instructing passengers to remain seated and to wait to disembark patiently, the new wording will notify that violations will be documented and recorded. There is no news if the new fines have been implemented yet. As airports get busier, airlines are under pressure to safely manage enormous numbers of people. In 2024, for example, Dubai International Airport was once again the world's busiest airport, with more than 92 million passengers passing through. The scale of such figures outlines the importance of ensuring the safety of both passengers and crew in the airport and in the air. Poor behaviour seems to be a growing problem, however. Elsewhere, airlines are reportedly considering ways to prevent passengers from congregating around the gate, in an effort to board first. Far from speeding up the process, these so-called "gate lice" can actually slow it down, by denying customers space to pass through the gate calmly.
