Market research firm YouGov recently surveyed US travelers about what they consider appropriate behavior on a plane.
Some results were as expected: more than 80% disapproved of kids playing in the aisle, leaving their seats during turbulence, and getting drunk during a flight.
Since those behaviors range from irritating to downright dangerous, I’m heartened that they are met with overwhelming condemnation, even in a society as fractured as ours.
However, I found some of the YouGov survey’s findings surprising and, in some instances, highly disconcerting.
Pay attention to safety demonstrations
20% of respondents said it’s acceptable to ignore the safety demonstration at the beginning of flights.
It’s a position that’s more likely to be taken by frequent fliers (32%) versus just 16% of those who never fly.
I agree that the pre-flight safety demonstration can feel mundane and superfluous, but it still serves as a crucial overview of the aircraft’s emergency exits and safety devices.
That’s all information that could come in handy during a potentially …