We all remember the advertisements promoting flights in the 1960s: well-dressed people, cigarette in hand, being served a buffet worthy of a Thanksgiving feast. At that time, a plane ticket was so prohibitively expensive that it was reserved only for the wealthy middle class. Today, thanks to globalization and cheaper transportation, anyone can afford a ticket… For better or for worse.
Flying is no longer a cathartic and elegant experience. In fact, we know perfectly well that the cheaper the plane ticket, the worse the experience is likely to be. If we have had to fly a few times, we know that there is a high probability that we will end up with a child kicking the seat in front of us, a baby crying with earache throughout the flight, or simply a rather adult drunk who does not know how to behave.
Respect for others in a public space and the use of manners seem to have fallen out of the airplane window a few years ago. So much so that the Transportation Security Administration and the FAA have had to issue a warning to frequent flyers: ignoring the crew before takeoff and during landing will not only earn you disapproving looks, but you will also be fined more than $30,000 for contempt of flight personnel.
Hefty fees in 2025
It seems that COVID has wiped out all traces of manners in public spaces. In 2025 alone, the FAA has received no fewer than 1,505 reports of disruptive passengers, who have been fined a total of US$2.2 million. While being rude in public won’t get you punched (in most cases), you may end up going home with a hefty fine.
The most high-profile case involved a Frontier Airlines passenger who ended up being fined the famous sum of $30,000. This individual not only refused to follow disembarkation procedures, but also physically assaulted two flight attendants and threatened to enter the cockpit. However, you don’t have to make a terrorist attack to get fined: getting up from your seat when the seat belt sign is still on, or when the plane is in motion, is now a fast track to federal investigation.
Non-negotiable security inside the plane
Believe it or not, takeoff and landing are very delicate moments. The plane is operating in high-energy phases where any unexpected movement can compromise safety. In other words, if a passenger is standing during sudden braking on the runway, they will be thrown like a projectile. Not only could they injure themselves—which is obvious—but they could also accidentally injure other passengers who had kept their seat belts fastened and remained calmly in their seats. But beyond the physics, there is an unavoidable legal component.
Under U.S. federal law (specifically 49 U.S.C. § 46504), interfering with the duties of a crew member is a crime. Flight attendants are not there to merely serve you coffee and look pretty. They are also safety officers that follow captain’s orders. When a flight attendant asks you to sit down or stow your luggage, they are issuing a legal order that, if ignored, triggers a “zero tolerance” protocol. So yeah, don’t ignore them just because they are wearing a cute uniform and look like polished waitresses.
If you ignore the crew, they can report your behavior, and the FAA will take immediate legal action. But you don’t just have to behave on the plane: even at the security checkpoint, the PSA is imposing fines of up to $17,000 for aggressive behavior.
Let’s be honest one likes going to the airport and spending hours crammed into a flying tin can to reach their destination, but it’s best to keep your manners and speak politely and with a smile to the staff on the plane and at the TSA check. So next time you have to travel, do some deep breaths, bring earplugs, and try to be on your best behaviour…Unless you want to leave the airplane in handcuffs, that is!