Live look at me when a plane I’m on lands and people start getting antsy:
Before I say what I’m going to say, let me say this: I have lived a nerfy life. Cake eater status. I wouldn’t say my job is super stressful, I don’t live in a big city with wall to wall traffic, etc. So I don’t find myself in too many intense situations (although I once went to the Piggly Wiggly the Wednesday before Thanksgiving).
That said, I don’t think I’m reaching when I say that the atmosphere on a plane the second it lands is nothing short of primal. I don’t know what happens to people, but the INSTANT the plane slows down, it turns into Lord of the Flies. People in all rows start standing up, people begin filtering into the aisle who have no business being there, overhead compartments are flying open and suitcases are dropping everywhere, it’s chaos. And then you get the person from a back row trying to make a move forward so that they can get off of the plane 36 seconds faster than they would have if they would have just waited their turn. Inevitably someone notices this and tries to box that person out like they’re Dennis Rodman in 1997, that leads to some pushing and shoving, and before you know it people are whipping out their phones in hopes of capturing an altercation. It’s LUNACY.
Well credit to Turkish Airlines for at least attempting to reign this type of stuff in by threatening fines if you don’t comply with their disembarkation rules. It is my personal feeling that anyone who doesn’t follow the rules should be sent to jail for one night minimum, but a fine is a good first step toward trying to curb this behavior. Let’s hope other airlines* follow suit.
*Spirit being the exception (maybe Frontier as well). You know you’re entering the Thunderdome when you’re paying $86 fares.
PS: Two other things on this in no particular order:
- You should also be thrown in jail if it’s your turn to grab your stuff and exit and you’re not remotely ready. Obviously I don’t condone line-jumping, but if the row ahead of you is already walking off of the plane and you’ve still got your seatbelt on: Jail.
- I do think an exception can be make for line-jumping if you have a connection that is in a tight window. I realize people will just lie and say they have a connecting flight if you allow this to slide, but if you’re in the back of the plane and you calmly explain that you have a connection leaving in 25 minutes, I’m fine with letting you skip ahead.
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