One of the most irritating behaviors in air travel may finally be getting addressed, thanks to a bold move from Turkish authorities.
In a new policy rolled out by Turkey’s civil aviation regulators, passengers who leap to their feet prematurely and clog the aircraft aisles before it’s their turn to exit may face fines of nearly $70.
“Please respect the disembarkation priority of the passengers in front of or around you and wait for your turn,” the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced in a directive to airlines, urging flight attendants to report those who jump up too soon.
The penalty for such inconsiderate actions can reach up to 2,603 Turkish lira — approximately $67 — according to a report in the Washington Post.
Additional violations that can trigger fines include removing your seatbelt while the plane is still moving on the runway, or grabbing bags from the overhead bins before the aircraft has come to a full stop — behaviors the directive labeled as “strictly forbidden.”
According to the new guidelines, travelers must remain seated until the passengers in their rows are ready to disembark, at which point they can stand and prepare to leave the plane.
Officials cited a significant uptick in people jumping up and filling the aisles as the reason for the new rule, stating the practice creates hazards for both passengers and luggage, while also interfering with an orderly and fair deplaning process.
In the United States, similar behavior technically violates Federal Aviation Administration policy, which mandates that crew alert the cockpit if people begin standing while the seatbelt sign remains illuminated.
However, once the seatbelt indicator is turned off, those rules no longer apply, leaving enforcement more ambiguous.
The phenomenon of passengers rushing to the aisle — often referred to online as “aisle lice” — has sparked widespread frustration among frequent flyers who view the habit as selfish and counterproductive.
Experts in travel etiquette told the Washington Post that the courteous way to exit a plane is to wait until those seated ahead have left before entering the aisle, though they noted exceptions may be made for travelers with tight connections.
These so-called “aisle lice” are often likened to “gate lice” — travelers who swarm the boarding area in anticipation of getting on the plane early, regardless of their boarding group.
In response to the gate-side chaos, some American airports have introduced systems that sound alarms when passengers try to board before their assigned group, a move designed to ease the crush of early boarders.
{Matzav.com}