Travel etiquette: Americans answer “What would you do?”

It’s a common sight at airports around the country – clusters of travelers in key locations hoping to eke out a little more “juice” for their smartphones and tablets before boarding a flight. So, too, is jockeying for position to get a seat, or be at the front of the line in the airline boarding gate area. In a recent survey conducted by Travel Leaders Group, Americans were asked how they would handle certain uncomfortable – yet fairly common – travel dilemmas. Examples are: “line cutters” boarding airplanes and while on cruise ships, people behaving badly by damaging historic tourist attractions or abusing airline flight crew members, proper etiquette for charging electronics in airline gate areas, what to do if the only open seats are for disabled travelers, and more. The survey includes responses from 2,854 consumers throughout the United States.

“Travelers are faced with countless choices as they plan their vacations, as well as a myriad of situations they encounter while on each journey. Occasionally, there may be some awkward incidents – ones that don’t have a definitive ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to handle,” explained Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko. “In our survey, we identify these potential scenarios, gauge travelers’ reactions, and hope this helps start a dialogue on what would be the proper way to address these dilemmas. The results also allow our travel agent experts to better counsel their clients, whether traveling by air or cruise ship anywhere in the world.”

Airline Etiquette – Gate Area:

(participants could select all that apply)

When asked, “In an airport waiting area, if the only seats available are the seats reserved for disabled travelers, would you sit in one?” the responses were:

No, I would not 56.7%
Yes, but only if there wasn’t a disabled traveler in the area 24.8%
Yes, but I would move as soon as asked 19.7%
Yes, but only if there was more than one seat available for disabled travelers 11.1%
Maybe 4.9%
I don’t know 2.5%

When asked, “If there aren’t enough outlets in the gate area to charge your electronics before your flight, what would you do?” the responses were:

Go to a different gate or area 43.9%
Not an issue for me 31.5%
Wait patiently 25.0%
Sit or stand right by the outlet waiting to pounce on the next available outlet 11.2%
Ask the others if they are done and will unplug 8.5%
Give up 3.2%
I don’t know 2.1%
Secretly remove someone else’s device, if they aren’t next to it, to plug mine in 0.2%

When asked, “If you are lined up to board a flight and someone cuts in front of you, what would you do?” the responses were:

Do nothing, even though it bothers me 37.4%
Say something directly to the individual 35.3%
Do nothing, because it would not bother me 19.2%
Say something to the other people in line with me 7.8%
Say something to an airline staff member 7.7%
I don’t know 5.9%
Take a cell phone picture and post to social media 0.5%

Airline Etiquette – On the Plane:

When asked, “If you were flying alone and a couple or family asked you to switch seats so that they could sit together, what would you do?” the responses were:

Move regardless of what kind of seat it was 45.3%
Move only if new seat was not a middle seat 34.5%
Move only if new seat was an aisle seat 11.2%
I don’t know 8.7%
Move only if new seat was a window seat 4.5%
Move only if new seat had extra leg room 4.0%
Move only if it were closer to the front of the plane 3.0%
I wouldn’t move for any reason 1.2%

When asked, “If someone on a plane is watching a graphic video or program on their personal device or inflight entertainment – that a young child is able to see – what would you do?” the responses were:

Call a flight attendant and let him/her handle the situation 47.7%
Say something directly to the person 17.4%
I don’t know 14.0%
I wouldn’t take any action 13.7%
Sit quietly and say nothing, even though it bothers me 7.2%

When asked, “If you saw an airline passenger mistreating a member of the flight crew, what would you do?” the responses were:

Call another flight attendant and let him/her handle the situation 59.9%
Step in and say something directly to the person 21.1%
I don’t know 16.9%
Pull out a cell phone and record it 13.7%
Sit quietly and say nothing, even though it bothers me 9.0%
I wouldn’t take any action 3.5%

Tourist Etiquette: Travelers Behaving Badly

From smashing 18th-century candelabras in Rome’s Pantheon to breaking the finger off of a 600-year-old statue in Florence, more and more people are damaging centuries-old, historical sites.

When asked, “If you were at a major tourist attraction and saw another visitor damaging the attraction, what would you do?” the responses were:

Tell a security guard or official personnel 89.7%
Take a video or photo of the incident with my mobile phone 27.9%
Say something directly to the person 22.3%
Not sure 5.9%
Say and do nothing 1.1%

Cruise Ship Etiquette:

When asked, “If you were on a cruise and someone cut in front of you in the buffet line, what would you do?” the responses were:

I wouldn’t do anything; it’s only food 60.4%
Say something directly to the individual 24.6%
Stay quiet, even though it bothers me 14.5%
Tell a crew member and let him/her handle the situation 3.5%
I don’t know 3.5%
Take a cell phone picture and post to social media 0.4%

When asked, “If you were on a cruise and passengers were laughing and not paying attention during the safety drill, what would you do?” the responses were:

Stay quiet, even though it bothers me 33.2%
I wouldn’t take any action, wouldn’t bother me 31.5%
Tell a member of the crew and let him/her handle the situation 16.8%
Say something directly to the individual(s) 16.7%
I don’t know 7.4%
Join them in the fun 0.9%

When asked, “If cruise passengers near your stateroom were smoking on their veranda (balcony) when it is clearly stated that you are not supposed to do this, what would you do?” the responses were:

Call a crew member and let him/her handle the situation. 72.0%
Say something directly to the individual(s). 14.4%
Do nothing; it wouldn’t bother me 12.4%
Stay quiet, even though it bothers me. 5.6%
I don’t know. 4.3%
Take a cell phone picture and post to social media. 1.1%