Do you applaud when the plane lands?

[JackBeck]

Poll question: Do you applaud when the plane lands?

I find this behavior quite intriguing. And weird. It's as if everything that has been passing by the passenger outside their window was directed by Marty Scorsese.

I've never done it, but I think the only time that would earn applause from me would be if the pilot, against all odds, somehow saved all of our lives.

My layover ends in about half an hour in Chicago (sorry, terrya, I should given you a heads-up) so hopefully I'm not jinxing myself asking this.

[bigwillq]

1. My boyfriend does.

He applauds then cries. LOL! :rofl: :) ;) :hi:

[JackBeck]

2. Are you serious?

You are a better man than I, that's for sure.

:hi: :hug:

[bigwillq]

4. Why so?

:shrug:

[JackBeck]

6. I'd be embarrassed as all get out.

For whatever reason, this is one of those things that I'd have to negotiate with myself whether or not I'd bring it up in conversation as something that bothers me.

(OT...going to see Madge in a couple months? Already have tickets for two nights.)

[bigwillq]

7. I don't fly

so I never witnessed this but that's what he tells me. He's very emotional when flying, especially if he's going to and fro his homeland.

[Redstone]

3. Is this something new? I flew a lot for business in the 1980s, and never saw it.

Applauding just because the pilot managed to land the fucking airplane?

Isn't that the pilot's job?

Redstone

[JackBeck]

8. My thoughts exactly, buddy.

I would say that given the amount that I travel for work, it happens almost every time.

It even makes me yearn for the day that someone applauds every time I get out of bed, make it to the train on time, and work for 8 hours.

[Redstone]

24. Oh, Gawd. You're someone I trust to tell me the truth, so I'm sorry to hear that.

People actually fucking APPLAUD the pilot for setting the airplane on the ground, which is what he (or she) gets PAID to do?

These are parlous times, indeed. And, may I add, I am SO goddamn happy I don't have to fly on commercial flights anymore.

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear JackBeck!

I have been on flights where this has happened...

If the descent has been unusually bumpy or some such...

And it was obvious that the pilots were using considerable skill in getting us onto the ground, safely...

Normally, I just tell them "Thank you" as I deplane!

:hi:

[JackBeck]

9. That's my response as well.

It's one of those parts of human behavior, given the amount that I fly, that I'm curious to figure out.

Bumpy landing? Sure. Makes sense.

Any other run of the mill landing and there's applause? Tacky.

:hi:

[FloridaJudy]

28. I once did this

When a plane landed in the middle of a blizzard - we had no choice, being almost out of fuel. Unfortunately I had to spend the next two days in a airport hotel, since nothing could take off. That was okay, because the local TV station was running an MST3K marathon. If I'd had to spend in the airport, I would have been ticked.

The one time I flew El Al, the passengers started singing when we landed in Israel - I was told it's traditional.

[Hissyspit]

10. Everything that has been passing by me outside the window wasn't directed by Martin Scorsese?

[Mr. Blonde]

32. Nope

Michael Bay at best.

[DS1]

11. When it's extremely nasty outside, with lots of fog and rain and gusts

I'll either join in or tell the crew how much they rock on the way out. Or, if it's so smooth you can barely feel it, but I won't applaud for that, but I'll mention it on the way out. A little bit goes a long way, especially for a mostly thankless job done by people getting shafted left and right.

[AlCzervik]

12. no but i always say thank you when i walking out.

[Aristus]

13. Only if it was a rough flight.

My brother and I were flying back from San Antonio in 1994 after visiting our grandparents. The flight was pummeled by the worse turbulence I've ever experienced. We were jolted around that angry sky for a couple of hours, and people would audibly groan with fright every time the atmosphere smacked us again. I'm pretty sure it was just routine stuff for the pilots. I can imagine their casual remarks:

"Little rough."

"Yep."

But we were in fear for our lives. When the plane landed safely at Sea-Tac, everyone gave the crew a round of applause.

[liberaltrucker]

14. Only if an engine is on fire

Or any other aviation mishap which would require the pilot
to use all of his/her skill to save my ass.

Routine landing? Uh, no.

[cwydro]

15. No

that is ridiculous.

If the flight were bad enough I felt the need to applaud the landing, I would probably be too busy cleaning my seat.

[jobycom]

16. I've never seen that, except when something unusual happens.

Like the time the tail burst into flames and rats began running down the aisles, and gnawed a hole through the cockpit door and began climbing over the pilots. How they managed to land that thing in that field while singing "Ben," I'll never know, but the rendition was quite applause-worthy.

[newmajority]

31. Michael Jackson was the pilot?

Has the former "king of pop" now become "king of the sky"??

[jobycom]

48. Heavens no, it was a woman

She had a really deep, husky voice, too, but when she sang her vocals were high and as pure as... well, something pure. Not Michael Jackson.

[democracyindanger]

17. I boo.

[Quakerfriend]

18. Only when I fly into Colombia, SA. This is considered common

courtesy on all flights into Colombia.

This is done as an expression of appreciation for the flight crew.

:9

[yellowdogintexas]

22. I can think of a couple of domestic airports where just getting the plane in

is worthy of applause.

[Quakerfriend]

23. Yes, how true! You just reminded me of a funny story.

Once, while waiting to catch a flight out of San Andres (Colombian island) with my family, my father-in-law realized that he knew the director of the airport. She and he had been old childhood friends.

The airport was under construction, and so she invited up to her office to wait for our flight there where there was less commotion and things were a bit more quite. As we sat there waiting and waiting a plane landed and the pilot got off.

She explained to us that he was to be our pilot on the flight out.

He was GOING SHOPPING and would be back soon to fly us out!! Time was of no concern to this guy!

I think we sat there for more than 3 hrs!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

42. in india and the middle east as well.

[Left Is Write]

19. No, and I can't say as I've ever seen this done either.

[bridgit]

20. Other. I applaud the 'wee goody get your tummy' air turbulence until the wings fall off...

then it's all over but the this :scared: and this :cry:

[yellowdogintexas]

21. I experienced it twice: Once on a very skillful landing in very nasty crosswinds

heading into JFK. You could tell the pilot was fighting his way down and he landed perfectly. The entire plane spontaneously broke out in applause.

The second time, the plane was full of WWII vets headed for a reunion at Fort Campbell..this would have been around 1975 I think. Anyway, they were partying it up big time, teasing the cabin crew and just generally enjoying themselves. The pilot kind of got in on it with the announcements he made from the cabin and as we headed into Nashville, he was kind of clowning with the passengers over the speaker ..and we all cheered when he landed but that was due more to the general party mood of the group..They had all boarded in Philadelphia and were from all over the greater Philadelphia area, flying into Nashville for that 30th reunion of their WWII unit. One of the most fun flights I ever experienced.

[City of Mills]

25. Everyone clapped when we landed in Maui

Combination of a long flight along with toughing out some strong winds when we landed.

[Schema Thing]

26. like a seal

[bluesbassman]

27. No way!

That would be rude and unappreciative.

I just offer the pilot some of my blow on the way out.



Wait a sec, this isn't 1982 is it?

[Genevieve]

29. I did, but just once.

The plane's cooling system conked out shortly after we were in the air . The flight took approx. 10 hours from Italy to New York
and the temperature in the plane felt like it was in the upper 90's. And I was also running a fever
from some weird throat infection I got in while in Venice.
I not only applauded, I wanted to kiss the ground

[Kali]

30. I think it is also a German or European thing.

The (mostly German) crowd did it landing in Frankfurt and on a plane to Dalyan Turkey the last time I flew (2002).

[TZ]

33. Like others if the flight is bad but the landing good

Coming back from MN earlier this year we hit the worst turbulence I've ever encountered...And we landed at National Airport, not exatly the easiest place to land at. The landing was smooth--one of the best I've encountered. Suffice to say after that rough flight..The skill of the pilot was well appreciated..

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

40. Of course it was a perfect landing.

:hi:

[DainBramaged]

34. Only when Barack Obama is piloting the plane

[undeterred]

35. In 1979 there was a terrible crash at OHare airport

right after takeoff. Nearly 300 people killed. I flew home to OHare about a week later from California, and everyone on the plae applauded when we landed.

[Robb]

36. Challenging landings, yes

...Or challenging airports.

Flew into Telluride, CO a few years back. Airport's at 9,000 feet, on top of a mesa, with a drop-off on either side. Sort of a land or else situation. Locals call it the USS Telluride. :D

Anyhoo, bad turbulence and flawless landing = applause.

[kedrys]

37. I'm usually too busy trying to get the s.o. to sit the hell back down

until the aisle actually clears out enough for us to bug out. :P I always thank the crew on the way out, though.

[malta blue]

38. I have always given a little clap.

It's something I learned as a kid flying between NYC and the Dominican Republic. Almost everyone on the planes clapped every time, so I did it to.

Little MB finds it amusing and participates as well.

:shrug:

Could be a cultural thing ...

[WritingIsMyReligion]

39. No. I might smile to a flight attendant or something if they were especially helpful during

the flight, but no--no applause. The only time I really remember having people applaud was when we landed in motherf*cking Atlanta after an hour's delay on the tarmac in the city of origin...we were that glad we'd finally made it to Atlanta. Of course, my connecting flight out of Atlanta north to come home was delayed by about 2 hrs because of the NEVERENDING SHITTY WEATHER down there. We left Atlanta at about midnight and touched down here in New England at about 2:10 AM.

:grr:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. yes, its customary to applaud the pilot for landing you safely

after long flights.

[pitohui]

43. not on any long hauls i've been on, but i've only flown long haul to africa, europe, and japan

so what do i know?

i've heard of people applauding/singing when landing in israel as posted upthread but that's the only exception and never witnessed it for myself as (sadly) my trip to israel got canceled :cry:

i would think it a little weird and sarcastic except in the case where it's a long time custom, which it apparently is in israel

after a flight, i say "thank you" or some such to the crew as i'm deplaning but i don't applaud nor do i see others do this...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

44. its traditional in the middle east and the indian subcontinent

[pokerfan]

45. My favorite landings are the ones that are so bad

that the door to the flight deck remains closed until all the passengers have departed. That always makes me laugh.

[SoxFan]

46. Once

We flew through heavy turbulence and violent thunderstorms.

We couldn't land in Atlanta.

We started to run out of fuel.

Over Huntsville.

Eventually we made it to Atlanta, alive and without having to spend the night in northern Alabama. That warranted a hearty round of applause.

[quakerboy]

47. What?

what is this oddity? Never heard of it.

I dunno. I wouldn't care if someone else claps. As long as they don't use the Bracelet Tazer to punish me for not clapping.

[InvisibleTouch]

49. Other: Only if it was a rough flight. n/t