Are middle-seaters on flights entitled to both armrests? Should passengers check the row behind them before reclining their seats? Can shoes come off during a flight?
Depends on who you ask — or, if you’re on TikTok, depends on which influencer you follow.
Videos of creators sharing their do’s and don’ts of travel etiquette continue to go viral on the platform, with many users getting into heated discussions in the comments section. These types of videos have become so pervasive on the platform that people have labeled them as a subgenre: FlightTok.
Complaining about fellow passengers is not new, nor is posting about travel woes on social media. Agitated passengers have long used online platforms to connect with others over unpleasant traveling experiences.
I think everybody can relate to the fact that people are misbehaving everywhere, even if it is a little bit of a joke, right
-Ben Keenan, known as @ivebentraveling on TikTok
However, some experts and travel influencers say the influx in specific plane etiquette-related videos has become more commonplace as the travel rebound continues and many people return to situations they hadn’t found themselves in since before the pandemic hit.
“I think everybody can relate to the fact that people are misbehaving everywhere, even if it is a little bit of a joke, right?” said creator Ben Keenan, known as @ivebentraveling on TikTok.
Keenan, 30, went viral in April for reposting his list of controversial plane etiquette guidelines, advising passengers to avoid falling asleep if they are sitting in an aisle seat and telling them to always greet flight attendants.
It quickly picked up hundreds of thousands of views, with people either wholeheartedly agreeing or sharing why they don’t.
