A 2017 Expedia Airplane Etiquette Study was recently conducted globally to explore passengers’ attitude when travelling on a plane. In Malaysia, the survey established that the majority of Malaysians found it harder to go without their mobile phones than cigarettes.
“As priorities go, the use of mobile phone definitely seems to come out on top for us Malaysians”, said Lavinia Rajaram, Regional Head of Consumer Public Relations, for Expedia brand in Asia. “We saw the majority, at 54 percent say that they most hated parting with their phones on long haul flights, since that meant being disconnected from the world.”
“Nonetheless if there was a passenger misbehaving on a plane only 7% of Malaysians said they would shame the person on social media. A nice reflection of how courteous Malaysians are known to be”, she added.
Scarily or encouragingly, depending on your point of view, cigarettes for smokers came after mobile phones, with 44 percent putting ahead of phones as hardest to quit on long haul flights.
Spouses and romantic partners of Malaysians, however, are very lucky – lucky to share the same spot with the precious mobile phone with 54% of the respondents finding it hardest to disconnect from their partners on long haul flights.
Quirky and overly fond of their mobile phones, Malaysians might be, but no one can say Malaysians are not thoughtful and considerate passengers.
Based on the study, 78 percent would not recline their seats if the passenger behind was noticeably pregnant or elderly and frail. Similarly, 54% has offered their seat to a fellow passenger in need (e.g., a family member split from their group, an elderly passenger, a married couple not seated together), and only 3% has faked a sickness or injury to get a better seat assignment (aisle, window, upgrade).
Of all the ill behaviours one could experience on a flight, Malaysians are most annoyed by noise. Despite our nature for loud chatter and laughter, Malaysians like their peace and quiet.
The study found that:
- 76 percent of respondents could not stand the Boozer – a disruptive, noisy passenger who imbibes in too many alcoholic beverages;
- 72 percent said they dread sitting next to someone who talks too much;
- 68 percent was irritated by parents travelling with loud children but were more forgiving of crying babies, at 46 percent.
“Even though Malaysians are known to enjoy affordability and best deals, our annoyance with loud noise goes so far, as 58 percent of our respondents have shared that they would happily pay more to be seated in a ‘quiet section’ if the airlines were to offer such facility”, ended Rajaram.