JULY 30, 2026
Air India Passenger.
Basic etiquette, the simple actor of being kind, considerate and respectful towards those around us, can make all the difference while travelling. But not everyone follows these unwritten rules. A passenger on a long-haul flight highlighted the consequences of ignoring basic courtesy, alleging that his nearly 20-hour journey turned into a “chaotic nightmare” after his fellow passengers disregarded common travel etiquette.
Taking to Reddit, the man claimed that what was supposed to be a comfortable journey on an Air India flight from Vancouver to Delhi turned into his worst experience after his co-passengers treated the bulkhead area like a “living room.” He said that due to medical emergency, the schedule of the flight was extended from 16 hours to 20 hours, including a 3.5 hour tarmac hold in Kolkata.
“Really Disappointing Experience”
He hoped to get some sleep during the long journey as he paid extra for a bulkhead seat with additional legroom but the upgrade had the opposite effect. “Because of the open space in front of my seat near the lavatories (photo attached), a group of passengers treated it like a living room. They gathered right in front of me, chatting and laughing loudly for hours with zero spatial awareness,” he said.
If that was not frustrating enough, the passenger alleged that a child seated behind him repeatedly kicked his seat and drummed on the tray table for hours. He said he first requested the child to stop in Hindi, but was told she only understood English. Although the behaviour stopped after he requested in English, it resumed within 10 minutes.
“To make it worse, the kid’s mother (who was holding another infant) completely ignored the situation even after I brought it to her attention twice, while constantly getting up every 5 minutes to walk around and go to the lavatories,” he added. The passenger further argued that people cannot be expected to wear noise-cancelling headphones for an entire 20-hour journey to block out loud conversations.
Reflecting on his experience, he said, “As an Indian myself, this was really disappointing to experience. We already face stereotypes and casual racism globally—the absolute least we can do is represent ourselves better when travelling.” He ended the post urging others to follow simple etiquette on long-haul flights like avoiding gathering in aisles, supervising their children and allowing passengers to sleep.
Internet Share Similar Instances On Long-Haul Flights
The post resonated with many people, with several sharing similar experiences onboard flights and agreeing that consideration for others can make a significant difference during long-haul journeys.
One user wrote, “I had a very similar experience on an Air Canada Toronto – Mumbai flight. One of the reasons I now prefer a layover over direct flights.”
“This is nothing specific to Air India. I had the same experience in KLM Europe to America. They were all drinking beer; at last I joined them,” another person said.
A different person shared, “I was flying Lufthansa economy many years ago, and an Indian gentleman opened his tiffin, sat on the floor in the aisle and began eating as if it was his dining room. We Indians aren’t the best of travellers; our basic civic sense is non-existent. I am an Indian, I love my country, but this is the reality.”
“‘Book another airline’ doesn’t work tbh; if the origin or departure is India, the flight will be like this. If anything, Air India’s cabin crew is more tactful with indian passangers,” someone else highlighted.
Courtesy: News18 / PTI
