Here's Why You Shouldn't Clap When a Plane Lands

If you’ve ever experienced excessive turbulence in the air or been on a plane that landed in precarious conditions, you might have felt inclined to show your appreciation—and extreme relief—with a round of applause. As a travel writer and frequent flier, I’ve had my share of white-knuckle moments on board, including an emergency landing in New York due to a bird strike and flying into the Paro International Airport in Bhutan, which has such a short landing strip that it’s visible just moments before arrival and only after navigating between massive mountains.

Although I’m not the type of traveler to burst into applause when touching down on solid ground, many people are—and they certainly did on those flights. However, according to the rules of airplane etiquette, clapping might not be a good idea when landing. Yep, you read that right.

We spoke with two experts to get to the bottom of this surprising directive. Read on to find out if you should reconsider this typically well-intentioned gesture and what you might want to do instead.

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Why do people clap when a plane lands?

“Passengers clap for a variety of reasons,” says Jacqueline Whitmore, a business etiquette expert and former Northwest Airlines flight attendant, “including showing appreciation that the pilots landed the plane safely and smoothly or expressing happiness that they reached their destination.” This often happens after a particularly turbulent flight, she adds, when passengers are really happy to be back on terra firma. (Sometimes there’s a moment when you’re not sure you ever will be again!)

Although there’s no verified origin story, some say the act of clapping upon landing may be a holdover from the early days of air travel, when flying was a novelty and service was exceptional. So celebratory applause was intended to convey appreciation for a safe arrival and the extra-special experience on board.

For some modern-day passengers, clapping is still an expression of relief, and in some locations, such as the Philippines and Puerto Rico, it’s common for those who live and work abroad to erupt in applause and cheers to show their excitement about returning home after a long time away. Award-winning actor, songwriter and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame tweeted about the topic back in 2018: “I clap every time a plane lands and so do most Puerto Ricans. That’s like our thing. I love it. We cheated gravity and we’re alive. I’m shocked when people DON’T clap.”

Why shouldn’t people clap at the end of a flight?

Two pilots in the cockpit of a commercial airliner BENOIT DUCROCQ/Getty Images

Put simply, clapping isn’t always as polite as it may seem. “It’s a gesture of kindness, and most people would not be offended,” says etiquette expert Diane Gottsman. “But you can never say never because there could be extenuating circumstances, and a passenger may be showing poor judgment by clapping slower and louder than usual to emphasize sarcasm.”

Plus, it’s a pilot’s job to get you there in one piece. Did you doubt that would happen? Very possibly … which is another reason it might not be seen as polite.

You also need to take the other passengers into consideration. “If the flight was overly turbulent or if the pilot had to make an emergency landing—due to passenger illness, an unruly passenger, a mechanical emergency, etc.—clapping might come across as insensitive to passengers who are shaken or upset,” Whitmore says.

Does this airplane etiquette rule apply only to certain cultures or countries?

Whether clapping on an airplane is considered polite or offensive depends largely on the destination and the people seated around you. For example, it may be common to clap when landing in Colombia or Bulgaria, but it could be considered disrespectful when touching down in the U.K.

So what’s a mindful and enthusiastic traveler to do? Read the room—or, rather, the airplane cabin. “When traveling internationally, I suggest erring on the side of caution,” Whitmore says. “It’s best to observe and follow the customs of other cultures.” If you’re itching to applaud upon landing, wait a moment to see whether or not others on board show their gratitude, relief or excitement in the same way.

Is it OK to clap at any other point during a flight?

There are in-flight situations in which applause is warranted and welcome, says Whitmore. These include:

Achievements. If the crew announces someone on board has reached a travel goal, such as 1 million miles, Whitmore says you can support their milestone with a round of applause.
Special occasions. Whitmore notes that in-flight mentions of special occasions, such as honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays and engagements, are the perfect time to put your hands together. I was recently on a flight where the crew announced the pilot would be retiring and our flight was the final one of his decades-long career. So, of course, passengers were encouraged to applaud his upcoming retirement and years of dedication to safely transporting travelers around the globe.
Victories. I have been on numerous flights where sports teams occupied entire sections of the plane. I have also been in the air during popular athletic events, such as the Olympics or the Super Bowl. So sometimes, the pilot or crew may announce scores or outcomes in real time or congratulate a team on board for a big win. This is another situation in which you’re welcome to join in on the applause.
Military. Whitmore says it’s also appropriate to clap if any members of the military are recognized for their service.

The experts warn that there is a specific time when you should never clap on a flight. “When summoning a flight attendant,” Gottsman says, “clapping, snapping or whistling is never appropriate.”

What should you do to show your appreciation after a flight?

Clapping after landing isn’t universally acceptable, but there are other surefire ways to convey your appreciation after a flight. While crew and pilots are unable to accept cash tips, here are other ways to show gratitude:

Prepare for landing. Show that you’re paying attention to and appreciate the hardworking crew by doing all of the necessary steps to prepare for landing: Put away your tray table, tidy up your area, place your trash in the bags the crew provides as they pass through the aisles, stow your electronics and carry-on, and return your seat to the upright position. You can save the flight attendants some time if they don’t need to remind you to do these things or scramble to help you throw out your trash or put away your personal items at the last minute.
Verbal acknowledgment. I always try to make eye contact with the crew and pilot and thank them as I pass by on my way out of the airplane. Being a passenger these days can be an exhausting and stressful experience, so I can only imagine how they feel after working a full flight! As the saying goes, kindness doesn’t cost a thing. Whitmore says that, when exiting an airplane, passengers can convey their appreciation directly to the pilots and crew by saying things like: “Thank you for an enjoyable flight,” “I appreciate you all” or “Thanks for the lift!”
Written feedback. Many travelers only submit feedback when things go wrong. So if you’ve had a positive experience, don’t keep it to yourself. Consider writing a little thank-you note to hand the crew on the way out, or submit feedback directly to the airline. Be sure to include your flight number, date, the name of the pilot or crew member and some details of how this person helped you or provided an enjoyable, comfortable and safe flight. You can generally find feedback forms or customer care contact info on an airline’s website.

About the experts

Jacqueline Whitmore is an internationally recognized expert in etiquette and a former Northwest flight attendant. With more than two decades of experience in etiquette training, she is the founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, a coaching and training company that specializes in business etiquette.
Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert with more than 20 years of experience. The founder of the Protocol School of Texas, she is the author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life. She also holds a master’s degree in human behavior and is a frequent traveler.

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Sources:

Jacqueline Whitmore, business etiquette expert, founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach and former Northwest Airlines flight attendant; email interview, Jan. 21, 2025
Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Texas; email interview, Jan. 21, 2025
X: Post by Lin-Manuel Miranda
TikTok: “Bulgarians and Colombians have in common clapping in the airplane” post by Velucreativa
Express: “Tourists warned flight etiquette mistake should be ‘left in the past’ as it is ‘rude'”