“Air rage” incidents, including viral footage of in-flight altercations, continue to occur regularly.

This year, one passenger spat on a woman, and another attempted to damage a plane in flight. Ryanair now imposes fines of 500 pounds in Britain and €500 in Europe for passengers removed due to disruptive behavior.

This issue has persisted since it peaked in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As aircraft began to take off again, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that incidents involving rowdy passengers had nearly doubled to 5,973 in 2021.

Reports have decreased since then, reaching 2,102 in 2024, but they have not yet reached prepandemic levels.

The widespread rise, according to experts on air rage, is due to a change in societal standards that has occurred since the beginning of the pandemic.

They add that there is systemic pressure that affects people in the aisles as a result of the airline industry’s narrow margins after losses during the pandemic.

Industrial-organizational psychologist Dr. Alison Vredenburgh described the situation as a perfect storm and stated that passenger comfort is a lower priority.

“Every aspect of flying’s design raises the likelihood of conflict, and this is not working, and the airlines themselves must decide that” she stated.

While a comprehensive overhaul of air travel may take time, the following advice can help you avoid becoming involved in a disruptive incident.

Sara Jane Ho, an etiquette expert and host of “Mind Your Manners” on Netflix, advised against using the word “you,” especially in an accusatory manner, to avoid escalating heated situations.

Avoid using the phrase “have to,” she added, as people dislike being told what to do.

Therefore, a sentence like “You need to move your bag” isn’t a good place to start while the cabin is filling up and people are trying to stow their bags and settle in.

Instead, try saying something like, “I’d like to fit my bag in there, too.” Avoid reciprocating if things start to become ugly.

Don’t ignore the other person’s worries; instead, make an effort to listen to them and get their perspective.