# Why are you idiots clapping when the plane lands? (mild) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975 "2010-10-13T09:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/21 "2010-10-13T12:05:55Z")
This happens every time I fly into Italy on Ryanair. They play that stupid bugle sound telling you the plane has landed early (has it fuck, they just add ten minutes on to the expected journey length) then all the Italians burst into applause. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/22 "2010-10-13T12:32:33Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > This happens every time I fly into Italy on Ryanair. They play that stupid bugle sound telling you the plane has landed early (has it fuck, they just add ten minutes on to the expected journey length) then all the Italians burst into applause. Think about it. This is about the most amazing thing an Italian will ever hear (since Mussolini was in power anyway). Something happening on time is up there with the 2nd coming to them. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/23 "2010-10-13T12:35:31Z")
Were you on my flight, because I usually start it. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/24 "2010-10-13T12:40:24Z")
I’m glad I have only flown Alitalia to Italy. I have, however, flown Ryanair to and/or from Germany, France and Britain. No applause. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/25 "2010-10-13T12:51:12Z")
American, who’s flown (almost) exclusively domestic flights: I think I’ve seen this just once, when there was lots of weather and we were stuck in a holding pattern for an hour. Of course, I’m always flying into or out of New York, and it takes more than landing a plane to elicit an emotional response from us. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/26 "2010-10-13T13:13:46Z")
People are clapping for the pilots? I just assumed clapping on landing was just spontaneous joy at still being alive. (I don’t think I’ve ever heard it, but I’ve only flown four times, and they were all a fairly long time ago.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/27 "2010-10-13T13:25:35Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > > [@msmith537](#): > > > > Do you think we are Lindburg, making the dangerous crossing to Newark for the first time? > > Isn’t it a coincidence that **Lindburg** flew across thew Hudson for the first time, and some guy named [Lindbergh](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh) flew across the Atlantic solo for the first time? What are the odds two guys with such similar – but differently-spelled – names would achieve historical firsts in flight? > > See, that’s the kind of thing that would inspire _me_ to clap. Why don’t you make like his son and disappear? Wise-ass ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/28 "2010-10-13T13:25:36Z")
One one local airline, passengers make single claps at random in the air and also against the seats throughout the flight due to the fly and flee problem. ---
**Author:** ![Elvis\_Chimney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/50afbb/32.png) [@Elvis\_Chimney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvis_Chimney)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/29 "2010-10-13T13:27:07Z")
I’m glad I’m not the only person annoyed by this, although it’s only one of the many minor irritants related to air travel. Together, they have the cumulative effect of ensuring I arrive at my destination having imagined a separate grisly death for each one of my co-passengers. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/30 "2010-10-13T13:35:53Z")
I’ve flown a bit domestically and between France and Belgium and I’ve never heard any clapping. I think I’ll clap next time I’m on a plane and see if anyone else joins in. Sorry for all of you who hate it but I’ll be getting amusement from it if I ever experience it. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/31 "2010-10-13T13:37:51Z")
It’s the same logic as clapping at the end of the movie. It’s not like all those who made the movie will be able to hear the clapping from thousands of miles away. That said, when I took my brother to court we had to sit and wait an hour hearing others’ sentencing while waiting for his. I had to fight the urge to clap at the end of each one. I think I’ve been watching too many court shows on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/32 "2010-10-13T13:37:56Z")
It’s better than clapping at a movie. At least in this case, the actor has a reasonable chance being informed of your clapping. ETA: What’s the opposite of clapping? Because I’m doing that in nikonikosuru’s general direction. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/33 "2010-10-13T13:38:40Z")
It is an eastern Europe thing. You wouldn’t understand. I’m guessing there is probably a lot outside your hometown you don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/34 "2010-10-13T13:45:30Z")
It’s probably a way of relieving stress - God knows I’m a bundle of nerves at the end of a flight. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/35 "2010-10-13T13:46:04Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > ETA: What’s the opposite of clapping? Because I’m doing that in nikonikosuru’s general direction. Uhmm, farting? I’ve flown a lot and I’d guess about half those domestic flights ended in clapping. I usually participate as it’s a harmless, part-of-the-crowd-for-a-few-seconds practice, kind of like doing the Wave at a sporting event (do they still do that?). As it’s sort of a physical and auditory meme, I’m surprised that so many here who repeatedly participate in 'net memes are bothered by it. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/36 "2010-10-13T13:54:12Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Why don’t you make like his son and disappear? Wise-ass Okay, I _was_ being a wise-ass by phrasing it that way, but it’s worth noting that I looked it up first myself (in an attempt to evade Gaudere’s Law). I just now ran a Google search for “Charles Lindburg Aviator” and got the correction (“Did you mean Charles _Lindbergh_ Aviator?”) in 0.30 seconds. That’s _three-tenths of a second_ you’ve saved by posting an error on a message board dedicated to fighting error. I hope it was well-used. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/37 "2010-10-13T13:59:15Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > It’s probably a way of relieving stress - God knows I’m a bundle of nerves at the end of a flight. I think that does have a lot to do with it, because it’s more likely to happen if: (1) there have been delays or turbulence on the flight; (2) the passengers are people who don’t fly very often; or (3) it’s an airline (like a Russian one) that has a poor safety record. It doesn’t annoy me: I’m just as happy as anyone else to get to the end of the flight, that I probably won’t join in the applause. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/38 "2010-10-13T14:00:26Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > American, who’s flown (almost) exclusively domestic flights: I think I’ve seen this just once, when there was lots of weather and we were stuck in a holding pattern for an hour. That has been my experience as well, on both domestic and international flights–clapping only after weather-impeded flights where it felt like we were all going to die. I’m shocked to hear people bragging of being serial, routine flight clappers. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/39 "2010-10-13T14:19:50Z")
I’ve never ever seen airline passengers clap on landing, and I’ve flown into 34 countries (and out of just as many). Actually, I take that back. One time I was taking a connecting flight to Newark, and the in-flight movie was _Biodome_ with Pauly Shore. The in-flight entertainment system crapped out midway through. Even the stewardesses applauded. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/40 "2010-10-13T14:28:07Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > This used to be customary on El Al flights as well. > > Thankfully, Israelis seem to be gradually losing this habit… Are they replacing it with the one where they pull the pilot’s chair loose from its moorings and carry him down the aisle of the plane for a victory lap? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975.md?page=3)