# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/61 "2010-10-13T19:46:19Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > 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. [ul][_]The message board is dedicated to fighting ignorance, not error. You know, things like not knowing what the message board is dedicated to fighting. [_]Your point is only valid if the OP was unsure of how to spell Lindbergh. [\*]Your pedantic smart-assery wasted a hell of lot more time than three tenths of a second.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/62 "2010-10-13T20:19:50Z")
I don’t usually see this in the US, unless it was a particularly difficult landing (like in a snowstorm). ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/63 "2010-10-13T20:20:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > [@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? That cracked me up. Thank you. _claps and LOLs_ ---
**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, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/64 "2010-10-13T20:29:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 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? I was on one of those seats as a passenger in small plane at Moosonee. The seat was not pinned in its track, and the door was not properly closed, so when the plane started to taxi, the seat, with me strapped in it, slid back to the end of the track and then bounced out the door, leaving me sitting on the runway, fortunately uninjured. There was no victory lap, but the plane did stop and the pilot came back for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/65 "2010-10-13T21:38:31Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I don’t think i’ve ever been on plane where the passengers applauded the landing. Either have I, and I’ve flown quite a bit. However, when I do fly, from take-off to landing, I’m in such a state of panic and distress (I don’t tolerate flying very well) that when we do land safely, I sort of silently clap, you know, on the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/66 "2010-10-13T21:56:15Z")
Flying makes me a bundle of nerves. I have witnessed the clapping. I have joined in the clapping. Sometimes it’s just a lot of strangers finding common ground in being happy to be alive/home/whatever, and I’m generally pleased when a large group of people behave happily rather than trying to rip each other’s faces off. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/67 "2010-10-13T22:10:57Z")
> [@Faruiza](#): > > Sometimes it’s just a lot of strangers finding common ground in being happy to be alive/home/whatever,… Correct. Most people will not feel more vulnerable and powerless than when they are a passenger on an aircraft. You have absolutely no control of a relatively tenuous situation: there is no pulling over to the side of the road after engine trouble; and, yes, accidents in aircraft are infrequent relative to automobiles (duh, many more people drive much more frequently), but let’s discuss survivability statistics _after_ an accident. ---
**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, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/68 "2010-10-13T23:39:53Z")
> [@carm](#): > > \ (except the moany fuckers posting here)\ That’s one of the best descriptions of Dopers I’ve seen in a long time. 😃 > [@Redpill](#): > > Completely normal, I even clap and hi-five myself when I pull into a parking spot.\ I’m totally going to start doing that. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/69 "2010-10-13T23:55:39Z")
Is this new? I admit that it has been almost a dozen years since I was on a commercial flight, but between 1973 and 1999, I had been on numerous commuter, cross-country, and international flights and I have never encountered this phenomenon. (Are you sure they weren’t clapping for the closing credits of the in-flight movies? 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/70 "2010-10-14T00:18:09Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Is this new? I admit that it has been almost a dozen years since I was on a commercial flight, > > \ > > (Are you sure they weren’t clapping for the closing credits of the in-flight movies? 😛 ) Clearly, you _haven’t_ been on a commercial flight in a while. ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/71 "2010-10-14T00:41:08Z")
I try to scream frantic curse words followed by praise ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/72 "2010-10-14T01:21:21Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Is this new? I admit that it has been almost a dozen years since I was on a commercial flight, but between 1973 and 1999, I had been on numerous commuter, cross-country, and international flights and I have never encountered this phenomenon. I fly often, and see it often enough. I can’t recall it happening 20 years ago, though. It’s one of my pet peeves, at least when it happens after a completely uneventful flight. (I can see it after a rough flight where we’ve flown through bad weather or turbulence.) It’s like people are amazed by the fact that the plane has achieved its most basic objective, that is, taking off, flying to the destination, and landing without crashing. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/73 "2010-10-14T01:41:11Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > I get this all the time on flights into and out of Russia. Meh, all I saw was a drunken fist fight. No clapping when we handed–I think everybody was too hung over. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/74 "2010-10-14T01:46:29Z")
> [@What has caused you to laugh the most?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-caused-you-to-laugh-the-most/347672/52): > > I have no idea why people do this either. One time I accidentally started a round of plane landing applause when I clapped sarcastically to point out the stupidity of doing the same. > > > [@What has caused you to laugh the most?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-caused-you-to-laugh-the-most/347672/52): > > > > Near the end of our flight back to New York, I leaned over to my mother and remembered that when I was younger, people used to clap when the plane landed. ‘What a stupid custom,’ I told her. ‘Did these idiots get on the plane, then realize maybe the pilot didn’t know how to land it?’ I railed, quietly, in this fashion for a minute or two and concluded by saying ‘At least I haven’t heard it since September 11th. I guess people decided the possibility that the pilot actually couldn’t land was a little too real and not too funny.’ > > > > A few minutes later, the plane landed on US soil. I sarcastically clapped my hands a few times. And then it happened. A few passengers way in front of me started clapping, and a moment later, the whole plane burst into applause. Well, **Marley23** , is your real name [Mr. Pitt](http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/ThePledgeDrive.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/75 "2010-10-14T01:56:04Z")
The best thing is to yell “Hope the plane don’t crash!” just as the plane takes off. If anyone objects, tell them you’re emulating Bill Cosby. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/76 "2010-10-14T02:27:38Z")
> [@Redpill](#): > > Completely normal, I even clap and hi-five myself when I pull into a parking spot. ( and the wave if I have passengers ) Isn’t clapping just rapidly and repeatedly hi-fiving yourself anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/77 "2010-10-14T03:04:58Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Is this new? I admit that it has been almost a dozen years since I was on a commercial flight, but between 1973 and 1999, I had been on numerous commuter, cross-country, and international flights and I have never encountered this phenomenon. > > (Are you sure they weren’t clapping for the closing credits of the in-flight movies? 😛 ) As mentioned, only certain groups tend to do it. Puerto Ricans and Italians do and I can believe they do it in Eastern Europe as well although I have never been there. If you don’t go to places dominated by passengers on flights, you wouldn’t normally see it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/78 "2010-10-14T03:10:11Z")
I’ve only seen this once, on a trans-Atlantic flight. It was a few days, maybe a week, after they’d started letting airplanes land in the States after 9/11. People were acting like they’d just seen the winning touchdown at the Superbowl. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I joined in, either. Although, honestly, I don’t think you need an aeronautics-related national tragedy as an excuse. After spending thirteen hours on an airplane, the opportunity to get the fuck off of it is worth a little celebration, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/79 "2010-10-14T03:29:16Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Wow, life must be awfully irritating if you are constantly annoyed by people’s minor expressions of joy. The clapping lasts how long? Maybe 10 seconds? You really can’t suck it up and say “Hey, I don’t feel like clapping, but these people over here seem to feel like clapping and in fact look pretty happy about it, good for them.” > > You get this in a lot of places, particularly among people who are used to flying on less-than-reliable airlines. It’ s just a little social ritual saying “Yay! I’m in one piece, this flight is over, and now it’s time to start my journey/return home.” > > One of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen was at the Douala airport in Cameroon. People were gathered on the roof to see the one or two flight of the night take off. When they did, everyone on the roof clapped in delight and probably hope for what the outside world had to bring their loved ones on the plane. That sounds pretty nice. I don’t get why people are so upset by it either. If it’s not abnormal to thank the bus driver, why not do the same thing for the pilot? It kind of reminds me of people who get upset by little things like saying “No problem” for “Thank you.” It actually makes me want to do it even more, too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/80 "2010-10-14T03:35:20Z")
I haven’t experienced the clapping after landing since the 80’s. Back then, people were allowed to **smoke** during the flight. That seems impossibly strange now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975.md?page=5)