I was on one flight where everybody applauded when it landed. We were stuck on the tarmac in Hartford for about an hour prior to takeoff, there was a crying baby on board, then we circled Atlanta for God knows how long, and when the plane finally touched the ground, we all just started clapping for the ordeal was almost over.
Except for sitting on the tarmac at Hartsfield for 30 more minutes 'cause our gate had another plane in it. :smack:
Clapping on landing is very common in Asia and the Middle East particularly on long haul flights. It is becoming less common.
WTF, that’s a little uncalled for. A “cute anecdote about people clapping for airplanes” story is not uncalled for in a “people clapping for airplanes” thread. If you have an issue with me it’d be far more productive to address me directly (or use the ever-handy “ignore feature”) rather than randomly snarking innocuous posts.
Only if one repeatedly chants “high-five” while clapping. I’ll try it next time.
FRENCH Canadians for me. I flew for years, but I never got the round of applause treatment until I flew out of Dorval with a plane almost completely populated by Francophones.
I think I shall start clapping taxi drivers and bus drivers when they reach my destination!
Should get a fun reaction!
On an aside a stewardess I know tells me its an economy class phenomenon. She also told me the particular pilots of that airline called economy passengers SLF ( Self loading Freight) and the Business passengers (SLFF) Self Loading Fragile Freight.
looks like we have fun from both sides
Apparently takeoff is more deserving of applause, according to this Salon Q&A article.
Agreed. Withdrawn.
Is “fly and flee” the airplane version of a “dine and dash”? 
Um…yeah dumbass. I sort of would be bitching all over the place if the pilot crashed my plane into a mountain.
I’m going to start clapping on the subway whenever it makes its stops.
It’s an expression of relief: “Oh, thank God, we’re about to get out of these awful seats and on to solid land! Yay!” At least, that’s why I do it.
In some flights they do cheering, too.
But if you clapped after takeoff and then the plane exploded midflight you’d look pretty silly.
And yet you can’t muster enough humility out of your pathetic, entitled ass when someone takes your life in their hands and does you a service that is by no means easy to at least understand why others (who aren’t as jackassy as you) might be grateful for it. I’m not an especially clappy person myself to be honest - but you don’t see me coming here to mock the people who do, because I get it. Maybe when someone you love does die in a blood-drenched fiery ball of twisted metal you’ll grow the fuck up and learn to appreciate the people who get you there safe and sound. But then again probably not - you do seem like a miserable little fuck.
OK, try this on for size:
I saw the premier midnight showing of The Dark Knight in a little, podunk theater in little, podunk Havre, MT, where tumbleweeds blow down Main St. and the nearest sushi place is five hours away.
Before the film, there was a trailer for Watchmen. I was quite impressed with it, certainly, as it represented another artifact of the Mass Subculture infiltrating well beyond where it would have a few decades ago. I can’t claim to ‘believe in’ theaters as being 100% future-proof, but seeing things on the big screen does have more punch than huddling over a computer monitor.
When the trailer was over, people applauded. Not just a smattering, but a fairly sustained and popular response.
I joined in.
Commence your outraged putdowns.
Oh, I’ll forgive you and even offer to share the popcorn, Derleth, seeing how I cheered after being proved right in that “Badass black dude + vampires = Blade” (the boyfriend had been saying “naw, can’t be” all through the trailer).
So… this thread is pretty much “Fucking foreigners, I hate them all.” Charming.
I remember a group of people somewhere at the back of the plane clapping when the plane landed. I thought someone made an announcement like “I’m engaged!” and people were congratulating them. It’s only when I read this thread that I find out it’s a custom in certain parts.
People get upset over “No problem”? Why?
I am OUTRAGED!! The nearest sushi place is FIVE HOURS AWAY?!? OUTRAGEOUS!!
Actually it kind of is uncalled for, seeing as the thread isn’t titled people clapping, but rather idiots clapping. I don’t think the OP was looking for any heart-warming cutesie tales of natives doing what he’s complaining about.
Maybe you should go die in a blood drenched fiery ball of twisted metal you hypersensitive jackass. Then you’d see me clap.
Now why don’t you take a deep breath, stop pretending as if I should know or care why you have such personal animosity towards me, and shove a dildo up your ass.