How to Stay Safe During Takeoff & Landing
You might be the type to fall asleep the moment you board a plane, or the kind to unbuckle your seatbelt as soon as the plane touches the ground. But did you know that both of these are major no-nos? Along with other rules you're familiar with—like stowing your tray table and keeping your seat upright—these guidelines exist for a reason: safety. Takeoff and landing are the most dangerous phases of a flight, which is why it's crucial to follow instructions and listen to the crew. Here are 10 things to never do during takeoff, and 10 more to avoid during landing.
1. Pull Your Window Shade Down
There's a reason flight attendants ask you to keep your window shades open during takeoff and landing: it's because they can better react to emergencies if they can see what's happening outside. Despite how safe airplanes are, most accidents happen during takeoff and landing. If there's a problem or a potential hazard outside, the crew needs to know fast, and they won't be able to if you leave your shade pulled down.
2. Keep Your Personal Bag on Your Lap
We get it—you might want to keep your personal bag tucked close to you for several reasons. One, you know how dirty airplane floors can be; and two, you want to make sure your valuables stay safe. But you should always put your personal items in the seat in front of you (not under your own seat) as it ensures your belongings don't fly out of your hands or end up in the aisle. In cases of emergencies, the aisles should always be clear so that passengers can safely reach the exits.
3. Leave Your Tray Table Unstowed
Another thing you should remember to stow properly? Your tray table. If you're eating something small before takeoff, make sure to finish it before the plane starts moving. If you can't, put it away. Having your tray table open while taxiing is a hazard because if the plane were to make any sudden jerky motions, you could be thrown forward into it.
4. Grab Items from the Overhead Bins
Forgot your headphones in the overhead compartment? Feeling suddenly chilly and want to retrieve your jacket? During takeoff (and landing), you'll have to wait until the plane is safely in the air (or on the ground) with the seatbelt sign off before you get out of your seat. Opening the overhead bin can be extremely dangerous while the plane is moving, as carry-on luggage and other small items could fly out and hit other passengers.
5. Charge Your Phone
Even if your phone is running low on battery, don't charge it when the plane is about to take off. This is because doing so may interfere with sensitive navigational systems on board, which pilots rely on to fly safely. Once you're at cruising altitude and the plane has stabilized, then you can plug your phone in. Some airlines also have strict rules regarding charging power banks during flight, so always make sure you know what's allowed and what's not.
6. Ignore Safety Instructions
During taxiing, you'll often be shown a safety instruction video as well as a demonstration carried out by the crew. It's important to pay attention when this is being done, so you know what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency. Ignore it, and you'll be clueless if an accident were to occur.
7. Sleep
Another thing you shouldn't do during takeoff? Sleep through it. We get it—you want the flight to be over as soon as possible, and the easiest way to get through it is by sleeping. But if you shut your eyes too early, you'll miss the safety instructions and demonstrations, and you might not have everything properly set up for takeoff. Plus, if an emergency were to occur, you'll be too dazed and disoriented to escape efficiently.
8. Use Noise-Cancelling Headphones
You should also wait until you're safely in the air before you put on your noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds. Use them too early, and you'll miss important announcements and safety instructions. Even if there's a wailing infant, wait until you've taken off before you shut the noise out.
9. Recline Your Seat
This is another one you probably already know, but make sure to put your seat back to its upright position before takeoff. This is because if an accident were to occur, you and other passengers would have a better chance of escaping quickly if the seat in front of them weren't reclined, which can take up more space and get in the way.
10. Leave Your Seatbelt Unbuckled
Never, ever leave your seatbelt unbuckled. No matter how skilled the pilots are at flying your plane into the air and keeping it stabilized, you never want to potentially be thrown out of your seat if something unexpected were to happen. Always strap yourself in securely.
Okay—now you know what you shouldn't do during takeoff. But what are some things you should never do during landing? Here are 10 more tips to keep in mind when your plane is getting back down on the ground.
1. Use the Bathroom
Sometimes you just can't hold it before the plane lands. We get it: when nature calls, nature calls. But pilots often announce far beforehand when they'll be making their initial descent, so it's always a good idea to go before it's too late.
2. Finish Your Snacks
Kept a yogurt from your meal tray and are craving it now? Even if you're feeling peckish, it's best not to eat until you've landed safely. For one, you'll want to keep your tray table safely stowed, and for another, you don't want to potentially choke on your food.
3. Tune Out Announcements
You might think in-flight announcements don't matter to you if you're not heading on a connecting flight, but it's always helpful to keep your ears open when these announcements are being made. They can tell you something important you didn't already know, such as bad weather, or whether the crew is experiencing sudden difficulties, such as a missed approach or a busy airport.
4. Kick Your Leg Out
You should never kick your leg out at any point during a flight, but it's especially important not to during takeoff and landing. Flight attendants at these times are usually coming down the aisles to double-check everything is ready to go, so having your foot out may trip and injure them.
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5. Keep Your Shoes Off
You might have taken your shoes off for most of the flight so your feet didn't feel so restricted, but when you know your plane is landing soon, make sure to put your shoes back on. Not only should you be prepared to deplane efficiently, but you also don't want your shoes to potentially roll down the aisle.
6. Not Storing Away Loose Items
Any loose items, such as gaming consoles, tablets, snacks, or toys, should be put away when your plane is getting ready to land. You don't want these items to drop on the floor and roll out of sight, or potentially hurt anyone.
7. Put on Makeup
You might be tempted to get yourself ready while you're still in the air, but avoid putting on makeup or skincare when the plane is getting ready to land. Your tray table should be stowed and any loose items should be put away during this time, so do it after you've deplaned.
8. Stand Up as Soon as the Plane Touches the Ground
After hours of being stuck in the same spot, it's understandable that you'd want to get up and get out right as the plane touches the ground. But you should always stay seated and strapped in even after the plane has come to a stop on the runway. You'll still need to be taxied to the gate, so unbuckling your seatbelt and moving to get your items overhead any time before that is a major no-no.
9. Keep Your Seatbelt Loose
After two meals on the plane, sometimes the last thing you want is a seatbelt that hugs too tightly around your belly. But you should still make sure it's nice, secure, and not too loose on your hips. When the plane is touching the ground for landing, the braking force the pilots apply can potentially throw you forward if you're not properly strapped in.
10. Let Your Kids Roam
Always make sure your kids are strapped into their seats before landing. They might be extra giddy to get to their destination after hours of being in the air, but if they roam or move about too much, they can hurt themselves and other passengers.
