Some say that flying is one of the best parts of traveling, while others may have a different opinion. Given the noises the plane makes, the height of it, and simply the fact that you’re in a giant piece of machinery, that’s a good enough reason for some folks to avoid planes altogether.
However, these very heavy metal birds are actually one of the safest ways to travel, and experts say that you’re more likely to be in a car accident on your way to the airport. Planes are only considered so safe because of the many preventive measures airline staff takes.
However, some airline laws can be pretty silly. Here are 10 odd rules you should know before your next flight!
1. Human Remains Are Technically Allowed in Carry-Ons
When we say human remains, it’s not actually what you’re thinking. If you’re a serial killer, you definitely won’t be able to carry something this shady in your hand luggage.
Yet, you’re free to bring your deceased loved ones on board with you, provided they are cremated and the ashes are kept in a proper container. Despite the fact that there is an old custom where people wear ashes from their loved ones in jewelry, carrying an urn with you is a bit different.
You can check the cremains with some airlines (like Delta Airlines), as they will allow it, but you can also carry them as hand luggage. In fact, there are even temporary urns available out there, and they are airplane safe.
2. Body Odor Must Be Controlled
No, this is no joke, as this is an actual rule. There are plenty of American airlines that have the right to remove from the plane any passengers who have a particularly… odd smell to them. In fact, in January 2019, a family was asked to deplane after several passengers complained about their bad body odor.
As you may guess, the family was pretty furious, claiming that they were treated like that because of their religion. Many people didn’t agree with this rule, but according to American Airlines, the decision was made only after several complaints from multiple passengers. What’s your opinion on this rule?
3. The Flat Tire Rule
This rule is kind of an unofficial airline policy. Is a little more common than the others on this list, and in my opinion, it also makes a little more sense. According to the flat tire rule, check-in agents should provide flexibility to those who may have missed their plane due to a flat tire so they could get the next flight without a penalty.
Seems fair, doesn’t it? In other words, most airlines are required to help you find a new flight at no extra cost. But that’s only if a flat tire kept you from arriving at the airport on time. So, what you see in movies when some character is in this situation and the ground crew is being rude and unhelpful—this shouldn’t happen in real life.
The flat tire rule does usually come with a small fee, but it’s very affordable compared with buying a new ticket. It’s worth mentioning that you can only take advantage of this rule if you’re four hours late or less. Don’t bother claiming it if there are more than four hours.
4. No Shoes, No Shirt… Get Off!
Most airlines have a dress code. The flight crew has every right to make you change your clothes—or, even worse, to kick you off the plane—if they consider your outfit too revealing or derogatory in nature (such as a Nazi t-shirt).
In fact, “no shoes, no shirt, no service” has become a quite popular mantra in many parts of the world, and airplanes are no different when it comes to this rule. This being said, the least you can do is choose some proper clothes to wear, if not for your own sake but for the comfort of other travelers.
5. Flight Crew Must Not Declare Someone Dead
Fortunately, it doesn’t happen very often, but there have been some incidents where people died mid-flight. But what exactly happens when someone does pass away on a plane?
Well, since the flight crew aren’t medical professionals, they aren’t authorized to pronounce someone dead. In fact, according to them, it’s not uncommon for deal travelers to be left where they are. In a situation like this, flight attendants will check a person’s pulse to confirm death.
While the corpse is supposed to be moved to an empty row, if there’s no room on the plane, the body may be left where it is until the flight lands. The good news for other passengers is that the corpse will be covered in a blanket.
Obviously, in an emergency, a healthcare professional will be called, but if a passenger is found dead, there isn’t much to do.
6. Canned Food Regulations on Airlines
This rule is pretty old, and the stigma that came with it has significantly changed since it was first applied, but some airlines won’t let you carry canned foods in your hand luggage. According to the Transportation Security Administration, there are some canned foods that are allowed in a carry-on but that may be prohibited anyway.
Luckily, the TSA provides an extensive list detailing what you can—and cannot—bring in both your checked bag and hand luggage. There are indeed many regulations and rules that must be followed, such as ensuring that (if you’re entering or leaving another country) the food you’re carrying with you is actually allowed, as contamination and quality control at borders are very important.
7. The UK’s Regulation of Large Electronics on Certain Routes
If you’ve flown to and from the UK in the past few years, you definitely know about this rule. In 2017, the UK modified its regulations and rules for large electronics (tablets, laptops, and some phones). According to the current rules, you cannot bring certain large electronics in your luggage when flying to certain countries in the East.
Specifically, any electronic device that is bigger than 16 cm long by 9.3 cm wide by 1.5 cm deep is banned and cannot be brought on board if the flight is from the UK to countries like Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.
This rule came into effect despite the fact that, in 2013, passengers around the world had the green light to bring large electronic devices onto flights on most routes. However, there was a time when the US also banned electronics in 2017.
8. Prohibited Items Don’t Always Have To Be Confiscated
Chances are, you’ve been in this situation at least once. You get to the airport, ready to go, with your stuff packed, only to get to security and have an officer tell you that there’s something in your hand luggage that isn’t allowed on the plane.
Obviously, you immediately think that you must do what you’ve got to do, leaving the prohibited object behind. The thing is, however, that you don’t. There are actually ways to leave your stuff behind when traveling by plane.
Most airports have a post office where you can bring the object or give it to the person that came with you to say goodbye.
9. Male Flight Attendants Cannot Wear Makeup
Since the very beginning of commercial flying, flight attendants have had to be impeccably and sharply dressed, with many height, weight, and fashion requirements being present since the first official commercial flight.
Fashion is constantly changing, and people have become much more comfortable with the idea that a grown man can also wear makeup and that he can even look good while wearing it. However, airlines are still putting a limit on this new trend, as most of them don’t allow male flight attendants to wear makeup.
There’s still something most airlines seem to be OK with—female flight attendants are no longer required to wear makeup.
10. You Can Be Kicked Off for Being Too Big
Just like being asked to deplane for having a bad body odor, this is definitely a very embarrassing situation to be in. Apparently, there’s a rule saying that if you’re two inches bigger than your seat (even though most airlines have seatbelt extenders), the flight crew can kick you off the plane.
After the passenger next to him complained about his size, an American man was removed from an American Airlines flight for being too big. That’s why airlines usually recommend customers who weigh more buy two seats, but is it an ideal or fair scenario? What do you think?
You may also want to read 7 Things You Should NEVER Do on a Cruise Ship (and Why).
