Applauding upon landing
 

How does everyone feel about applauding when your flight lands? I think it's a nice gesture. 99% of the time (thank God) I'm travelling for a good reason and I'm happy to land. But lots of time I'm the "lone clapper" except for maybe one or two others who join in. On flights to Puerto Rico I've found that everyone applauds. But this is the exception rather than the rule. One nice memory was landing in Tel Aviv - the passengers sang a song (I don't know what it was). Your opinion?...

<BR>I just noticed that phenomenon recently. I thought maybe it was a collective release of some post 9/11 anxiety.<BR><BR>Personally, I think it's corny, but what's the harm? The pilots might consider it condescending, since you're applauding something they perform correctly about 99.9999999% of the time. On the other hand, they might appreciate the acknowledgment. Any commercial airline pilots out there?

On Saturday September 15, 2001 my wife and I flew on what I believe to be the very first flight back to the United States from Europe after the act of war on September 11, 2001.<BR><BR>The Delta flight was from Paris CDG to Cincinnati.<BR><BR>The flight, whose departure was delayed for over five hours, was carrying a plane full of somewhat worried passengers that were glad to get home.<BR><BR>The pilot upon touchdown gave us a short speech about how proud he was to have had the opportunity fo fly us home and how much the USA meant to him...he was greeted by a long and loud ovation.<BR><BR>Had we not had seatbelts on, it would have been a standing ovation I am sure!<BR><BR>US

Uncle Sam, you gave me goosebumps.

I have noticed that passengers tend to clap upon landing after a very turbulent flight or rough landing. I have always kind of liked it, even if it is a bit cheesy. I guess it's a comraderie thing.<BR><BR>I fly frequently (have no choice living on a rock in the ocean) and always feel blessed to land safely on the ground again. So, I can see the reason that passengers clap at times.<BR><BR>Uncle Sam, your experience and the pilot's words must have been quite moving.<BR>

I have noticed it a long time on flights to Germany. I think it is a German tradition. I can't think of the name of the airline where they always have clapped upon landing.

Oh it is LTU airlines. I think it is nice, it is so rare that we have any spontaneous comraderie with strangers. It is like a mini feeling of global community.

The very first time I flew was in 1977 when I took my young daughter from our Nova Scotia home to Florida. It was mid-winter and when that plane landed safely in the wonderful Florida sunshine, EVERYONE clapped, and I joined in with the same enthusiasm. This happened every time I went to Florida, and I thought it was something that everyone did when the plane landed. NOT! The first time I flew to a non-Florida destination, actually a business trip, I nearly died of embarrassment when I started clapping in my usual frenzied manner when the plane landed in Montreal. Gee, did I feel totally stupid, as no one else clapped. The conclusion that I reached is that all the passengers on the Florida charter flights were all on vacation and just so happy to be starting things off, they responded accordingly. Up until I read this discussion, I thought only winter-weary Nova Scotians did this. Glad to see it’s a universal expression of “Yippee – I’m ready for a great time.” <BR><BR>Have a great week-end everyone!<BR><BR>Dale<BR><BR>

The first time I heard people clap on landing was in 1982 on a flight from London to Paris. Most of the people on board were nuns. They crossed themselves when we took off, and clapped like crazy when we landed. It still brings a smile to my face.

Greeks clap too. Every Olympic Airways flight I've been on has ended with clapping upon touchdown. I'm always amused because frankly I'm happy too when my OA flight arrives without incident.

They don't clap on Alitalia, but they do kiss the ground when they deplane...and for good reason.

Spaniards clap too. It's a tradition in the Hispanic culture to clap at the end of the flight.

Thanks everyone.But we really don't hear a thing.We're too much focused on our job and even when cockpit doors were open we really don't hear you.We've got so much noise around and too many things to pay attention too.<BR>Maria

what an idiot. if you're so paranoid, stay home and give the rest of us a break. Watch Barney and sing along with the rest of the brain-dead new generation of toddlers.

John - I took an Alitalia flight into Rome last summer and upon touchdown everyone on the plane was clapping!<BR><BR>I think its a nice gesture - after a long flight everyone is happy to be where they are going (finally!!!)

Kum by ya my lord, kum by ya... reward your pilot weith $100. dollar bills, or he will do nasty things to you!!!

I once got the clap on a plane trip, but that is another story.

Hi<BR><BR>Frequent flyers don't clap ........... bad for the image.<BR><BR>I only once heard it in Business Class, and that was a landing in Scandinavia in a snowstorm.<BR><BR>Peter<BR><BR>

This has got to be a North American (USA) thing......(Please forgive me if I am incorrect......<BR>No one applaudes me for doing my job and I don't applaude others, for doing theirs. <BR>If their help & or service to me has been exceptional, I will either say "thank you" or leave a tip, depending on what industry.<BR>I EXPECT to land safely at any airport, be it an internal or an international flight.<BR>I can understand the immediate emotions, post 11th September 2001 but 9 months later!!!!!!!!<BR><BR>

PV,<BR><BR>Try and understand this.<BR><BR>1. The flight occurred 4 days after 9/11<BR><BR>2. The emotions were high.<BR><BR>3. The story was told on this thread 9 months later.<BR><BR>4. And if you have no emotion over the events of 9/11 9 months later...check for your soul!<BR><BR>US

I'm the original poster, thanks for everyone's responses!<BR>I can definitely see the emotion in landing after 9/11, how can anyone question that?<BR>But 9/11 aside, I get emotional when I feel those wheels touch down on soil I have dreamed of visiting all my life. I'm thanking the pilot for getting me there safely, but I'm also celebrating just BEING there! : )

I made the BIG mistake of taking a cheap holiday to Benidorm in Spain many years ago. It was a night flight from Glasgow and a lot of holidaymakers had obviously spent the last few hours in the pub. I have never seen so many drunks- many were even trying to drink their duty free. Nowadays the flight would be diverted and the troublemakers thrown off. It was quite a flight and when we finally landed those passengers on the flight who were sober cheered and applauded with relief!!!

Inregards to clapping... I flew on the first American Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles after the September 11th attacks. At Logan Airport... the lines were miles long and we were divided into lines, depending on where our destinations were. On my flight to LA, there were many open seats, as many people didn't want to be on that first flight. During the entire trip, no one spoke and everytime someone got up for whatever reason... everyone would turn to see why.<BR>When we landed in LA... the entire plane ERUPTED into applause and kept applauding from when the wheels touched down all the way to the gate. The flight attendanats aboard that flight were great and the pilot gave a little speech too.<BR>A very emotional flight!<BR>

But PV, it is not a North America thing, I have never experienced clapping on a normal flight in USA. I is on the other airlines mentioned by people above that people clap. I think it is a nice way to experience relief from the experience of flying, too bad Americans don't do it more. But it does sound like an "American Thing" doesn't it? Not this time.

Clapping on landing is one of those silly things people do as a group after sharing an experience that made them nervous. I cringe when people do it.

This is an old old query -- but I believe it may have run on the "Airlines" forum -- had many, many responses. Go look there, "x" -- or maybe you already did, having run out of your own ideas.

Actually, "Old," I only read the Europe board and wasn't even aware of the Airlines board. If you don't like the thread, skip it, apparently other people thought enough of it to respond.

They have been doing it in P.R. for ever. It has nothing to do with 9/11.

I think it's a lovely gesture sometimes....whatever one feels like. Some do , some don't....it's a personal thing, no right or wrong. I feel a little strange clapping, unless it was a very scary,bumpy and emotional flight.(there's always something kind of thrilling,however, about have that "big bird" setting it wheels down" (:&gt;)<BR>I've seen it once or twice.....London to Dallas, at Christmas time..full plane, families going to see families and loved ones and they were just happy to be home.

I've been on a few flights where there was applause. But in all cases it was a spontaneous response when we realized the pilot had landed a monster airplane with hardly a bump. Really smooth landings don't seem to happen that often.

Grandma, re the smooth landings:<BR>An article by Thomas Kent of AP from a few years ago concerned smooth and bumpy landings. <BR><BR>"A jarring landing (pilots prefer to say "firm") can be the safest way to bring down an airplane, depending on wind, rain and runway condition, experts say....Landing a modern jet is not a simple matter. In a typical case, it means bringing down 60 tons of plane and people, flying six miles above the ground at 400 mph, gently down to a runway "touchdown zone" less than 3,000 feet long. In the process, dozens of factors affect the pilot's last-minute landing calculations and the touchdown. If a big jet makes a smooth-as-silk landing on a runway covered with water, there's a risk of the aircraft hydroplaning along the runway instead of stopping, pilots say. 'You don't want a smooth landing. You want to drive through the water so the plane gets a firm grip so it stops faster', says John Cox, a Boeing 737 pilot for USAirways....On some aircraft, anit-skid brakes and the spoiler panels that pop up atop the wings start working only when the wheels get traction on the runway surface..." <BR><BR>The article went on with other factors, like the plane being buffeted by winds, which affect how fast and hard the plane needs to be brought into contact with the runway. <BR><BR>So, I'm with the person who said "a good landing is anyone that you can walk away from". I'm duly respectful of airline pilots - anybody who takes on that responsibility, and does his/her job without error so often, deserves accolades. *I* sure as heck don't want the job (and, I'm quite sure, none of you would want me to have it).<BR><BR>The one time I remember applause was on a flight from Memphis TN to JFK - we flew over the Smokies in a horrific thunderstorm. The plane was jarred side to side, lightning came down on either side of us, we dropped a couple of times a few hundred feet, the plane shook and rattled like a martini shaker, the pilot said he wasn't able to fly above it...but he got us out of it with the only casualties some spilled drinks. You bet your sweet ass we applauded, and we didn't wait to land to do it.

Elvira, Many thanks for the info. I will pass it on to El Husband the next time he grumbles about a bumpy landing!!

The first time I experienced clapping was well before September 11 on a trip to visit family in Germany. On landing in Frankfurt after what had been an uneventful flight the entire plane (mostly all Germans) erupted into clapping. I couldn't understand it as there had been no turbulence etc. I questioned our German relative about this and she said "silly Germans do this all the time...it's not about a safe landing it's about being back on German soil" So maybe it's turned into an international "thank God I'm home... safely"

I think it is nice. It is something we can do together as a group of strangers without feeling foolish. Everyone is so uptight about being thought silly that it is nice to do something that is silly as a group, and it doesn't hurt anyone, just brings smiles.

What a question, of course you must applaude, it is to loosen up after a long seat

To the Carmen above:<BR>Clapping upon landing is rarely done in Spain (I've only seen it traveling abroad in foreign airlines).Not part of Spanish tradition, as you point out. I don't know if it's a Latin American tradition but we're different, you know.<BR>In fact, it's seen as a cheesy and not classy thing to do. I don't clap the pilot, the same way I don't clap my doctor when he extract my blood samples without hurting me or someone does what he's expected to.<BR>

Nothing wrong with a Yay, We're Here round of applause.<BR>And nothing wrong with applauding your doctor or dentist for a job well done either, I'll bet they'd appreciate it : )

Ohhh, Carmen, you are so serious, loosen up and enjoy your trip. Applaud life itself.

I will gladly admit that there have been several times when I've applauded--scary bumpy flight, lightning storms, one upon take-off after three evacuations of the plane for repair, etc.<BR><BR>For some reason, though, I'm irked when there's applause at the end of a normal flight. I think part of it may be that I've had to suffer to some extent throughout the flight by the inexperience of the people doing the applauding. You frequenters know what I mean--they think the flight attendants have time to wait just on them, they talk to their friends over your shoulder, leaning on your seat while you're trying to sleep, they've brought back large stuffed animals from some location and have blocked the aisles trying to push them into the overhead. <BR><BR>Yes, yes, yes...I know--I admit it!--they're enjoyed life while I'm ruining my own being irked. <BR><BR>But I bet you bottom dollar they're the ones who talk in movie theatres too!

I think many of you misunderstand. To some extent, applauding on landing is a German tradition. But it doesn't suggest that the captain or flight crew are particulary talented or accomplished - it really is, as one of the above posters have noted, a "yay! we're here" gesture. You'll see it much more frequently on flights from Frankfurt to Johannesburg (for example) than on flights from Berlin to London. If you really object to this - as some of you inexplicably seem to - don't fly long-haul out of Germany.<BR><BR>If people flying back to the US, or across the US, post 11 September, borrowed the tradition - so what? More power to them. Why should it bother any of you so much? Perhaps you are hopelessly insecure and concerned with your precious image as blase travellers? In which case, "get over it", as your compatriots often say: no one is watching you that closely, and no one else cares that much.