Is clapping when a plane lands lovely or a bit cringe?

[tnorfotkcab]

Is a round of applause when a plane lands lovely or cringe?

I think it's lovely.

This. For a "normal" landing it's weird and very cringe to clap. The pilot is doing his job, he lands planes every day- it's what he's trained to do. I think he (or she ofcourse) rolls his eyes at handclappers in cockpit.

@tnorfotkcab Please stop. Unless it's a very difficult landing due to weather/accident. Just try clapping your taxi driver next time and look at his face. That's the pilot in cockpit.

Never come across this before! I'd think it a bit odd.

The only time I've witnessed this was on a majority USA passenger flight.
They do other weird things, like clapping after the film in the cinema and loudly commentating during theatre performances in response to the acting.

My friend's 20 year old daughter has just qualified as a pilot, so my friend is quite knowledgeable about these things...we were on holiday abroad and were waiting to fly home at the airport...a young woman walked through and my friend said "she's the pilot" due to the stripes on her uniform. When the plane landed all the crew clapped..we wondered if it were her first flight!

I can see why people think it’s needless or stupid but I don’t see the cringe in it at all.

I think it is nice! It could be a 'well done' to the pilot but also just an expression of relief at being back on solid earth. Many people are scared of flying.

I have heard it twice: once on a very scary landing when we had 4 failed attempts after being diverted to Manchester. Even the flight attendants said 'well we made it!' after landing over the tanoy. The pilot deserved the applause that time!

The other was when the plane was full of Camp America young people who had been away for weeks, probably for the first time in their lives. They cheered to be home.

But either way I don't see an issue, let people be happy about it if they want.

To me, it says, ‘I’m completely basic and I’ve never been on a plane before’ 😂

You both sound horrible.

To me that says "I'm a cunt"

I always wait behind the hedge on bin day, so I can run behind the bin lorry and clap the brave souls for their outstanding expertise in emptying my bin.

They seem to have changed the regular time when they come, though - usually when I'm out, more's the pity...

Never mind the clapping....just remember to tip your cabin crew and pilots before you leave the aircraft....😉

I always thank the bus driver. One time in Stansted I said ' thanks ' and he looked mortified. So I resolved not to embarrass myself next time. But I forgot and was rewarded with a dazzling smile. So you never know.

Who said I was clapping??

It's customary and expected in some cultures, so a bit xenophobic to categorically label it as "cringe". But it's not common or trad in the UK, so let's say someone did it on a London to Aberdeen flight - I'm more inclined to say it's people who consider it customary, and/or local people who have adopted a custom they've seen elsewhere and like. I'd say it's fine - what harm does it do?

PS - it's not a traditional USA 'thing", but Puerto Ricans (who are mostly US citizens) and a lot of other Latin Americans do it. In Europe, I think it is mostly German, Russian, Italian, or Baltic. Israelis often do it too.

If it’s a bunch of young kids on a school trip, that’s fine and I smile.

No clapping here, but banging my feet on the floor and whooping loudly. If iI see the pilot as I exit the plane i slap him on the back and say something like "Well done Captain, another success under your belt, keep it up!)
(I warmly acknowlege the quality of the pretzels to the Air Stewards, of course.)

Incredibly cringey.
I suppose if the pilot had to do a very difficult landing eg in hurricane force winds you might clap.

To me it's the same lunatic attitude as people who clap in the cinema.

Bizarre, cringe, embarrassing.

Or the NHS

A quick "Thanks" is a bit different from a standing ovation and/or Mexican wave, though, surely?!

only occurs on budget flights,I believe.

When I was a kid and air travel was more rare we would clap as it was almost ‘the performance was over’. So it was lovely. It was also back in the day when we dressed up to get on a plane and it was a big deal. Now? If people want to that’s fine - if it makes them happy then fine.

This. It’s a bit like this weird trend that seems to have migrated to the West End from Broadway, that all theatre, regardless of its quality, gets a standing ovation as standard. I’m more than happy to leap to my feet for something exceptional, but certainly not every time a curtain comes down.

I’ve only ever clapped once, after three attempted landings in dreadful weather in a small plane where the nose kept blowing up, and we had to circle in turbulent conditions till the wind dropped. That was genuinely unnerving, and deserved applause for the pilot.

Everyone thanks the bus driver here.

Surely, if it's a plane full of mainly Brits, you would only clap, whoop and (optional) start singing the chorus of Sweet Caroline if the pilot makes a big hash of it, dipping and bouncing all around the runway and ends up skidding into a hedge?

After all, nobody in a British pub ever claps when somebody transporting several drinks doesn't drop the tray!