Where Do People Clap Their Hands After Landing?
Ahh, Clapping While Flying. Rarely does this simple gesture mean as much as it does on planes, where clapping can be used as a gesture of gratitude or approbation upon safe landing after a difficult descent, or passive aggressively toward a delinquent fellow passenger.
But what does it mean when people just clap over any landing? Apparently we weren't the only ones wondering about this. TPG Lounge member Ignacio R. recently asked the Facebook group...
"Do people clap their hands after landing anywhere else in the world? It happens often in Argentina
and I never knew why. Happy the plane didn't crash, maybe? I've never seen it anywhere else."
Lounge members responded, and here's a small compilation of places where readers have seen the most instances of Clapping While Flying.
Where Do People Clap?
While it's not a normal occurrence in the US, many travelers reported that clapping on an airplane appears to be more common in other countries:
"I’m Puerto Rican, we clap after every flight..was surprised I didn’t hear it on my first international flight
?
?
?" — Anthony M.
"I've noticed this on many domestic flights within Mexico, mainly on flights to/from smaller regional airports." — Nick B.
"Dominican Republic, always. I thought it was happiness to be home.
" — Camellia S.
"Every time when I land in El Salvador." — Noel F.
"I just flew to and from Barcelona from Poland (where I currently live) and it happened both ways. I love it." — Raj D.
"Hah! My dad used to clap every single time we would land in EZE. But he was crazy and fun-loving as hell and absolutely LOVED every time we went home. People would look at him snobbily." — Sheila W.
"Israel, but we also kiss the ground" — Amy S.
"When landing in Israel, people clap and usually sing songs and prayers. Happy to be 'home.'" — Chrissy F.
"Teguicigalpa....it's one of the most dangerous landings in the world....and the whole plane claps every time." — Justin J.
"Madeira Island (Portugal) every time... but those are crazy landings." — Martha N.
"Manila! And I don’t think it has anything to do w/ safety. A lot of Filipinos work abroad so it’s more like a “I’m glad and thankful I’m back home” type thing." — Carlos G.
"Las Vegas every time I can remember." — Mike M. (Ignacio quipped, "But that's because they're happy sinners!")
"Every single time when flying Ryan air
" — Lorna T.
"I’ve seen it when it was a rough landing or some kinda emergency (we had to circle once because they weren’t convinced the nose gear was locked down)." — Scott M.
"South Africa ??. Although I just experienced this for the first time on a 2 hr MIA>LGA flight." — Ah D.
"Haven’t had that happen on an US domestic flight in a while. Nor on my trips to Europe. I remember it years ago it was more common." — Jesse A.
"The first time I ever saw it domestically was on a Southwest flight. Used to be more common there." — Steve K.
I'm All For It!
But what do travelers think about the practice itself? Should applause be reserved for extreme cases of averted crisis, or should it be an "every flight" gesture of appreciation?
"I clap because I’m glad we are there.
?
" — Ben K.
"Clapping for a job well done by the pilot and crew." — Ginger E.
"I always thought the clap was to congratulate the flight crew and team of doing an excellent job." — Dev C.
"Had a flight where about 2 hours were, as our pilot said, 'Mother Nature’s Rollercoaster' everyone clapped when we landed. I was just pretty happy to be on the ground. Only flight I’ve ever been on that there were a couple times I seriously wondered if we’d make it." — Andy S.
"I had one of my worst flights last week from ORD to ALB... boy, did I feel like clapping!" — Jessica T.
"I've always found it odd that it's not more common to show appreciation for the pilots and flight crew by clapping. They deserve it." — Sandra A.
"We clapped when we landed in Orlando on a DFW [Dallas] to MCO but only because we had been diverted to Atlanta to refuel and wait on the tarmac until it was safe to land in Florida (bad weather). For awhile, it was questionable whether we’d actually get to leave Atlanta. Lot of folks with kids (myself included) and big Disney plans the next morning so it was a relief to arrive!" — Jenna L.
"We clap for a good play, a good concert, why not clap for a good flight? I’m a nervous flyer and I always clap, quietly usually but if the whole plane claps, I’m right in there
??. I think it a total act of respect and appreciation. These men and women work hard, as do the whole crew, why not show some appreciation?" — Tracy P.
Keep Your Hands Down
But others TPG readers disagree and think clapping after a landing is annoying or inappropriate when it's been a routine flight.
"I just hate when people do that." — Debbie T.
"Funny, I was just thinking about the last time I landed at home in HNL [Honolulu] when a bunch of people clapped. I was thinking 'OK, is it a thing now to celebrate surviving the the flight'?" — Jerrod K.
"I think I’d be annoyed if someone sat at my desk all day and clapped every time I completed a task I’m being paid to do. Sort of insulting to celebrate something I’m trained to do." — Madeline S.
"Lots of first-time flyers clap. I wonder if they clap when they park their car safely for the first time too?" — Drew J.
"It doesn't happen every time but I hate when it does. Obviously I'm happy to land but I find it super annoying. If it's a rough flight, then sure show some love to the crew." — Chris M.
And finally, landing isn't the only time passengers might find reason to clap...
"I've seen the passengers clap when planes finally took off from Chicago O'Hare... after a typical, and usually unnecessary, multi-hour delay." — Patrick R.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.