Passengers will face fines from Turkish Airlines if they disregard cabin crew instructions and stand up after the plane has landed.
Hop on Board: Turks Get Hit with Fines for Anxious Antsy Feet after Landing 🛫💸
You've heard the drill - keep your tray tables in the upright position, stow your luggage, and don't move around until the seatbelt sign is turned off. But in Turkey, not abiding by this rule could cost you more than just a stern stare from the flight attendant. According to Haber Gazetesi, Turks are now slapped with fines if they can't resist the urge to stand or wander about before the plane comes to a complete stop.
The stern new regulations, courtesy of the Turkish aviation authorities, aim to keep order and boost passenger discipline. The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) approved a circular back on May 2, including crew announcements that explicitly warn those who can't keep still, disrupting the peace on board. Passengers who defy the crew could end up facing significant fines.
The exact dollar amount of these fines isn't consistent across all reports, but they could be hefty enough to ensure second thoughts before sticking a foot out of the aisle too early[4]. Allegedly, fines could hit as high as ₺35,000 ($520 USD), as revealed by one source, although the Turkish authorities haven't put an exact number on it[4][5].
Turkish Airlines crew has been well-informed about these changes. According to RBC Group, any passengers who can't sit tight, open overhead bins, or ignore instructions from crew members could face administrative sanctions. And it's not just Turkey — Russia has similar rules for disruptive behavior on all forms of transportation[6].
But if passengers continue to act up, they might end up on a blacklist, as airlines are pushing for the right to share these with each other since 2018[7]. Repeat offenders could find their flying privileges restricted due to their unruly behavior. To address this, the Ministry of Transport has thrown its support behind this initiative[7].
Just in case things escalate, the Turkish government has authorized crews to use plastic handcuffs and neoprene restraints on pesky passengers[8]. So, when the fasten seatbelt sign is on, make sure you buckle up — not just your seatbelt. 😉🛫🛡️💸
[1] https://en.haberturk.com/turkish-airlines-to-start-issuing-fines-to-passengers-who-ignore-crew-instructions-3461109[2] https://www.trtworld.com/turkey/turkish-airlines-passengers-risk-fines-for-ignoring-crew-instructions-45446[3] https://www.dailysabah.com/tourism/travel-tips/turkish-airlines-bans-passengers-for-disruptive-behavior-in-flights[4] https://www.airlineratings.com/news/turkish-airlines-will-fine-passengers-ignoring-crew-instructions/[5] https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-fines-passengers-for-ignoring-flight-crew-rules/a-57349368[6] https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-half-hearted-passenger-safety-measures/30182026.html[7] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/11/15/turkish-airlines-to-ban-passengers-violating-flight-rules-a63731[8] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/travel/turkish-airlines-crew-to-be-authorized-to-use-restraints-on-unruly-passengers/2702145
- The new regulations in the Turkish aviation industry aim to maintain order and improve passenger discipline, reaching beyond just flight rules – they also extend to finance, as significant fines could be imposed on passengers who disregard crew instructions during travel.
- Just as in Turkey, Russia has similar rules regarding disruptive behavior for all transportation sectors, including, but not limited to, aviation and travel.
- In an effort to enforce discipline and ensure a peaceful lifestyle during travel, airlines are now sharing blacklists of repeat offenders to prevent unruly passengers from causing troubles in the industry, a practice that has garnered support from transportation authorities like the Ministry of Transport.
