In a flight, sometimes you hear the term of ‘aisle lice’. Actually, it refers to passengers who needs to exit as quickly as they got, regardless unwritten rule of waiting their turn to deplane. They sometimes push others. Obviously, it bothers other passengers.

The term of ‘aisle lice’ is not nice to hear, but describe the situation. These plane pests immediately clog the aisles and ignore flight attendants’ reasonable requests for passengers to remain in their seats, so those with tight connections can deplane first. It seems like basic airplane etiquette, but this polite gesture often gets ignored.

Therefore, how to deal with this passenger and how airline resolve this? What about if you need to rush out of the plane? Read how to do and don’t in order to deal with the situation.

Why aisle lice is a problem?

Imagine when the plane landed, there are some passengers rushes to deplane, no matter where they seat. It is not only disturbing others, but also slow down everything.

Actually, airlines have a rule to deplane passengers. They should deplane in an orderly manner starting from the front row. Even there is no rule that people should stay in their seat after the plane landed.

However, if people rush in second after plane landed, they will create a bottle neck where the actual connecting passenger can not pass. Sometimes I saw passengers collecting their things leisurely while passengers behind helplessly should wait.

Why passengers like to crowd the aisle?

Despite the reasonable reason like connecting flight, there are some personal reasons. They might stress at limited space and need to stretch the legs after flight, need to go bathroom, or just impatient.

When one people stand up, the other has an urge to follow. It felt that they might miss something if not stand up. And the rest will follow. I think it is rarely to see passenger who calmly sit and wait until the rest deplane.

What airlines do to battle this combat?

Some airlines might try to solve ‘gate lice’, the same phenomena when people rush to boarding. They can call the first five rows and children or older to come first and next call row by row. However, it might different to overcome aisle lice. They simply just ignore the flight attendants who try to tell them, do not rush in deplane.

What the right to do for deplane?

Preparation is everything. When you realize that your plane has landed and the light of seatbelt turn off, you better prepare to deplane. Wear your shoes, collect your things, and wait until your row to deplane. No need to hurry!

What should you do if you need to deplane quickly?

Sometimes you need to get off the plane rapidly because of connecting flight or any reasonable reason. Here are what you can do to make it work without pushing other passengers.

• Manage your trip or connecting flight thoughtfully

This is what you can do at least as a passenger. You need to give some spare time before schedule your connecting flight. Try to give at least two hours before your next flight for unexpected situation, like delay, pace of your walk from airport, line at boarding room, or something like that.

Make sure you give enough time to rest or walk at a leisurely pace to your next flight. Do not make tight itinerary while you want to enjoy your holiday trip.

• Choose your seat wisely

Consider to pick the front row for your seat if you have connecting flight. Even it needs extra budget, it makes you move faster because seating in front row. You do not have to wait the entire passenger to deplane.  

• Simplify your luggage

If you need to move faster, you should bring luggage or backpack that fit under your seat. You do need to take your luggage at overhead compartment. The faster you grab your things, the sooner you can go.

• Go to bathroom before the plane landed

I know it might not comfortably use restroom in a plane. However, by using it as soon as you have an urge, it makes you calm and not hurry to deplane, in order to find bathroom when landed. It is also decreasing the queue at bathroom in the arrival.

• Talk to flight attendant

You can tell the flight attendant about your issue to have tight connecting flight. They might ask other passengers to let you deplane first. However, you should realize that you are not the only one who should catch another flight. Therefore, it needs more coordination and awareness for each passenger.  

Conclusion

This issue seems simple, we just wait our turn to deplane in order not to create aisle lice. However, not every passenger aware of this. Therefore, on the next flight, if you do not have reason to be hurry, take a moment before deplane. You might save others situation by doing this. Otherwise, you just make the plane trip smoother for all.

Source:

https://www.rd.com/article/aisle-lice/