Humor: Some Bizarre Filipino In-flight Behaviors

 There are also in-flight/ airline behaviors Filipinos have that are amusing to foreigners.  At times it can be annoying too.  I want to reiterate that not all Filipinos are doing this, but there are still some who can pull these antics and leave everyone else knocked out and floored.

1.  Seat reservations.  I always have the habit of having my ticket reserved 3 months before the actual flight.  And one of my requests is to give me an aisle seat because with a long flight from San Francisco and back I swallowed air in the process.  Aerophagia is the medical term for excessive and repetitive air swallowing.  People with aerophagia gulp so much air, it produces uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal distension, bloating, belching, and flatulence. Having an aisle seat gave me the freedom to walk inside the airplane while everybody is sleeping. 

So here comes one enterprising Filipino who asked you point-blank if you could give up your seat in exchange for a middle seat which I really hated so much especially when you see yourself later on being sandwiched beside two sleeping and snoring seniors. And I really hate myself denying their request, explaining myself why I denied it or giving them a pep talk on making their request or reservations early so they can have the seat that they wanted.  

2. Another annoying in-flight behavior is when Filipinos start standing right away after the plane has landed. I seldom see that in other airlines. Why are they doing that anyway? Is it because they want to be the first to disembark or they are just so excited to see their families?  Why can't they follow a simple rule?

Imagine two seniors who were seated at the tail-end wanting to go in front with their hand-carried bags jostling the crowd that has already crammed and jammed the aisles.  And they want to make they're being seniors as an excuse so you will allow them to pass thru.  This prompted another senior to say: "Inang sabay-sabay po tayong makakarating."

3. Another peculiar behavior is our penchant for souvenirs and small mementos, collectibles, keepsakes, tokens, and remembrances.  We love collecting postcards of places we go, and in the hotels, we stayed sachets of shampoo, soaps. even towels were not spared.

On the plane, we saw some are collecting small bags of sugar, salt even spoons, and forks.  I even saw one collecting Filipino newspapers and I ask him why, and his answer was, "my pasalubong. My family in San Jose thirst anything Filipino."

4.  Another inflight anecdote that never fails to amaze me, is during the announcement, that the plane is finally in its last leg of its descent, I find it strange for seniors to start crumbling their way to the bathroom when you can almost see the runway of the airport. Can't, they do their last-minute ablutions early? On my last flight to LA, I witness firsthand how a cabin crew pounds the door of the restroom to remind the person she has to go back to her seat.

Guys I have nothing against seniors, I know I will someday become one. But prudence and common sense dictate we have to be careful.

5, For Philippine Airlines, it has become the habit of Filipinos to clap after a successful landing. My American friend who was half asleep was startled and asked: "What is happening ..." And then, of course, I have to do the obligatory explanation that what you see is authentic Filipino behavior.  Nobody does that ... ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES.