Flying into Turkey? Wait your turn to stand up on the plane or face a fine
When an aircraft lands at its destination, there are two kinds of people waiting to disembark: those waiting for their aisle's turn before standing to retrieve luggage and those immediately standing to retrieve their bags from overhead when the seatbelt light turns off.
Effective May 2, those who do the latter when landing in Turkey could be fined.
The country's ministry of transport introduced the new regulation in response to 'a serious increase' in the number of travellers doing so even before the plane had finished taxiing to the gate and with the seatbelt warning still in place, despite the established norm and the warning from the flight crew.
What is 'gate lice'? How one airline is getting rid of this airport issue
Is air travel still safe? 2024 has been an especially deadly year
Doing so risks 'passenger and baggage safety and security' and disregards 'the satisfaction and exit priority of other passengers,' wrote General Directorate of Civil Aviation Kemal Yüsek.
A suggested flight announcement in English reminds travellers to stay seated and asks them to 'please respect the disembarkation priority of the passengers in front of or around you and wait for your turn.
'Do not stand up or proceed in the aisle before it is your turn to exit. Passengers who do not comply with the rules will be reported … and an administrative fine will be imposed in accordance with the applicable legal regulations.'
The fine will come from the government, not the airline, whose role is only to file a 'passenger ignorance report' to Yüsek's office.
It's not clear precisely how much travellers risk being fined for their transgression; however, the Independent, the Daily Mail and the Mirror quoted a price of £50 (CAD$93), citing Germany's DPA news agency as a source.
Turkish Airlines, the behemoth flagship carrier that flies to a world-leading 131 countries, has already adopted the boilerplate sample on its flights, according to travel blogger site One Mile at a Time and Visa Digital Nomad.
At long-running travel site View From the Wing, blogger Gary Leff took on the sometimes polarizing topic and wrote earlier this year that not only is it acceptable, but more people should do it.
He said it speeds up deplaning for everyone, and it's courteous to the person hemmed in the middle seat.
Furthermore, 'You've been stuck in an uncomfortable seat for hours, why not stand as soon as you can?'
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
7 hours ago
- Business Insider
Priced out of Austin, he bought a one-way ticket out of the US. Now, he lives on a Thai island for a fraction of the cost.
Mike Holp, now 38, left Austin in 2019 due to the high cost of living. He bought a one-way ticket to Asia and eventually settled in Koh Samui, Thailand. Island life is slower and much more affordable; his monthly expenses rarely exceed $1,800. Seven years ago, Mike Holp was riding through the streets of Austin as a food delivery worker, earning between $15 and $20 an hour. He lived just outside downtown in a shared rental with three roommates. Even with a computer science degree, the tough competition made it hard for him to get the tech job he'd hoped for. "Basically, the only thing that I could find to do to pay expenses was to deliver food on my bike," Mike Holp, now 38, a digital creator, told Business Insider. Each day blurred into the next as he worked long hours just to cover rent, only to repeat the same grind the following month. It was a relentless cycle, and the lifestyle started to wear him down. He felt disillusioned, and the rising cost of living wasn't helping his situation. "At that point, I was like 'What am I doing all this for? Just to get by?'" Holp said. His life in Austin didn't feel sustainable, and he knew he had to get out. In 2019, with money saved from delivering food and working real estate photography gigs on the side, Holp bought a one-way ticket to Asia. Finding home in Thailand After a brief stint in Bali and then Singapore, Holp decided to make Thailand his next stop. He spent time living in different parts of Thailand, including Chiang Mai — where he met his now-fiancée, Mary. She was on vacation at that time but was based in both Bangkok and Koh Samui for work. Wanting to be closer to her, Holp decided to move to Samui because he preferred its slower pace over the bustle of the Thai capital. House-hunting was fairly easy: He found their first home on Facebook Marketplace. It was a one-bedroom house located in Lamai, a laid-back area along the southeastern coast of the island. Rent was 9,000 Thai baht a month. After three years in that house, it was time for a change. His fianceé had left her previous job and now works at a school, and they wanted to live close by. They're still in Lamai, but in a bigger one-bedroom property that costs 20,000 Thai baht, or about $600, each month. "It's a modern village-style home. It's on a raised platform, about 12 feet off the ground, so if there's any flooding, we don't have to worry about that," Holp said. Although Holp has learned a little bit of Thai, the good thing about Samui, being a tourist destination, is that many locals can speak and understand basic English, he said. It was also fairly easy for him to connect with new people. "There's a large Facebook group called Koh Samui Expats — they've got about 40,000 people in there," Holp said. "And I'm actually a moderator in that group, so that helps to meet people." Escaping the rat race Holp says his life in Samui is "completely different" from that in Austin. He starts his mornings by dropping off his fiancée at work. After that, it's time for a walk along the beach and a quick workout session at an outdoor gym situated on a tiny islet linked to the Samui mainland by a wooden bridge. Post-workout, it's time for a coffee at a nearby café before he heads home to start work for the day. Apart from creating content for his own social pages, Holp also runs a photography business and a consulting business that helps others relocate to Thailand. "I have a flexible schedule," he said. "It's just a much more carefree, relaxed lifestyle compared to Austin." The fact that he's no longer in the rat race also means he has the time and energy to spend on his hobbies, such as exploring the island on his bike and meeting with friends. The lower cost of living in Thailand helps, he said. "It frees up my time so that I can focus on passion projects like the YouTube channel, and I don't have to worry about just paying rent all the time and stressing out," he said. Holp says he and his fiancée typically spend between 50,000 and 60,000 Thai baht, or about $1,500 and $1,800, a month. "We sometimes cook at home, but the meals are usually very affordable here, so going out to eat is very easy," Holp said. Their weekly grocery run costs about 2,000 Thai baht, and it's also fairly easy to find international brands and products at the larger stores, he said. "Even going to the grocery store, you can get 30 eggs for 5 bucks," he added. Holp estimates a comparable lifestyle for two in Austin would cost about five times as much. A single person needs to earn at least $101,587 annually to live comfortably in Austin, per a 2025 SmartAsset analysis based on data from MIT's Living Wage Calculator. The average rent in Austin was $2,000, per the latest May data from Zillow Rentals. Not missing the lifestyle in the US Holp says he loves the warm weather and the friendliness of the locals. He also feels very safe living in Samui. "I don't even really have to worry about locking the door, whereas back in Austin, I probably have to worry about how somebody might break in and rob me," he said. He hasn't been back to the US in five years, not even to visit. There isn't much that he misses anyway. "There's a big car culture in the US. I do kind of miss driving a car around here. I just use the motorbike for everything since it's really easy to get around the little roads and stuff," he said. "But I can't think of much that I really miss about the US other than my family, obviously, and friends. That's about it," he added.
New York Post
9 hours ago
- New York Post
Fliers are missing out on a major perk that can help them ‘relax,' travel expert says
An avid flier who has an impressive record of having traveled on 700 different flights over the last decade, half flown in business class, shared the one perk many fliers are missing out on — without even realizing it. When someone has as much experience in the air as Dennis Bunnik, CEO of Bunnik Tours — he not only knows the best travel practices, but he knows hidden perks like how airlines have free pajamas to give out to business class fliers. Comfort is key when on a flight, and according to Bunnik — 'There are a number of airlines that offer them, and they're fantastic,' he revealed to Business Insider in a recent interview. Dennis Bunnik has been on 700 flights within the last decade. Instagram / dennisbunniktravels 'One, it keeps your clothes crease-free and clean. [And two], it helps you relax.' Some airlines reserve pj sets for first-class passengers only. However, according to One Mile At A Time, some airlines like Virgin Atlantic, United, Emirates, Air India and Etihad supposedly have complimentary pajamas for those sitting in business class on long-haul international flights. Free pajamas to change into on a flight sounds ideal — especially since there are many outfit choices that experts advise fliers against wearing. Fliers can ask flight attendants for their free pjs if they aren't offered them. Getty Images 'Airlines won't always tell you this, but there's a hidden dress code,' former flight attendant and YouTube sensation Barbara Bacilieri told What's The Jam. 'And breaking it could get you denied boarding, delayed at security or worse — put in danger during an emergency.' Skimpy outfits like mini dresses and skirts are big no-nos because they can be dangerous in an emergency. The expert said to also avoid wearing heels and 'even metal accessories, like jewelry, or big belt buckles.' These items can all potentially pop the evacuation slide in the event of an emergency. Another piece of dangerous clothing that shouldn't be worn in case of an SOS flight situation is leggings because the fabric that most brands use puts travelers at risk of catching on fire, aviation safety specialist Christine Negroni explained to HuffPost. In the event of an onboard fire, leggings 'will either melt on your skin or cause serious burns,' Negroni told the outlet. In addition to stretchy pants being a potential fire hazard on a flight — American Airlines flight attendant Andrea Fischbach said that the popular pant choice is also very constricting. 'You want to get the most comfortable you can be to avoid cramping, swelling, and anything that can affect you later,' she told Who What Wear.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
On The French Riviera, Gazpacho Tastes Like Summer
The recipes in Makenna Held's new cookbook, Mostly French, are organized into two large sections: "Warmer Weather" and "Cooler Weather." It is an elegantly simple way of pointing out a core truth about our appetites: What we want to eat often depends on the season we're in. It's hard to crave a steaming bowl of beef bourguignon when the humidity and heat are already off the charts, much less want to spend hours over a hot stove preparing it. This recipe for yellow gazpacho is a cold preparation, which is to say you can make this without even looking at your stove. (MORE: Have A Hot Date With This Palm Springs Date Shake) Ripe tomatoes, which are just beginning to arrive in farmers' markets across the country, are blended with cantaloupe and cucumber for a fruity and refreshing twist on the classic dish. A few colorful garnishes – cherry tomatoes, smoked paprika – give it an elegant presentation in the bowl. Held recommends serving it in the late afternoon to cool off guests at the beginning of a summer dinner party. The cookbook contains several variations on the classic dish. Held knows a thing or two about cooking in the heat. In 2015, she bought Julia Child's former vacation home on the southern coast of France and opened a cooking school, La Peetch, on the property. Of the region, Held writes, "The summer sea air is hot and thick. Villages swell with life. There are blazing beach days, dripping Popsicles and sticky hands, and food trucks parked along the shore that serve sandwiches and ice-cold beverages to barefoot kids and adults alike at prices that don't shock the wallet. It is so humid that your glasses will fog moving from the oppressive heat into an air-conditioned shop where you might wander just to cool off (if you're lucky enough to find one with A /C, they are rare)." For those of us not quite lucky enough to spend our summers on the French Riviera, we can still enjoy a taste of her recipe for cooling off. Serves 4-6 people Ingredients 1 yellow bell pepper or orange, stemmed, seeded, and cut into large pieces 2 yellow tomatoes, about equal in weight to the bell pepper, stemmed and cut into thick wedges 1/2 seedless (English) or 1 standard cucumber, peeled, seeds scooped out of the standard cucumber About 1 cup seeded and chunked cantaloupe 1/2 white onion or yellow, coarsely chopped 4 garlic cloves 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon turmeric Juice of 1/2 lemon Fine sea salt Garnishes: Halved cherry tomatoes, smoked paprika, and freshly ground black pepper Instructions 1. Add the bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, cantaloupe, onion, garlic, oil, turmeric, lemon and more salt to taste to a blender and process until very smooth. Season with salt and blend well to combine (if using a standard blender, blend the ingredients in batches and combine in a bowl). Pour into a medium bowl. 2. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours. Serve chilled, topping each serving with some cherry tomatoes, a pinch of paprika and a crack or two of pepper. MORE ON Make Mint Juleps With This Simple Syrup Feeling Spicy? Make This Thai Chili Oil Make This Etouffee With Leftover Boiled Crawfish writer Wyatt Williams is exploring the relationship between climate, food, agriculture, and the natural world.
