Passengers Who Stand Too Early on Planes Could Now Get Fined

Do you get annoyed with flyers who immediately jump out of their seats once the plane lands, blocking the aisle and impeding the passengers in the rows in front of them trying to deplane? Or are you so desperate to leave your seat after a long flight that you must stand up right away?

Whichever side of the debate you’re on, the rules around post-landing behavior are about to change—at least in one country. Passengers who stand before the plane has finished taxiing or block the aisle before their row’s turn to exit could soon face fines in Turkey.

The Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Kemal Yüksek, announced that for flights within Turkey, flyers who get up before the plane has stopped taxiing or the seatbelt sign is turned off will now face fines of around 2,603 ​​Turkish lira, or $67.

Yüksek instructed airplane passengers 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.” Flyers who do not comply will be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through a Disruptive Passenger Report and may be fined.

According to Yüksek’s statement, Turkey has seen a noticeable increase in reports of disruptive flyer behavior, which puts “passenger and baggage safety and security” at risk.

Even if you’re not flying in and out of Turkey, remain in your seat until the plane is at the gate and the seatbelt sign is turned off. Be courteous to your fellow passengers, and allow people sitting in the rows in front of you to disembark first.