Is it polite to recline the seat at will? Who can use both armrests of the middle seat? What does the cabin crew think about the ovation that frequently accompanies landing? Flying has its own unwritten social norms: some may seem universal; others, however, are capable of provoking more than one debate at 10,000 meters above sea level.
To bring order, Lufthansa has decided to launch ‘Travel Etiquette Collection’, a capsule collection that turns some of the most recognizable (and uncomfortable) flight scenarios into apparel. Created in collaboration with the agency Serviceplan, it gathers seven pieces across hoodies, T-shirts, caps, and accessories, all of them printed with messages inspired by those little codes of conduct.
“The one in the middle seat stays with the armrest”, “Recline with responsibility” or “It’s okay to clap when the plane lands” (also available in its negative version) are some of the iconic messages that appear in the collection. As the airline stated in its launch announcement: “Courtesy has transformed into something you can wear. And best of all: it doesn’t sermonize.”
Lufthansa hasn’t forgotten to address the controversial boarding and disembarking rituals: the phrases “Boarding by groups feels different” and “Live, love, disembark by rows” remind passengers of the importance of grouping and their respective turn-taking.
Although the ‘Travel Etiquette Collection’ is not for sale, Lufthansa is raffling off the pieces through its social networks. If you want to snag one of the collection’s items, there’s still time: you can participate through the Lufthansa Instagram profile. You just need to like the post, follow @Lufthansa, and indicate your size in the comments. The contest will be open until today, Thursday August 20, at 23:59 h (CET).
