U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Duffy has announced a great new challenge, “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.” This new initiative is all about creating a culture of civility and class while flying. Retrofuturist touches Duffy takes inspiration from the glorious, jet-set aesthetic of air travel in the 1950s and 60s. Just as often, his goal is to change the way passengers act and feel about flying. The campaign has inspired a mostly positive, but deeply confused response. Or maybe that’s wishful thinking as thousands of negative replies are overwhelming his account on social media platform X.
Duffy’s campaign reminds us how impactful our actions can be as we travel — remember to be nice! In his statements, he remarked, “Manners don’t stop at the gate. Things aren’t what they used to be.” He encouraged passengers to reflect on their behavior, asking, “Let’s bring civility and manners back. Ask yourself, are you helping a pregnant woman put her bag in the overhead bin? Are you dressing with respect?”
Despite Duffy’s good intentions, on almost every aviation expert and commentator’s lips is a refrain saying that Duffy’s approach won’t work. Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst, agreed with Duffy’s point noting it’s something important to consider among passengers. He argued that simply urging people to dress better will not address the broader issues affecting air travel today.
“The clothes, in this case, do not make the person,” – Henry Harteveldt.
According to recent data from the Department of Transportation (DOT), there has been a staggering 400% increase in in-flight outbursts since 2019. Since 2021, the agency has counted 13,800 cases of unruly passengers. Even more alarming, nearly one in five flight attendants have said they’ve faced physical violence. These Democratic statistics highlight the problem Duffy’s campaign hopes to resolve.
Scott Keyes, travel expert and founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights, made his displeasure known. He took issue specifically with the notion that looking presentable was the answer to the myriad ongoing problems plaguing air travel. He characterized Duffy’s message as seductive but unrealistic in what it hopes to achieve.
“It’s laughable how much worse air travel was back then,” – Scott Keyes.
Most passengers are not trying to be combative, Keyes emphasized. There are so many factors that we can’t control because their experiences are deeply impacted by things outside their control such as airline practices. He stated, “Very few people show up for their flight itching to pick a fight with another passenger.” Keyes thinks that regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and DOT could do much more. Rather than merely demonizing people who are stressed out by things like delays and cancellations, which are primarily the fault of airlines, DOT should hold the industry accountable.
Harteveldt agreed with this sentiment, asserting that airlines are the most powerful force determining passenger behavior. He observed that if uncomfortable seating and bad service manifested themselves, travelers would become increasingly “frustrated.”
“Duffy is absolutely right…BUT our declining travel dress is also a reflection of how airlines treat us. Cattle boarding, tiny seats, penny pinching every beverage cost and just generally miserable,” – X user.
Social media reactions reveal a widespread belief that addressing the discomforts of air travel might yield better results than calls for civility alone. Users on X have made their opinions clear that the current state of airline service has encouraged troubling behavior from harried passengers.
“If you want us to be respectful humans at the airport stop treating us like cattle,” – X user.
Duffy advocates, quite passionately for a world where courtesy and deference returned to air travel. Mr. Peters will have an uphill battle against deeply rooted and institutionalized issues within the industry. With growing numbers of incidents contributing to a tense flying atmosphere, many believe that meaningful change will require more than just calls for civility. It will necessitate systemic improvements across the entire aviation sector.