No, not flapping. Clapping.
Is it true that – when you are on a plane full of Poles – people will start cheering and clapping their hands upon landing? Sadly, yes.
Sorry, I still cannot comprehend why people treat landing like the biggest achievement of the human race. Get over it! Do you clap when you park your car?
Image © dchico via Flickr used under CC licence
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1 | Sylwia Presley
November 16th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Well, I actually did once, when landing in the UK – the pilot had to do a round, because we were not told that another plane was lading – almost landed on another plane:/ Since then I do not take it for granted anywhere in the world:/ (but hey, it’s just me, one Pole;))
2 | Magda
November 18th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I never do it myself but I see it as a nice way of saying thank you to the captain and the cabin crew.
You don’t clap when you park your car but why not clap when someone parks it for you safely?
Syl, I had a similar situation, almost crashed with another plane at Heathrow and I don’t take it for granted either. So here we are, two Poles 
4 | Miranda
November 20th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I’ve seen this with other nationalities and I think it is because flying is a relatively ‘new’ experience. The few Poles that I know are terrible travellers – pure fear, which is overcome by vast amounts of alcohol and chain smoking! Poor things – so no wonder they clap on landing!
5 | Miranda
November 21st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Went to see Rezerwat at Edinburgh Film Festival and the whole audience clapped in euphoria at the end of the film! Very funny and an insight into Polish humour.
Going back to flying – the terrible story of Robert Dziekanski at Toronto airport. Have you seen the play Cherry Blossom? Very clever use of minimal set and poignant dual story of Robert and a slightly happier ending of the main story.
Any background on Robert – first ever flight, no English – total nightmare.
6 | Miranda
December 15th, 2008 at 10:59 am
The police in Vancouver have not been charged with Roberts murder. In some respects a bit like the Charles de Menzies case in London. But I think the police should have been charged in Vancouver.
7 | Tomasz
I haven’t actually noticed this phenomenon on Poland bound flights. I did, however, on US flights and I thought it was a well deserved appluase to piloting skills. A little sad? Perhaps, but harmless never the less.
8 | Random user
You don’t clap when a bus stops.
You don’t clap when a subway/metro pulls into a stop.
You don’t clap when an elevator reaches the level.
You don’t clap when a train reaches a station.
You don’t clap when a taxi stops.
You don’t clap when the escalator goes up.
You don’t clap when a horse and carriage stops.
So why would anyone clap when the plane lands.
It’s harder to navigate a bus through the route than fly a plane. You just take off, turn on auto pilot and land. THAT’S ALL! So why would you clap an automated machine? Sure, the pilot may need a thank you, but he/she’s not going to be paying attention to it. JUST SAY THANK YOU ON THE WAY OUT.
9 | Theo Chino
I find this answer kind of cool on Salon.COM I guess.
When it does happen, clapping is strictly an economy-class phenomenon. You’ll be apt to look for socioeconomic meaning in this, and maybe there is one, but the dynamics of economy class — more people sitting closer together — lend itself to the occasion. There’s a certain communal spirit, especially after a long-haul flight, when you’ve spent several hours in a relatively intimate space with hundreds of people. In a way, the applause acts like big collective handshake.
10 | Dizzie
February 22nd, 2011 at 12:32 pm
I honestly thought only Swedes did this!
I travel a lot, often to or from either Sweden or Poland, and I have never experienced Poles clapping. Swedes, however… every single time! Like they actually expect the pilot to emerge from the cockpit and bow, or do an encore…
11 | Ozzie
February 25th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
I think it’s a nice custom to thank pilot and the crew by clapping. Not only Poles to that as I see. Dizzie said about Swedes but I know that Italians do it also. It’s nothing stupid, unusual or weird about it I think.
12 | Elivie
January 31st, 2012 at 11:41 pm
I actually like the phenomenon of ‘clapping on landing’, it’s a very nice gesture to appreciate the pilot and cabin crew. Why do some people get so cynical about it? I don’t think that’s sad, I know many people who are afraid of flying – so when they land safely, it’s just logical to have an expression of relief and gratitude.
And the clapping isn’t only applied to airplanes. It also happens when other drivers (bus or tram) can safely drive the passengers out from difficult situation. When I traveled in Spain with Polish friends, the big bus got stuck in a very jam-packed traffic in a narrow street. The Spanish driver must go back and forth to check and re-check the bus position then make a turn little by little. It took him almost half an hour just to pass the small junction, and we shared his frustration. When he finally succeeded, we all clapped as a collective sign of admiration for his effort (and relief that we finally got through).
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