There’s a first-class reason for the high number of air rage incidents, according to experts
Researchers have revealed 84 per cent of incidents occur in economy class
Being trapped in a small space for a long time is bound to make people a bit tetchy - but scientists have come up with an exact reason as to why people get so angry on planes.
Researchers Katherine DeCelles and Michael Norton, from the University of Toronto and Harvard Business School, have found that the reason people get riled up on board is the existence of first class seats.
After analysing aeroplane tiffs over the past several years, their study found that incidents of so-called "air rage" are almost four times more likely to happen on aircraft with a first class cabin - and economic segregation at 35,000 feet is a strong predictor of in-air drama.
It's believed that walking through the first class area makes other passengers aware of all the extra comforts they won't be enjoying - whether's it's a reclining bed or extra bread rolls - and that makes them angry.
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The research also highlights the so-called "situational inequality" of economy passengers having to wait to board the plane, as first class travellers are able to jump the queue - along with the "physical inequality" of having to sit in a less comfortable seat.
So when you think about it, it's not really surprising that 84 per cent of "air rage" occurs in economy - caused by intoxication, aggressive behaviour, smoking and not complying with the flight crew.
But that's not to say that the people travelling in first class have it all - they can also end up seeing red if their flight experiences doesn't measure up to the level of luxury they might be expecting.
Speaking to the, researcher Michael Norton explained: “We’ve all experienced the feeling … when you walk through first class and see people with champagne, of course you’re upset.
“So we wanted to document that kind of emotional reaction that people might have [as] compared to other things that also predict air rage, like your flight being delayed and things like that.”
