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Tourists just realising that most people do exact same superstitious gesture before getting on plane

Home> Lifestyle> Travel

Updated 15:45 30 May 2024 GMT+1Published 15:33 30 May 2024 GMT+1

Tourists just realising that most people do exact same superstitious gesture before getting on plane

Many of us are guilty of doing the same thing as we board the plane

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

Whether you're a hand clapper or a hand holder when the plane lands, it turns out that many of us have some sort of travel superstitions.

An almost universal fear is not to travel on Friday 13th because of the 'unlucky number'.

To take things even further, some pilots think that it's just unlucky to take a photograph of the plane before departure.

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And pointing up towards the sky happens to be a no go before takeoff.

But one superstition you probably never thought was so common has been explored on a recent Reddit thread.

Plane superstitions are common. (Getty Stock Images)
Plane superstitions are common. (Getty Stock Images)

Met by loads of replies, one user wrote: "Whenever I fly I have a habit of touching the outside of the plane right before boarding.

"Does anyone else do this? I know that it will do nada to keep me safe but I feel better after doing it."

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To their surprise, loads, I mean loads of people apparently do it.

"I do this and think to myself 'wow this was in the sky'," one person commented.

"Ha, I was hoping I’d find my people in the comments. Same thing here, and then sometimes during the flight thinking 'whoa that spot I touched is just out there against the 30,000 ft air'," a second agreed.

It turns out that a lot of touch the outside of the plane before takeoff. (Getty Stock Images)
It turns out that a lot of touch the outside of the plane before takeoff. (Getty Stock Images)

"Same here. Just want to know what the plane feels like that’s going to be carrying me 30000 feet up in the sky," a third said.

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Meanwhile, someone else added: "I do this lol but for a different reason it just feels weird to go inside the plane without touching it like it’s a tangible object.

"Like you get in a car, you open the door yourself. In a plane you go straight in through a tube and then straight to your seat.

"So idk touching the plane kinda makes me feel 'ok in getting in a vehicle and not a spooky teleport machine' idk hard to explain."

Other users, however, feel 'left out' from never trying it.

"This thread is making me realise I’ve never touched the outside of a plane and now I feel left out," one user wrote.

"Right? My brain right now 'do I need this new OCD habit in my life?'," a second pondered.

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"Also my brain 'NNNOOOOOOO JUST KEEP SCROLLING'."

"I mean no I don’t but I guess it’s cute," a third said.

Now, an actual pilot has issued some great advice for those with superstitions, writing: "Flown probably ~150 times and doing this has never entered my mind.

"I'm also usually asleep before we hit the end of the runway. People always ask, how can you be so relaxed.

"Cause, once they close that door, everything is out of my control and there is no need worrying about things I have no control over. That's just wasted stress."

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I guess that's a great way to look at it.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Travel, Reddit

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

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@Anish_Vij

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