ATLANTA— A Delta Air Lines (DL) passenger flying from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was caught using her toes to operate the in-flight entertainment screen in first class. The unusual behavior happened on Delta Flight 2830.
The act drew swift backlash on social media, with many questioning both passenger etiquette and the risks of unsanitary contact. Some even suggested Delta should reconsider free upgrades, despite the fact that most first-class passengers today are paying customers, not complimentary upgrades.
Photo: By Adam Moreira (AEMoreira042281) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79819656Delta First Class Passenger Unusual Behavior
The passenger seated in the bulkhead of Delta’s first class cabin used her bare feet to control the seatback screen instead of the provided hand-held controller. Screens are not sanitized between every passenger, raising concerns about hygiene when bare feet make direct contact.
Delta has reduced complimentary upgrades significantly over the years. Roughly 13% of first-class seats are now given to upgrades, compared with about 85% a decade ago.
This shift means the majority of travelers in premium cabins are paying customers, making claims that upgrades lead to poor passenger conduct largely inaccurate, ViewfromtheWing reported.
Not an Isolated Case
This was not the first time travelers have witnessed such behavior. In 2023, a passenger flying Delta Air Lines from Providenciales International Airport (PLS) in Turks & Caicos to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was also seen using their toes to navigate the entertainment system in business class. A video captured by another flyer highlighted the unsettling scene.
United Airlines (UA) has faced similar incidents. Footage from its Polaris business class cabin showed a passenger rubbing their bare feet directly on the screen to control functions, sparking similar outrage online.
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Photo: By Alan Wilson – Boeing 737-932ER(w) 'N804DN’ Delta, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33925292Hygiene and Passenger Etiquette
Seatback entertainment screens are high-touch surfaces. Airlines typically clean these between flights, but not between individual passengers. When bare feet are pressed directly against them, it adds unnecessary sanitation risks for the next traveler.
Airlines also provide passengers with alternative ways to control the system, including built-in handsets or touch controls within arm’s reach. Using feet, especially barefoot, is widely regarded as inconsiderate and unhygienic behavior.
Bottom Line
While the incident itself is minor in the grand scope of air travel, it reflects ongoing challenges with passenger etiquette.
Social media tends to magnify such cases, often framing them as emblematic of broader issues in premium cabins.
The reality is simpler: regardless of ticket type, basic courtesy and hygiene should apply.
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