Survey Finds Canadians More Likely than Americans to Recline Their Seat

And to think some (okay, probably most) Canadians feel we’re nicer than Americans.

A new survey suggests that Canadians are more inclined to recline their seats at 30,000 feet than Americans. It also says more Americans than Canadians seem willing to give the armrest to a fellow passenger.

Casino.ca polled people on both sides of the border and came up with results that seem to suggest (mon dieu!) that Americans are more considerate in the air than Canadians.

Asked if it’s it socially acceptable to recline your seat back on a plane, 58% of Canadians said yes. But, only 52% of Americans felt that way.

The company also asked about sharing armrests in the sky.

Forty-five percent of Americans answered, “Ignore the situation and keep to yourself.” The percentage for Canadians was almost the same (44%). But 42% of Americans said, “Let the other person have the armrest,” compared to just 36% of Canadians.

To push the boundaries of etiquette even further, 16% of Canadians surveyed said, “Push your elbows outward to subtly discourage others,” versus only 10% of Americans.

The study also asked about bringing smelly food on planes. A full 91% of Canadians and Americans feel that’s unacceptable, so please leave the Limburger cheese and durian fruits at home.

Another fun question was, “On a friends’ vacation, is it acceptable for someone to bring back a newfound romantic interest they had just met on a trip?” Canadians were split 50-50, while 60% of Americans said “no.”

The survey also rated “the most rule conscious and most laid-back travellers” in each country by province and state. For Canada, the top rule followers were from B.C., while the most relaxed were from Nova Scotia. In the U.S., the top rule followers were from Rhode Island, while the most chill were from Idaho.